The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-27
GENIUS AND TOBACCO
TRAVEL HAND IN HAND
Great Men of History Who Have
Been DevoteeS of the Amer
lean Weed.
NAPOLEON'S ONE SMOKE

1t has always been one OF the chief vir-
tues OF tobacco that il lends itself readily
to anecdote. When a great man is also a
great smoker he OF necessity falls at times
into that expansive condition Of mind which
paves the way for story and "reminiscences.
Sir Walter Raleigh. the pioneer OF the
smoking world" was a heavy smoker. His
tobacco box was of cylindrical form. meas
urng about seven inches in diameter and
thirteen I'm height. The outside was OF gilt
leather and within was a cavity for a
receiver of glass metal. which would
hold about pound OF tobacco. a species
of collar, that connected the receiver with
the case, was pierced with holes for the
reception of pipes, OF which the gallant
knight possessed a huge number.
The great Napoleon could never be
brought TO like tobacco. 1t is related that
on a certain occasion the Persian ambassa-
dor presented him with an exquisite ORR
entail pipe. and the Emperor made heroic
attempts 10 enjoy the smoking process, but
finally abandoned the business in disgust.
Here is the story recorded by of the
court:
Fire having been brought. IL only re-
NAMED to communicate ii to the tobacco.
but that could not be effected by the
method which his Majesty adopted. He
merely opened and shut his mouth without
attempting TO draw in his breath. % the
devil he cried, at length. There will be
no end TO this business 1 observed to him
that he did it half-heartedly. and showed
him how he ought TO begin. Wearied by
his vain efforts, he at last desired me &c
light the pipe. 1 obeyed, and gave II to
him. But scarcely had he drawn in a
mouthful than the smoke which he knew
not how TO expel turned back into his pail
ate. penetrated his nose. and blinded him.
AS soon as he recovered his breath he
reared: Take that away from me. What
abomination! o the swine-my stomach
turns In fact, he felt himself so incom-
NODDED for at least hour that he
nounced forever the pleasure OF the habit.
which he said was only mt TO amuse slug
CARDS
BLUCHER ALWAYS SMOKED.
Butcher, an opponent whose presence at
Waterloo Napoleon had good cause to
remember was, on the other hand, an
inveterate smoker, and rarely went into
action without a pipe or cigar between his
teeth. So huge was his collection OF pipes
that he actually hired a person to SUPER
intend the heterogeneous mass. and the
pipe master, Christian Hennemann by
name, discharged his duties with a fidelity
that approached fanatical zeal. Before ev-
| cry encounter Prince Butcher usually or
| dered a long pipe TO be filled. After smok-
/ ing for a snort time he would hand back
/ the lighted pipe to Hennemann place him.
/ self in the saddle, draw his saber and
/ with the vigorous cry, Forward. my boys.
/ throw himself fiercely on the foe. On the
! day of Waterloo, Hennemann had just
! handed a pipe to his master when can
non ball struck the ground near, so that
| the earth and sand covered Butcher and
| his gray horse. The steed made a spring
10 side and the new pipe broken
/ before the prince had taken single pun.
However, the latter merely cried, Fill
another pipe for me and keep ii lighted
/ for moment until l drive away these
/ French rascals." Thereupon there was a
rush forward, but the pursuit lasted not
merely moment. but throughout the whole
/ of that long and memorable day.
| 1t is a highly curious fact that allusion
| TO tobacco is TO be found in the works OF
! Shakespeare, though various OF his con-
temporaries indulge in many sallies, chief
! ly at the expense OF the lately imported
weed. Perhaps the poets action I'm thus
| ignoring tobacco may be attributed to the
/ bard was a high favorite, hated and
| loathed Sir Walter Raleigh's importation.
| In this connection IL is amusing TO remem-
! Der that another poet OF q later day, Alger-
non Swinburne, has told us that James
the First was a knave. a tyrant, fool, a
/ liar and coward. But / love him, / wor-
BLACKBOARD Raleigh. who invented this
! filthy smoking.
The late Lord Tennyson was a lover
Of clay pipes and preferred Virginia to-
He invariably smoked whilst at work and
followed method peculiar 10 himself in
| the selection of pipes. At his feet was
placed a box full of white clays. Filling
| one OF these, he would smoke until IL was
empty. then would break IL in twain,
| throwing the fragments into another box
prepared for their reception. He would
| then pull another pipe from its straw or
wooden Enclosure. Ill it and destroy it as
| before, for he had a strong aversion to
smoking pipe a second time.
BISMARCK'S LOVE OF SMOKE.
One of the most pleasant anecdotes OF the
late Prince Bismarck is told In connection
with his love OF smoke. Here is the story
in his own words:
THE value OF a good cigar is best UNDER
stood when it is the last you possess and
there is no chance of getting another. At
| Koniggratz l had only one cigar left In
my pocket which / carefully guarded
throughout the battle a miser guards his
treasure. l did not feel justified in using
il then, for j painted In glowing colors In
my mind the happy hour when 1 should
enjoy IL after victory. But had miscalcu-
lated my chances poor dragon lay
helpless, with both arms crushed, murmur-
ing for something TO refresh him. felt In
my pockets and found that had only gold,
which would be of no use 10 him. But,
|
him and placed il between his teeth. You
should have seen the poor fellows grateful
smile. i never. never enjoyed a cigar so
much that one which / did not smoke"
The late Charles Spurgeon once created a
considerable fiutter In the nOncOnformist
dOvecote by announcing during the course
OF q sermon that he intended smoking a
cigar that night Ito the glory OF God. +"
In explanatory letter 20 a daily news
paper ne pointed out that he had spoken
the words with elaboration, and I'm all sim
certify. When" he wrote, Il have found
intense pain relieved. weary brain soothed
and calm refreshing sleep obtained by a
cigar L have felt grateful TO God and have
| blessed His name. This is what / meant
and by no means did / use the sacred
words in any trifing spirit" Professor
| Huxley. though once a hater of tobacco
! became in later years enthusiastic srnok.
er. On one occasion he remarked IN the
course Of a lecture, that there was no more
harm in a pipe than in a cup OF tea. You
may poison yourself" he observed by
drinking too much green tea. or kill your.
self by eating too many beafsteaks. Fol
my own part" concluded the professor, 81
consider that tobacco, in moderation is
sweetener and equalizer OF the temper
Absent mindedness has often gone hand
i'm hand with smoking proclivities, and We
: are told that Sir Isaac Newton, I'm Mt Oi
; mental abstraction. once used the finger OF
a lady he was counting tobacco stopper
whilst ne sat and smoked in silence besid,
her. thinking, OF course, that his own fngei