Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-10-15
Aston umdiME Facts Concerning
SIM Okillg, Chewing md Snuf1-
Ing .r. -fT1r- -s..r -n .ssr
BY JOHN, OF LANCASTER.

1He Ol LOUdCCO JIlS
United States has become enormous
According to the census, returns, the
annual production is about two hundred
millions of pounds; and by allowing a
population of twenty six millions, il
would give to every man, woman and
child within fraction of eight pounds.
This, at first sight, would seem incredi-
table, yet it is true. -..-.. =..-.
Allowing the annual production oi
tobacco, as stated above, to be worth
twenty cents a pound, in the raw state
which is certainly a low figure, it would
be worth the snug sum of forty millions
of dollars. This would be sufficient
amount to build school house, worth
six hundred dollars, in every township
and parish in the Union. h9aaf.~Ts
r. Out of our population there. are at
least three millions that chew tobacco;
and on an average of only two cigars a
| day, which is certainly very moderate
numb Der, they would consume eight mil
lions daily, or the enormous amount of
two billions nine hundred and twenty
millions per annum. Allowing these
cigars to cost but two cents each, it
would amount to the princcIy fortune
of over fifty eight millions of dollars ex-
pended in a single year for this trihing
article, These cigars will average six
inches in length, making, in the aggre
gate, seventeen billions five hundred and
twenty millions of inches, or over three
hundred thousand miles, which would
be sufficient to reach round the earth
| nearly twelve times. q.
The snuffing party, including females,
will also amount to at least four mil
lions. They will use, on an average,
two pounds each per annum, amounting
to eight millions. 1t will cost about
twenty five cents per pound: or two mil
lions of dollars. '-''
The enormous consumption of the
narcotic weed is indeed astounding, and
almost staSsers belief; yet, upon close
Investigation of the subject, we. are COM
PEELED to bow to the truth and accuracy
of figure. The human mind can scarce
ly form conception of the vastness of
the amount consumed. D. tG- ---
| From the above calculation, it .ap-
pears that there are nearly one hundred
millions of dollars expended annually.
by the people of the United States alone
for tobacco in its various uses. What
vast amount for mere luxury ~
In this progressive age of steam, cleo
tricity, folly and fashion, it is rare oc-
currence to find an individual not ad-
dictcd to the use of tobacco in some
shape. Boys, at Il very tender age, take
to chewing and smoking as naturally as
duck takes to water. They strut
round with ftp plug in their capacious
pockets, with the dignity of prince,
and take their chetc with as much gray
ity as an old dame will take her pinch
of snuff. -.-,-.. ,-,.-. .--..- ,.;
Old men chew and spit-middlc- aged
men do the same-all, with very few
exceptions, are given to this Practice
Parlors, churches, Offices, railroad cars
and steamboats,, all bear the unmistake-
able marks that the confirmed .chewer
leaves behind him. Still, the practice
goes on, steadily increasing, tons of to-;
bacco are daily exhausted, chewed up,
and hogshead of liquid ejeetedin guam
titles which, if collected into a reservoir
would float them thclargest line OF: bat
tic ship in the world. If all the ';oId
sogers' elected from the mouths of to-
bacco chewers were collected together
for one year, they would make pile
higher than Bunker Hill Monument!
Visit one of our hotels after meal
hours, and you will find scores of gents
sitting around with their feet elevated
at an angle of about fifty degrees, every
one industriously engaged indpufing
| cigar, while out of their mouths, zand
around their heads, roll huge volumes
of tobacco smoke. They puff away with
as much industry as if the destiny of
the Republic depended upon their eff
forts. For squares around the air is re-
dolent of the fumes of tobacco, and it
collects in great clouds till a passing
breeze bears it away. ,
1t is lamentable fact, too, that thou
sands of young women are given to the
use of snuff by rubbing it on their teeth
This practice is certainly more disgust
ing than either chewing or smoking
How disgusting it is to sec handsome
young lady, with streaks smeared around
the corners of her mouth, while her
breath is highly perfumed with the :otlor,
and one of her delicately tapering ing-
ers is stained saffron hue by applying
it to the teeth. Bah The balm of a
thousand flowers, or a pound of Prof
Gardeners New England soap, would
scarcely wash the stains away.
1t is amusing to get an old chewer
inveigled into a parlor without previ-
ously removing his Qmid, where no spit
toons are at hand, and bevy of laugh
ing, romping beauties surround him
He soon finds himself placed in an awk-
ward position. The fluid begins to ac-
cumulate in his mouth. In vain he
looks about for place to eject it. He
dare not spit on the nice carpet. In
this dilemma what IS to be done? His
mouth Is distended to its utmost capac-
.ity-a crisis is approaching-he dare
] not speak or the juice will run out OF
his mouth. Horrible situation! Some
thing must be done, and that speedily
At last, in fit of desperation, he hits
upon an expedient; his white cambria
is produced and the contents of his