Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-01-27
SnuE.Eaters Of the South.

Ia the absence Of the war news, writes a cor
respondent with Gen. Grant, one is almost
tempted to write a disqulstion on the weather,
the crops, or some such lnexhaustIble theme
If ! were disposed to digress, | think | could
not branch out on a more interesting topic than
the Te4ned and cultivated habit oil snuff dip
ping, 70 which so many ladies OF the South are
addicted. In West hnl Middle Tennessee 1t
seems to bo regarded as an accomplishment,
without which the education of the genter sex
IS not complete. | have YET to learn the adyan-
tages supposed to arise from it, and am in total
darkness as to whether, Rappe, Scotch and
MlccaD9y are classed among the cosmetics, the
tynics Or thu sunulauts used bg the daughters
of the sunny South. The process is simple.
Ordinarily, 1t is performed through the instru
mentality Of asmall chip, which the fair dip
per first slturates with saliva, 10 make the pull
yerzel weed adhere. Sno plunges this into the
snuif, draws il out, and Immediately inserts It
between her teeth, where the sweet mOrsel re
mains until all It's favor is extracted. Another
mode is TO tea spoonful OF snuff In a small cloth
and masticate vigorously, as il a piece Of chew
ng-gum were between the pearls A third il
to cram the mouth full Of it, and apparently to
eat it as if it were sugar.
People in the Nortn have no idea Of the ex-
tent to which the wealth and fashion Of the
Coafeieracy Practice this exqlisiia art Of snuff
dipping. do not wish to be understood a,
saying that all the women Of tie South are
addic ed to it, but j. is certain that it is suii
ciently popular among them 10 be classed as one
OF the habits Of good society in Dixie. 1t is
practised 10 a sufficient extent to warrant young
men lron the North, on forming the acquain-
tance OF the prospective helress to scores OF
woolly heads, in asking an intimate friend in a
private and confidential manner, " Does the an
gel dip ?" But the secret eau seldom be learned
from lrsnds, except it be Of one who has occa-
sionally approached the fair creature sufficient.
ly close to lnhale the aroma of her breath, or
who has by chance observed her, as she sought
to elude attention while from her ruby lips
proceeded a stream OF nectar perhaps.
am reliably informed that in the young la
dies semnaries and boarding schools throughout
the South the science Of snua-dippiDg is scQui-
red before she has emerged from the preparatory
department. Rappee and Macaboy are uclu-
ded amcng the extras in tuition and board bills.
Every scholar is advised, suppose, on entering
the institutions Of learning to provide herself
with napkins, towels and bottle of snuff.
Among the priyations and suferiugs expert.
onced by the ladies Of the South, since the com
mencemcnt of the war, few are equal to that
ocoasloued by .hegreat scarcity of snuff, cause !.
by the cessation Of commercial intercourse with
the North, Substitutes for silks and satins were
easily devised. Wheat and rye did very well in
the absence Of coffee; but nothing could take
the placa Of the indispensable Maccaboy.
nave not the least doubt that many of the pray.
ers for peace which are offered to the Divinity
Of Dixie have their origin in the sorrowlul fact
that the South is about to bo devastated by a
snuff famine.