The Portland daily press., 1878-12-28

-NPCaAiuS VI pipes OIiCh 10 mluutu u
protest against the fashion of many Of them.
Most people seem to think that anything /:
good enough to hold tobacco whether in pro-
cess Of combustion or containing merely the
potentiality of happiness, when the truth u.s.
nothing is too good to enshrine the great
plant. The jewel cases made by Benvenuto
Cellini, the precious ciste dug up by Castel-
lani from the storied earth Of Itsly, the gold
boxes In which the freedom of cities Is pre-
sented-these are proper receptacles for the
solace Of man. Who described the dog as
mans trusty friendp Corrigendum: For dog
read "NicotianG tobacun', and that is the
botanical name Of tobacco. In default Of
Cellinrs jewel caskets andI the municipal
freedom-boxes let us have recourse to mod
ern artifcers and artists. Let US get vase
of antique shape from one OF our famous pot
teries the cream-colored ware of the Port
land pottery is excellent for the purpose-and
take it to an artisan artist who smokes
and so will paint it in sympathy and sinceri-
ty. Yorick remembers a tobacco jar, all
broidered with pansies, that he saw in Harry
Browns studio year ago; and it seemed to
him there was something peculiarly appro-
pirate in the association of the flowers with
the reminiscence-provoking plant. Oxidized
silver jewel cases, finely designed, make good
tobacco jars. The "velvet violet lining''
should be removed, however, or the precious
dust will cling to it. Majolica, old or mod
ern, IN tno iUIln ~ q, 80. 80 fhron foofsd
vase of the Greeks is good for the purpose
and suggests Pythonic inspiration. A piece
of faience, or the Chelsea or Beverly ware
will do. Yorick has even seen the trivial
paper-collar box ennobled by such use, and
carry well the dignity of its great Office.
As for the pipes well, different times call
for different pipes. In our Byronic youth we
affect the ghastly and smoke pipes made in
the form of skulls and very likely keep our
tobacco in veritable brain-pan. We are
thinking of the English poets drinking cup.
Later years bring different tastes. Some
Of us take kindly to the cob-pipe made famous
by Andrew Jackson. 1t is a democratic az
fair, cheap, convenient, and within reach OF
the masses. But the allegiance of most of
us is divided between the commo n clay, the
brier-wood, and the meerschaum. The clay
pipe has the largest following, and perhaps it
is the best for everyday use. 1t is handy and
light, and can be smoked at bench or desk.
As to the merits of the different kinds Of clay
there is a diversity of taste as there is in re-
gard to Wedgewood and Limoges. Some
prefer the English Woodstock, sweet and
serviceable pipe, and some the French clay Of
the make of Fiollet. Others are vehemently
patriotic and use the red clay, the modern
representative Of the calumet, which As far
as design is concerned, holds about the same
relation to the products of England and
France as the pottery Of tie Mound. Builders
does to Doulton and Haviand ware. The
pipe Of common Use however, is the Glasgow
clay-the T. D., the sturdy Guilty, the Irish
dhudeen. The one thing to insist upon is
the shape. The clay-pipe should be
'Taper as candles laid at Cuthbert's shrine,
Taper as silver chalces for wine."
The brierwood has deservedly good reputa-
tation. 1t is eminently serviceable, can be
fashioned into exquisite forms and is compar-
atively inexpensive. Yorick recalls one, the
bowl of which was fashioned in the form OF a
peach, the twig and leaves making the stem.
1t pleasantly reminded the smoker that the
deadly oilg with which the Traskites try to
Tighten us, Gone drop of which on the tongue
of cat will throw her into commissions, and
all that sort of thing,) is present in good to-
bacco in about as harmful quantity as prus-
sic acid tone drop of which, &c. is in a
peach. But the Queen of all pipes Is the
meerschaum with its suggestion OF sea-
born Aphrodite. 1t is the pipe of romance
and poetry, the heirloom, the costly gift of
friendship, margined with gold and reposing
on velvet and satin. The plastic material
may be carved into thousand forms of beau
ty, and its case is often fit to be the jewel
case Of queen, Do readers Of the Drawer
remember what the Autocrat says of the
meerschaum while speaking of certain things
that are good for nothing until they have been
kept long while and used?
For dalliance but not for everyday use,
unless one has the endless leisure and con-
tented incidence of the Orient, are the
hookah and the chibouk. The hookah leaves
one as the mess known by the name of
Floating Island' left the rustic: "kinder
onsatisfed." 1t can be smoked all day and
when night comes the smoker will want a
smoke very bad Indeed. If we affect the
chibouk we need to return to the days of
slavery and have blackamoor to sustain and
repenish the bowl and administer the sacred
rite Of fire. Using tobacco in this form is
like holding the woman Of our choice at
arms length when we long to take her to
our heart. No true lover can be content with
that. There is the German porcelain pipe
TOO, a goodly thing holding full a gill of cut
tobacco. But It is awkward for use, and one
wonders how the Germans can accomplish
so much work with the long stem of the
clumsy contrivancs. between their teeth.
Yet he Of catholic taste will have all these
pipes, for there are some moments in every
ones life that can be given up to idleness
and dreaming.
There are many who, Act@on-like, prefer
to "gaze on Natures naked loveliness," and
take tobacco au naturel. A good cigar is
perhaps the noblest product of human iDge-
nuity, and bad one the saddest example in
the wbsle world of perverted skill and wasted
labor. But he should be a sincere lover o.
the plant and have made long suit to it who
presumes to touch it with his lips. 1t is ex
asperating to see young people, mere boys
so presuming, and it is an outrage that .
grown-up man should frt with cigar. Lei
him make hot love to it or leave it alone
Cigarettes are vanities, and to use them is tt
trifle with the holiest feelings Of smoker
heart. As for chewing-but as there is I
wicked prejudice against chewing we viii
pass that form of enjoyment. Snuf-takins
Yorick is not addicted to, and so regards il
as reprehensible,
OF course there are times when men vii
smoke bad cigars or ugly pipes, or toy will
cigarettes-as they will feed on husks wher
the kernels are wanting or eat "boiled din
ners." But usually there is no excuse TO
the man who does these things. He waste
or misuses his time. ''Never kiss the mai