Athenaeum,” owed its death in 1855, if report be true, to a dispute about smoking.  One section of the members wished for an improved smoking-room—­they called the existing room, which was at the top of the house—­an “infamous hole”—­while the more old-fashioned and more influential members objected to any improvement.  The latter carried the day, but the consequent loss of members ruined the club, which soon after ceased to exist.  This secession must have been subsequent to that of the bishops, of whom at one time many were members, but who left, it is said, because of the introduction of a billiard-table!

The growth of cigar-smoking was rapid.  Mr. Steinmetz, in his book on “Tobacco,” published in 1857, remarked that no way of using tobacco had made a more striking advance in England within the preceding twenty years than cigars.  For a long time it had been confined in this country to the richer class of smokers, but when he wrote it was “in universal use.”  The wonder is that with so many men smoking cigars the old domestic and club restrictions, as pilloried in Thackeray’s pages, were maintained so long.  In 1853 Leech had an admirably drawn sketch in Punch of paterfamilias, in the absence of his wife, giving a little dinner.  Beside him sits his small son, and on either side of the table sit two of his cronies.  One has a cigar in his hand and is blowing a cloud of smoke, while the other is selecting a “weed.”  The host is just lighting his cigar as the maid enters with a tray of decanters and glasses, and with disgust written plainly on her face.  The objectionable child beside him says—­“Lor!  Pa, are you going to smoke?  My eye! won’t you catch it when Ma comes home, for making the curtains smell!”

Another witness to the rapid development of cigar-smoking is Captain Gronow, the author of the well-known “Reminiscences.”  Gronow says that the famous surgeon, Sir Astley Cooper, on one occasion perceiving that he was fond of smoking, cautioned him against that habit, telling him that it would, sooner or later, be the cause of his death.  This must have been before 1841, when Sir Astley died.  Writing in the ’sixties Gronow said:  “If Sir Astley were now alive he would find everybody with a cigar in his mouth:  men smoke nowadays whilst they are occupied in working or hunting, riding in carriages, or otherwise employed”—­which shows how the prejudice against outdoor smoking was then breaking down.  “During the experience of a long life, however,” continued Gronow, “I never knew but one person of whom it was said that smoking was the cause of his death:  he was the son of an Irish earl, and an attache at our embassy in Paris.  But, alas!  I have known thousands who have been carried off owing to their love of the bottle.”