The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1863-02-11
From the Scientific American.
TOBACCO.

Perhaps the most eminent vegetable
the earth has ever produced is that one
which we shall discuss in this article in
its several bearings upon society--in a
pccuniary, physical and in an esthetic
sense. We have made the assertion and
have taken the bold ground, at the outset,
that tobacco was the most distinguished
member Of the agricultural kingdom, and
we reiterate and maintain our position BY
these arguments: ,---.,
From remote ages, even when Sir
Walter Raleigh sat in his library sooth-
ing his philosophical mind with the smoke
from pipe, down 10 the present time, it
has been the choice companion and chief
solace Of the most eminent and worthy
men Of science that the world has pro-
duced. Poets have sung its praises in all
meters, and with greater or less cnthusi-
asm, encomiums havo been pronounced
upon it, words have been declared weak
to express its virtues, in short, the whole
vocabulary of complimentary adjectives
has been exhausted in IFS honor. Thus
has it been distinguished. But the truth
of history prompts us 10 admit that the
opposition tobacco has met with, though
not in the least detracting from its popu-
larity or its stability in the public estima-
iion, has been, at any rate, no less vehe-
ment after its kind than the opposite
fact. The pulpit has thundered its fulmi-
nations at it unavailingly; preachers have
composed sermons, and lecturers have
mado "raids" upon the weed with, as
they fondly imagined, the most terrific
onslaught and unqualified success; but
alas the fact remains indisputable and
unchanged, that there is more tobacco
used to-day than at any former period o.
the worlds history.
Whether we may attribute this to the
obstinacy of human nature, or to the en-
ergy of tie great family of nations il
overcoming obstacles that are opposed to
them, or to its cheapness, is question
which we shall not here discuss; what the
causes are which lead 10 its increased con-
sumption we can not determine; the sim
pie, isolated fact that il is so, stands incon.
trovertble. There may be some ingcnu.
GUS spirits who would be disposed to deny
our dictum in that tobacco is the most
widelv-known of the vegetable kingdom,
and attribute those honors of popularity
with which we have crowned the narcotic
weed to cotton. They may wiring the
changes in vain upon that trite theme.
The sound of the guns which daily thun-
der upon our southern coast and States
and Of those which so rudely smote the
walls of Sumpter dispelled any lingering
doubts we might have had as 10 which Of
the potentates rightfully claimed our ale
glance. Cotton is not king. A man
may go without a shirt gladly, but do
prive him Of his tobacco and there will be
a hiatus in his nature, which, when he is
once under the influence Of tobacco, moth
ing can supply. Nay, he may be SO en-
tirely uncivilized as to be wholly indepen
dent of those wants and usages which so
ciety has declared indispensable. Cottor
in any form may be TO him drug and ,
detestable nuisance, ocket.handkerchie
may be more cumbrous than its bulk il
lead. But if we search in the turban o
the Bedouin Arab or the folds Of talp,
cloth which are wound about the loins o
the indolent Otaheitan, we shall find sons
little store Of the precious weed hidden il
its folds, secure and unattainable save I,
bis own personal fingers. Or Of wha
value indeed is corn, wheat, in brief, an,
cereal, to him who is deprived of his ma
tutinaI cigar pipe or other instrument tina
man employs to titilate his throat anC
nostrils with the pungent smokel Sim
ply of no value. The prisoner in the jai
will deprive himself of a portion of hi
scanty ration so that he may have his to
bacco-box fui. The devotee to this lux
ury will deny himself food and evel
clothing, so that his craving for tobocc'
be allayed. But who ever heard Of tn
contrary practicei Does the Arab Civ
his "plug," supposing him 10 have sucl
an article, for new turban' No. o
| will anv semi-ciyilized froomenL Of hu