SMOKING IS PRISON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 98, 5 September 1868, Page 3

SMOKING IS PRISON.

The " Amateur Casual," writing in the Evening Star, describes that the first treat which prisoners give themselves whn released is a pipe. An incident shewing the strength of their attachment tn tobacco was related to him by one of the officers of Portland prison : — " Somehow a bit of lobacco and a pipe were smuggled in in a manner that made it the joint-stock property of three of the convicts, and it was treasured until there occurred a fair opportunity for its enjoyment. At last the long-looked for time for the treat arrived, and then came the question how was the luxury to be fairly .shared. One suggested six whiffs each un'il the pipe was exhausted, but he was a strong-lunged villain, and his device was at once seen through — it was clear that he could ' pull' as much smoke in his six whiffs as could tlie others in ten. It was a nice point to decide ; but presently one of the parties, whose ingenuity somewhat exceeded his delicacy, hit on the exact thing. Two straws were procured, and possession of the precious pipe was tossed for. This preliminary settled, the trio sat down and the pipe was lit. the holder taking in his lips one of the straws as well as the pipe stem. The other end of this straw the second man took in his mouth, as well as the tip of the third straw, at the further extremity of which sat the third man. Then the ' treat' bigan. The man with the pipe took a whiff, enjoyed the mouthful of smoke for a while, and then carefully blew it through the straw into the mouth of the the second man, who. after taking toll of it, passed it on through the straw to the third man, who, in consideration of what virtue the tobacco might have lost, coming to him, as it did, at third hand, was permitted to swallow it — a precaution rendered necessary lest the warder should get scent of the prohibited indulgence."