Posted by Joy on December 13, 2005 at 18:30:11 from 195.157.57.17 user Joy.
You will recall that the Inklings, whose most famous members were JRR Tolkein and CS Lewis, were not only known for their meetings in a pub in Oxford but for the fact that they were all great pipe smokers. Was amused to read in PRINCE CASPIAN this morning, the words: "Trumpkin lit his pipe (Nikabrik was not a smoker)". This immediately marks Nikabrik out as a Bad Dwarf - and indeed he later goes on to a Very Bad Dwarf indeed. I could almost hear the Inklings roaring with laughter as Lewis read this out.
It is odd to realise that it used to be perfectly respectable to smoke, indeed it may have been slightly socially unacceptable for a man not to. Women smokers are of course fast. I imagine the Margoletta maidens smoke - but can't imagine any other female having a quick drag.