Ebook Nicotiana; Or the Smoker's and Snuff-Taker's Companion

MA my an excellent cause has been lost through the want of sound arguments, founded on a knowledge of the case, tosup port and place it in its proper light. None, perhaps, more than smoking and snuff taking, the propriety of which Lin the upper orders of life, have been and are, whether as regards their social or medicinal qualities, so frequently. Called in question, by their enemies. These, the author is sorry to say, by the use of a few. Specious arguments, that chie?y. Pass current in refined society the ladies in particular — have, strongly aided by prejudice, often made the defence suc cumb to the attack — an unpardonable weakness on the part of a consumer of the herb, who is naturally enough expected to know the entire history of the favorite of his adoption. Unacquainted with the excellence of his subject, its importance and consequence in ancient and modern annals — its high wor shippers and eulogists, medical, and non medical, with its many endearing and social virtues acknowledged over the far greater part of the world; he, the Author asserts, unac quainted with the above data. And refe renees, Opposes but a feeble barrier to the sweeping and general assertions of his ad versary. In the above glorious cause (i. E. Anti Smokers and snuff-takers v. Lovers of the Herb) the Author himself holds a brief in the defence as counsel, and ?attering him self he has made himself fully master of the case, he begs to impart it as a proper, if not an absolutely requisite accompaniment to all lovers of the soothing leaf.' The pre judices against smoking are numerous. Smoking that is called unsocial, the authoraffirms to be the common source of harmony and comfort, — the badge of good fellow ship in almost every state, kingdom, and empire. Aye, from the English settlers in the wildernesses of America, where the Ca lumet or Pipe of Peace is smoked by the natives, to the turbaned infidel of the East from the burning zone of Africa to the icy regions of the North. In fact, in almost every clime and condition of society it is known as a common sign, or freemasonry of friendly feeling and social intercourse. In the East, the first act of hospitality is prof fering the pipe with its invariable accom paniment coffee, which is more or less oh served under various modifications over nearly the rest of the habitable world. Smoking that is termed low and vulgar was, and is, an occasional recreation with most of the crowned heads of Europe, among which may be named his late Ma jesty, and their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of Sussex and Cumberland — Ferdinand of Spain, and the Emperor Nicholas of Germany — besides very many of the nobility of either empires and kingdoms.