St Nicotine Of The Peace Pipe

Author : Edward Vincent Heward
Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN 13 : 9781534764842
Total Pages : 222 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (648 download)

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Download or read book St Nicotine of the Peace Pipe written by Edward Vincent Heward and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2016-06-17 with total page 222 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the Introduction. The history and associations of tobacco carry the thoughts back to the jubilant days when Good Queen Bess was the idol of her people, to the stirring times when bounding gaiety and lusty banter found expression in unrestrained mirth as readily in the open street as within doors. The writer's aim in the following chapters has been to bring together (in a somewhat desultory way, it may be) the chief features of interest which the story of the 'Indian's herb' presents to us to-day. The social element undoubtedly dominates all others; this, coupled with the primitive belief in its medicinal properties, at once secured for it the good-will of men longing for knowledge of the New World and ever ready to adopt an indulgence so alluring. That this feeling was universal is shewn by the rapidity with which the smoking habit spread over the Earth wherever there was a human habitation. No less remarkable is the sturdy tenacity with which men everywhere stuck to it despite the determined opposition of potentates and pontiffs. In the eyes of her votaries St Nicotine's virtues are rare and manifold. Indeed all sorts of pretty things have been said and sung in her praise, and as becomes a faithful devotee at her shrine the writer believes them all as implicitly-well, as a child believes fairy tales. Many a nonsmoker when questioned about his indifference to her gracious influence has heaved a pensive sigh and lamented Dame Nature's ill-usage in denying him the taste for the nicotian incense. Consolation comes not to him when told that the good genius has knit together a brotherhood who, regaled with her balmy breath, realize the touch of nature which makes the whole world kin; that on her approach petty vexations vanish into space, and fancy, untrammeled, roves in Parnassian bowers, or sees in the vapour rising from the bowl nebulous forms resembling those in the far-off starry sky. The demon of insomnia flies from her presence, and upon the Sleepless she breathes 'tired nature's sweet restorer.' Faith born of experience bears willing testimony to This priceless virtue. Once upon a time, too remote to recall the year, it befell the writer of these lines to suffer from the effects of insomnia. Wakeful nights followed by comatose days passed into months, and the relief the poet Young had wooed in vain still held aloof. At last fortune smiled. Walking with a friend one evening a cigar was proffered him. Not being a smoker he declined the weed. Again urged to try it (without any suggestion of its narcotic properties) he did so and smoked it to the end. That night he fell into a sleep so profound that on waking the next morning the hours that had fled seemed but as a moment. Years have rolled by since then, but not an evening has passed unsolaced by the gentle anodyne.