Evening star., 1923-05-18
ny THE MARQUIsE DE FONTENOY.

BY THE MARQUISE DE FONTENOf.
That ireland should At length have
decided upon the cultivation on an
extended scale Of tobacco. for which
her climatic conditions and her soil
are said to be particularly favorable.
as we'll as the announcement that
three of the greatest tobacco con-
Germs of Great Britain have concluded
ARRANGEMENTS with the government of
the Free State for the establishment
of a series of tobacco factories with
in its borders. serves to recall the
fact that until now the production Of
tobacco has been virtually forbidden
in the British isles. including Erin.
Originally the prohibition under
j heavy penalties of the cultivation of
the tobacco plant in England, and es-
pecially in Ireland, was due TO legis-
sirn manual Of King Charles ii. with
the object of fostering the produc-
+, tion of tobacco in Virginia and thus
developing the wealth and the pros.
perity of that maiden colony OF Urea. !.
britain Indeed. in order to promote
the industrial welfare of Virginia ana
Of her settlers. among whom the
Younger sons of the most patrician OF
England and Scotland. we're iarseay M
compelled to desist. from developing
and exploiting the cultivation OF the
herba nicotina. which might, had IL
not been for this obstacle. have be.
the Emerald isle and source OF
wealth.
Considerably over a century has
elapsed since Virginia ceased to be
a British colony and became part and
parcel Of that great federation
known as the United States. But
although England had ceased to have
any Immediate interest in the
prosperity of the American colonies
which had emanicipated themselves
from her rule. the prohibition
against the cultivation of tobacco
! in England ana Ireland continued to
the laws bearing upon the subject,
dating from the reign Of the Stuart
kings, were defeated by the stubborn
opposition of the fiscal branches OF
very large portion Of it. ressnues es
tc'A'G to. nearly half . billion . ,,,,,,i q
scale in the British isles would
cause a heavy decline in the customs
dues from tho foreign product, ne-
cessitating the organization OF an en-
tfrely new system OF excise on the
domestic. article. and generally throw
the entire budget Of receipts into
confusion.
Now. however, the Free, State OF
ireland Is emancipated from nscal
, prohibitions and control on the part
Of the treasury department at White
0nvhFnn1enf
Dublin can organize its system OF
revenue and expenditures to suit it
self The English government pro-
hibition Of homegrown tobacco has
to sx ss :y .d rsis rhn ,af
years we may expect. according to
the present outlook. TO see pipe to-
bacco, cigars and cigarettes redolent
with the atmosphere and SAVIOR OF the
Emerald isle in in uniysrss ,nE dsma1 N sa
Patrick, but also among all people In
the new world who have a drop OF
good old irish blood in their veins.
Meanwhile the obstacles TO cultiva.
tion in Ensland and Il, "A sr...;an! wales sslii
to free this particular branch OF In
dustry from its present restraint are
frowned. upon BY the treasury . at
whitehall.
It seems but the other day that Col.
Lord Belper OF the I'd Life Guards. .
veteran Of the great war, was being
divorced by his wife, daughter Of
Lord Abertars. the custody OF the
three children Of the union being
awarded to her; and now he is con.
tracting another, marriage with the
very pretty Angela TollemAehe,
younger daughter Of the Honorable
Douglas Tollemache and grand
daughter OF the first Lord Tolle-
mache. II Lord Belper. who II twice
the age Of his bride, occupies"a seat
| in the house OF lords, 1t II becAu!e his
elder brother, the Honorable William
Strut; died In 1898 in q hotel At st.
Louis No. under very mysttrious
eircu IA stAncAA