The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-03-03
FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS, SPY.

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In the present age of improvement, land
by Improvement not only mean advances
in civilization, literature, and Christianity,
but the eradication of vice and extrava-
gance) would earnestly call the attention
of all, to the immoderate and unnecessary use
of toducco and snuff To many, this subject
may appear small and Insignificant, but, to
me it appears of immense magnitude, mas
much as it is extremely ofensiUe, ertraUa-
CANT, and unnecessary. / would not only
rid the country of those excessive extrava-
gances, which threaten to crush the commit
nity by their ponderous weight, but would
pruns it of every fruitleSs twig. For few
years past, many laudable exertions have
been made for the suppression of intsmper-
ance, and, with so much success, that this
DESTRUCTIVE vice seems fast declining, and
a man of responsibility ScOrns to be seen
either at the tipplng shop, or with bottle,
while The greedy deUourer Of tobacco still re-
mains Mnmotested, takes his accustomed
seat, Geclaims with violence against the
popular extravagances of the day, and
SpLaShls the Uenomous juice on whatever
chances to be within reach. If we examine
the subject, we find that both habits proceed
from the same principles, although they are
not alike injurious. | remarked that it was
ofensile, and it IS so indeed. Its sight is
disgusting, its odor still more SO, and its
taste all must abhor but those who have
forced themselves into the habit of chew
ing it: L say forced, for weed so odious,
must, a first, be unpalatable to every one.
IL IS ertravagaat: A moderate tobacco
chewer consumes, at the least computation,
half pound per week, which, at 25 cts.
per pound in year, amounts to $3.50 /;
while areal, thorough-going tobacco chew
er will consume double the quantity.
will not enumerate the thousand articles
for which this sum might be more aGvanta-
| geously expended, for every one will allow
that there are very many.
I II IS unnecessary: The excuse, so often
urged, that the most skilful physicians adj
riScd the use of it, can have but little, or no
weight, for who ever prescribed the use OF
it during life? No one, presume. II, in a
fe,U instances, it has proved beneficial, in a
thousand it has proved injurious. The
highest medical authorities denounce it as
highly injurious, as it causes very unnat-
ural quantity of saliva to be thrown from
the stomach.
Connected with this is the habit of Smok-
ing,-a dirty and offensive habit, and vast
consumer of time. When person unites
and brings to perfection, both of these habits
the nauSeouS e6lltuiG of his breath is scarce.
IN less to be dreaded, than that of the " Bo.
hon Uphas." The subject will admit o.
but one Just comparison, which is that of al
old sr7erisnced snuff, taker. Who, that pro-
fesses the natural feelings of pride, or who
that thinks cleanliness gives zest to the
appetite, or that a clear and natural tone
of voice gives interest to the speaker, does
not iodthe the very idea? We may, gen
orally, recognize a snuff-taker, by observ
ing the thumb and one finger closed, grasp
ing the belOrsd pinch, and the rest extend
cd, the mouth, also, open, and almost gasp
ing for breath. What is more ridiculous
than to see such an one sitting down, ant
complaining of the sudden changes Of thu
weather, which have produced violen
cold in the head, ever and anon taking GU
the precious box, and adding new fuel t