Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-07-02

want to brighten their ideas, or console them
selves 10 the absence Of a friend or a wife.
We will not venture a positive expression Of
sentiment, but we are rather iHciinedt to think
with DIR. Rush. that "tohacco is ollenet used
to supply the ,cant Of ideas, than 10 collect
or excite thein;'' and verify we sincerely pity
the poor fellow whose wife or friend 50 close
ly resembles either in appearance or qualities,
a uuid of tobacco, that lie can substitute the
one for the other. If we are deprived Of the
society of those we value and love among the
living. let us with "the lllustrious
dead" In these days Of literary luxury,
books are cheap and abundant. How much
more interesting and intelligent companions
are the great, the wise and good of departed
years, than bundles of Spanish segars, boxes
of snuff, or rolls of Cavendisll,. Oh We
students of philosophy; we overs Of Homer's
inspiration, Virgil's melody and Cicero's elo-
quence, what havoc do you make Of all IDEAS
of philosophy, poetry and oloquence, when
you prefer an insignificant weed to pamper
your appetite, 10 substantial food for the mind;
and the glimmering light of a segar, to the
Brilliant carnations Of genius Dispensing
with further remarks on the pr9fouId happl-
ness tobacco brings its votarles, either in the
way of delicious taste, or interesting and de-
HghLfui companionship, we will enquire, in
the third place, what effect the use OF this
article has on the personal appearance. Now
gentlemen, do not imagine that we are about
10 mount, what is often called, the hobby of
tie feminine gender, that is, appearance, or
literally, chow will it look - We do think
this question is asked too often by both SEX
es; bat at the same time we think that it
0ught to be asked in all cases, when looks
affect our own usefulness and virtue, or the
comfort Of those about us. Indeed, when
we come to sum up the vast variety of the
articles used by man, we find a great proper
ton of them intended only to look beautiful.
But among the beautiful, none will pretend
to rank the withered, unsightly leaves of the
nauseous and offensive tobocco weed. Who
will say that the use of this article adds TO a
decent and gentlemanly appearance And
who will deny that attention TO appearance
does not constitute a part of mannersl And
do not manners seriously affect the morals!
Are they not the guards of virtue? How
does it improve the appearance of a man
when he starts out into the street, TO be Whit
fling a segar in the face of every one he
meets, and filling the atmosphere with muir
ky clouds : 1t would sometimes seem, that
some among the vulgar classes in the world,
who make it a business to ape their fashion
able superiors, would fain, when they 90 into
public places, immortalize their names by
raising a smoke in the world, as they find it
difficult TO erect a more substantial monu-
ment. We would not charge upon gentle
men the errors of the vulgar, for we are conf
dent that few gentlemen would desire to be
seen using tobacco in any shape whatever,
In the streets, public conveyances, churches
or mixed circles, but We ask them to consid-
or whether in using tobacco at all they do
not countenance those who will use it impo-
lltely and indecently. Arguments throng
about us on every side, but we fear that on
so unpopular a subject, p%rolixity would pro-
woke the patience of our readers. We shall
therefore glance at Il few objections, and then
take up the last part of our inquiry.
1t is sometime said in vindication of the
use of tobacco that it preserves the teeth
from aching and decay. We grant that in
violent attacks Of the tooth ache it may be
good as a medicine, though there are other
less offensive remedies, but we have already
produced the best medical authority that its
haJituaI use Injuries and destroys the tcelh.-
But we appeal to facts-and there can be no
better authority than facts-if the teeth of
regular smokers and ehewers are any better
than other peoples teeth. Do we not rather
find them as a general thing either blackened
or decayed, or partly chewed away! And
even if the argument were sound, why should
we preserve the teeth at the expense of clean
illness and a pure breath Besides, in these
days, when art has become so perfect an imi-
tator of nature, that il is hard to tell whether
the teeth, hair and eyes are artificial or natu-
raj, surely it would be no disallowable thing
to apply TO a dentist for a new crop when
the teeth become so sick at heayt for tobacco
that they betake themselves to an early grave.
There is another consideration that we have
sometimes heard brought forward, that tobac-
co prevents too much corpulency; and relieves
the stupidity arising after meals.
There can be no doubt but that its stimu-
lating qualities do relieve stupidity in the
same manner, though in less degree, that the
stupidity Of the dram drinker is relieved by
his glass of brandy. But is there not a bet
ter, more rational and less ~culpable way of
relieving-or rather of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
and corpulency at the same time! Would it
not be better TO use temperance in eatinr to
prevent these results, than to use tobacco TO
cure them? In this ease might we not applv
with double force the old proverb, san ounce
OF preventive is worth a pound of cure o.
Permit us now 10 bring before you briefly the
moral bearings of this subject. No one will
deny, that when a man w%illfully uses that
which he is sure will shorten his life. he is
guilty, In a degree, of suicide, and no beliey-
er in revelation will deny that suicide is sin
iul. II then, 1t has been, or can be proved,
that tobacco wastes the human constitution
and thus brings on premature death, is not
the man who w~illfully uses it guilty. in a
degree, of a suicidal act, and consequently of
what he knows and acknowledges is sinful ?
But If there are those, who disregardinu
the opinions of the best physiologists and
physicians in the world, and the authority Of
the facts about them, declare that tobacco is
not injurious because they have never know
any serious consequences to result ilnmedi.
ateiy to themselves, we would respectfully ask
them to consider another part of the subject
and inquire whether the time and money ex.
pended on this article might not be better ap
PTopriated. Think of the years-nay, thu
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