MY BROTHER HENRY This is Chapter 14 of a book called My Lady Nicotine: A Study in Smoke by J. M. Barrie in 1890.

The book is wonderfully written and is hilarious. When a wife presents her husband with an ultimatum, that he should choose between her and smoking, he decides to give up smoking. The series of essays that follow are about his attempt to do so. The theme that ties all the little vignettes together is that of tobacco, particularly a blend of tobacco which the devotees call the Arcadia Mixture. But the role of that noble leaf is sometimes prominent and sometimes subdued in the stories. It is only incidental in the story My Brother Henry. NOTES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. child of smoke person created through inspiration caused by smoking Pettigrew one of the six members of the smoking group to which Barrie belonged. Cabanas type of cigar. Jimmy another member of the smoking group Arcadia The Arcadia Mixture, a special blend of tobacco. According to Barrie, it has an extraordinary effect upon character: the confirmed smoker of Arcadia detests arguing with anybody about anything; he also becomes reticent and hates having to explain anything. 6. William John a servant 7. The best of all mixtures the Arcadia Mixture 8. Oxford Street a street in London 9. Regent Street a street in London 10. The Forth a river in Scotland BARRIES ENCOUNTERS WITH SCUDAMOUR 1. Barries friend, Pettigrew told him that he had been lunching with a man who claimed to know Barries brother Henry, had met him many years earlier in Paris with his other brother Alexander. 2. They met at Jimmys chambers Scudamour asked after Henry. Barrie told him Henry was in India, married and doing well. 3. They met on Oxford Street a few days later when Scudamour tapped Barrie on the shoulder and asked if he had heard from Henry. Barrie told him that he was having trouble with his wife, meaning she was not well, but which Scudamour took to mean that his marriage was unhappy. Barrie also told him that the children were coming to stay with Alexander 4. They met again a month later. When Scudamour asked when Henry would get leave, Barrie told him that he had gone to live in Bombay and would not be back for many years. Scudamour explained why he had discussed Henrys marital difficulties with Pettigrew. 5. Scudamour wrote to Barrie asking for a note of introduction as his nephew was going to Bombay. Barrie provided the note. 6. Pettigrew told Barrie that Scudamour was in Edinburgh (where Alexander lived). He meant to visit Alexander and meet the children. Alexander sent a telegram to Barrie asking if he knew a man called Scudamour. Barrie completely denied knowing any such person. 7. Two months ago Barrie passed Scudamour in Regent Street, and Scudamour seemed annoyed with him. Barrie knew he was telling everyone about Henrys wife.

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8. Barrie next got a letter from a friend of Alexanders, asking if Alexander was going to Bombay. Then Alexander wrote to Barrie saying that he had been told that Barrie was going to Bombay. Barrie felt it was time to get rid of Henry. 9. Barrie told Pettigrew that Henry had died of a fever, and he should tell Scudamour this. Pettigrew did so and informed Barrie that he had wanted to know about the children. Barrie said that the children had drowned in a river in Scotland. SOME PERTINANT QUESTIONS 1. 2. 3. 4. According to the author, Barrie, who was Henry? Why does he call Henry a child of smoke? When did he first hear of Henry? What had happened at the meeting in Paris between the author and his brother, Alexander, and Scudamour? 5. What was the curse of the authors life? 6. Why did the author not explain his mistake to Scudamour? 7. This is to smoke the Arcadia what does the author mean by this statement? 8. Explain the example the author gives to support his statement. 9. What did the author tell Scudamour about Henry? 10. Why did he do so? 11. What was the further misunderstanding that arose at their next meeting? 12. What other information about Henry developed at that meeting? 13. How did Barrie act towards Scudamour at their next meeting? 14. What conclusion did Scudamour draw from his behaviour? 15. What explanation did he give to Barrie? 16. How did Barrie respond? 17. What would he have actually liked to do? Why? 18. Why did Scudamour write to Barrie? 19. What did Barrie do in answer to this? 20. Why had Scudamour gone to Edinburgh? 21. What else did he plan to do there? Why? 22. What did Alexander ask Barrie in his telegram? 23. How did the author answer him? 24. When Barrie met Scudamour next in Regent Street, Scudamour frowned at him. Why? 25. What did the author feel about this? 26. Barrie received two letters after this. Who wrote these letters, and what did they want to know? 27. What decision did the author arrive at on receiving the letters? 28. What did Barrie tell Pettigrew in accordance with this plan? 29. What was Scudamours response, as conveyed by Pettigrew? 30. What happened to Henrys children, according to Barrie? 31. What was Scudamours final view on Henry? LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS 1. How did the misunderstanding about Henry actually occur? 2. What sort of a person was (i) the author (ii) Scudamour? Do you think their characters contributed to the development of the misunderstanding about Henry? How? 3. Describe the narrators various encounters with Scudamour. How was the misunderstanding finally resolved? PC/TSRS-DLF/ENG-XII/06 Page 2 of 3

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