The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-06-25
The Use of Tobacco.

Were it possible fora being who had re-
sided upon our globe to visit the inhabi-
tants OF planet where reason gov
erned, and to tell them that vile weed was
in general use among the inhabitants of the
globe it had left, which afforded no noursl-
ment; that this weed was cultivated with
immense care that it was an important ar.
t;cle of commerce; that tie want of it pro-
duced real misery that its taste was ex-
tremely nauseous; that it was unfriendly to
health and morals; and that its use attend
ed with a considerable loss of time and pro-
perty the account would be thought in-
credible, and the author fit: would proba-
bly be excluded from society for relating
story Of so improbable a nature. In no one
view is it possible 10 contemplate the crea-
ture man in moro absurd and ridiculous
light than in his attachment to Tobacco.
The progress OF habit in the use of tobac-
co is exactly the same rs in the use spirtu-
GUS liqu,r:. The slaves of it begin by using
it only after dinner; then, during the whole
afternoon and evenings; afterwards before
dinner, then, before breakfast. and, finally,
during the whole night. Knew lady
who had passed through alI these stages,
who used to wake regularly two or three
times every night to compose her system
with fresh doses Of snuff.
The appetite for tobacco is wholly arti-
! ficial. No person was. ever born with rel
ish for it j; even in those persons who are
much attached to it nature frequently re-
covers her disrclish TO it. 1t ceases to be
agreeable in every fcbrile ndisrosition.-
This is so invariably true, tlla! disrelish to
it is often sign fan approaching, and re-
turn of the appetite for it, a sign ola depar-
ting fever. proceed now to mention some
of the Influences of the habitual use of to-
bacco upon morals.
One of the usual effects Of smoking and
chewing is thirst. This thirst caunot be al
| layed by water, for no sedative or even in
sipid liquor will be rclished after the mouth
and throat have been exposed to the stirnu-
lus Of the smoke or juice of tobacco. A
desire, of course, is excited for strong drinks,
and these, when taken between meals, soon
lead to intemperance aud drunkenness.
The use of tobacco, moro especially in
smoking, disposes to idlencss, and idleness
has been considered as the root of all evil.
can idle mans brains," says the celebrated
and original Mr.. Bunyan, "is tho devils
workshop"
The use of tobacco is necessarily connected
with the neglect of cleanliness.
Tobacco, more especially when used in
smoking, is generally offensive to those peo-
pie who do not use it. TO smoke in COM
pany, under such circumstances, is breach
ofgood manners; now, manners have an in
huence upon morals. They may be con-
| e;I f5,o &c A 1,,l
of offending the senses of friends or stran.
gers by the use of tobacco cannot therefore,
be INDUCED with innocence. 1t produces a
want Of respect for our fellow creatures, and
this always disposes to unkind and unjust
behavior towards them. Who ever knew a
rude man completely or uniformity NOR
al? *
In reviewing the account that has been
given of the disagreeable and mischeivous
effects of tobacco, we are led to inquire,
what arc its uses upon our globe, for we
are assured that nothing exists in vain.---
Poison is a rel, tive term, and the most nQx-
ious plants have been discovered to afford
sustenance to certain animals. But what
animal besides man will take tobacco into
its moutha Horses, COWS, sheep, cats, dogs,
| a"u even HoSSS, IeiuSc W taste u. Piies, NOS
qutoes, and the moth are chased from our
clothes by the smell fit. But let us not
arraigh the wisdom and economy Of nature
inSthe production of this plant. Modern
travellers have at last discovered that it con
stitutes the food ofaa solitary and filthy
wild beast, we'll known in the deserts of
Africa. BY the name of the Rock Goat.
shall conclude these observations by re-
lating an anecdote Of the late DR.. Franklin
A few months before his death, he declared
to one of his friends that he had never used
tobacco:in any way in the course Of his long
life, and that he was disposed to believe
thereswas not much advantageous be from
It, for that he had never met with a man
who used t5who advised him to follow his
1'example.-Beyansin Rush.
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