The pleasure remains

Robert Lambert (Forum, November 15) is absolutely correct in what he says about smoking and smokers.

But let's forget about the emptiness and banality of the present and look at the past.

People as disparate as the American Indian, the Mongolian herder and the Australian bushman enjoyed a pipe of tobacco for the feelings of peace, contentment, meditation and relaxation.

In a hard working life, the pipe was one of the few pleasures and recreations.

In today's shallow world, the cigarette is just another chemical hit.

Few would know the fragrance and aroma of a well-crafted cigarette made from the best Turkish or Virginia tobacco, a finally made cigar, generally the province of the wealthy or the Cubans.

Fine cut tobacco or great pipe tobacco flavoured with port and rum.

Now you're talking pleasure.

Keith Whitfield, Woy Woy