Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-05-06
To The Editor of TIE Belmont Chronicle:


dicted to the costly and offensive practice
of using tobacco; using it so excessively
and disgustinels. The lovers of the "weed"
we see continually with their "quids," or
putting at their cigars, or rubbing snaf:-l
The love Of this horrible, disgusting, and
dirty practice is acquired by a great strug-
gle, a self-infiction. No one ever COM
menced using this abominable stuff with
out experiencing a nauseating Sickness
Can we create an unnatural appetite, and
crafty it, and be innocent. when results SO
fearful are sure to follow! The user of the
weed is a slave all his life! 1t makes all
slaves, whether they chew, smoke or rub.
Then why use it! Many use it because
others do; because it is the custom to d.
so. Many boys use it, for they think it will
make them 10 appear like men. Pshaw.
1t is the mark of a low and worthless char
acter to do as Others do, just because they
do so, without considering whether it is
right or wrong. To have a proper regard
for our associates is one thing, TO adopt
their rule of action is quite another. The
one is consistent; to adopt the other, we
abandon all principle and duty custom
and fashion are all that many think OF,
without consulting their conscience. This
is wrong, and rarely fails to deprive one OF
self-respsct. and the respect of others
You will lose the esteemiof those YOU at
tempt to please in this way. They may
commend you for doing as they do, but be
assured, nwardly they will despise yeu;
therefore, lei them chew the guild. puff
their smoke, and rub their dirty snuff, and
go on in their abominable practices. BIT
is it right. Should We follow suit in
their heathenism? We believe we should
not "touch or taste the weed' in any
shape. Tobacco is poisonous. Many en-
lnent physicians have testified to the pois-
onous qualities OF tobacco. 1t is the cause
of many diseases--insanity. depression Of
the spirits. ltis estimated th 1t the peo-
lple of the United States consume the enor-
nous sum. of Sls,OoO,OO q year in tobacco.
Suppose the horrible practice was abolished
and the money paid for the support of
schools, would it not educate every chile
in the countyl Many pay their money for
tobacco, cigars or snuff, when their families
are in want; but they must have it, if their
children do starve. And it befogs the
mind. Filthiness! Look into some of
your groceries, the insufferable filth! To-
bacco juice spattered and spstterrng about,
the room full of tobacco smoke, enough to
suffocate any one, and if they deal out tine
"creeter," it puts me in mind Of a place
called by ZONE P~andemonia. The use of
tobacco tends to strong drink. Who ever
saw q drunken sot that was not a slave to
the "Indian weed!" Strong drink and to.
bacco are allies--for each of these stimu-
lants induce a demand for the other. To-
bacco. therefore, is a great hiLdrance to the
temperance reform. They are the destroy
ers Of reason; tie pest of society; the
wife's sorrow; the childreEs' trouble; and
their victim is below the beast; the FOOLS
%scorn; the good mans pity; the monster of
a man. Where 10 there q gambling house,
a dram shop, OF q den of thieves, where
they do not chew their guilds, and puff their
smoke! Show me a dandy, a libertine, a
Ounce, a blaekleg, or a ~scoundrel, who does
not use the filthy weedl We see dirty
boys. urchins, putting as they strut through
the streets, with a cigar in their mouths,
annoying humane (not to say human) be-
ings. Why this childish folly and wicked
ness-this juvenile nuisancei Why are
these boys led to acquire a habit SO unnat-
ural-so vile-so pernicious--which is al
most sure to make them idle, %lounging, dis
sipated sots; a disgrace to themselves and
their parents! is not this shameful prac-
tice induced in a great degree by imitation
by witnessing others in higher standing!
The habitual tobacco cheser. often finds
himself in a dilemma. For instance, in a
parlor with a guild in his teeth. Some are
SO .ost to all decency as to aefle carpets,
CRATES, or tenders. 10 some of our churches
"eyen the pulpit wesrs visible marks of the
beast.2i8J-1 rG,9.e- .r- 3 E--. 49,
Is there a lady who does not abilor this
vulgsrity-lhis s,ckening e%fiiuvial Is it
not as good manners to spit in a persons
face, as TO smoke in the face of a lady or
gentleman, who does not use the vile weed!
The smell o. tobacco to many is offensive
sickening, particularly those in feeble
health; and We have seen persons gag and
vomit from simply meeting an "embryo
gentleman" with a cigar in his mouth.
Snuf-rubbing lie one of the most detest-
able practices that exist. To see those
who call themselves ladies', with a brush
in their mouths, the handle protruding out,
is disgusting. And the saliva. no wonder
they spit. Fhe mouth, the teeth, the lipsl
what a sepulchre of corruption! The use
OF tobocco blunts; the sensibiIitis s, and sears
the conscience. Can a slave to the quid,
pipe, or snuff box be a consistent Chris
tian!- A Christian and a S ave to appetite
grossly intemperate! Some sin isnor-
antly in this, but many, very many, are SO
welded to their idol that they would sooner
renounce all hope of Heaven than give it
up. "Ephraim is joined to his idols; let
him alone" Our hooes for old tobacco
chewers, smokers and ~snuffers are faint;
many Of them will cling to the idol; hug
the monster; smoke On, chew on, and rub
till they drop into their graves; a slave to
the monster all their lives.
Youth, our hopes are in you. Consider
the sottishnsss, and shamefulness
of. these vicious, sensual habits; their
tendency to poison body, mind and SOUL
the loss of time. money, health and reputa-
tion. Let your firm resolve be to "touch
not, taste not" the vile, nauseous, ruinous