On this day in 1586

[Aussie Rules]

...Sir Walter Raleigh brought home a boatload of tobacco leaves.

 

If you have a few minutes to spare have a listen to comedian Bob Newhart's take on it

 

[RailwayRowdy]

Hey Barry, now we’re talking comedy !

 

Any link for his driving lesson sketch ?

[SourceOfTheTrent]

I've often wondered just how some human discoveries were actually discovered. Who ever thought of drying out tobacco leaves, burning them and inhaling the smoke? It's just bizarre! I can only think someone came across it accidentally, say, there was a fire that engulfed some tobacco plants and the smoke had a pleasant scent so they started to burn them on purpose and smell the aroma, then one thing led to another until they were smoking.

The development of beer / alcohol must have happened in a similar fashion.

We'd have all been better for it if old Walt had decided smoking was unsophisticated and just left it to the Indians.

Great comedy though!

[bookworm]

I've often wondered just how some human discoveries were actually discovered. Who ever thought of drying out tobacco leaves, burning them and inhaling the smoke? It's just bizarre! I can only think someone came across it accidentally, say, there was a fire that engulfed some tobacco plants and the smoke had a pleasant scent so they started to burn them on purpose and smell the aroma, then one thing led to another until they were smoking.

The development of beer / alcohol must have happened in a similar fashion.

We'd have all been better for it if old Walt had decided smoking was unsophisticated and just left it to the Indians.

Great comedy though!

The drinking water at the time apparently smelt foul and was akin to raw sewage so the populace which was rife with typhoid and cholera drank beer which was far more palatable that the effluent which passed as pure water, they found that the yeast used in the fermentation process killed the germs present in the water so they drank it by the gallon and the more enlightened employers supplied it by the barrel,,,a halfpenny a pint anyone.

[Heatwave]

The drinking water at the time apparently smelt foul and was akin to raw sewage so the populace which was rife with typhoid and cholera drank beer which was far more palatable that the effluent which passed as pure water, they found that the yeast used in the fermentation process killed the germs present in the water so they drank it by the gallon and the more enlightened employers supplied it by the barrel,,,a halfpenny a pint anyone.

 

A lot less potent than today's beers though. If sold today they'd qualify as soft drinks.