, 1853-08-06
FrOm an OccasIOnaI Corresnondent.


H'N'I IN an o.u Selueu county libc Oregon
may IN Of som, interest to your readers, as
it is very important for young, incxperi,
enced and growing community to keep post
cd up in regard 10 the fashions and customs
OF the world. In some respects, the new
Territory Of Washington will compare ia
vorab.y with Oregon. As many patriotic
cIiiz'ns, in proportion to population, can no
doubt be found who are willing to fill, or at
ltasI 10 take, any and all the Offices in the
glil OF the Territory, as can be found in Or.
egcn. This much all must couccde 10 u.s.
But people here do say, that the fact is well
authenticated, that there was frost last win
Ter in our Territory, Yet so far as have
been able to learn, it was not so severe as 10
destroy fruit. And have seen here in the
valley, within few days, prach trees with
their fruit blasted, and their leaves changed
to the color Of autumn by the unlimely frost.
Such thing is said never to have happen
ed before within the memory Of that reAer-
able oH genticman-the oldest settler. In
addition to that, the old women here do say,
that Washington Territory is slave Terri
tory, for they have seen it in the papers,
But, Mr.. Editor, think you will agree with
me that all these things are Of trivial impor-
tance in comparison to the formation of cor
rect and genteel habits among our people.
In this respect, Oregon, in many important
points, is greatly ahead of US. The ladies
of Washington appear as yet to be entirely
unconscious Of the fact that cigar case is
now an indispensable requisite of lady's
toilet and that in Oregon a lady, whether
reclining upon the sofa or with broom or
dishcloth in hand, is not considered in good
tasIe unless she has a cigar between her rosy
lips, and pinch Of snuff between her fng-
crs. And when behold the easy, graceful
Indifference with which they appear, the
cigar inclining downward at the angl6 of
forty degrees, and the smoke curling
gracefully around their heads, feel morti.
fed that the good ladies of Washington are
so far b,hind the age. ] do not now recol-
leet Of having seen but two ladies attempt
10 smoke in Washington Territory for the
last year, and ono of them had an old stub
of pipo neither beautiful nor ornamental;
and instead of courting observation, she tried
to hide in the kitchen, as though it were
disgraceful for lady 10 smoke.
Washington Territory has now separate
and distinct interests, aud with the finest
harbor on the coast, we shall certainly lead
Oregon. in a commercill point Of view and
il we hope ever to do as large business in
the tobacco line as Oregon, the ladies' should
use cigars aud snuff freely; aud more pains
should be taken to teach boys 10 commence
the use Of lVOacco carly dare say, that
at the present time, not over one half Of the
boys Of ten years of age in Washington
Territory, have learned to chew II is true
that | heard Of one boy in Olympia, Of FIVE
years Of age, who could smoke Eve cigars
before breakfast, and drink ten glasses Of
whiskey during the day. But such inslan-
ces are no doubt rare. There are still many
parents who seem not 10 feel the necessity
of supplying their children with tobacco at
an early day, any more than they do the
spelling book Some ladies' may at first
doubt the utility of the use Of tobacco -
They may think it will greatly injure their
speech that ii will make them appear SLOW
enly; that it is undigniGcl to make dust
pan Of their delicate noses mothers may
object TO teaching the h,bit TO their child.
rcn, because ii renders the breath offensive
that it invariably cau-ts lItle filthy rivu-
let to issue from each corner Of the mouth
that heaven never designed mans mouth lor
tobacco press, else h, would have proyid-
ed it with screws, &C. ; aud that in the
words of James the First, " the use Of to-
tacco is a custom loathsome 10 the eye,
hateful to the nose, hurtful to the brain,
dangerous 10 the lungs, and the black smoke
that arises thereGrom nearest resembles the
smoke of the pit that is lollomless.} But
all these trivial objections npust give way
when habits of gcnlility are 10 be formed,
and commercial pc cminenye acquired
CivIs.