The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1868-07-11
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TOB4CCO.
BY RMNA AUGUSTA THOMPSON


Now, perhaps soue confirmed luvrr of the
tweed" will elevate his lordly brow aud wonder
what we have to say about his favorile and he
fortifes himself with fresh cigar, his way of
saying he ''don't care snap" Or il he hap
pens to be OF AN il-natured turn OF mind, he may
erumbe ont something about ''moies" and
"beams, (" "wumen always harping about men s
faults (poor souls), ''don't know that it hurts
them any if men do use tobacco" etc. Now, it
makes no difference TO us who yon happen to be
"a "retred merchant, millionaire ia it coach
and four" an ex-Congressman, or an "ex' any
body else, we beg leave to differ from you Nay,
we do differ from you, sir plainly and pointedly,
without your permission, and not merely for the
sake of controversy, but with good reasons Why,
we are the very half of humanity who suffer from
your disgusting tobacco chewing Do ,ou know
that you are the terror ofevery neat hOusekeeper,
as well as OF every feminine nose OF refined SEN
sibilities Did it ever occur 10 you that your
most valued lady friend feels glad, sometimes
when YOU take Yourself and your tobacco togeth-
er out of her front door And have yon any
idea how many household blessings are sent after
your retreating footsteps, and how many times
in an imaginary way your filthy habit is scrubbed
out of you under her skiful brush, and its very
backbone snapped up, twisted around, and
squeezed ont of you through her relentless mop
AS much as she may value your friendship, be-
lieve me, she despises your pernicious habit.
We have often watched with an amused kind
of pity an inveterate tobacco chewer who has en-
tered a neatly furnished room. How sheepishly
he looks about for spittoon, seat by an open
window, or convenient corner by the hearth, to
empty his mouth ofits disgusting contents Rand
it never fails 10 remind us Of the way little boys
look when they are caught in a neighbours hem
roost OF course we speak TO an intelligent public
Al. IL nxutll nn ndH n
remarks to the ignorant or besotted wretch, in
broadcloth or rags, who never discrminates bet
ween Brussels carpet and bar-roOm floor,
ladys dress and the pavement whose very skin
and clothes seem to be saturated with tobacco
odor, whose very perspration seems to be distill-
ed tobacco juice, who makes match safe of his
vest pocket, and stove pipe or mortar of the
mouth God gave him for better purpose. We
are not writing these things at random, merely
for the readers amusement or disgust, as the case
may be, but because they are facts, and show the
deplorable effects of this beastly habit My dear
young lady, you do not know but that your per-
fumed Leander, in patent feathers and lavender
kids, who smokes his fragrant Havana so dain-
tily and drinks your precious health so gracefully
among his boon companions may one day per-
senate this fearful picture We can offer yon no
assurance TO the contrary, tor what has happen
ed thousand times may haphn again. The
honeymoon may hardly get to he an old song
when those marvellous preparations for purity
ing and sweetcning" the breath, so indispensable
to the lover, will he considered superhuous
item in the domestic catalogue, aud what you
at first thought to be only harmless pleasure
will after while become source Of perpetual
ANNOYANCE in your household and Skeleton in
your cupboard.
Much has been said and written upon this sub
iect. bat it is not "threadbare" yet, and never
will be so long as tobacco grows. Besides, we
have a kind OF individual right to speak oft, for
among our very earliest adventures comes
the dropping of a great coal into our baby bosom
from the paternal "meerschaum, balanced above
our little brown, curly head resting in fancied
security against the paternal vest pattern. We
might be cheated into the belief that it was only
an ugly dream, but the scar remains to "tell the
tale !''
We would say few words to our boys, our
dear Young boys, who are to be our men some
day, and the husbands, fathers, and grandfathers
of future generations but more particularly
would we address those who expect 10 depend
upon their own exertions for support, and with
their own strong right arms and brave hearts
carve out a name and "make mark" Jus; as
soon as you begin to feel that life is to you no
holiday, and that there is something for you to
do, then you are beginning to individualize your
sell, 10 10TH your uduitSj anu " hiahC VI yOut-
self what you will be in all your after-life. Then
you shoulder the knapsack of your own respon-
sibility and set out upon the great highway of
life to seek your forturne.
At this very period boys are apt to think it
looks manly Ito smoke cigar or take chew
of tobacco Manly There never was greater
mistake. We do not like to say itlooks dishon-
est to see a boy chew tobacco, but we will say
that a cigar in boys mouth or the smell of to-
bacco about him, is not a recommendation. Why
if we happened to be the noted merchant Mr..
Stewart'i or 81 Mr.. " somebody else, controlling
a large business, and a boy should present him
self to US to obtaine employment, holding his
head as though lie were not ashamed OF his busl-
ness, and say in tone with ring of true coin
in it. " never use tobacco, sir, would we ex-
amin the texture of that boys clothes, or take in
to account the patch on his elbow ? Would we
expect to find the germ OF drunkard or thief,
or a lazy, idle, good-for-nothing lont inside OF
that boys jacket No, indeed There is the
self-denia OF true manliness Inere is the
spirit that will rise above circumstances and
privations, the germ that will unfold the strength
and yipor of true manhood. We would ask no
better Recommendation. We would find some
thing for that boy to DO and hold cut our hand
in kindness and encouragement to bid him God
speed.
1t is simply disgusting to see a man chew to-
bacco, but il is melancholy to see a boy. We can
hardly help picturing him an easy prey to other
temtations, and associating his future life with
other more appalling evils. 1t suggests nothing
pure, nothing elcvating. Never begin it. boys.
IF you have money TO spend, buy books, and cul-
tiyate the higher and nobler part ofyour nrtures.
Ifevery boy can't bea lawyer or senator, every
boy can he man. So when you pack up the
knapsack of your future SELF set tobacco in your
Catalogue of negatives" set your boys boot up
on it with good firm stamp that will keep you
free from lis polluting touch, and mature age will
find you healthier wiser and richer man.
chronological Journal.