Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1854-11-21
EcasI gM9 ag3:a:oJs.
THOUGHTS OF AN OLD,sMoKER.

OF AN OLDsSMOKER.
TnE National Magazine for Novcm.
Der contains the following article on to.
bacco smokc--to our mind one Of the
most interesting discussions ofits merits
and dement's, that has appeared among
all the t,acls and treatiscs on the subject
the last ten years have seen. Do not
pass il by smokers, for you can testify of
its verify and yc who do not smoke,
read that you may not:
AauARTER Of q century ago began
10 master two difficult nitainments ]
learned 10 shave and | learnNl to smoke.
or these two a,tainments, smoking was
incomparably the hardest; but mana.
ged it. What has it cost me ? +! have
smoked almost all sorts Of tobacco, and,
as suppose, in almos. all forms. ! be.
gan with cisarattcs, advaSeed onward
toward cigars, then to Maryland tobac.
co, then TO returns, then to birds eye,
and then TO the strongest shag. | have
bought and smoked cigars nt all prices,
and Of all manufactures, from the suspi.
cious articles, SIX of which may be bot
for q sixpencc, and which probably ale
innocent Of any connection with 'nico.
iisna, save slight tinse with its juice,
to the coslliest Havana. have been
fanciiul in cigar tubes, and also in
pipes, though TO no alarming extent,
having never paid more than dollar
and "a half for tube, and doll and
a quarter for mcchaum and after all at.
temp,s to be fine, prelerring the naked
cigar, or the half yard OF clay. have
spent money, TOO, on instantaneous
lights OF many sorts when phosphorus
boxes, containing q small bottle Of fiery
mixture, and when a score OF matches,
cost sevcnty.f cents each, gave ihat for
one. When lueilcr matches were inven.
ted, and sold for twelve cents q box
less in quantity than may nov be bought
Tor cent patrouized the manuiac.
ture. have used German tinder, fusees,
and a dozen other kindred inventions /;
and all ,lrsc cos. money, and served me
only for the lighting OF my pipes or ci'
gars.
Looking at it then, altogether, and
taking into account, cigars, cigar cases,
cigar tubes, pipes and matches consiI
ering, too, that have been constant
and persevering, though not an enormous
smoker, may safely and fairly con.
clude, that, lake one time with another,
smoking has cost me half dollar a
week for twenty five years.
A halfa dollar a week that IS TO say,
,wenty.six dollars year making for
the whole period, and without reckon.
ing interest, either compound or simple,
the sum Of six hundred and fifty dollars.
Now, this | repeat, is keeping within
compass, and friend al my side tells me
that double the amount week would
be nearer the mark but as, during ten
years past, | have not exceeded the more
moderate computation, | shall let it re.
main. 81
Six hundred and fifty dollars-settins
aside the consideration Of interests q
large sum. II, twenty. five years ago, in
stead Of tobacco box had set up @
money box, and dropped into it week
| ly half dollar, | cannot avoid the con
clusion lha, should now be six hun
drcd and fifty dollars richer than ain
and there are many things could dc
with six hundred and fifty dollars. i
might serve for a years house keeping
for my establishment is on humble
sea le or i, might set up my eldest boy
or It might refurnish my house. Or, i
the half dollar week had been devoted
TO life insurance, and were to die to
morrow, my family would be the bette
for my sel(denial by one thousand Gy,
hundred dollars. Or if had spent bal
a dollar u week on literature, my libra
ry would now be, and much TO my ad
vantage, larger than it is. Or if, layin:
aside selfish considerations, | had Sc
apart the half dollar a week 10 works o
charity, the world might have been tn
better for it. Many heart ache nigh
have been relieved by the six hundfe'
and fifty dollars whIh have puffcd a
way. think, then, that if | hal to be
gin life again, ! would not learn t.
. smoke. t-...
know IT may be said that the sam
. arguments could be raised against this
. that and the other superGuity, whic
= might be done without. But | am no
=, !" writing about this, that, and the othe
), superflui.y am writing about tobac
CO smoke.
= To turn TO another thought; ! am nc
:, quite sure that smoking is health
practice. know it is not necessary I
health, for see my friends who do nj
smoke are not troubled with diseases ,
!. y wkich those Of us who do arc subjec
" My wife does not smoke, and, SO far 8
;. :. can see, does not suffer from the priv'
% % ton. might go step further, and sa.
= : ! have a strong suspicion that sometime
:. " smoking disagrees with some Of us, an
, it is rather detrimental 10 health tina
: otherwise. Certainly, excessive smokir
is injurious /; but who shall draw the liz
!, of demarkaton between moderation ar
- excess As for myself, | do not kno
- :. that smoking has ever hurt me. 1t
', true that when | have q bilious hea
~ ache, nauseate the smell Of tobec,
smoke, hut SO do nausuate the smell
roast.beef. Still, as firmly believe III
ic ! am none the better for smoking, thir