Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-09-13
USE OF TOBACCO Worldwide.
Finest Grades From Ancient Syria
How Different People Enjoy the Weed.

Tobacco is an annual herbaceous
plant. rising with strong. erect stems
to the height of from to feet, its TO-
liage being fine and handsome. When
full grown the stalk, near the root. fire.
qucntly attains d height greater than
an inch in diameter and it is surround
ed by hairy. ClamTy substance OF a
greensh- yellow color
The leaves, which are of a light
green. grow alternately. at intervals OF
two or three inches on the stalk. They
are oblong and spear shaped. Those
lowest on the stalk are about 20 inches
long. and they decrease in size as they
ascend, the top leaves being only 10
inches long and broads
The young leaves. when about = in
ches long. ar" of d deep green color and
rather smooth; but as they approach
maturity they assume yellowish tint
and have rougher surface.
6 The flowers grow in clusters from the
extrenities Of the stalks. They are vel
low externally and OF a delicate RED
within; the edges when they are full
blown, rather inclining to purple. These
flowers are succeeded by kidney shap-
ed capsules of d brown color. each one
of which contains about 200 seeds SO
that the whole produce of a plant has
been sometimes estimated at 35000b
seeds.
Popcs. Cars and Kings have thun-
dered anathemas against tobacco. but
all the denunciations nave ended in
smcke--have helped not to suppress
but to extend and augment the fumes
nF nd T0ri n1y
er and policy has ended in capitulaticn
and by turning tobacco into one OF the
most prolific and profitable sources of
revenue.
It's yearly consumption in Great Brit
ain exceeds $4,000 900 pounds avoirdu-
pois. and gives to the imperial revenue
mere than G5250.000. Considerably
more therefore. than pound per head
Is annually used by the European sub
jects OF the King: and remembering
that there are many. and these more
populous. countries In which the en-
ployment of tobacco is more common
than in England. it may be calculated
that the English do not consume more
than one-twentieth part of the produce
OF the world.
The tobacco generally considered SUI
perior to all others is Syrian. 1t Is
called Latakia. from the city of that
name, the ancient and renowned port
of Laodicea. which 10 the present day
has a not inconsiderable trade The
city lies at the foot OF Mt. Lebanon.
not far from the spot where the re-
mains of the patriarchal cedars still
grow
Hha tnhurcn nf at.ir ic sp r.
ally consumed by the quality in the
Levant. 1t is preserved in goats skins
and is only cut a short time .,efore it.
is used in order that the favor and
aroma may not be diminished.
Syrian women generally prefer to
smoke the narghile a leaf called tim
bac is used by them instead of tonacco,
to which 1t bears a very slight resem-
blance. The instrument rests on the
ground the leaf being kindled at the
end of tube. The smoke is INHALED
through a g!obe-like glass vessel filled
with water, sometimes scented. the
whole being supported by a stand, An
other tube communicating with the
glass globe is placed between the lips.
The narghiles form pretty domestic
ornaments.
THE pipe is one of the attendant INK
,rios of the hot bath. and certainly it's
enjoyment is magnificd. when after un
dergoing the shdmpooipg process in all
its varieties one reDoses on q soft
couch covered with cashmere shawlS
sips the delicious coffee and dreamily
or drowsily inhales the latakian clouds.
The quantity of tobacco produced in
tho Philippines is enormous. That
which is exported represents the value
of more than $5.o00.oOo, and it is be-