ESSENTIAL FOR CIVILIZED LIVING

There used to be a bench in an alley near the Trans America Pyramid where one could sit and smoke one's pipe after lunch, but they've removed it; naturally encouraging the smokers is now universally regarded as a horrible thing. The same with many of the other benches elsewhere outside of city parks -- where smoking is forbidden -- because only depraved druggies and certifiable perverts still smoke, and might need to lie down in suggestive poses meant to represent deep thought as well as grizzled middle aged sexuality in a come hither style.
Or something. Anyway, stop smoking.
It's a filthy habit.

I miss the good old days when everyone was a heathen. And languorous.

Ideally, at some point a personable female will approach, and keenly wish to talk about Vladimir Nabokov with me, most particularly regarding the disconnected egomania of Charles Kinbote in Pale Fire, and his facile pedantic intellect.


On one of the pipe smoker forums, a gentleman in his early forties asked what would be the best expenditure of $150.00 to start enjoying a pipe. My advice was simple: "Find two or three second hand Comoys in good condition, and acquire a few tins of a decent flake to start. And make some tea." I feel that tea and other good habits are essential.

Other discussions there were about philosophy, Albert Schweitzer, Leonard Bernstein, Finland, Fermat’s Last Theorem, and many subjects not strictly related to actual pipe smoking.

So one more bit of advice: be prepared to read a lot.

Growing a beard is not required.

But it depends on the crowd.




NOTES

Comoy is a brand founded by Henri and some of his brothers when they moved to England, after 1850. Until the nineteen sixties some of the best London Made briar pipes came from that company. Cadogan took over the enterprise in the eighties, and they aren't nearly as good as they used to be. My father had several Comoys, which I now happily smoke, and I've acquired more of them over the years. Old Comoys are lovely, and the briar used was properly cured. They can still be found. Sometimes a stash of pipes comes on the market because an elderly collector with clean habits decides, decades after he stopped smoking when he got married, that he needs to unclutter his life. Or the nurses in the care facility are triggered, and he's thoroughly sick of their bellyaching.

Decent flakes are pressed flue-cured tobaccos with sometimes the addition of condimentals (fire cured Kentucky, Perique, Turkish) or burley. They can be whole or partially broken. Among the recommended brands and blends are Orlik Golden Sliced, Greg Pease's Fillmore and Union Square, Samuel Gawith's Golden Glow, Best Brown, and St. James, Rattray's Hal O'The Wynd, Marlin Flake, Old Gowrie, and Brown Clunee. Cornell & Diehl, who make Greg Pease's blends, have some excellent products too: I'm presently working through tins of Carolina Red, Derringer, and Red Carpet, and I also favour Opening Night.
Peterson (formerly Dunhill) Flake is excellent.

Tea is a beverage made from the leaves of Camelia Sinensis which have been dried and processed for that purpose. It contains antioxidants, caffeine, theobromine, theophylline, and xanthines, and has stimulating properties. It is conducive to clear thinking and clean living.

It is discussed at inordinate length here: Lapsang Souchong etcetera. Tea is essential to civilization. Tapioca pearls are absolutely not needed to enjoy it.
Teapots are mentioned here: Purple Clay.


In addition to being excellent for hydration and thought processes while smoking a pipe, tea is also a good accompaniment for snackies and pastries. Both at breakfast time and late in the afternoon. Pursuant which, buttered toast with marmalade should be considered.
Good brands of marmalade: Keiller & Son, Frank Cooper.

TOBACCO INDEX


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