The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-01-17

Is * x * * :: y i: ). $: 4
St RETURN OF =
* s.
4 Battles Have Been Fought and y
x Sermons Preached by the Aid x
= OF the Powdered Tobacco. i:
4 1888 = < $: * i:
(London Giobel
1t is stated that snufftaking is once
more showing signs of returning popu-
larity. Aforetime ii was a great art
and practiced by all sorts and con
dittons of men and women 1t was
then ordained that. in order to take
a. pinch in a graceful ms it was
absolutely necessary to go through
a set ritual. Having taken the box in
opened and after it had passed the
opened. an dafter it had gone the
round Of the company. its owner gath
cred up the SNUFF in the box by strik-
ing the side with the middle and fore
fingers and then took a pinch with the
right hand. 1t was held two or three
moments between the fingers and then
carried to the nose. 1t was then sniff
ed in with precision by both nostrils.
This done, the box was closed. the
performance concluding with a sneeze
and the vigorous application of the
handkerchief to the nose. But that
was the procedure on ceremonial oc-
castons-in private it was taken hap
hazard and almost unconsciously.
The consumption of snuff at the
gambling table was considerable, as
the players believed it cleared their
heads. stimulated their intellects and
their nerves-attributes that
accounted largely for its almost uni
Nersal use. Napoleon was a great be-
lever in the virtue of pinches of snuff
oft repeated for the samc reasons
Waterloo where he is said to have APP
piled himself necessarily to his snuff
boX. Other soldiers. too, have been
addicted to a pinch amid the roar and
din OF conflict. For instance, during
a battle in Holland a general implor-
ed one of his officers to, allow him to
dip into his box. At the very mo-
ment n latter was presenting it he
was carried off by a cannon ball. Not
in the least disconnected. the general
turned to the other side and said quiet
ly to another officer: We'll. sir. then
o must give me a pinch"
"A more famous solder o proba-
bly, the greatest battle of modern
times. it is asserted. mainly through
the influence of snuff. All through
the Prussian advance Won Moltke con-
tinually took pinches. When he was
told that MacMahon was marching
northward he exclaimed. 'Mein Colt!
surely he's mad" and forthwith near
ly emptied his snuffbox as. he retired
to his tent to organize the plans which
eliminated in the tremendous conflict
of sedan. At the end Of the war he
received a bill from the military stores
For one pound of snuff supplied to
General Won Moltke. one thaler.' The
great soldier paid 1t without a MUIR
muir.
Had these timely pinches of snuff
not been taken Won Moltke might not
have crowned his caree with such a
triumphant victory. But be that as /,
may, he would most certainly have
suffered If he had been deprived of the
great solace of his favorite snuff
Anent the agonies of snuff takers ir
the absence of SNUFF one remembers
story of Dean Ramsay. A sever
snowstorm had cut off all communi.
cation in n highland district for some
weeks and every snuffbox in one vii.
lage was exhausted, with no hope OF
replenishment. The minister in par.
w "aS OF I'LL " d pIHCH I0a
study was out of the question. Al
last the beadle suddenly rushed of
and returned in a few minutes with ar
exultant cry of 'Hae!' and a resup.
ply box. 'Whaour did o get i
John? asked the minister. after a Ions
deep pinch. L soupit (swept) the
poupit.' replied John. The minister.
continual spillings Of SNUFF Sabbath
after Sabbath had proved of value ii
the days of famine.
That minister's %replenished no,
brought much benefit to those wht
applied themselves to its contents
There is. too, or record a tale of /;
pinch of snuff that turned enemie,
into friends. A we'll known tobacco
and snuff manufacturers son entered
one of the crack cavalry regiments, t,
the great disgust of the aristocrati,
gentlemen and officers thereof. 1
was privately decided to make the in
truder feel that he was not wanted II
that exclusive unit of the service an,
q neat plan was formed with that oh
ject. AS soon as the dessert was owe
and n wing was on the rounds OF
the first night he appeared a mes
his brother officers Simultaneous.
took out their pocket handkerchief
and then ensued what was more lik,
a %sneezing competition than anythin,
0soS' - III - WuOBS DOucTL Lnl
little hint wal intended looked aroun,
moment In mild establishment he
fore taking in the import of the dis
play. Then he rose. dignined an,
calm and with the p%olitest air in tn,
world: Gentlemen he said. takinl
out a silver mounted snuffbox. ALLOW
me to oner you a pinch of my faith
er's very best snuff.' From that mo
ment all antagonism was at an end.
by the way. some idea of tn,
great popularity Of SNUFF in the oil,
days may be formed by the fact tina
a calculation was once made that tn,
inveterate SNUFF taker in forty year
occupied no less than twenty.fou
months in taking ,pinches. 1t beinl
computed that one pinch was takel
every ten minutes. This is how the re
suit was arrived at: Every pincl
with the incidental circumstance,
consumes n and a half minutes-on,
and a half minutes out Of every ten
allowing sixteen hours to a snuff TAX
ing day. amounts to two hours an,
twenty-four minutes out Of every nat
ural day or one day out Of ten. On
day out Of ten amounts to thirty.si,
day and a half ina year. Hence, I
we suppose the practice to be per
sisted in forty years. two entire year,
Altogether, although the, cult OF tn
snuffbox had its pleasing amenities. l
does not seem one whose reviva
would bring In such immense popular