Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-10-23

persons of all ages and CONDITION in life, In
lcluding half dozen young children, and at least
twenty people who chew tobacco and spit are
closely packed in an atmosphere deprived of all
moisture and elasticity by there heat of an
anthracite stove that CLOVIS and throbs in this
locomotive den. Behind the stove, and on the
side of the car in large letters is the following
inscription:
GENTLEMEN
ARB R,EQUE STED
NOT TO SPIT sak
on THE STOVE.
And here, as well as at any other point of my
journey, may as we'll say what I have to say
on the subject Of the odious practice of tobacco
/ chewing, and its concomitant and still moro
odious practice of splitting SO disgnstingly preva-
lentsin the Southern and Western States, and to-
q minor extent in the Northern. Before saw.
with my. own eyes tho extent and prevalence Of
this fltRiness Imagined that the accounts given
| by preceding travellers were exaggerations and
caricatures, intended to raise an ill-natured
laugh; but observation speedily convinced me
that all had previously read upon the subject
fell short of the truth, and that it would beIdif
Efcultto exaggerate the extent of the vice, and
the caliousness with which tits regarded even
| by people of education and refinement. Aneri-
cans who have Travelled in Europe do not seem
to be annoyed that strangers should take notice
of the practice and be offended by it; but Gus
tom SO dulls even their perceptions of its often
somewhat sQueamish and over sensitive. Once,
at w ashington, | found myself the centre of
group of members Of Congress, two of whom
were among the most expert and profuse spit
teers q was going to write expectorators, but
the word is not strong enough) whom it was
ever my fortune to meet when the conversation
having turned upon the military proves and
skill of several gentlemen who had distinguish
ed themselves in the Mexican war, 1 was sud-
| denly asked by one of them-who cleared his
mouth for the purpose with one of the most por-
tentous floods of tobacco juice ever saw-who
was the greatest General in America? Tho
reply was General Spit stWell, !" said the
senator, 81 calculate you are about right; and
though you, as Britisher, may say so, Ishould
advise you not to put the observation into print,
us some of our citizens might take it as person
al. On another occasion an eminent lawyer,
who had filled some of the highest Offices of the
State, a man to whom ancient and modern liter
allure were equally familiar, who had studied
European as well as American politics, whose
mind seemed to hayeirnn through the whole
circle OF human knowledge; and who could
converse eloquently on any subject, though
while he spoke the tobacco juice oozed out Of
the corners of mouth and ran downiupon7
his shirt front and wastcoat, took allarge cake
| of tobacco from side pocket, and courteously.
offered me aschew. Thescake, should think,
weighed about half a pound Iiasked him if.
| ne had ever calculated how many gallons of
spit such CD, cake representeds Well he said,
putting the cake back into his pocket, cit Is
adsgustIng habit. lquite agree with you. l
have made several. attempts 70 break mfyseifof,
At. put IN vain. cannot think, nor work,
%1saogs 2 Snew ana' i IN,
for the slave q - the S bsb;t and Ssi1 T1T n
fear, be SO to the end Of my days. Event in
the presence Of ladies', the chewers and spittersA
40 nos Feene; ana laales seem almost II not
sex. In theatres and lectuTs.rooms are con-.
stantly TO be seen Inscriptions requesting gem
temen not to spit in the boxes or on the stoves;
aa N an Places Of Ppolle resort the sPlttoon
earnish the marble s stems If the
ington; spittoons are in all the reading rooms,
bars, lobbies and Offices Of the hotels; spittoons
IN every railway car and in the halls Of every
atase heglsLature which visited the Parla-
the American eagle were represented as holding,
in his or her claw spittoon, instead Of the
enund t,T OF Joye, the change might not be
P,, ae o @oIp Germany not DC
which would gladly have omitted to mention
had