Hygeia "tobacco" (1898 humor magazine)

[James A. Landau]

In a message dated 03/23/2002 9:37:56 PM Eastern Standard Time,
douglas at NB.NET writes:

> I agree that the weed is probably tobacco.

"Tobacco's but an Indian weed" is the title of a folk song, first published
in 1699 in "Wit and Mirth, or Pills to Purge Melancholy".

First stanza:
    Tobacco is but an Indian Weed,
    Grows green in the Morn, cut down at Eve;
       It shows our decay,
       We are but Clay,
    Think of this and take Tobacco.

(Reference: Claude Simpson, ed.  _Jacobean & Restoration Musicke for the
Recorder_ Boston: E. D. Schirmer Music Company, 1941).

Note the almost-limerick aabbx rhyme scheme, although the meter is hardly
anapestic.

    - Jim Landau