CHAPTERVIII.

The Artist.

"A delicate person is like a pipe with a crack in the bowl, for it takes continued and careful pulling to keep his light in; and to take life is like willfully dashing a lighted pipe from the mouth into fragments, and scattering the sparks to the four winds of heaven. An artist is a good coloring pipe;an attractive orator is a pipe that draws well; a communist is a foul pipe; a well-educated woman whose conversation is attractive is a pipe with a nice mouthpiece; a girl of the period is a fancy pipe, the ornament of which is liable to chip; a female orator on woman's rights is invariably a plain pipe; an old toper is a well-seasoned pipe; an escaped thief is a cutty pipe, and the policeman in pursuit is a shilling pipe, for is he not a Bob?"

From these ingenious "conceits" we turn to a few thoughts on the present condition and history of the plant.

The Yankee Smoker.

The calumet or pipe of peace, decorated with all the splendor of savage taste, is smoked by the red man to ratify good feeling or confirm some treaty of peace. The energetic Yankee bent upon the accomplishment of his ends, puffs vigorously at his cigar and with scarcely a passing notice, strides over obstacles that lie in his path of whatever nature they may be. The dancing Spaniard with his eternal castanets whispers but a word to his dark-eyed senorita as he hands her another perfumed cigarette. The lounging Italian hissing intrigues under the shadow of an ancient portico, smokes on as he stalks over the proud place where the blood of Cæsar dyed the stones of the Capitol, or where the knife of Virginius flashed in the summer sun. The Turk comes forth from the Mosque only to smoke. The priest of Nicaragua with solemn mien strides up the aisle and lights the altar candles with the fire struck from his cigar. The hardy Laplander invites the stranger to his hut and offers him his pipe while he inquires,if he comes from the land of tobacco. The indigent Jakut exchanges his most valuable furs and skins for a few ounces of the "Circassian weed." Its charms are recognized by the gondolier of Venice and the Muleteer of Spain. The Switzer lights his pipe amid Alpine heights. The tourist climbing Ætna, or Vesuvius' rugged side, puffs on thoughtheyperchance have long since ceased to smoke. Tobacco, soothed the hardships of Cromwell's soldiers and gave novelty to the court life of the daughters of Louis XIV, delighted the courtiers of Queen Elizabeth and bidding defiance to the ire of her successors, the Stuarts, has never ceased to hold sway over court and camp, as well as over the masses of the people.

In nothing cultivated has there been so remarkable a development. Originally limited to the natives of America, it attracted the attention of Europeans who by cultivation increased the size and quality of the plant. But not alone has the plant improved in form and quality, the rude implements once used by the Indians have given away (even among themselves) to those of improved form and modern style. These facts are without a doubt among the most curious that commerce presents. That a plant primarily used only by savages, should succeed in spite of the greatest opposition in becoming one of the greatest luxuries of the civilized world, is a fact without parallel. It can almost be said, so universally is it used, that its claims are recognized by all. Though hated by kings and popes it was highly esteemed by their subjects. Their delight in the new found novelty was unbounded and doubtless they could sing in praise as Byron did in later times of:

"Sublime tobacco which from East to WestCheers the tar's labor and the Turkman's rest."[Back to Contents]

TThe custom of snuff-taking is as old at least as the discovery of the tobacco plant. The first account we have of it is given by Roman Pane, the friar who accompanied Columbus on his second voyage of discovery (1494), and who alludes to its use among the Indians by means of a cane half a cubit long. Ewbank says:

The custom of snuff-taking is as old at least as the discovery of the tobacco plant. The first account we have of it is given by Roman Pane, the friar who accompanied Columbus on his second voyage of discovery (1494), and who alludes to its use among the Indians by means of a cane half a cubit long. Ewbank says:

"Much has been written on a revolution so unique in its origin, unsurpassed in incidents and results, and constituting one of the most singular episodes in human history; but next to nothing is recorded of whence the various processes of manufacture and uses were derived. Some imagine the popular pabulum[56]for the nose of translantic origin. No such thing! Columbus first beheld smokers in the Antilles. Pizarro found chewers in Peru, but it was in the country discovered by Cabral that the great sternutatory was originally found. Brazilian Indians were the Fathers of snuff, and its best fabricators. Though counted among the least refined of aborigines, their taste in this matter was as pure as that of the fashionable world of the East. Their snuff has never been surpassed, nor their apparatus for making it."

Soon after the introduction and cultivation of tobacco in Spain and Portugal its use in the form of snuff came in vogue and from these notions it spread rapidly over Europe, particularly in France and Italy. It is said to have been usedfirst in France[57]by the wife of Henry II., Catherine de Medici, and that it was first used at court during the latter part of the Sixteenth Century. The Queen seemed to give it a good standing in society and it soon became the fashion to use the powder by placing a little on the back of the hand and inhaling it. The use of snuff greatly increased from the fact of its supposed medicinal properties and its curative powers in all diseases, particularly those affecting the head, hence the wide introduction of snuff-taking in Europe. Fairholt says of its early use:

"Though thus originally recommended for adoption as a medicine, it soon became better known as a luxury and the gratification of a pinch was generally indulged in Spain, Italy and France, during the early part of the Seventeenth Century. It was the grandees of the French Court who 'set the fashion' of snuff, with all its luxurious additions of scents and expensive boxes. It became common in the Court of Louis le Grand, although that monarch had a decided antipathy to tobacco in any form."Says an English writer "Between 1660 and 1700, the custom of taking snuff, though it was disliked by Louis XIV., was almost as prevalent in France as it is at the present time. In this instance, the example of the monarch was disregarded;tobac en poudreortobac rape[58]as snuff was sometimes called found favor in the noses of the French people; and all men of fashion prided themselves on carrying a handsome snuff-box. Ladies also took snuff; and the belle whose grace and propriety of demeanour were themes of general admiration, thought it not unbecoming to take a pinch at dinner, or to blow her pretty nose in her embroideredmouchoirwith the sound of a trombone. Louis endeavored to discourage the use of snuff and his valets-de-chambre were obliged to renounce it when they were appointed to their office. One of these gentlemen, the Duc d'Harcourt, was supposed to have died of apoplexy in consequence of having, in order to please the king, totally discontinued the habit which he had before indulged to excess."

