Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1854-11-21


" OF tobacco. And as this is far from
being pleasant TO me, who am a smoker,
am sure il cannot be pleasant 70 those
who are not smokers. Moreover, The cx.
poctoration which smoking provokcs is
far from pleasant or cleanly habit. On
these accounts, then, had 10 pass thro'
lifo again, ! think | would determine to
pass thro' life without learning to smoke.
Again, think that smoking does net
add TO a mans respectabiiiy. | am not
sure that it has not, sometimes, contra.
ry tendency. This may depend on cir
Cer,anly,men Of the high.
est respectabiIiiy 10 not think it any de.
rogation be seen at times nhalling the
vapor of a cigar or pipe bu, no one
can say that they would not be equally
were they known to avoid
as an evil thing. Whereas,
on the other hand, some have notorious.
ly lost caste by being numbered among
the smokers; and, in fact, am reluc.
family compelled TO admit, if smoker
be reckoncd n respectable man, it is in
spite Of his habit and not because of it.
Once more, it is not TO be denied that
good many people in the world are SO
fastidious and weak, some smokers say,
as 10 think smoking disagreeable habit.
They do not Willingly admit smoker
Into their houses, because they dislike his
accompaniments. We'll, say that it is
fastidiousnoss, aud allectalion, and all
nonsense Though, friend and fellow
smoker, we have no rgh to say that
but suppose it be, the effect is the same;
our practice makes us dsagreeable,
causes US to be stunned, and sometimes,
If we don't take care, TO be shut out from
good society.
True, so far as | am concerned, |
avoid this evil--ihe chance Of being
disagreeable, or thrust out from good
society--by never smoking except where
smoke is welcome. But it is not pleasant,
at times, TO be debarrcd favorite re-.
source for passing sine. There is lit.
tic bit Of sclG.denial required, think,
when n man would, but dare not, put a
pipe in his mouth. And as, more or less
often, such sacrifices must be made by
the smoker who has consideration for
others as we'll as for himself, or has in.
deed due consideration for others as well
as for himself, would, L think, if my
youth could be renewed, avoid the need
Of this self.denial by not learning to
smoke.
| think, moreover, that smoking is
not one of the things which help to push
u man onward in the world and | an
mistaken if, sometimes, the habit is no
like clog 10 keep him back. an
very sue that young man, for instance
is NO, more likely to obtain situation
Of responsibility and trust because h'
knows how 10 handle cigar in an ele
gan, manner, or is refined in his appre
citation Of the best oroonoke; have (
suong impression, on the contrary, tha
such one would prefer keeping thi
acc orplishment in the back ground, Il
other words, | cannot bu. be persuade
that--all things else being cqual--th
man who does not smoke has bette
chance Of success in the world than tn
man who does; and as, if were youn
again, | should wish to succeed, if poss
Bile, think would not Learn 10 smoke
And ! do not wonder that men Of bus
ness, and employers generally, look wi,
suspicion upon tobacco. smokers; fc
though youth or man, in spite of th
practice, may be a valuable workman
ii is no, 10 bc denied that The smoker {
times lays himself open to temptation:
strongly lugsins at him, to draw hin
aside from integrity and honor. 1t
not every smoker that can puff away
dry pipe and the youth who, 10 |
manly, puts himself TO the discomfort
learning to smoke, is likely also, wi
the same object in view, to learn TO ii
pie. In short, | fear it would be foun
if curiously and strictly sought into, tn
smoking often leads to sottishne:s.
I fear also that, as with every other nee
less expense, it leads sometimes TO di
honesty. 1t is not always tina, you
or q man can afford to dissipate tive
ty five cents q week, nor twelve Ger
either, in smoke. But dollar We
would not suffice for the vcspertine
nocturnal cigar and glass of many
Z" fast" youth Of the present day. Wh'
do they get their quarters
4 Well, never spent more than
thought could honestly afford
smoke-perhaps they do not either
and | never needed to wet my pipe
because Of the temptations which be
tho smoker, think, could 60 ba
, again to the morning of life, l woi
, not learn 10 smoke.
, Again, | do not think that smok
, is generally necessary as an aid to nj
tai exertion, or an incentive so'profou
: study. lcannot subscribe 10 the mo,
E" Ex fumo dare lucem )" that is TO S
so far as tobacco. smoke is concern
: There have been philosophers, po'
i statesmen, and divines among the SIN
!, ers so have there been among the n
o smokers. And l am compelled 10 C
o clude that wisdom does not coyly clio
4 itself in vapor. On the contrary, !
~ bound to acknowledge my reluctant
i lief that If the tobacco. pipe is sometil
i. a help.meet to the pen, it quite as ol
q happens that the pen is the bond.s'
# ant Of the pipe. Therefore, were
Il begin the world again, ! think l wo
b not learn to smoke.
IL thipl, lnc4l., Lai Il Ia unru .l;sn,