The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-22
THE FRAGRANT WEED.
The Origin OF Tobacco, and Its Past
and Present Use..
Anecdotes OF Sir Walter Raleigh-Charles
Lambs Farewell to the Weed-Its
Curative Properties.

sohCu W oul uosiOo, n5 VIGIL rs III nlstOIlCal
facts, opinions, sentiments, and current
views. Or late, my eyes have been so often
blinded by clouds Of smoke, and my olfac-
tories so often greeted with the odor of cigars,
my feet have slipped on castaway guilds of
tobacco, and my fingers have become sticky
with the weed in process of curing, that with
these experiences strong before me. have
ventured to make capital of the object in
many ways, and gain at least one snort
hours pleasure in considering its literal ure
To myself 1t will prove more profitable than
IL dipped, che we'd, or smoked.
Probably no production has involved 80
wide relationship TO the different phases Of
life as tobacco, for it has included the affairs
OF church and state, has influenced trade and
commerce. has entered into the history Of
nations. affected the wealth and hap
piness of communities, and has it's
own peculiar influence upon the body.
mind, manners and habits of individuals
1t has done all this In its production, cult
walton, use. and abuse. Where, to day,
among dignitaries, statesmen, the clergy
lawyers, doctors. literateur, politicians, mer
chants, farmars and servants, are these men
who may not testify to the truth of the state
ment?
The other evening drew back the cur
tains OF drawing-room where there was an
assernblsge, OF getlemen. and the atmosphere
was thick and the curtains heavy with cigar
smoke. Hardly had entered the cars next
morning than the men all disappeared to q
more enjoyable retreat-the smoking car
Last night q commercial traveller approached
the ticket office ard, soliciting q favor,
quietly laid down cigars aud won his way.
| Boys on the street, mere children, make
one disgustiDgly familiar with the use of to-
bacco, and girls are adopts at dipping stuff.
Surely IL is not q miraculous weed, yet
many who deny the healing virtue OF nat.
ural waters take refuge in tobacco, not only
for the ills of the body, but look to it for sol
ace from the unpleasant affections of the
mind and spirits.
Someone who has read thus far will read
no further, thinking that, because written
by woman, this must necessarily be IT,
rade against tobacco or an attack upon an
inotfensive and pleasing habit.
But read ON; am not alone in my choice
of q subject, for English schools long ago
made IL topic of wisdom and wit. King
James gave his Counter Blast" against to-
bscco. and the inimitable Charles Lamb his
Farewell to the weed. With wisdom and
wit enter also love and hatred into the liter
allure of tobacco. Lamb says:
Straight confound my stammerlng verse
II can a passage see
In this world-perplexity,
Or ft expression hnd,
Or q language to my mind
15till the phrase Is wide or scapD
To take leave OF the, great Plant
Or In any terms relate
Half my love half my hate.
1t disguises friends and enemies, for
Thou Ia such q cloud dost bind us
That our worst foes can not find us;
Thou through such mist do'st show as
That our best friends do not know us.
The first specimen OF tobacco from America
was taken to England as early as 1886 from
Carolina. After the settlement of Jamestow q
tobacco became the chief article of export,
and 90 rapidly did the consumption aud de-
mand increase that the planters became alb
sorbed in its cultivation to the exclusion OF
more necessary products, and neglecting to
raise corn in sufficient quantities for their
use, they often suffered from famine. Att
last the house OF burgesses was compelled to
enforce the cultivation of corn, and limit the
amount of tobacco. At one time
an officer was appointed in each parish to
count the number OF plants. Parishes became
known as ''orinoco," from the kind of to-
bacco used, and Others as sweet scented
parishes" the latter being worth more than
the orinoco. Virginia became very noted as
q tobacco State, add many towns grew rich
from the EXPORT There is now In Glasgow
Scotland, Virginia street. That city de-
rived great benefit from being the entrepot,
where the farmers generally OF France. de-
livered their supplies Of tobacco from Vir
ginia. In colonial times this staple became
currency, and many salaries were paid 1t, or
with notes representing it in the warehouses
After its culture was interdicted, for ten
years it measured taxation, eighty. three
pounds per poll being the sum levied by
the acts of the assembly. Again two hun.
dred pounds were offered as q reward for ev-
cry wolf killed.
Tobacco warehouses used to be known as
rolling houses, from the way of rolling to-
bacco to market before wagons came into use.
1t was packed closely in Large cask or hogs
head, and then large wooden spike was
driven into each end of the mass. This
formed the axletree tires were placed around
the ends of the cask, and q split sapling was
converted into shafts. In this way the valu-
able weed was carried to market, to be In
spected and sold. The inspection was very
rigid, for upon the quality of the tobacco de-
pended its value as currency. Such notes
were in use in Virginia as late as the begin.
ming of this century.
In 1910 tobacco had come into general use
in England and from the manner of using
| it was known as drinking tobacco" because
the smoke was inhaled-and expelled through
tobacco pipe makers chartered in London.
The members bore upon their shield tobacco
plant in blossom.
The Virginia tobacco was imported in the
leaf, as now; but the Spanish or West Indian
in balls, molssses or some other liquid being
used In its preparation. To make the oronoco
more attractive or perhaps on the principle
that rose by any other name would smell
as sweet. it was sometimes called the Ameri-
can silver weed.
At the theater in Shakespeare's time the
spectators often had seats upon the stage.
where they were attended by pages who fur
nished them with pipes and tobacco.
! 1t is used throughout the world. Living
stone writes that on the lower banks of the
Zsmbesi during the winter months, Large
quantities are raised 1t is very strong and
very cheap. The people are inveterste
smokers, and after putting out tho fret Whit.
swallow the rest, which they say 10 the real
essence of the tobacco.
! A very superior quality IL cultivated in
Australia, and bids fair in time, to become q
staple product So much 10 il esteemed that
! the Australian aboriginees viii t0o willingly
y sell his "gin"-wife-for plug Of tobacco.
Among the American Indians this narcotic