The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1868-02-06
From the Atlantic Monthly.1
Does IL Pay TO Smoke?
BY AN OLD SMOKER.


those hod-carriers on the other side o.
the street, for example. 1t cannot be
a very pleasant thing to be hod-car-
rier at this season of the year, when 8
man who means to be at work at sever
a. NJ. must wake an hour before the first
streak OF dawn. There is an aged sire
over there, who lives in Vandewatel
Street, which is two miles and quar-
ter from the building he is now assist
ing to erect. He must be astir by hall
past five, III order to begin his break
fast at six; and at half past six he is in
the car, with his dinner-kettle in his
hand, on his way up town, About the
time when the more active and indus
trious readers of this magazine begin 10
think it nearly time to getup, this faith
er of family makes his first ascent OF
the ladder with load Of mortar on his
shoulder. At twelve, the first stroke
of the remarkably slow bell of st.
Georges Church Gt is New York where
these interesting events occur) sets him
at liberty, and he goes in quest of his
kettle. On very cold days, the dinner
kettle is wrapped in its proprietor's
overcoat to keep the cold dinner from
freezing stiff. But we will imagine a
milder day, when the group ofhod-car-
ners take their kettles to some sunny,
sheltered spot about the building, where
they sit upon soft, commodious boards,
and enjoy their repast of cold meat and
bread The homely meal being con-
cluded, our venerable friend takes out
his short, black pipe for his noontide
smoke. How he enjoys it, How it
seems to rest him! It's kind of con-
scious sleep, ending, perhaps, in briei
unconsciousslee from which he wakes
refreshed for another FIVE hours of the
heavy hod.
Who could wish to deny poor man
a lsxury so cheap, and SO dear to him?
1t does not cost him more than ten cents
a week; but so long as he has his pipe,
he has a sort of refuge to which he can
fly from trouble. Especially consoling
to him is it in the evening, when he is
in his own crowded and most uninviting
room. The smoke that is supposed to
"poison the air. of some apartments
seems to correct the foulness of this;
and the smoke appears to be benefac-
tor to all its in mates, as well as to those
who pass its door.
Besides, this single luxury of smoke,
at cost of one cent and three sew venths
per diem, is the full equivalent Of all
the luxuries which wealth can buy.
None but smoker, or one who has
been smoker, can realize this truth;
but it is truth. That short black pipe
does actually place the hod- carrier, so
far as mere luxury goes, on par with
Commodore Vanderbilt or the Prince
of Wales. Tokay, champagne, turtle,
game, and all the other luxurious com.
modities are not, taken altogether, SC
much to those who can daily enjoy
them, as poor Paddy's pipe is to him.
Indeed, the few rich people with whose
habits l chance to be acquainted seldom
touch such things, and never touch
them except to please others They
all appear to go upon the system Of the
late Lord Palmerston, who used to say
to his new butler, ''Provide for my
guests whatever the season affords; but
for me there must always be leg Of
mutton and an apple-pie." Let the
Prince ofWales Tor any other smoker)
be taken to banqueting-hall, the tables
of which should be spread with all the
dainties which persons of wealth are
enormously supposed to be continually
consuming, but over the door let there
be written the terrible words, "No smo-
king" Then show him an adjoining
room, with table exhibiting Lord Pal
merston's leg of mutton and applet pie,
plus bundle of cigars. If any one
doubts which of these two feasts the
Prince of Wales would choose, we tell
that doubling individual he has never
been smoker.
Now the short pipe of the hod-carriel
isjust as good to him as the regaliae
could be that cost two hundred dollars
thousand in Havanna, and sixty cents
each in New York. If you were to
give him one ofthose regalias, he would
cut it up and smoke itin his pipe, and
then he would not find it as good as the
tobacco he usually smokes. The labor
ers pipe, therefore, is a potent equalizer
To the enjoyment Of pleasures purely
luxurious there is limit which is soor
reached; and l maintain that pOol
man gets as much of this kind of pleas
ure out of his pipe as prince or a rail
road king can extract from all the cost
ly wines and viands of the table.
Ifthere is a man in the world who
ought to smoke that ancient hod-car-
rier is the man. A stronger case fo
smoking cannot be selected from ordi
nary life. Does it pay him7 After al
attentive and sympathetic consideration
of his case, | am compelled reluctantl!
to conclude that it does not.
The very fact that ttends to maxi
him contented with his lot is poin
against his pipe. tits shame to hin
to be contented. To a young MAJ
the carrying of the hod is no dishonor
for it is fit that young men should bea
burdens and perform lowly tasks. Bu
the hod is not for gray hairs. When
ever, in this free and spacious America
wa GOO man mast fiftv carving haav'