Says an English writer "Between 1660 and 1700, the custom of taking snuff, though it was disliked by Louis XIV., was almost as prevalent in France as it is at the present time. In this instance, the example of the monarch was disregarded;tobac en poudreortobac rape[58]as snuff was sometimes called found favor in the noses of the French people; and all men of fashion prided themselves on carrying a handsome snuff-box. Ladies also took snuff; and the belle whose grace and propriety of demeanour were themes of general admiration, thought it not unbecoming to take a pinch at dinner, or to blow her pretty nose in her embroideredmouchoirwith the sound of a trombone. Louis endeavored to discourage the use of snuff and his valets-de-chambre were obliged to renounce it when they were appointed to their office. One of these gentlemen, the Duc d'Harcourt, was supposed to have died of apoplexy in consequence of having, in order to please the king, totally discontinued the habit which he had before indulged to excess."

Other grandees were less accommodating: thus we aretold that Marechal d'Huxelles used to cover his cravat and dress with it. The Royal Physician, Monsieur Fagon, is reported to have devoted his best energies to a public oration of a very violent kind against snuff, which unfortunately failed to convince his auditory, as the excited lecturer in his most enthusiastic moments refreshed his nose with a pinch.

A Tobacco Grater.

Although disliked by the most polished prince of Europe, the use of snuff increased and soon spread outside the limits of the court of France and in a short time became a favorite mode of using tobacco as it continues to be with many at this day.[59]The snuff-boxes of this period were very elegant and were decorated with elaborate paintings or set with gems. It was the custom to carry both a snuff-box and a tobacco grater, which was often as expensive and elegant as the snuff-box itself. Many of them were richly carved and ornamented in the most superb manner. Others bore the titles and arms of the owner and it was considered as part of a courtier's outfit to sport a magnificent box and grater. The French mode of manufacturing snuff was to saturate the leaves in water, then dry them and color according to the shade desired. The perfume was then added and the snuff was prepared for use. The kind of tobacco used was "Tobac de Virginie." Spanish snuff was perfumed in the same manner with the additional use of orange-flower water. Carver gives the mode of manufacturing snuff in America (1779).

"Being possessed of a tobacco wheel, which is a very simple machine, they spin the leaves, after they are properly cured, into a twist of any size they think fit; and havingfolded it into rolls of about twenty pounds weight each, they lay it by for use. In this state it will keep for several years, and be continually improving, as it every hour grows milder. When they have occasion to use it, they take off such a length as they think necessary, which, if designed for smoking, they cut into small pieces, for chewing into larger, as choice directs; if they intend to make snuff of it they take a quantity from the roll, and laying it in a room where a fire is kept, in a day or two it will become dry, and being rubbed on a grater will produce a genuine snuff. Those in more improved regions who like their snuff scented, apply to it such odoriferous waters as they can procure, or think most pleasing."

Dutch snuff was only partially ground, and was therefore coarse and harsh in its effects when inhaled into the nostrils. The Irish, according to Everards, used large quantities of snuff "to purge their brains." Snuff-taking became general in England[60]at the commencement of the Seventeenth Century, and scented snuffs were used in preference to the plain. Frequent mention is made in the plays of this time of its use and varieties. In Congreve's "Love for Love," one of the characters presents a young lady with a box of snuff, on receipt of which she says, "Look you here what Mr. Tattle has given me! Look you here, cousin, here's a snuff-box; nay, there's snuff in't: here, will you have any? Oh, good! how sweet it is!"

Portuguese snuff seemed to be in favor and was delicately perfumed. It was made from the fibres of the leaves, and was considered among many to be the finest kind of the "pungent dust." Some varieties of snuff were named after the scents employed in flavoring them. In France many kinds became popular from the fact of their use at court, and by the courtiers throughout the kingdom. Pope notes the use of the snuff-box by the fops and courtiers of his time in this manner:—

"Sir Plume of amber snuff-box justly vain,And the nice conduct of a clouded cane;With earnest eyes, and round, unthinking face,He first the snuff-box open'd, then the case."

The mode of "tapping the box" before opening was characteristic of the beaux and fops of this period, and is commented on in a poem on snuff:—

"The lawyer so grave, when he opens his case,In obscurity finds it is hid,Till the bright glass of knowledge illumines his face,As he gives the three taps on the lid."

Spain, Portugal, and France early in the Seventeenth Century became noted as the producers of the finest kinds of snuff. In Spain and Portugal it was the favorite mode of using tobacco, and rare kinds were compounded and sold at enormous prices. Its use in France by the fair sex is thus commented on by a French writer:—

Demi-journées.

"Everything in France depends uponla mode; and it has pleasedla modeto patronize this disgusting custom, and carry about with them small boxes which they termdemi-journées."

The most expensive materials were employed in the manufacture of snuff-boxes, such as agate, mosaics, and all kinds of rare wood, while many were of gold, studded with diamonds. Some kinds were made of China mounted in metal, and were very fanciful. In "Pandora's Box," a "Satyr against Snuff," 1719, may be found the following description of the snuff-boxes then in vogue:

"For females fair, and formal fops to please,The mines are robb'd of ore, of shells the seas,With all that mother-earth and beast affordTo man, unworthy now, tho' once their lord:Which wrought into a box, with all the showOf art the greatest artist can bestow;Charming in shape, with polished rays of light,A joint so fine it shuns the sharpest sight;Must still be graced with all the radiant gemsAnd precious stones that e'er arrived in Thames.Within the lid the painter plays his part,And with his pencil proves his matchless art;There drawn to life some spark or mistress dwells,Like hermits chaste and constant to their cells."

