The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-01-29
Tobacco, lntelmperance, Tenn
perilMce..-NO 10.

PcTituCcs..NO kVs .....
TO the Editors of the Literary Echo -
AS this must be the closing number Of
the series OF articles upon Tobacco, In
temperance, Temperance, | wish to ask
those persons who use the filthy weed, and
especially, the young men who do this, why
they will persist in so DOING And as I
wait for reply, one says" Because 1
have mind to- shall do as I please,
whatever others may say or do" A very
direct answer, surely, and probably very
satisfactory to him who makes it ; and it
shows shat there are some persons who
cannot be reasoned with "whose aciN,"
as Miss Bremen remarks, "is their king
dom of hearen." With such we will not
waste words.
Another replies" I ike the excite
ment of the cigar or the quid- there is
something agreeable in it," And cannot
the tppler use this argument in favor of
tippling, with equal propriety' "No; be-
cause drinking is dangerous habit-many
are ruined by it" True-and so is the
use Of tobacco dangerous habit-and if
we may credit testimony, many have been
ruined thereby. Perhaps not as many as
by drinking; but is this reason why it
should be continued ? If it's tendency is
to evil and evil only, if only score or two
have been ruined by it, surely we need not
wait for the ruin of still others before it is
abandoned. 1t should be abandoned as
truly as the Intoxicating cup, which ruins );
and for one of the same reasons, viz, be-
cause IL ruins.
Another replies-"I have used it a
great while, and as it does not injure me
and as it would be difficult to abandon the
use Of it, continued to use it," Very
patriotic - very benevolent very self
denying. And so you urge the dram
,drinker, who feels the better for his dram
to abandon it, however difficult the work
for the good Of others-of the youth-ifI
not for his own benefit, but are not willing
to practice as You would have others. And
more you acknowledge that tobacco,
or useless, filthy, inconvenient habit, is
the master, and you are the slare. And
would you advise others to subject them
selves to the same bondage? And still
more-you conclude to lend your example
to encourage others in doing that which is
useless, yea, positirely injuraOns to multi
,tud,s, and to many, it may be, who will
be influenced by your example to injure
themselves. But others have watery
,stomachs, their food rises, there are indi-
cations of decay upon their teeth, &c, &C.,
and 50 they take the poison. I do not
wonder that their stomachs are watery,
nor that their food rises-there is cause
for it-I wonder more of it does not rise.
But seriously, is there young MIN in this
village, or in this town. or in this State,
who really believes that he enjoys the
better health, for the habitual use of
tobacco ! cannot believe there is one
If there is, am confident that the solitary
one is grossly deceived in regard to the
matter. 1 do not deny the beneficial
effects Of tobacco when occasionally aud
properly used, nor do | question the bcne-
fetal effects Of alcohol when so used; bit
l think the dram -drinker can plead i'm
proved health, us reason for hi daily
dram, with about the same propriety, that
the habitual smoker, or chewer can his .
use of tobacco, "a . H -' 80.
And now wish to say to the members
Vt the "Juvenile Moral Union," learn to