The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-05-02
RAVENNA, WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 1860.
Snuff Dipping.

Comparatively few in this section have
personal knowledge of the habit of "snuff
dipping" as known and pract;ced in the
South; and in the words Of the universal
query now SO conspicuously posted about
the city, it may BE eagerly asked, "What is
t!" But curiosity to learn can only be
gratified by revelations nauseating to per.
sons of refined sensibiities; and inasmuch
as it is practiced exclusively by females
| ladies often courtesy to the sex might for
bid an exposure of their failngs, were it
not that good may possibly grow out OF it
Suffice it to say, that no other Of the many
forms in which tobacco is used, is half so
disgusting as snuff dipping; no appetite so
unnatural, and no taste SO repugnnnt to that
native refinement which graces female char.
ucter. Yet it is true that the practice pre-
walls to q greater or less extent among all
classes of females throughout the State of
North Carolina, and in portions of Virginia,
Alabama, and sevcra! other Southern States
jim the parlor, on the public conveyances,
on the promenade, at social gatherings, and
in daily domestic duties. On all occasions
the indispensable box and mop, or bottle
and swab, are present, and constantly &C,
tive, drawn from the pocket for private use,
, or passed to present company by way of Ell.
: quette. TIE habit is most common among
the uneducated and poorer classes; yet, the
: moistened mop is often dipped into the snuff
by the white and jeweled fingers, and thence
dripping with the filthy mixture, passed to
dainty mouths, and vigorously applied to the
Il gums and lips until all daubed and stained
. they would repel with instructive disgust
. the approach of other lips that before woult
= have thought them oveublc. Ard frequent
ly one mop sutfices for several dit1eren
mouths! This mop or swab is sometimes
simple brush, but usually pine stick soft
ened at the end; and it is fact no less tru
y" than what else is herein stated, that the ne
:. crosses drive q profitable business by tn
;" fit for use by chewing the ends of the stick
" into proper consistency, and selling thel
TO customers.
- - There are genteel tobacco chewers-th
:" is, as neat as filthy practice will permi
not using the weed sl.vanly, splitting
~ random and drveing ut the lips, but by
- careful disposition of the quid almost d
'..' guising its presence and their habit. S
also, ore there ladies' who dip snuff gente'
''' Iy-who by practice have acquired dext
"o ity in their manipulation of the swab, viii
az renders the operation least offensive 10 I
- eye. But expectoration is absolutely n
"N cessOry in both cases, and this is the M
"s disgusting feature of dipping. Spit tn
% must, and frequently; and thus, alternate
'eu splitting and dipping, the victims of loat
All some habit spend their agreeable pastime
''' Some may be reluctant to believe that
my practice, so senseless and disgusting, h
0u' grown to be, in any measure, common il
o'o refined community, but the fact is true.
'"S We are glad TINT it does not prevail to q
you very great extent out of the State of No
n Carolina. The quantity of Scotch sn
'"' used in that State is appalling. We are
- formed by subscriber in North Carroll
vas that one Of the largest tobacco houses
i've Baltimore ships more Of that article to
|" port of Newbern than to all the South
~" sides. The same person also encoses
slip recently published in this paper, not
ns' ing the death of womln in Arkans
'"e caused by swallowing the juice of toba(
'a'' while snuff dipping, and remarks, from
o"' observation, that the amount of suffer
0e' caused by the practice is very great
Whether the use OF tobacco in this form
Us, more pernicious than chewing, we have
'u0 means of ascertaining. Both are often
Ivy ductive of injurious results to. the body
'"'' mind. That females, naturally SO AYERS
sen its use in any shape, should acquire sucl
YAK appetite for it, is IS sur prisng as it is
ny entabe.-Journal Of Commerce.