The Washington times., 1903-07-12

-Extract from an old win uslo)-
IT HIS mention of tobacco in my
great uncle's will sent me to
the old shop on one OF the prin-
cipal streets Of Washington Ny
great uncle was an inveterate smoker.
but not a slave to the weed. holding
rather that a man should be master Of
his pleasure than ruled by it. He smoked
not so much for the enjoyment OF to-
bacco, though that was one reason, but
for the bright view OF life and Of ones
fellows. Of the feeling OF peace and
absolute contentment which comes with
a properly smoked pipe. Ny father kept
the old pipe with veneration, never using
it. and. indeed. Il has passed down to
me: but the tobacco he smoked, and
from that day on he used no other brand.
I. too, was allowed 10 use the tobacco.
and becoming devoted to it as my uncle
and father before me, became a frequent
customer at the old shop in the heart
OF the city which is the only place you
can buy II.
This old tobacco shop on the Avenue
hard by Tenth Street. perhaps the
Oldest in Washington. has passed from
father TO son for generations. It has
row Of counters on each side of the
store. long counters with glass cases
underneath. showing all sorts OF costly
brands OF smoking and chewing tobacco,
meerschaum pines. the cheaper but more
satisfying clays. cigar-cases and boxes
Of costly HavaBas. There is a fine old
fashioned air OF generosity about the
place as we'll as the faint, peculiar
aroma OF tobacco that is like nothing
else in the world, and which once laying
hold Of a man will make him seek it un-
I'll be dies. The counters. cases. he
flooring. even the rafters in the darken-
ed roof are made Of some rich. brown
wood, grown dulIrr yet with age. smoke
and the presence OF so much Of the
plant" The old shop might be lined
with tobacco. 50 dark is the wood
But the very best part OF the whole
shop is at the rear. Here is the little
snUggeTy where the tobacconist himself
sits and smokes pipe in the hours
when business is light. There is great
mahogany desk in the snuggery. with
all sorts of doors. drawers ana pigeon
holes. from the smallest. which is only
big enough for letter. to the one which
will hold ledger. There are glass knobs
to the drawers and the old desk seems 70
gaze at you solemnIy as If IL had secrets
h.
and with his heels on the desk. hts
hands Clasped under his head and q
/ favOrite pipe between his teeth keep
watch and ward over the whole store
| He can see the pipes of meerschaum
carved into a hundred fantastic shapes
the smokers Of delicate and quaint work
manship the fat packages OF smoking
! tobacco with alluring titles.
| Sometimes the tobaccOnist viii tell
YOU. he sits dreaming in his little snug
/ gerry Of hot afternoons when business
is dull. II is as If every cigar. cigarette
and ounce OF smoking mixture in tho
entire shop were alight and through this
gIorified air the tobacconist secs visions
vistas Of tobacco fields. OF the leaf be-
| ing dried and cured and made into
cigars. and aircastles built entirely OF
! tobacco smoke and, possibly, as perish
able. The tobacconist. as indeed is
proper. is an enthusiast when he is talk
| ing about the plant he sells. why" he
will say, I'VE had no literature until
the fathers learned 70 smoke. The great
est thing that ever came out of America
was tobacco"
! He will point out his treasures. the
huge meerschaum pipe, carved 70 re-
semble a steers head. The great eyes
| seem TO roll and glare. the nostrils are
/ distended and the amber horns look
wonderfully wicked. Here is an ebony
| snuffbox, with a little Vatican scene
painted on the lid. There are two grand
satin gentlemen with befurred cooked
hats and dainty swords under their
arms. One Is bowling low before a
young lady who is simpering behind a
fan while the older gentleman stands