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New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 10, 1 September 1939, Page 16

SIR WALTER RALEIGH ~A HEAVY SMOKER Interesting History of Tobacco Raleigh, thanks to his intimacy with the colonists, had been initiated more deeply than most into the mysteries 0f smoking, and the wonderful properties 0f tobacco. Not only was he 8 heavy smoker who thoroughly enjoyed smok- ing, but he Tas also quick to recognise in tobacco an article 0f commercial value which could be readily and pro fitably marketed in England, and indeed in Europe. Sir Walter's London house was by the river banks, on ground now occupied by Adelphi Terrace, and OK it is here that Shakespeare is said to have visited him, though the story of their smoking together is probably un true; there is no mention of smoking in any 0f the plays, as there surely would have been had the poet been a devotee of this novel and epoch- FOR making fashion. Raleigh on Fire Raleigh, on the other hand, loved his pipe and smoked persistently, to the amazement of those to whom the thing R was merely strange and incomprehen- sible, and whose attitude is summed up V: in the following well-known anecdote, told not only of Raleigh, but also 0f other celebrities of the day. Raleigh, So goes the story, was sitting in his MYRTLE room one day enjoying & quiet smoke GROVE, smooth when one of his gardeners entered to emoking and smooth rolling; ask for orders > as soon as he caught sight of Sir Walter enveloped in a cloud is the only cigarette tobacco of smoke that issued from him, he ran in terror from the room, to return in 1-02. tins at 1ld small immediately with a bucket of water which he emptied over his unfortunate enough to fit snugly in the master, whom he thought was in dan vest pocket large enough ger of burning to death: for a packet Raleigh'$ Home, "Myrtle J} of papers. Grove Raleigh'$ interest in tobacco led him to experiment with the leaf, and by an early and simple form of blending was successful in establishing & better quality tobacco_a service which was appreciated by all who knew him. Raleigh carried oub most of his experi- ments at his Irish home, Myrtle Grove, a rambling two-storied man- sion situated on the hills overlooking 2-02. Youghal Bay in the County of Cork It is interesting to note that the now Tins are famous Myrtle Grove Tobacco took its omnae % name from this historic home in which 1/11 pure Raleigh carried out So many experi- Gn ments for the improvement of tobacco, Tm Sove rich Virginia Leaf and for the greater enjoyment of the 'inmnele, growing body of English smokers. Mt.1:4 LRILE GROVE PORE ToBACC VERG ENEA