Some of the more highly perfumed snuffs sold for thirty shillings a pound, while the cheaper kinds, such as English Rappee and John's Lane, could be bought for two or three shillings per pound. There are at least two hundred kinds of snuff well known in commerce. The Scotch and Irish snuffs are for the most part made from the midribs; the Strasburgh, French, Spanish, and Russian snuffs from the soft parts of the leaves. An English writer gives the following account of some of the well-known snuffs and the method of manufacturing:—

"For the famous fancy snuff known as Maroco, the recipe is to take forty parts of French or St. Omer tobacco, with twenty parts of fermented Virginia stalks in powder; the whole to be ground and sifted. To this powder must be added two pounds and a half of rose leaves in fine powder; and the whole must be moistened with salt and water and thoroughly incorporated. After that it must be 'worked up' with cream and salts of tartar, and packed in lead to preserve its delicate aroma. The celebrated 'gros grain Paris snuff' is composed of equal parts of Amersfoort and James River tobacco, and the scent is imported by a 'sauce,' among the ingredients of which are salt, soda, tamarinds, red wine, syrup, cognac, and cream of tartar."

James Gillespie.

The mode of manufacture of snuff now is far different than that employed in the Seventeenth Century. Then the leaves were simply dried and made fine by rubbing them together in the hands, or ground in some rude mill; still later thetobacco was washed or cleansed in water, dried, and then ground. Now, however, the tobacco undergoes quite a process, and must be kept packed several months before it is ground into snuff. One of the most celebrated manufacturers of snuff was James Gillespie, of Edinburgh, who compounded the famous variety bearing his name. The following account of him we take from "The Tobacco Plant:"—

"In the High Street of Edinburgh, a little east from the place where formerly stood the Cross,—"'Dun-Edin's Cross, a pillar'd stone,Rose on a turret octagon,'

"In the High Street of Edinburgh, a little east from the place where formerly stood the Cross,—

"'Dun-Edin's Cross, a pillar'd stone,Rose on a turret octagon,'

was situated the shop of James Gillespie, the celebrated snuff manufacturer. The shop is still occupied by a tobacconist, whose sign is the head of a typical negro, and in one of the windows is exhibited the effigy of a Highlander, who is evidently a competent judge of 'sneeshin.' Not much is known regarding the personal history of James Gillespie, but it is understood that he was born shortly after the Jacobite rebellion of 1715, at Roslin, a picturesque village about six miles from Edinburgh. He became a tobacconist in Edinburgh, along with his brother John, and by the exercise of steady industry and frugality, he was enabled to purchase Spylaw, a small estate in the parish of Colinton, about four miles from Edinburgh, where he erected a snuff-mill on the banks of the Water of Leith, a small stream which flows through the finely-wooded grounds of Spylaw. The younger brother, John, attended to the shop, while the subject of our notice resided at Spylaw, where he superintended the snuff-mill. Mr. Gillespie was able to continue his industrious habits through a long life, and having made some successful speculations in tobacco during the war of American Independence, when the 'weed' advanced considerably in price, he was enabled to increase his Spylaw estate from time to timeby making additional purchases of property in the parish."Mr. Gillespie remained through life a bachelor. His establishment at Spylaw was of the simplest description. It is said that he invariably sat at the same table with his servants, indulging in familiar conversation, and entering with much spirit into their amusements. Newspapers were not so widely circulated at that period as they are now, and on the return of any of his domestics from the city, which one of them daily visited, he listened with great attention to the 'news, and enjoyed with much zest the narration of any jocular incident that had occurred. Mr. Gillespie had apenchantfor animals, and their wants were carefully attended to. His poultry, equally with his horses, could have testified to the judicious attention which he bestowed upon them. A story is told of the familiarity between the laird and his riding horse, which was well-fed and full of spirit."The animal frequently indulged in a little restive curvetting with its master, especially when the latter was about to get into the saddle. 'Come, come,' he would say, on such occasions, addressing the animal in his usual quiet way, 'hae dune, noo, for ye'll no like if I come across your lugs (ears) wi' the stick.'"Even in his old age Mr. Gillespie regularly superintended the operations in the mill, which was situated in the rear of his house. On these occasions he was wrapped in an old blanket ingrained with snuff. Though he kept a carriage he very seldom used it, until shortly before his death, when increasing infirmities caused him occasionally to take a drive. It was of this carriage, plain and neat in its design, with nothing on its panel but the initials 'J. G.' that the witty Henry Erskine proposed the couplet—'Who would have thought itThat noses had bought it?'as an appropriate motto. In those days snuff was much more extensively used than at present, and Mr. Gillespie was in the habit of gratuitously filling the 'mulls' of many of the Edinburgh characters of the last century. Colinton appears to have been a great snuff-making centre. About thirty years ago there were five snuff mills in operation in the parish, the produce of which was sold in Edinburgh. Even now a considerable quantity of snuff is made in the district, chiefly by grinders to the trade."

"Mr. Gillespie remained through life a bachelor. His establishment at Spylaw was of the simplest description. It is said that he invariably sat at the same table with his servants, indulging in familiar conversation, and entering with much spirit into their amusements. Newspapers were not so widely circulated at that period as they are now, and on the return of any of his domestics from the city, which one of them daily visited, he listened with great attention to the 'news, and enjoyed with much zest the narration of any jocular incident that had occurred. Mr. Gillespie had apenchantfor animals, and their wants were carefully attended to. His poultry, equally with his horses, could have testified to the judicious attention which he bestowed upon them. A story is told of the familiarity between the laird and his riding horse, which was well-fed and full of spirit.

"The animal frequently indulged in a little restive curvetting with its master, especially when the latter was about to get into the saddle. 'Come, come,' he would say, on such occasions, addressing the animal in his usual quiet way, 'hae dune, noo, for ye'll no like if I come across your lugs (ears) wi' the stick.'

