Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-11-29
Old Tobacco Shoppers.

me Ola IODdCCo StODptTS, WlIuOul
which no beau of times past would have
considered himself socially equipped were
made In such numerous quantities, In
finite variety, and Were usually so beau
tiful and artistic in form that numbers
of them have honorably survived and
may yet be discovered by the diligent
treasure hunter abroad.
Seen in the cabinet, hardly any little
objects have a more persuasive charm
and fascination. They lend thenselv -
to display and have a quaintness and
friendly intimacy lacking in articles OF
far more pretensIen. The tobacco stop
per did not make its appearance at
court, at any rate so openly as its more
aristocratic cousins, the rasp and the
snuff box. 1t must have been mascu-
line toy and it's chief venue the coffee
house, the social tavern or some COM
Portable Granny of the private lodging.
The reason for the disappearance of
tobacco shoppers is explained as we learn
the use to which they were put When
in early Jaeobean days the price OF the
recently introduced divine weed was
eight shillings to 10 shiliings the pound
smokers necessarily burned their tobae-
co down to the very bottom of their
pipes. The tobacco shoppers We're then
invented for pressing down the ashes in
the bowl in order that no modicum OF
the fiber should be wasted and that the
residuum of what has already smoked
should, if possible. be smoked again
This practice seems incredible in our
present age of waste and cheapness and
reminds one of the economies that were
used upon the first introduction of tea.
In the days of James II, tobacco drink
ing" became almost universal. Gilded
youths sat smoking on the stage at the
comedies of Ben Johnson. pressing down
the precious ash in their pipes as they
criticized the humors of Epieene or the
jealous Kitely.
Then it was the fashion of the day to
surprise ones neighbors with the unique
and fanciful nature of ones tobacco
stoppers-its rare carving, it's bizarre
about the beautiful little object, relating
its history as they did so. 1t must he
remembered moreover, the tobacco stob-
pers We're the work of both PROFESSIONAL
and amateur hands, and from the LETTER
we have some of the most singular and
delightful specimens
auNeHtuTOuS men Oh E.liZdDeIHHn ana
Stuart times as they journeyed in far
corners of the world lit upon all sorts of
curious materials and precious frag-
ments which in the long evenings in the
country or by the camp fire. would re-
commend themselves to theM owners as
potential tobacco stoppgrs. Friends
carved them for keepsakes, remem-
branees and souvenirs. Famous relics OF
all sorts were converted into shoppers.
we ..now that that curious and re-
markable man, john Taylor, the water
poet. upon one of Ills itinerant excur-
sions secured a dead branch OF the mira
culous Glastonbury thorn, and promptly
made himself two for three tobacco stop
pers out of it. Sdme of the most popu-
Mar and famous lstoppers were made
from the Boscobdl oak within which
Charles III concealed himself when the
soldiers, We're sefirching for him after
the battle of Worcester. These shoppers
bore silver eftgy of the Kings head
above them, andt were venerated as al
most sacred relids
Wood, bone, ! ivory. mother-of-p
brass, silver and gold were also used
while more daring suggestion even yet
was flung out when Mr.. Spectator made
his famous touF of Westminster Abbey
In company With Sir Roger de Coverley.
Sir Roger remarked of the coronation
chairs; IF WIN Wimble were with us
and saw those fwo chairs 1t would go
hard, but he would get a tobacco stopper
out of one or ttother of em.'-London
Queen