The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-13
TALES OF roun GREAT MEN.
Macready, Carlyle, Tennyson-How Huxley
Learned to Smoke.

Learned to Smoke.
Edmund Yates's 'Kecolect1ons"
ut happened that the revival of Shak-
speare's Henry VIII. with Macready as Cardinal
Wolsey, the part of Cardinal Campeius was al
lotted to Mr.. Wynn 1t had been represented to
the manager that Mr.. Macreadys costume would
be correct and splendid, more especially regards
some magnificent point lace which he intended
wearing, and 1t had been suggested that some
thing extra should be done to make the other
cardinal respectable. But the manager thought
some old scarlet robes Judged up from the ward
robe would suffice; and as to point lace silver
tissue paper. deity shipped and sewed on would
have much the same appearance when viewed
from distance At the dress rehearsal, MAG
ready, enthroned in chair of state, had the
various characters to pass before him. He bore
all calmly, until clad in the scarlet robes Dor
dered by silver tissue paper and wearing an
enormous red hat, Wynn approached. Then.
elutching both arms of his chair and closing his
eyes, the great tragedian gasped: Mother Ship
ton. by PIP
The crowds of children growing up in London
affected Carlyle with real pain. These small
plants, each with his head Just out of the
ground. with whole life and such training!
Noticed another trait, too. Scotch thrift show
ing itself in l-atred of waste. If he saw crust
OF bread on the roadway he would stop to pick
1t mp and put it on a step railing. Some
poor devil might be glad of it, or. at worst, a
dog or sparrow. To destroy wholesome food
was "a sin. He was very tender about animals,
especially uOSS, WHICH, ike hOfSeS II
well treated, were types of loyalty
and fidelity. Mortified him with a story
of my Oxford days. The hounds had met at
Woodstock. They had drawn the covers with
out finding fox, and not caring to have blank
day. one OF the whips caught passing sheep
dog, rubbed its feet with anseed, and set it to
run. 1t made for Oxford in its terror the
hounds in full cry behind. They caught the
wretched creature in field outside the town and
tore it to pieces. / never saw Carlyle more
affected He said it was like human soul fly
ing for salvation from a legion of fends.
Mr. Gladstone "detests" tobacco, Mr.. Matthew
Arnold "abjures7 it. Mr.. Ruskin hates the man
who pollutes the pure air Of the morning with
cigar smoke" But are we not CON
soled for the abstinence of these
great men by the devotion of others
Of emnencel Thackeray declared
that he did not despair to see 'hishop lolling
out of the Athen9um with a cheroot in his
mouth, or, at any rate, pipe stuck in his shovel
hat" Even a bishop might sometimes fall before
the seduction of good cigar, cosy chat and a
French novel; But if we have not 4 smoking
bishop we have a smoking Poet Laureate, famil-
lar with tobaccos, Latakia, Connecticut leaf,
Perique, Lone Jack, Michigan, Killikinick,
Highlander, Tor any other of the English
brands How does ne take the gentle weedl
At his feet is box full of white clay pipes.
Filling one of these, he smokes it until it is
empty, breaks it in twain. and throws the frag-
ments into another box prepared for their recep-
ton. Then he pulls another pipe from its straw
UT Wooutn enclosure, his IT, 1ghJS IL, ana de-
stroys it as before
For years Professor Huxley, like Charles
Lamb, toiled after tobacco 'as some men after
virtue" AT a certain debate on smoking he told
the story of his early struggles in a way which
utterly put the anti tobacconists to confusion.
''lNor forty years of my life," he said, tobacco
has been deadly poison to me. In my youth,
as medical student. tried to smoke. In vain!
At every fresh attempt my insidious foe stretched
me PROSTATE on the floor. l entered the navy
Again tried to smoke, and again met with a
defeat. hated tobacco l could almost have
lent my support to any institution that had
for its object the putting of tobacco
smokers to death. A few years ago I was
in Brittany with some friends. We went to an
inn. They began to smoke. They looked very
happy, and outside it was very wet and dismal
| thought / would try cigar. / did so. / smoked
that ciSar-it was delicious From that moment
| was changed man, and now feel that smok-
ing in moderation is comfortable and audable
practice, and is productive of good.
There is no more harm in a pipe than there
is in a cup of tea. You may poison yourself by
drinking too much green tea, and kill yourself
by eating too many beefsteaks For my own
part, consider that tobacco in moderation, is
sweeteEer and equalizer of the temper"