"Even in his old age Mr. Gillespie regularly superintended the operations in the mill, which was situated in the rear of his house. On these occasions he was wrapped in an old blanket ingrained with snuff. Though he kept a carriage he very seldom used it, until shortly before his death, when increasing infirmities caused him occasionally to take a drive. It was of this carriage, plain and neat in its design, with nothing on its panel but the initials 'J. G.' that the witty Henry Erskine proposed the couplet—

'Who would have thought itThat noses had bought it?'

as an appropriate motto. In those days snuff was much more extensively used than at present, and Mr. Gillespie was in the habit of gratuitously filling the 'mulls' of many of the Edinburgh characters of the last century. Colinton appears to have been a great snuff-making centre. About thirty years ago there were five snuff mills in operation in the parish, the produce of which was sold in Edinburgh. Even now a considerable quantity of snuff is made in the district, chiefly by grinders to the trade."

Murray, alluding to the popularity of the custom inEngland during the reign of the House of Brunswick, says:—

Fops Taking Snuff.(From an old print).

"The reigns of the four Georges may be entitled the snuffing period of English history. The practice became an appanage of fashion before 1714, as it has continued after 1830, to be the comfort of priests, literary men, highlanders, tailors, factory hands, and old people of both sexes. George IV. was a nasute judge of snuffs, and so enamoured of the delectation, that in each of his palaces he kept a jar chamber, containing a choice assortment of tobacco powder, presided over by a critical superintendent. His favorite stimulant in the morning was violet Strasburgh, the same which had previously helped Queen Charlotte to 'kill the day'—after dinner Carrotte—named from hispenchantfor it. King's Carrotte, Martinique, Etrenne, Old Paris, Bureau, Cologne, Bordeaux, Havre, Princeza, Rouen, and Rappee, were placed on the table, in as many rich and curious boxes."

Sterne, in his "Sentimental Journey," gives a pleasing description of snuff-taking with the poor monk. He writes:

"The good old monk was within six paces of us, as the idea of him crossed my mind; and was advancing towards us a little out of the line, as if uncertain whether he should break in upon us or no. He stoop'd, however, as soon as he came up to us with a world of frankness; and having a horn snuff-box in his hand, he presented it open to me."'You shall taste mine,' said I, pulling out my box (which was a small tortoise one), and putting it into his hand."''Tis most excellent,' said the monk."'Then do me the favor,' I replied 'to accept of the box and all, and when you take a pinch out of it, sometimes recollect it was the peace-offering of a man who once used you unkindly, but not from his heart.'"The poor monk blushed as red as scarlet, 'Mon Dieu?' said he, pressing his hands together, 'you never used me unkindly.'"'I should think,' said the lady, 'he is not likely.'I blushed in my turn; but from what motives, I leave to the few who feel to analyze. 'Excuse me, madam,' replied I, 'I treated him most unkindly, and from no provocations.'"''Tis impossible,' said the lady."'My God!' cried the monk, with a warmth of asseveration which seemed not to belong to him, 'the fault was in me, and in the indiscretion of my zeal.'"The lady opposed it, and I joined with her in maintaining it was impossible, that a spirit so regulated as his could give offence to any. I knew not that contention could be rendered so sweet and pleasurable a thing to the nerves as I then felt it. We remained silent, without any sensation of that foolish pain which takes place when, in a circle, you look for ten minutes in one another's faces without saying a word.

"'You shall taste mine,' said I, pulling out my box (which was a small tortoise one), and putting it into his hand.

"''Tis most excellent,' said the monk.

"'Then do me the favor,' I replied 'to accept of the box and all, and when you take a pinch out of it, sometimes recollect it was the peace-offering of a man who once used you unkindly, but not from his heart.'

"The poor monk blushed as red as scarlet, 'Mon Dieu?' said he, pressing his hands together, 'you never used me unkindly.'

"'I should think,' said the lady, 'he is not likely.'

I blushed in my turn; but from what motives, I leave to the few who feel to analyze. 'Excuse me, madam,' replied I, 'I treated him most unkindly, and from no provocations.'

"''Tis impossible,' said the lady.

"'My God!' cried the monk, with a warmth of asseveration which seemed not to belong to him, 'the fault was in me, and in the indiscretion of my zeal.'

"The lady opposed it, and I joined with her in maintaining it was impossible, that a spirit so regulated as his could give offence to any. I knew not that contention could be rendered so sweet and pleasurable a thing to the nerves as I then felt it. We remained silent, without any sensation of that foolish pain which takes place when, in a circle, you look for ten minutes in one another's faces without saying a word.

Horn Snuff-boxes.

"Whilst this lasted, the monk rubb'd his horn box upon the sleeve of his tunic; and as soon as it had acquired a little air of brightness by the friction, he made a low bow and said, 'twas too late to say whether it was the weakness or goodness of our tempers which had involved us in this contest, but be it as it would, he begg'd we would exchange boxes. In saying this, he presented this to me with one, as he took mine from me in the other; and having kissed it, with a stream of good nature in his eyes, he put it into his bosom, and took his leave. I guard this box as I would the instrumental parts of my religion, to help my mind on to something better: in truth I seldom go abroad without it;and oft and many a time have I called up by it the courteous spirit of its owner, to regulate my own in the jostlings of the world; they had found full employment for his, as I learnt from his story, till about the forty-fifth year of his age, when upon some military services ill-requited, and meeting at the same time with a disappointment in the tenderest of passions, he abandoned the sword and the sex together, and took sanctuary, not so much in his convent as in himself. I feel a damp upon my spirits, as I am going to add, that in my last return through Calais, upon inquiring after Father Lorenzo, I heard he had been dead near three months, and was buried, not in his convent, but according to his desire, in a little cemetery belonging to it about two leagues off. I had a strong desire to see where they had laid him, when, upon pulling out his little horn box, as I sat by his grave, and plucking a nettle or two at the head of it, which had no business to grow there, they all struck together so forcibly upon my affections that I burst into a flood of tears—but I am as weak as a woman; I beg the world not to smile, but pity me."

