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 every-where 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 non-smoker 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 nicotine 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, untrammelled, roves in Parnassian bowers, or sees in the vapour rising from the bowl nebulous forms resembling those in the far-off starry sky.

Both Greeks and Romans inhaled fumes of tussilago through a reed or pipe for the cure of coughs and difficult breathing— Abbe Cocket and Dr. Bruce on old clay pipes found in Normandy and among ruins in Britain— Clay pipes found in Scotland and Ireland— Legendary lore respecting their origin and use — The weed and the Portuguese in India and Java— Pallas and Meyen on the plant in India and China— The Lasarists, Gabet and Hue, in Tartary and Thibet— The cultivation and use of tobacco in China — The supposed antiquity of the habit among the Chinese, who in their prehistoric migrations may have carried seeds of the plant to America.