The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Piping Up

3.31.08 @ 12:01AM

TOBACCO ROGUE
Re: Lawrence Henry's Pipe Dreams:

A friend forwarded the article "Pipe Dreams," by Lawrence Henry, to me. We are both pipe smokers, and members of an un-elite group of same types (pipe smokers), a sub-set of the few in the world, and therefore have similar life experiences!

We, like a few of the pipe smokers in the USA (land of pipe-smoking, etc. freedom) are members of pipe-smoker "clubs." Ours is the Conclave Of Richmond Pipe Smokers (CORPS). Our website is: www.cornpipesmokers.org (we are also in the 21st century!). I invite you to take a look (and, come to our "Pipe Smoker's Celebration & Exposition" in October!

In case Mr. Henry hasn't Googled pipe smoking, I am happy to report that there is even a pipe smokers magazine "Pipes & Tobaccos Magazine"! I will forward Mr. Henry's article to its Editor, Chuck Stanion. Perhaps P&T would be interested in interviewing Mr. Henry!

I'm not familiar with The American Spectator, but now will be. We pipe smokers do understand and appreciate certain values...
-- Linwood Hines
Chesterfield, Virginia

I'd like to tell Mr. Henry that I participate in his pipe smoking anachronism (although my 50 pipes beat him by a touch) and truly appreciate his article. He should know that we are not alone (look at our fellows on the pipes.org website). It is a small fellowship, subject to the edicts of the ever-expanding nanny state, even in Virginia, but still alive and well. My prayers for his health.
-- Spike Herbert
Kingstowne, Virginia

Ohmygosh, there are at least two of us!

In smoking my pipe, I had come to think of myself as quite unique. I had heard that there were others but never actually saw any. Oh I would catch an occasional momentary glimpse of what looked like a pipe clenched in the teeth of an ancient driver some days while driving but did I really see it?

Anachronism is way down the list of things that I hear, with polluter, health hazard, old geezer, jerk and "get out of my air" easily passing it out. Also like most other smokers, I have been banished from the more civilized areas where good folks congregate, like my own living room. Even my sainted wife has fallen victim to the bleatings of those concerned with everyone else's health, So in spite I head for my unheated garage and generate huge clouds of smoke in a silent but fragrant protest.

I know I should offer penance for all the innocent non pipe smokers that I have dispatched to a hopefully smoke free heaven, but sinner that I am, when I light up (multiple times and by the way, wasn't the Bic lighter a great invention?) to ponder the moral question, I just figure that I'll do it tomorrow.

I'm afraid that I'm about to lose the wonderful blend that I've been smoking for over 30 years. The Calabashe Shoppe where I faithfully picked up my monthly allotment of "Thornton" has been sold and being is converted to a cigar shop. The nice lady proprietor has graciously decided to keep supplying her old pipe clientele from her home, but for how long. It seems that our days are numbered. Maybe it's time for another fragrant protest.

I wonder if Condy Rice has ever tried giving the Israelis and Palestinians a few nice briar pipes, with a fragrant pouch of Thornton before starting negotiations? I'll have to think about that. Now where's my pipe?
-- N.J.

Nice article! But be prepared for backlash. It was an oasis of thoughtfulness in the desert of today's PC society.

I'm tired of all the "anti" propaganda and publicity in the media these days. Whether smoking is good or bad, who the heck are you to be telling me, or anyone else for that matter, what they can or cannot do? Unfortunately politicians ears are easily bent by whineorities -- the people who have nothing better to do than complain about something that upsets them. While most people are laid back and easy going, the little old lady who doesn't like the smell of your pipe or cigar in the park begins a tirade that suddenly has smoking banned in yet another public place.

In a couple years, square corners will be banned. Mark my words: some mother, whose Precious Little Snowflake of a child, runs into a sharp corner at home, school, in a park, or in a public store, will damage or lose an eye, or possibly suffer a cut that may leave a scar. Sharp corners of every kind will be banned. Walls and floors will be padded. Kids (and older people) are already being forced to wear helmets while riding bicycles. Remember when you were a kind, and didn't have to put on ANSI-rated protection equipment to ride a bike? I don't remember anyone dying or being maimed on a daily basis back in the 70's. Parents are already going through extreme lengths to prevent children from seeing/hearing anything naughty on TV or the internet. Luckily they can learn about life from other sources- friends, dad's porn stash etc. We're approaching the creation of a society that attempts to protect us from the real world.

Letter to the Editor

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Taxes, Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Bill Clinton, Business, Constitution, Law, Iran, Israel, NATO