TOBACCO SMOKING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 70, 6 November 1911, Page 2

TOBACCO SMOKING.

WiIENCE ITS STUANtJE I'ASCIaATiOV Ti'.o habit of smoking is perhaps ono of the most remarkable which has taken hold of practically the whole human, race. Rahils which hove heroine general can, as a rule, be traced hack to an origin which had a purpose in it, has developed by a process of evolution. The habit of constructing elaborate houses to live in developed from the necessity felt by our remote ancestors for sheltering in caves against cold and heat or the storms ol heaven; but the liable ol smoking lias no such obvious starting point. ‘ Originating amongst savages, it hurst into Europe at the cud of the sixteenth eeiuiuy, and wThni a marvellously ‘short space of time spread all over the world like gigantic whirlwind.! it remains to this day an unprecedented phenomenon. Prior to the discovery of America, smoking was utterly unknown in the Old World. 'The ‘ very existence of such a habit, far less the desire to acquire it. was undreamed of by anyone from highest to lowest. A Prehistoric Habit.

Absolutely the first knowledge of smoking was communicated to Columbus in 1492, when two sailors whom lie had sent to explore the island of Cuba, which he had just discovered, told on returning to the ship how “the natives carried a lighted lirebrand about with them, and puffed smoke drawn from It through their mouths and noses.” 'Chose sailors were the first men of the Old World to see a cigar smoked, and, though tlie smoking habit was prehistoric among the natives of the whole of both American continents, the circumstances in which it originated have never befell traced. Some of the tribes smoked cigars consisting of the leaves of Indian corn; some drew the smoko "up their nostrils through a forked pipe*, and all inhaled the smoke into their lungs, ffiany chewed the tobacco leaves in addition. An old writer, describing his travels in America between 101 l and j 556, says: “So much do they fill themselves with this cruel smoke that they lose their reason,” while others “fail down as dead, and remain stupalied the greater part of the day or night.” “Sec,” he goes on, “see what a wicked and pestiferous poison from the devil tlds musk he!” Another traveller, describing these days, tolls how sometimes, on entering the house of an Indian, and “immediately perceiving the sharp, fetid smell of this truly diabolical and stinking smoke, 1 was obliged to go away in haste and seek some other place.” Obviously these explorers were not favourably impressed with any lino aroma in tobacco smoke. Invasion cf Etncpa.

Under such auspices was tobacco introduced to Europe. A tow .plants were brought to Spain as interesting botanical specimens about 15130, but the Spaniards did not themselves at that time think of smoking. They regarded it simply as a curious, barbarous, and tiltiiy habit of the native people of America. it was not until iodo, when a certain llalph Lane brought tobacco to England, that the idea took root in Europe. .Lane gave some to Sir Walter Jtaloign. Sir Walter, then a favourite at the Court of Queen Elizabeth, became the lirsc great European smoker. It speedily became the fashion to smoke, and in a wonderfully snort space of time, in spitii .of all opposition and ridicule, it spread over Europe, and thence, hbrtirj' south, a'nd : eiist, until the middle of tiro 17 th century not a corner of the known globe remained where tobacco and the art cl smoking it were unknown. Such is briolly the early history of tobacco smoking. Judging from the opinions expressed'by the early critics of the oujoctionableness of Che elfects and smell of tobacco smoke on a first experience of it it seems marvellous that wo now hear so little in the way of objection to it. Would we, if we experienced it for the lirst time, instead of growing up “used to it,” find it a suarp, xetid smell,” “a truly diabolical and stinking smoker 1 ” It is not unreasonable to supposfy that though we might not pise such strong language, still we might express uufavouraole opinions, due taste of tobacco smoke appears lo be wholly an acquired one, and in this respect we lind a similar case in that of tea drinking, for we have it on record that on the occasion of the first tea party ever given in England, the invited guests, great lords and ladies of the Court, made one a’nd all wry faces when they sipped the novel beverage. Why do ’.vs Smoke? It has often been pointed out as a remarkable fact that few people, or none, can give a satisfactory explanation of why they like Lo smoke. The taste is not pleasant, the beginner generally suffers from nausea and sickness, and wc all know with what aversion a smoky breath is regarded; merely to mention it is an offence.. As to the supposed soothing effects of tobacco, those are probanly largely imaginary. In any case no great quantity of tobacco is smoked on account of any supposed southing qualities. Eew blind people smoke, and the reason is not far to seek. Lot anyone try to smoko whilst blindfolded. Both the pleasure- and the soothing effects will be found wanting. This fact has led to the suggestion that the real pleasure lies in nothing more or less extraordinary than a satis!action in seeing the smoke curling up. To keep watch on ilia smoke, to have that simple enjoyment added almost unconsciously to tlie pleasures ol thought or conversation, or to he apparently occupied while really indulging in'complete relavafion from all serious thought, may possibly he the sum and suostauce of the smoker’s enjoyment, hut this is not a satisfactory explanation of so universal a habit. The student of human nature prefers to look beyond such artificiality for some deep-seated natural instinct which is satisfied by smoking, as the Line source from which the habit has been evolved. - A primitive Instinct. •Probably the theory which suggests that the whole human race unconsciously associates the idea of happiness with having something in the mouth to suck is the true one. This is the first idea of perfect enjoyment in the infant and the theory asserts that this idea remains through life. A curiously parallel case is loom! amongst the cat tribe, which, when pleasedi'i love to’press their paws into something soft as if kneading it, an iclion reminiscent of their earlier days when being nursed by their mothers. In all the human race the idea can be followed til rough all the various stages. A two-year-old baby is pacified with a piece of india-rubber in its mouth. A four-year-old child loves to suck his lingers. School children are always pulling their pens and pencils in their mouths. Girls and boys like Lo suck sweets or even tasteless gum. The adult man usually lays aside these hit hi Ls and lakes to smoking. The act of smoking, in which a visible though rather imjt.iip ibE something is actually drawn into the mouth, gives greater satisfaction, and

tends to kill the craving for the lesser | luxuries. 4 here who do not smoke I frequently retain the liking tor one j Oi more of then;. iis Wciidt/fal Fc-.i-sisicr.c-:. ;4uch reflections as these lead to nm haief t' i:it the satisfaction derived irom smoking is Ino result of the act itself, and is not I>y any means entirely dependent on The material smoked, however far imagination may _ carry us in that direction. Sidl, it the theory he correct, the civilised races have shown extraordinary conservatism in sticking lor hilt) years to l!: " banco. It seems incredible that urny would ever have used so nauseating a material, and one to which sue a objections were expressed, had it not been presented to them along with the new idea itself, as the one. and only smokahle medium, fie must simply suppose that the satisfaction gained more than compensated for the discomforts endured. if, however, a something pleasant to smoke could be found which would provide all the human comfort wanted, and ;it the same time he perfectly harmless to the smoker, then, on Inis theory, such a medium would in course of time tend more or less to supplant tobacco. Tobacco, however, holds the field, and is likely to continue to do so. It is difficult to break a taste so thoroughly acquired, although even now it would seem that a material is being pat on the market which is said to give all the satisfaction of smoking without entailing any of the objectionable after-effects of tobacco.