Many pleasing effusions have been written promoted doubtless by a sneeze among which the following on "A pinch of Snuff" from "The Sportsman Magazine," exhibits the custom and the benefits ascribed to its indulgence.

"With mind or body sore distrest,Or with repeated cares opprest,What sets the aching heart at rest?A pinch of snuff!"Or should some sharp and gnawing painCreep round the noddle of the brain,What puts all things to rights again?A pinch of snuff!"When speech and tongue together fail,What helps old ladies in their tale,And adds fresh canvass to their sail?A pinch of snuff!"Or when some drowsy parson prays,And still more drowsy people gaze,What opes their eyelids with amaze?A pinch of snuff!"A comfort which they can't forsake,What is it some would rather take,Than good roast beef, or rich plum cake?A pinch of snuff!"Should two old gossips chance to sit,And sip their slop, and talk of it,What gives a sharpness to their wit?A pinch of snuff!"What introduces Whig or Tory,And reconciles them in their story,When each is boasting in his glory?A pinch of snuff!"What warms without a conflagrationExcites without intoxication,And rouses without irritation?A pinch of snuff!"When friendship fades, and fortune's spent,And hope seems gone the way they went,One cheering ray of joy is sent—A pinch of snuff!"Then let us sing in praise of snuff!And call it not such 'horrid stuff,'At which some frown, and others puff,And seem to flinch."But when a friend presents a box,Avoid the scruples and the shocksOf him who laughs and he who mocks,And take a pinch!"

"With mind or body sore distrest,Or with repeated cares opprest,What sets the aching heart at rest?A pinch of snuff!

"Or should some sharp and gnawing painCreep round the noddle of the brain,What puts all things to rights again?A pinch of snuff!

"When speech and tongue together fail,What helps old ladies in their tale,And adds fresh canvass to their sail?A pinch of snuff!

"Or when some drowsy parson prays,And still more drowsy people gaze,What opes their eyelids with amaze?A pinch of snuff!

"A comfort which they can't forsake,What is it some would rather take,Than good roast beef, or rich plum cake?A pinch of snuff!

"Should two old gossips chance to sit,And sip their slop, and talk of it,What gives a sharpness to their wit?A pinch of snuff!

"What introduces Whig or Tory,And reconciles them in their story,When each is boasting in his glory?A pinch of snuff!

"What warms without a conflagrationExcites without intoxication,And rouses without irritation?A pinch of snuff!

"When friendship fades, and fortune's spent,And hope seems gone the way they went,One cheering ray of joy is sent—A pinch of snuff!

"Then let us sing in praise of snuff!And call it not such 'horrid stuff,'At which some frown, and others puff,And seem to flinch.

"But when a friend presents a box,Avoid the scruples and the shocksOf him who laughs and he who mocks,And take a pinch!"

From "Pandora's Box" from which we have already quoted, we extract the following in which the use of snuff is deprecated by the author:

—"now, 'tis by every sortAnd sex adored, from Billingsgate to court.But ask a dame 'how oysters sell?' if nice,She begs a pinch before she sets a price.Go thence to 'Change, inquire the price of Stocks;Before they ope their lips they open first the box.Next pay a visit to the Temple, whereThe lawyers live, who gold to Heaven prefer;You'll find them stupify'd to that degree,They'll take a pinch before they'll take their fee.Then make a step and view the splendid court,Where all the gay, the great, the good resort;E'en they, whose pregnant skulls, though large and thick,Can scarce secure their native sense and wit,Are feeding of their hungry souls with pureAmbrosial snuff. * * * *But to conclude: the gaudy court resign,T' observe, for once, a place much more divine,When the same folly's acted by the good,And is the sole devotion of the lewd;The church, more sacred once, is what we mean,Where now they flock to see and to be seen;The box is used, the book laid by, as dead,With snuff, not Scripture, there the soul is fed;For where to heaven the hands by one of those,Are lifted, twenty have them at the nose;And while some pray, to be from sudden deathDeliver'd, others snuff to stop their breath."

Paolo Mantegazza, one of the most brilliant and witty of Italian writers on tobacco, says of its use and "some of the delights that may be imagined through the sense of smell:"—

"Human civilization has not yet learned to found on the sense of smell aught but the moderate enjoyment derived from snuffing, which, confined within the narrow circle of a few sensations, renders us incapable of entering into the most delicate pleasures of that sense."Snuff procures us the rapture of a tactile irritation, of a slight perfume; but, above all, it furnishes the charm of an intermittent occupation which soothes us by interrupting, from time to time, our labor. At other times it renders idleness less insupportable to us, by breaking it into the infinite intervals which pass from one pinch of snuff to another. Sometimes our snuff-box arouses us from torpor and drowsiness; sometimes, it occupies our hands when in society we do not know where to put them or what to do with them. Finally, snuff and snuffing are things which we can love, because they are always with us; and we can season them with a little vanity if we possess a snuff-box of silver or of gold, which we open continually before those who humbly content themselves with snuff-boxes of bone or of wood. We gladly concede the pleasures of snuffing to men of all conditions, and to ladies who, having passed a certain age, or who, being deformed, have no longer any sex; but we solemnlyand resolutely refuse the snuff-box to young and beautiful women, who ought to preserve their delicate and pretty noses for the odors of the mignonette and the rose."

