Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-05-31
AlEyA GAZETTE& 6 VIRGINIA ADVERTIS
The Weed

SmikeS made up his mind to stop chewing.
lie never was much OF a chewer, anyhow, he
said. He hadn't used tobacco but few years.
and rarely consumed more than an ounce paper
in day But he feared the habit might get
hold Of him and become fixed and if there was
anything he abhorred it was to see man be-
come slave to bad habit. He had used the
weed Some to be sure, but there had never
been time during the last ten years when he
could not stop at any moment. But SO long as
he did not become habituated to its use he did
not care to stop. He could break off at any
minute, and it was great satisfaction to feel so.
Thompson, he thought, was an abject slave
to his pipe. He pitied Thompson, for he had
seen Thompson try to stop smoking several
tunes, and fall igrominiously every time he uu-
dcrtook it. But Smlkes wanted to show his
wife how easy he could quit So Monday
morning he remarked careessly to Samantha
that he guessed he would stop using tobacco:
Samantha said she was glad Of it, and added
iwpeuouSly, what she had never said before
that it was vile habit Smikes appeared
little nervous and confused when Samantha
said this, and mumbed out something about
bciug glad he had never got into 1t himself. In
his agitation he pulled out his tobacco box
aud was about to take a chew, when be recol-
lccted himself and plunged out Of the door,
forgetting his umbrella.
About half way to the Office he met Jones,
with whom he was having some business trans.
actions. While they were talking the thing
over, Smikes got little enthusiastic and he
that he was rolling an uncnmmony plump quid
around hls mouth like sweet morse How
it got there Smikes did not know. He puzzled
over that little thing all the rest Of the fore
uoon and at last he took it out of his mouth
and threw it way, satisfied that he must have
taken it while talking with Jones. Twice that
afternoon Smikes took out his tobacco box and
locked at it, Ouce be took of the cover, and
smelcd of the tobacco. 1t smelt so good that
Smikcs felt impelled to remark to himself that
ii was the easiest thing 10 the world to stop
chewing
lie congratulated himself again and again
that day that he did not become entangled I'm
the meshes' the filthy vice, and be alluded to
the matter three or four times that evening at
the tea.tabe, till Samantha marvelled greatly
at the 6rmncss of Smikes. She had always
heard, she said, that it was q hard thing to
leave off. But Smikes had told her and kept
telling her that it was Just as easy, and her
reverence for the virile strength and lndepen-
dence of character of Smikes grew like gourd.
That night Smikes had the nightmare. He
thought that legion of foul fends had got him
up in a corner of the back yard, and had rolled
upon his belly monstrous quid Of fine cut,
as large around as cart-wheel, and that they
We're trying to force it into his mouth.
Smikes struggled vigorously, and when Sa-
pIautha shook him and asked him what was
the matter, his only reply was that anybody
mind to it." The next day Smikes was lit
tie nervous. He told everybody who came in
what simple thing it was to stop chewing.
The third day he harped about it all day long,
He told one man about it three different times,
and when that much-nformed individual ven.
tured the. opinion that he would be chewing
again iu less than week, Smkes indignantly
calculated Mr.. Jenkins when [ make up
my mind to thing that is the last of it.
The fourth day Smikes heard that chamomile
blossoms were sometimes used as substitute
for tobacco, and just out of curiosity he deyour-
ed a couple of ounces Of them He said to the
druggist when he bought them thatit was easy
enough to stop the use of tobacco. On the !
fifth day Smlkcs got sick His nerves gave |
cut. lie snapped something at Samantha at
the breakfast table, upset his inkstand, burnt
hishugers poking some cinders out of the CRATE, |
and had no appetite tor dinner That day the |
dev whispered to Smikes that, tobacco was
really beneficial to some temperaments. Smikes
had temperament of that kind.
The sixth day Smikes felt like murderer.
nc secineu To nlmSeH TO nave Uecome CTduS-
formed into modoc His mouth was dry and
parchcd \ stout healthy looking old gentle
uan came iuto Smykes' Office that day. He was
agreal friend Of Smikes, and as he drew forth
his SILVER tobacco box and daintily shook out q
saaA portion OF the pungent weed Smikes felt
ms mouth mouth water. He remarked to Mr.. John
snd sUI ina, nat he had not chewed any for six days.
uI a. a' ee had reirained so long just to satis-
y nonn nl,sc II that body could chew or leave it
duue dnn ne was fully satisfied that it could be
ns, ,Losa ou' ne rather thought that his was one of
in leuaS";'i S;si1inentS that are really acted upon
bacso. y 'n' temperate use VI W
ho Mr. hsnJ Joh9soo said he thought 50 o too and as
hed e anusa chesoa smkes his box remarked that be
no noc eaeTed regularly forthirty years, and didn't
Sn,;s Snus as u u had ever damaged him apy As
'1S Hmlkes rolled large quid back into his left
dsrs'pes iassS' ne said he thought there was great
canId Istoe s1ee 10 10 men. tie was satisfied that he
w".o voula STOP Chewing at any moment, but there
n,rsa,;o were some temperaments to. which gentle
eotl. S,ut" OF oplate was really blessing