Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1868-07-01
ABo UT TOBACCO AND OF HER THINGS.

ANU Voi AObAe1o AM VI hL" ih''oS'
Mr. Parton, the eminent historian and
essayist. has succeeded in creating con-
siderable interest throughout the country,
In his ingenious end conclusive answer to
the question, "Will it pay to smoke ?'
which appeared in the February number
Of the atlantic. His treatment of the
subject is not only skillful but exhaustive
and leaves but little foothold for apollo
gists of the weed. Under these circum-
stances it is not at all strange that he
should have provoked the i'll naturcd rid
icule OF few slaves TO the habit, who,
lacking the moral courage or sentiment to
follow the example set by Mr.. Parton
who was himself, at one time, an inveter
ate smoker--seek to justify their own
slavery by holding up the chains o.
others. l
Ridicule is, at best. poor argument;
and although it may answer the exigen
ces of the moment. a Wholesome reaction
never fails to establish the supremacy Of
truth.
Mr.. Parton has a double advantage
over his opponents; first. in the justice
of his cause, and next, 10 treating the
salject from higher stand point. He
speaks by the card. Having left the
thraldon of habit, and having, for the
souudest of reasons, thrown it off, he is
morally qualified to state h,s case. And
he has done it in manner which does
him credit and can but promote good
Having made so Ear q beginning, let him
continue his laters. If SO much can be
said against smoking, what cannot be
said against the more filthy habit Of
che,oing ! Aud finally, let him see if. in
the abundance of his resources he cannot
Gnd safer remedy for these evils than
"gIass Of whisky and water" For our
own part. ~s should think it wiser to
stop up the whisky-jug with a cigar.
than to drown the cigar in whisky. OF
the two evils, we certainly think smoking
the least
But Mr., Parton does not propose to
substitute drinking for smoking. He
would practice the whiskey remedy only
"for few days" Still, we think, ssf
er and more cfficacious remedy could be
found. The few days" Of man so
tied to one habit as to be unable to throw
it off without resorting to worse, would
most likely cover that little span which
reaches to the grave. Besides, what
would Mr.. Parton do. with that numerous
closs of smokers who are already very
punctilious in applying his sovereign
balm of "a glass of whiskey and water y
and who, perchance, are much more ad
dicted to this habit than the other? Why
not leave out the whiskey, and prescribe
water alone This would be safe rem
edy, aud We doubt not, quite as eficacious
as the compound. Water is now used
with much success for purposes of navi-
gation. and in various mechanical opera.
lions, including the getting up of steam.
We have no doubt, if used in moderation,
it might do we'll as drink. even without
the whiskey E!o'
But after all, the great foe to such re-
forms as Mr.. Parton suggests is that im
perious tyrant, T" Fashion" If, by any
means whatever, it could he m ide 'mfash
ionable to indulge in filthy and pernicious
HABITS, such arguments as are now put
forth by reformers would be unnecessary.
But the fashions are set in such high
places. The very persons whose charac-
ters are, not unfrequently. the greatest
slaves to habit. II is even said that Con
gressmen aud Senators sometimes mix
Iwhiskcy with their watcr--or, more prep
erly, perhaps, water with their whiskey--
aud that even the rules Of the White
House lay no injunction on indulgence
We have heard the final triumph Of
the Union Army attributed to General
Grants cigar (Which, if it could be sue
cessfully shown, might aid Mr.. Parton
il answering The important question be
has asked), while the correspondents and
artists represent Mr.. Stanton as holding
on to the War Office and his cigar with
equal tepacity.
There is not.-there cannot bo--the
slightest doubt as to the deletelious ef.
feet on the human system of tobacco and
whiskcy. Arguments and illustrations
on this point arc alike unnecessary but
we doubt If all that can be said will ever
countcract the evil influence Of example
in high places.
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