Victorian Culture - Oh that Noxious Weed! Cigars in the 19th Century

[L Verge]

Great site. Google "match safes" and learn about the various (now high-priced) containers that were crafted to hold those matches safely in gentlemen's pockets. Just two matches rubbing together could start a fire. My husband and I used to collect these containers - he preferred the pocket ones, and I preferred the china, glass, and metal ones that sat on tables or hung on walls.

P.S. Early matches were called Lucifers or vestas.

The heat is making me silly today, so I'm going to post something silly that I found in one of my Victorian grandmother's books:

Where can a man buy a cap for his knee.
Or a key for the lock of his hair?
Can you call his eyes an academy
Because there are pupils there?

In the crown of your head, what jewels are found?
What travels the bridge of your nose?
If you wanted to shingle the roof of your mouth,
could you use the nails in your toes?

Can you sit in the shade of the palm of your hand?
Or beat on the drum of your ear?
Can you eat the corn that grows on your toe?
Well, why not grow corn on your ear?

Can the crook in your elbow be sent to jail?
If so, just what did it do?
Where can I sharpen my shoulder blades?
I'll be darned if I know, do you?