Selections from the British Apollo; Containing Answers to Curious Questions in Literature, Science, Folk-Lore, and Love (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V. Science Gossip In The Reign Of Queen Anne. "Fair Science was my only care; I gave my nights, I gave my days, To Tully's page and Homer's lays: Whate'er is known of ancient lore I fondly studied o'er and o'er. I followed each appointed course, And traced up learning to its source; But in my way I gathered flowers, I sought the Muses in their bowers, And Did their fav'ring smiles repay With many a lyric roundelay."--Dr. Syntax in Search of the Picturesque. As an early forerunner of our scientific periodical literature, the British Apollo possesses considerable interest. In its pages we may read some curious statements about certain novel commodities such as tobacco, tea, and coffee in answer to queries relating to their various properties. These things are novelties no longer, but whether their use is entirely beneficial or judicial may still be considered as not conclusively settled to everyone's satisfaction. When asked to be favoured " with the virtues of Tobacco," the British Apollo replied: "Tobacco is by nature hot and dry; it discusses, resolves, and cleanses, is purging, emetic, anodyne, and vulnary, and is chiefly beneficial in cold and moist constitutions, and hurtful in the contrary." In reply to the query, " How long is it since the smoking tobacco and the taking snuff hath been in use here in England; the time when they were first brought over, and by whom?" the answer was given: "Snuff, though the use of it has been long known to such as were by merchandising or other means familiar with the Spanish customs, has been till lately a perfect stranger to the practice of the British nation, and, like our fashions, comes to us from France; but the use of tobacco-smoking was introduced by Sir Walter Raleigh, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth...