The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-25
MY WIT ANDMY MYSTERIOUS TRENCH EYE BE CONE"

From this time forward it received more
and more attention from men of every
class in society. Business men saw ln 10 IL
promise of large profits, scientists found
Interesting study ol its chemical mell-
cilal. ana botanical properties. While phi
lOsOphcrs and oIyiues discussed ~ length
ils probable effects upon mankind. writ
ing volumes upon the tobacco habit.
The merits of the American silver weed
were much disputed. some regarding DO as
blessing from God. others calling b. 81
curse from line evil one. James j.. in IBIS
"cOuI trrhla ft' against tobacco. cOmuar-
cd it's smoke f. the fumes emanating from
the pit OF he'll. and stated that if he
should invite the devil TO dine with him.
he should servo him three dishes. VIZ. "a
pig. q pole Of ling and mustard, and "a
pipe Of tobacco. i'm Persia and Turkey
during the Seventeenth century those who
dared 70 smoke were punished 10y hoN-
ing their noses cut OF. on else by having
the pipes used thrust through their nos
triis. Urban VIII. and Innocent 81 de-
nOunCcd most bitterly the tobacco habit.
and both accommodation and capital
punishment were employed against Of
Tenders. Many religious Zealots in their
wars on evil coupled tobacco with whisky.
and declared that it's excessive use by
most men, who take 10 as thinkers do ale.
was an intolcrallc extravaganza and mis-
chief which undermined the health OF The
body. and tended toward the weakening
of the spiritual nature ass well. TO these
the tobacco habit was nothing less than
a vice.
THE OTHER SIDE.
On the other hand tobacco has been
called the gift of God. the anodyne of pow
orty. virtuOus herb, medicine. Burton,
I'm his Anatomy Of Melancholy, wrote.
Tobacco divine. rare. supcr-CNcellent to-
baCco. which goes far beyond an the pam
accas portable gold. and phil0sophic
stones, is sovereign remedy i'm all dis
cases" The Indians considered 10 spe-
cial gift from the Great Spirit, and be-
ievod that the Great Spirit himself found
pleasure in it's use. The pipe with them
was a sacred thing. and smoking was all
most a religious act Tho royal foot OF
England who wrote tho "COuuterblastc,
has yeen thus described.
~ gentleman called King James,
in quilted doubiet, and great trunk
Who held in adherence tobacco and
witches
\ German Frederick Marco. thus sig
nalized his attachment TO his cigar.
"The warmth OF thy glow
Well lighted cigar
Makes happy thoughts flow
And drives sorrow afar.
The stronger the wind blows
The brighter thou burnest
The drcariest lifas woes
Less gloomy thou turn.st.
As ] feel on my lips
Thy unselnsh kiss
Like thy flame colorcd tips
All is rosy-hued bliss" etc
SO there exists then, no general agree
ment upon tho tobacco question: while
one abuses the plant. another praises 10.
Probably the most universal verdict
among impartial students OF the subject
is that on excessive use Of tobacco Us In
furious 10 any one. while temperate use
Of * by fun grown men Is not at an
harmful. But let this lie as II may one
thing is sure that tobacco has exercised
marvellous influence upon the world
since II was first brought among civilized
nations. that 10 has steadily grown in
popular favor. and that at present II
forms one Of the most important factors
i'm tho commerce OF the globe.
Its importance 10 the Colony and State
OF Virginia cannot be Overestmatei. For
wears 10 WAS its currency and basis Of
values, the chief subject OF its legislation,
and the very life Of its trade and com
merce. The low price Of tobacco was one
of the three causes which led 10 BacOn's
Rebellion. and the unfair dealings OF the
factors in England. together with tho
heavy indirect taxes imposed by the Eng
lish Government was what hurdened the
planters with 30 much debt. and bred
within the colonis,s that discomfort which
later under the system of direct taxation,
brought on the Revolution
HISTORY or IMPORTATION.
II was IN the year 1916 that Captain
George Yeardley. the Deputy Governor.
first directed tho attention Of the colo
nists TO planting tobacco for profit. show
ing that IL could ho gainfully cxchane-
featured goods. and at once IT, culture en-
groeeed tho attention of all and entirely