Arthur Machen - NF 01 by The Anatomy Of Tobacco (v5.0)

Author:The Anatomy Of Tobacco (v5.0) [Tobacco, The Anatomy Of]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER II.

Now in the former part of this treatise, amidst other definitions, a pipe was defined thus: — Instrumentum per quod tabaci fumus ore trahitur — an instrument by which the smoke of tobacco is inhaled — which definition is well adapted for that material portion of Pipe Philosophy in which it has been placed. But for our present purposes it will be better defined as “That by which it is possible for tobacco to have position or positive existence which it will readily be perceived is a more abstract and metaphysical statement than the former. A pipe, then, is a thing instrumental to our participation in the energy developed by tobacco in the state of positive existence. Now all will acknowledge that of pipes some are good, some bad, and some indifferent; let it be ours to inquire in what a pipe’s excellence or goodness consists, and what kind of pipe is most likely to possess this excellence. Now a pipe that is excellent in all respects is a rare and precious thing, not to be acquired every day, and deserving of much attention when possessed. And as in the former part the principal division was into simple and complex (quoad materiam), so here the principal division will be into long and short (quoad formam). Of this I esteem the long pipe as on the whole the best, and, in a word, the most adapted for the philosopher; my reason for so doing being that there is a certain pleasure in viewing the clouds of smoke rising from the bowl at a distance from the smoker, which pleasure the short pipe cannot afford. And it having been proved that this viewing of the smoke is one of the most important, and at the same time mysterious, pleasures which it is in the power of tobacco to afford, it is evident that a pipe which increaseth the force of this pleasure is most to be commended. Further, long pipes are divided into four classes, clay, china, wooden, water or hookah pipe. The first of these, clay, is that kind usually known as a churchwarden, either because it bears the same relation to ordinary pipes as a churchwarden does to the common herd of men, or because churchwardens, with that subtle understanding for which they have always been noted, perceiving the dignity of the pipe, determined to make use of it, and so by its being used by them it got the name. However that may be, it is in many ways a dignified and noble pipe, gracefully curved and pleasant in the mouth. But yet it is easily broken, and does not feel secure in the hand; having, besides, a very small bowl, requiring to be filled often, and very soon being exhausted.

Secondly, by the china pipe I mean those which are separable into three parts — namely, the stem, the bowl, and a third part joining the two, and acting as a reservoir for such liquor as may collect.

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