A fountain of contemplation ...

"If you can't send money, send tobacco." 

 George Washington to the Continental Congress, 1776

A few years ago I have quitted smoking because of some health issues (and because my wife, but please be so kind not to tell anyone).  "The pipe marks the point at which the orangutan ends and man begins." Ben Jonson said once. So I guess now I am an orangutan less happy than the times when I was smoking my pipe as a (Gentle)man. I see now a great fuss about the smokers but as a Man who enjoyed the sins of pipe smoking I don't trow the rock. I believe in the free will and if it is your will to smoke, so be it. I can only testify that, beside reading books,  smoking pipe was one of the most exquisite comforts of my life. I totally agree with Edward George Bulwer-Lytton who said that "A pipe is the fountain of contemplation, the source of pleasure, the companion of the wise". Pipe smoking is a habit very different from cigarette smoking.

alpascia.com

Even if my pipe smoking history book does not have many chapters, it worth reading some  beginning pages. My first pipe was a cheap model, no-name brand. I started with aromatic tobacco but soon I found it unsatisfactory. I was reading and learning more about tobacco  blends, pipe types, tampers and tools when I  bought my second Peterson dublin pipe . The collection soon grew larger Stanwell Zebrano, Blakemar Rhodesian Lichbruyere and a Dunhill Red Bark joined my league of extraordinary friends. The last two ones are wonderful pipes and even now, from time to time, I use them to enjoy my Dunhill Early Morning tobacco or a Balkan mixture.

As I now that the pipe world is amazing and at least three of my readers are pipe aficionados I had a little talk about briar wood, straight grain and young talented manufactures  with two Milanese experts, Cosimo and Leonardo Sportelli from Al Pascia. The interview will  be son  posted  on  Claymoor's List, the site that beginning March 11, 2013 will  replace my blog ...

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