"Snuff procures us the rapture of a tactile irritation, of a slight perfume; but, above all, it furnishes the charm of an intermittent occupation which soothes us by interrupting, from time to time, our labor. At other times it renders idleness less insupportable to us, by breaking it into the infinite intervals which pass from one pinch of snuff to another. Sometimes our snuff-box arouses us from torpor and drowsiness; sometimes, it occupies our hands when in society we do not know where to put them or what to do with them. Finally, snuff and snuffing are things which we can love, because they are always with us; and we can season them with a little vanity if we possess a snuff-box of silver or of gold, which we open continually before those who humbly content themselves with snuff-boxes of bone or of wood. We gladly concede the pleasures of snuffing to men of all conditions, and to ladies who, having passed a certain age, or who, being deformed, have no longer any sex; but we solemnlyand resolutely refuse the snuff-box to young and beautiful women, who ought to preserve their delicate and pretty noses for the odors of the mignonette and the rose."

With royalty snuff has been a prime favorite. Charles III. of Spain had a great predilection for rappee snuff, but only indulged his inclination by stealth, and particularly while shooting, when he imagined himself to be unnoticed. Frederick the Great and Napoleon[61]both loved and used large quantities of the "pungent dust." Of the former the following anecdote is related:—

"The cynical temper of Frederick the Great is well known. Once when his sister, the Duchess of Brunswick, was at Potsdam, Frederick made to the brave Count Schwerin the present of a gold snuff-box. On the lid inside was painted the head of an ass. Next day, when dining with the king, Schwerin, with some ostentation, put his snuff-box on the table. Wishing to turn the joke against Schwerin, the king called attention to the snuff-box. The Duchess took it up and opened it. Immediately she exclaimed, 'What a striking likeness! In truth, brother, this is one of the best portraits I have ever seen of you.' Frederick, embarrassed, thought his sister was carrying the jest too far. She passed the box to her neighbor, who uttered similar expressions to her own. The box made the round of the table, and every one was fervently eloquent about the marvelous resemblance. The king was puzzled what to make of all this. When the box at last reached his hands, he saw, to his great surprise, that his portrait was really there. Count Schwerin had simply, with exceeding dispatch, employed an artist to remove the ass's head, and to paint the king's head instead. Frederick could not help laughing at the Count's clever trick, which was really the best rebuke of his own bad taste and want of proper and respectful feeling.""As Frederick William I., of Prussia, was eminently the Smoking King, so his son Frederick the Great was eminently the Snuffing King. Perhaps smoking harmonizes best with action; and it might, without much stretch of fancy, be shown that as the Prussian monarchy was founded on tobacco smoke, it flourished on snuff. Possibly, if Napoleon the Great, who like Frederick the Great, was an excessive snuffer,had smoked as well as snuffed, he might have preserved his empire from overthrow, seeing that smoking steadies and snuffing impels. The influences of smoking and snuffing on politics and war are ascertainable. What the effect of chewing is on political and military affairs, it is not so easy to discover. We recommend the subject for meditation to the profoundest metaphysicians. How many of the American politicians and generals have been chewers as well as snuffers and smokers? Is there to be some mysterious affinity between chewing and the revolutions, especially the social revolutions of the future? May not apocalyptic interpreters be able to show that chewing is the symbol of anarchy and annihilation?"

"As Frederick William I., of Prussia, was eminently the Smoking King, so his son Frederick the Great was eminently the Snuffing King. Perhaps smoking harmonizes best with action; and it might, without much stretch of fancy, be shown that as the Prussian monarchy was founded on tobacco smoke, it flourished on snuff. Possibly, if Napoleon the Great, who like Frederick the Great, was an excessive snuffer,had smoked as well as snuffed, he might have preserved his empire from overthrow, seeing that smoking steadies and snuffing impels. The influences of smoking and snuffing on politics and war are ascertainable. What the effect of chewing is on political and military affairs, it is not so easy to discover. We recommend the subject for meditation to the profoundest metaphysicians. How many of the American politicians and generals have been chewers as well as snuffers and smokers? Is there to be some mysterious affinity between chewing and the revolutions, especially the social revolutions of the future? May not apocalyptic interpreters be able to show that chewing is the symbol of anarchy and annihilation?"

Scotch Snuff-mills.

When first used in Europe snuff was made ready for use by the takers—each person being provided with a box or "mill," as they were termed, to reduce the leaves to powder.

In connection with this, the following may not be irrelevent:—

The following anecdote of Huerta the celebrated Spanish guitarist, is taken from one of M. Ella's programmes:—

"In the year 1826 the famous Huerta, who astonished the English by his performances on the guitar, was anxious to be introduced to the leader of the Italian Opera Band—a warm-hearted and sensitive Neapolitan—Spagnoletti. The latter had a great contempt for guitars, concertinas, and other fancy instruments not used in the orchestra. He was fond of snuff, had a capacious nose, and, when irritated, would ejaculate 'Mon Dieu!' On my presenting the vain Spaniard to Spagnoletti, the latter inquired, 'Vat you play?' Huerta—'De guitar-r-r, sare.' Spagnoletti—'De guitar! humph!' (takes a pinch of snuff.) Huerta—'Yeas, sare, de guitar-r-r, and ven I play myadagio, de tears shall run down both side your pig nose.' 'Vell den,' (taking snuff,) said Spagnoletti, 'I vill not hear youradagio.'"

The anecdote related of Count de Tesse, a celebrated courtier of France, is one of the best of its kind:—

"Count de Tesse, Marshal of France, was an eminent man during the reign of Louis XIV. Though he was a brave soldier and by no means an incompetent general, yet he was more remarkable as a skillful diplomatist and a pliant and prosperous courtier. During the War of Succession in Spain, he besieged Barcelona with a considerable army, in the spring of 1705. Terrible was the assault, and terrible was the resistance. At the end of six weeks the arrival of the British fleet, and reinforcements thrown into the place, forced Marshal Tesse to retire. Besides immense losses in dead and wounded, he had to abandon two hundred and twenty cannon and all his supplies. Incessantly fighting for fifteen days in his retreat towards the Pyrenees, he lost three thousand more of his men. It ought to be said, in vindication of Tesse, that he undertook the siege by express and urgent command of the French King, and contrary to his own judgment; for in writing to a friend, he said: 'If a Consistory were held to decide the infallibility of the King, as Consistories have been held to decide the infallibility of the Pope, I should by my vote declare His Majesty infallible. His orders have confounded all human science.'"Soon after the siege of Barcelona, a lady at a fashionable party took out her snuff-box and offered a pinch to any one who wished it. Marshal Tesse approached to take a pinch; but suddenly the lady drew her snuff-box back, saying, 'For you, Marshal, the snuff is too strong—it is Barcelona.'"

