Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-03-04
Broads.esn Smoking.

- LII ASe@N-r->-'- - -
The February nunibsz of the Allan
tic Monthly bas an article, by Mr.. Par
ton, or tbs question, 'fDoes it pay to
Smoker" orthodox g the core, and
which should; rs read by all smokers
and all who are liable to become smo-
kers. This man, who. after smoking
thirty years, with nerves weakened by
tobacco and a sedentary life, could so
efiectually break off the practice in one
week as never to-hsVe an uncomforta-
BILE desire to indulge in it," has force
of will possessed by few men. or all
men who indulge in the use of tobacco
or whisky, it is well known that stu
dents find it the most difficult to aban-
don them when the evil has become
apparent. Parton did this; and in
his retreat from the enemy which has
been doing 80 much harm for this long
period-a generation-for the benefit
of all similarly situated as to danger,
he discharges such a broadside into her
as to throw her on her beam ends
Indeed we are inclined to think she
will not right herself for long time
We fancy the report as it will be heard
for a century to come. 1t may seem
unkind thus to treat one who had for
so many years contributed to his hap
piness. 1t certainly was unexpected.
Having had some experience in her
delights, and knowing well her sooth-
ing, care-dispelling and ioy-giving pow
err we can appreciate how much she
did for him at the time. There was
present pleasure with future sting;snd
q man who can thus treat the one who
would, with her pleasures, weaken and
destroy his nerves and shorten his life
is hero. We honor him forit, though
it would have been better if he had
never had occasion to achieve such a
victory.
All elRsses smoke-the boy and the
man, and sometimes the woman: the
laborer and professional man. The
clergyman, IN some unobserVed place,
often slyly INDUCES, although know
ing it to be wrong and injurious, reas-
on upon it as he may. He enjoys the
"ecstatic smoke" and seeks to per
suade himself and quiet his conscience
with the belief that by it he is ena-
bled to write q better sermon !; that he
can accomplish good by wrong means.
When appetite clamors for unnatural
indulgence the voice of reason IS of no
avail, Every objection is controverted
into an argument IN, favor of gFatifica-
ton. Ths injury worked may be slow
and unpre ceiyed, yet certain and ia
talresult Mill be sure.
Mr.. Parton shows the cost and inju-
ry to the different classes of men,
The hod-carrier, the soldier and the
student are most clearly shown to be
the e-loseIs in money, health, happiness
and amount accom- plished in life. zone
of the first things demanded of young
man who is going into training for 3
boat-race is stop smoking The hab-
it reduces the tone Of the system and
dimlnishes all the forces Of the body.
So it lessons the soldiers power and
puts him who should ever be in '.con-
dition" "out of condition" The reas-
on, he says, why all medical students
''smoke furiously" is that doctors live
on the sins of mankind. He says it is
not honest, legitimate, hard work that
breaks so many people, especially pro-
fessional men, down in the prime of
life. st is bad habits" The few hours
generally devoted to study do not ruin
health. Examples are numerous of
sedentary men who have lived to ex-
treme old age. Such were Emmons
and Josiah Quincy.
The cost to the individual is of ten
greater than he can afford, and still this IS
the least of its evils. We remember
to have seen it stated, years ago, that
SOC, 900, 900 persons use tobacco, requi-
ring 10000 600 acres Of land, and Mr..
Parton says the total cost is $500, ,000,-
600 annually.
The Slavery to which the habit re-
duces its subjects is most degrading
For the picture we may take the graph
ic accounts Coleridge and DeQuincy,
the opium eaters, have given of them
selves. We are not so strong as we
sometimes fancy ourselves. We more
easily assume yokes than throw them
off,. In bodily strength we are feeble.
A grain of opium or a drop of lauda-
nun can conquer US or lay US low
So the use of tobacco may ruin health
and destroy life. How much weaker
in mind are we if when knowing the
evils these indulgences lead to, we are
unable 10 resist their fascinating temp |
tations.