The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-05-29
Shall / Begin TO use Tobacco.
nr HENRY WARD HkEcmE.
From rhe NsN York Leiser.l

From tc NgN York Lcdcerl
\ correspondent solicits oar candid oplnlon'
though the Leagar. reSpeetnlS 'ne Tse ~
usrer. We shall give 1t viiunS!y- We are not
,1i-l.--l 90, ..E. ,E.r..a- round On the tobacco
ru'-.i.u. affr.s-. ,.- ...,,-tain very positive
,,,.,f..--. rr-.. -..r .--. n ,ich attend it, use.
As -t--a il ali D.-.. 'ns. TWO extremes are
l~ev,..-.. fu fs- ,rY,Ioycrsv respecting tobacco
On -.. r.-t-.s he use of tobacco Is an evil,
au cr.. . Pc. and tlat continually II holds that
There j. ~, -a-I TIM = ~ moderation IN evil ana
that the least use OF thc weed - lcrhIclous, IN
~giigi.. tie lesli ana >..Ortning the life. On
tLc o.ac- hand. Tie advocates OF smoking ana
ch.Nta- ul. ..c bah by the horns, and under
ta.. tu ..ao.> .atr from the the latest grounds
of Physiology. rtst tobacco l. an article whose
use, IN due moderation, economies the nervous
force, repairs cerebral wastes, and Frolongs lie.
We shall not take part in tie controversy.
There are several grounds on which we would
disSuade young men who have not formed the
habit Of using tobacco from ever learning 10
use 1t.
/. 1t is not necessary to health or to comfort.
No one has Il natural craving for 1t. On the con-
trary, it l. utterly repugnant 10 a natural appe-
tite. Ii ofends the senses, and every vital organ.
Men are Obliged TO train themselves INTO Its use
The stomach, the heart, and the brain all protest
against it, and submit, at length, only as they
would TO any other medical agent. That 1t may
become, after long use, necessary To comfort, ana
even to the health, is saying of 1t only what may
be said of opium, of strychnine, and OF arsenic,
all OF which are cnlIIONeu IpI ne very cdIuC
purpose that tobacco is, viz. 10 produce excite
ment. But the need is secondary, artificial and
acquired. No man in health cares to use tobacco
because he needs it. The habit begins in puerile
imitation. 1t is an apish trick. Boys revolt
against boyhOod, and think they are men when
old enough 10 copy the faults of an imperfect
manhood. They are very apt To crawl into man
hood through the dirty door of vice.
1t may be said, that though there is no natural
craving for any particular drug, like tobacco, yet
in n hiyhiy artificial Sfote pf society mpu rra We
stimulants, and that tobacco, alcohol, etc, if
used with rigid moderation. adapt themselves as
artificial supplies To an artificial want;
That men living under the highly exciting
conditions OF modern society need certain stmu-
lants we are not disposed Il to deny. But in select
ing. one should avoid those which are peculiarly
liable TO abuse, and employ those which expert
ence has shown TO be safe. Tea and coffee are
useful stimulants. They are not degenerating.
Whatever use tobacco and wine are alleged to
have i'll repairing nervous wastes, tea and coffee
Will serve in like manner, without the tempta-
tons to excess which 90 with these more violent
drugs.
>. The habit of using tobacco leads men to
rugarfy- | do not by any means say that every
user OF tobacco is vulgar, or that every one who
betakes himself to it will, of necessity, become
vulgar. But, rs n matter of fact, users of tobacco
grow Indifferent To the feelings of others, and
habitually keep before the eyes of their compan-
ions disgusttul things, which true refinement
NOulu niue OF suppress. Even brute nlMals
moved by mere instinct, learn to hide the excre-
tons OF the body. The much abused pig prefers
cleanliness. Give him pure water and a clean
bed, and he will keep himself clean.
But, whatever rare and polite exceptions there
may be, it is undeniable that the users of tobacco
become indifferent to others feelings. and shock
the tastes of men with scarcely the consciousness
of offending. The chewer squirts his saliva as if
he were n liquid artillery-nan. The smoker
carries in his hair, his raiment, and in his breath,
rlA E.,al IL ~ - IL E--L
smoke of good tobacco is not dlsagreeable. But
the residual smell which fingers in the pipe, on
the clothes. or on the person, Is ~disgusttUl to
every one. If one will use tobacco, he should
Mt least thereafter carefully purge and purify
himself. But | have observed that persons who
in all other things have gentlemanly instincts, in
the use of tobacco seem 10 lose delicacy and gen.
crosby. l see Il great degree of seitshness, and
Of indifference to others comfort and feelings in
the use of this article. | do not say that tobacco
mems feelings. But | have noticed that
users OF tobacco are, rs a class, less careful of
the tastes of others than are their fell
Ows of the same rank in life who do not use it.
). Tobacco has upon some constitutions, a
most deletcrions effect, even when used moder-
lteiy. No one can beforehand tell whether he
will be Its victim. That it acts upon many as
IN insidious nerve poison, leading to dyspepsia,
o headaches, TO various arrangements of the
nervous system, seems beyond a doubt. Thou
ands of persons, after long suffering, have found
~ ~ Aalt SN SAllHA
inuing the use of tobacco. That, in such cases,
here is an affinity between drinking and smok-
ng, can hardly be doubted. That, IN some cases,
t leads to intemperance, seems clear.
Why should one incur even the remotest dam
Ter, by learning TO use a disagrecable narcotic
gent that a healthy man has no sort of need of?
t. There is an argument of personal liberty
nd of personal purity that has always seemed
us should be sufficient, with a generous and
nature. The haiti Of using tobacco,
nee formed, is we'll nigh invincible. Now, no
IAN of selt-rcspect, not already entangled, should
hoose TO go into bondage, to become a slave to
natter of sensuOus enjoyment.
There is, also, a reason of personal cleanliness.
10 man who habItually uses tobacco but must be
to delicate tastes. 1t is a matter of
roper pride for one TO be conscious that his
erSOn is pure, his skin sound, his mouth clean. :
is eye cool and clear. If one is unwilling to
Il filthy coat, how much less should he be
-illing TO carry Il filthy person? Now and then
tobacco user may by great care hide the effects
1t on his person. But, in far the greater num-
er of instances, even among well bred people, ,
ne can at once see or smell, or both, the signs Il
nd effects of the nOiSome weed. c
We hardly hope 10 influence any on whom the ."
lbit is fixed. We do hope to dissuade some
Dung men from forming Il habit which is utterly A
to health and comfort, which in -
instances is uuwhOlesome, which sacrifices
ersonal cleanliness, addicts one invincibly to a
.nsuous appetite, and which changes dclicacy :
nj kindness 10 4 selfish Indifference to the COM (
rt and convenience Of all who are brought in
intact with us.