"Soon after the siege of Barcelona, a lady at a fashionable party took out her snuff-box and offered a pinch to any one who wished it. Marshal Tesse approached to take a pinch; but suddenly the lady drew her snuff-box back, saying, 'For you, Marshal, the snuff is too strong—it is Barcelona.'"

In Scotland the dry kinds of snuff are in favor and are esteemed as highly as the moister snuffs. Robert Leighton gives the following pen picture of the snuff-loving Scotchman; it is entitled "The Snuffie Auld Man:"—

"By the cosie fire-side, or the sun-ends o' gavels,The snuffie auld bodie is sure to be seen.Tap, tappin' his snuff-box, he snifters and sneevils,And smachers the snuff frae his mou' to his een.'Since tobacco cam' in, and the snuffin' began,There hasna been seen sic a snuffie auld man."His haurins are dozen'd, his een sair bedizzened.And red round the lids as the gills o' a fish;His face is a' bladdit, his sark-breest a' smaddit.As snuffie a picture as ony could wish.He makes a mere merter o' a' thing he does,Wi' snuff frae his fingers an' drops frae his nose."And wow but his nose is a troublesome member—Day and nicht, there's nae end to its snuffie desire:It's wide as the chimlie, it's red as an ember,And has to be fed like a dry-whinnie fire.It's a troublesome member, and gi'es him nae peace,Even sleepin', or eatin', or sayin' the grace."The kirk is disturbed wi' his hauckin' and sneezin'The dominie stoppit when leadin' the psalm;The minister, deav'd out o' logic and reason,Pours gall in the lugs that are gapi' for balm.The auld folks look surly, the young chaps jocose,While the bodie himsel' is bambazed wi' his nose."He scrimps the auld wife baith in garnal and caddyHe snuffs what wad keep her in comfort and ease;Rapee, Lundyfitt, Prince's Mixture, and Toddy,She looks upon them as the worst o' her faes.And we'll see an end o' her kooshian narWhile the auld carle's nose is upheld like a Czar."

"His haurins are dozen'd, his een sair bedizzened.And red round the lids as the gills o' a fish;His face is a' bladdit, his sark-breest a' smaddit.As snuffie a picture as ony could wish.He makes a mere merter o' a' thing he does,Wi' snuff frae his fingers an' drops frae his nose.

"And wow but his nose is a troublesome member—Day and nicht, there's nae end to its snuffie desire:It's wide as the chimlie, it's red as an ember,And has to be fed like a dry-whinnie fire.It's a troublesome member, and gi'es him nae peace,Even sleepin', or eatin', or sayin' the grace.

"The kirk is disturbed wi' his hauckin' and sneezin'The dominie stoppit when leadin' the psalm;The minister, deav'd out o' logic and reason,Pours gall in the lugs that are gapi' for balm.The auld folks look surly, the young chaps jocose,While the bodie himsel' is bambazed wi' his nose.

"He scrimps the auld wife baith in garnal and caddyHe snuffs what wad keep her in comfort and ease;Rapee, Lundyfitt, Prince's Mixture, and Toddy,She looks upon them as the worst o' her faes.And we'll see an end o' her kooshian narWhile the auld carle's nose is upheld like a Czar."

Sharp has written some verses founded upon the following singular anecdote in Dean Ramsay's "Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character:"

"The inveterate snuff-taker, like the dram-drinker, felt severely the being deprived of his accustomed stimulant, as in the following instance: A severe snow-storm in the Highlands, which lasted for several weeks, having stopped all communication betwixt neighboring hamlets, the snuff-boxes were soon reduced to their last pinch. Borrowing and begging from all the neighbors within reach were first resorted to, but when these failed all were alike reduced to the longing which unwillingly abstinent snuff-takers alone know. The minister of the parish was amongst the unhappy number; the craving was so intense that study was out of the question, and he became quite restless. As a last resort, the beadle was dispatched through the snow, to a neighboring glen, in the hope of getting a supply; but he came back as unsuccessful as he went. 'What's to be done, John? was the minister's pathetic inquiry. John shook his head, as much as to say that he could not tell, but immediately thereafter started up, as if a new idea occurred to him. He cameback in a few minutes, crying, 'Hae!' The minister, too eager to be scrutinizing, took a long deep pinch, and then said, 'Whour did you get it?' 'I soupit (swept) the poupit,' was John's expressive reply. The minister's accumulated superfluous Sabbath snuff now came into good use."

Sweeping from the Pulpit.

"Near the Highlands,Where the dry landsAre divided into islands,And distinguish'd from the mainlandAs the Western Hebrides."Stormy weather,Those who stay there,Oftentimes for weeks togetherKeep asunder from their neighbors,Hemm'd about by angry seas."For, storm-batter'd,Boats are shattered,And their precious cargoes scatter'dIn the boist'rous Sound of Jura,Or thy passage, Colonsay;"While the seamen,Like true freemen,Battle bravely with the DemonOf the storm, who strives to keep themFrom their harbor in the bay."For this reasonOne bad season,(If to say so be not treason,)In an island town the peopleWere reduced to great distress."Though on mainlandThey would fain land,They were storm-bound in their ain land,Where each luxury was little,And grew beautifully less."But whose sorrow,That sad morrow,When no man could beg or borrowFrom a friend's repository,Equall'd theirs who craved for snuff."But, most sadden'd,Nearly madden'dFor the lack of that which gladden'dHis proboscis, was the parson,Hight the Rev'rend Neil Macduff."If a snuffer,Though no puffer,You may guess what pangs he'd sufferIn his journey through a snow-drift,Visiting a neighboring town."From his rushingFor some sneishing;But his choring and his fishingCould procure no Toddy's Mixture,Moist Rappee, or Kendal Brown."In his trouble—Now made double,Since his last hope proved a bubble—To his aid came Beadle Johnnie,In his parish right-hand man."With a packet,Saying, Tak' it,It's as clean as I can mak' it,If ye'd save yer snuff on SabbathA toom box ye needna scan."Being lusty(Though 'twas musty)To his nose the snuff so dustyPut the minister, too much in want,The gift to scrutinize."An ideaHe could see aBlessing in this panacea;So he took such hearty pinches as broughtTears into his eyes."Then to Johnnie,His old cronie,Cried—'I fear'd I'd ne'er get ony.''Well, I'll tell ye,' said the beadle,'Whaur I got the stock of snuff.'"'In the poupitLow I stoopit,An' the snuff and stour I soupit,Then I brocht ye here a handfu',For ye need it sair enough.'"

