Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1849-08-10
The First Cigar.

sou had kept himself pure from the vice Of
smoking until lie arrived at the age OF man.
hood. To him il WIS a most disgusting
and filthy practice: and there were certain
Of his acqusintances whose persons were so
offensive from the fact that they ever bore
about them sickening odor OF tobacco
smoke, that lie disliked TO come near them
How delicate ladies' could endure the pres
ence of men whose clothes we're ever reek.
ing with fumes from the nauseous weed
was to him subject Of especial WONDER
Young men are very apt TO fall into the
habit, on FIRST entering life, Of speaking
lightly Of the other sex they generally
learn better ere many years pass over their
heads. Harry fell into this habit about the
time he attained his majority but his light
remarks were never meant for more than a
playful retaliation upon his sister Helen,
whose wit was rather sharp when men came
within reach OF good thrust.
'if any animal but man." he used some
times to say, with an odor half as offensive
as that which smoker bears about him in
his clothes aud hair, we're 10 come into a
lady's presence, she would fan, on the in.
staui. But the mans the man for a.
that ="
Helen was usually highly indignant a,
such insinuations, and would declare that
for her part she could much better bear the
presence ofa whole menagerie than one to-
bacco smoker.
Ugh To have man breathe his rank
breath into your face until you grow faint
under the atiiiction TO nave The atmos-
phere Of the room in which you are sitting
so tainted by the filthy clothes OF a smoker
young. accomplished, well-dressed, aud
good.looking though he be-as TO be oblig.
ed, as | have been, to air il for hours be-
fore the offensive smell could be oblterai-
ed ! To have your handkerchief filled with
the sickly odor, and your lips coated with a
disgusting, bitter film"
clips, Helen! lips!" exclaimed the
brother, when the remark was made
why, is it possible that you let young
men. and smokers at that. kiss you r.
Nov. Harry, that is too bad Kiss
me !" aud shiver ran through the young
girls frame. 81 might endure to be kiss.
ed by dog or monkey, but by tobacco
chewer or smoker-never UGH The
very thought makes me shudder."
"Then how could your lips be so strange
ly contaminated r.
Easily enough, as you very well know /;
for have heard you, dozen Of times. COM
plain Of the very same thing, and seen you
over and over again, wash your lips with
cologne, after having endured the presence
Of smoker, in order to free them from The
bitter, sickening deposite they had received
from the air he had filled with a nauseous
vapor."
'-Iti IL hOsriJie, there's 40 uenJtng uiai,
! was the usual admission made by Harry, in
closing light sparring contest OF this ma
lure. GLOW human who makes any
pretensions TO decency, can render himself
so disgusting. passes my comprehension"
Harry Lawson was young attorney but
recently admitted TO the bar. He occu-
pied, as an office, the front purlor OF the
house in which his family resided, and there
patiently or impatienty, according as hi,
temper Of mind happened TO be, awaited
: the appearance Of some members of that
class Of individuals who know their right,
and are willing 10 contend for them. Dai
ly he sat and read for hours, or wandered
into the court room 10 note the cases Oh
trial and mark the peculiar mode Of attack
: and defence as carried on by legal belliger
! ents. Idle time OIL his hands led him &c
seek company and modes OF overcoming the
: dullness of waiting for something TO do
, Riding out, tavern-lounging, meeting witt
young attorneys in their Offices, and suct
other ways Of killing time as happened Il
. turn up, were all resorted to by the incip
lent lawyer. OF course
. "IIave cigar, Harry :" was asked o.
him daily; for, among his associates mint
out Of ten used the weed.
"Don't smoke Is il possible |" in near
: ly all cases met his refusal Of the cigar, er
I en- by those whose offer Of regalis he hat
! declined some forty times before. And
. then would follow looks or mods that mad
: him feel that he had lacked manly ~ &C
. complishment. Ofen he was the odd on,
: in party OF three or four, all Of whom
q but himself, were sending out their grace
: fully wreathing columns Of smoke, which
: fairly darkened the room in which ihey,sai
: Not partaking OF or adding 10 the genera
! enjoyment, rather took from the pleasure o
his companions, and he felt uncomfortabl,
himself
: One day Harry was offered cigar by
!. friend in whose Office he was sitting.
: mo, thank you" came as usual from
. his lips 81 never use them"
"Nol Why, man, you don't know wha
= you lose. There is nothing that EMO!
= = like good cigar"
: Smoking seems to me. an idle, useless
habit" said Lawson, in reply 10 this.
= "That only shows what you know nbou
: il. There is nothing equal, as digester
!. as good cigar | don't think coul
! : live without a cigar after dinner. An
!, then when you sit down alone, or with
> ;, friend in the evening, after the excitemen
- and care Of the day are over, il uanquilize
|. your feelings and gives wings to your ilio't'
" You don't know what you lose, Harry
!. Take my advice and learn TO smoke
= Here" and he tossed cigar into the hat Q
n Lawson, sis one of the mildesi and puret
!, favored cigars ever saw. Try H."
!, Harry shook his head. and lifting the C
- gar reached il TO his companion but III
! latter pushed il back. saying
n "No-no. want yon 10 try that.
!, = not now, take il home with you. It's q
mild aud sweet favored as rose"
, When Harry got home the cigar was sti