"Near the Highlands,Where the dry landsAre divided into islands,And distinguish'd from the mainlandAs the Western Hebrides.

"Stormy weather,Those who stay there,Oftentimes for weeks togetherKeep asunder from their neighbors,Hemm'd about by angry seas.

"For, storm-batter'd,Boats are shattered,And their precious cargoes scatter'dIn the boist'rous Sound of Jura,Or thy passage, Colonsay;

"While the seamen,Like true freemen,Battle bravely with the DemonOf the storm, who strives to keep themFrom their harbor in the bay.

"For this reasonOne bad season,(If to say so be not treason,)In an island town the peopleWere reduced to great distress.

"Though on mainlandThey would fain land,They were storm-bound in their ain land,Where each luxury was little,And grew beautifully less.

"But whose sorrow,That sad morrow,When no man could beg or borrowFrom a friend's repository,Equall'd theirs who craved for snuff.

"But, most sadden'd,Nearly madden'dFor the lack of that which gladden'dHis proboscis, was the parson,Hight the Rev'rend Neil Macduff.

"If a snuffer,Though no puffer,You may guess what pangs he'd sufferIn his journey through a snow-drift,Visiting a neighboring town.

"From his rushingFor some sneishing;But his choring and his fishingCould procure no Toddy's Mixture,Moist Rappee, or Kendal Brown.

"In his trouble—Now made double,Since his last hope proved a bubble—To his aid came Beadle Johnnie,In his parish right-hand man.

"With a packet,Saying, Tak' it,It's as clean as I can mak' it,If ye'd save yer snuff on SabbathA toom box ye needna scan.

"Being lusty(Though 'twas musty)To his nose the snuff so dustyPut the minister, too much in want,The gift to scrutinize.

"An ideaHe could see aBlessing in this panacea;So he took such hearty pinches as broughtTears into his eyes.

"Then to Johnnie,His old cronie,Cried—'I fear'd I'd ne'er get ony.''Well, I'll tell ye,' said the beadle,'Whaur I got the stock of snuff.'

"'In the poupitLow I stoopit,An' the snuff and stour I soupit,Then I brocht ye here a handfu',For ye need it sair enough.'"

The old Scottish snuff-mill, which consisted of a small box-like receptacle into which fitted a conical-shaped projection with a short, strong handle was a more substantial affair than the rasp used by the French and English snuff-takers. (See page 232). Both, answered the purpose for which they were designed, the leaves of tobacco being "toasted before the fire," and then ground in the mill as it was called. The more modern snuff-mill is similar in shape, but is used to hold the snuff after being ground, rather than for reducing the leaves to a powder.

Boswell gives the following poem on snuff, in his "Shrubs of Parnassus:"

"Oh Snuff! our fashionable end and aim!Strasburg, Rappee, Dutch, Scotch, what'eer thy name,Powder celestial! quintessence divine!New joys entrance my soul while thou art mine.Who takes—who takes thee not! where'er I range,I smell thy sweets from Pall Mall to the 'Change.By thee assisted, ladies kill the day,And breathe their scandal freely o'er their tea;Nor less they prize thy virtues when in bed,One pinch of thee revives the vapor'd head,Removes the spleen, removes the qualmish fit,And gives a brisker turn to female wit,Warms in the nose, refreshes like the breeze,Glows in the herd and tickles in the sneeze.Without it, Tinsel, what would be thy lot!What, but to strut neglected and forgot!What boots it for thee to have dipt thy handIn odors wafted from Arabian land?Ah! what avails thy scented solitaire,Thy careless swing and pertly tripping air,The crimson wash that glows upon thy face,Thy modish hat, and coat that flames with lace!In vain thy dress, in vain thy trimmings shine,If the Parisian snuff-box be not thine.Come to my nose, then, Snuff, nor come alone,Bring taste with thee, for taste is all thy own."

There seems to be as great a variety of design in snuff-boxes as among pipes and tobacco-stoppers. The Indians of both North and South America have their mills for grinding or pulverizing the leaves. In the East a great variety of snuff-boxes may be seen; they are made of wood and ivory, while many of them have a spoon attached to the box, which they use in taking the dust from the box to the back of the hand, whence it is taken by the forefinger and conveyed to the nose. In Europe we find greater variety of design in snuff-boxes than in the East. In Europe they are made of the most costly materials, and studded with the rarest gems.

In the East they are made of ivory, wood, bamboo, and other materials. Of late years boxes made of wood from Abbotsford or some other noted place have been used for the manufacture of snuff-boxes. Formerly when snuff-taking was in more general use by kings and courtiers than now—a magnificent snuff-box was considered by royalty as one ofthe most valuable and pleasing of "memorials." Many of these testimonials of friendship and regard were of gold and silver, and set with diamonds of the finest water.

Among the anecdotes of celebrated snuff-takers, the following from White's "Life of Swedenborg," will be new to many:

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