American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-02-08
SnuH-dipping.

In the North snuffing is said to be done
mostly by foreigners and old women. In
the South it is used for the purpose of Dip
ping. AS this is practice which is con-
fined, for the most part, to the Southern
section of the Union, and is, therefore,
comparatively unknown to Northern
readers-we dare say wholly so to many OF
them-it is proper that we should in this
place give a more extended notice of it.
as it exists in the late slave States. Of all
the methods of using tobacco, this is at
once the most filthy and disgusting. Con-
fined to the female sex, Goods best gift
to man." this tact seems, to a sensitive
and refined mind, to give it added loath-
someness.
The dipper seats herself with her box,
or bottle OF the precious stuff, and her
wab-stick-usually a green twig, three
one end, in order that the snuff may the
more readily adhere-this. ever and anon,
she dips into her box, and thus conveys
to her mouth the filthy dust, rubbing
well her gums and the inside of her
cheeks at the same time. If in company
with friend, she then passes to her the
bottle and mop that she may do likewise.
tesy the same as when one old topper asks
another to take a drink out of his whisky
bottle.
Sometimes the ladies of neighborhood
meet to- ether and hold circles for the
purpose of enjoying in company social
Dip, and discussing the affairs of their
neighbOrs at the same time, the same as
at an old-fashioned tea party. Married
ladies' and bright young girls, each lovely
belle with her snuff-boX and swab-stick-
sometimes all use a common snuff-bOX-
clipping snuff and retailing tit-bits of scan
dial.
We have said that snuff-dipping was
mostly confined to the women of the
South. Yet it is not wholly so. AL
though one OF the peculiar institutions of
that section of our country, and having
its origin there, the practice has spread
outside its original domain, and within
the last fifteen or twenty years has come
to be somewhat common in some parts of
the north, especially in the city of New
York, and adjacent portions of New Jer-
sey, where it is INDUCED in, not by the
informed-in New York at least-by gen.
teel and high-bred ladies in the fashiona-
BILE walks of life. In New York it is
known by the euphOnious appellatiOn of
snuff digging. In New Jersey it is known
as snuff-rubbiny. In the latter region the
practice as it exists, is in all essential par
ticulars the same as at tre South. But in
ing with others to indulge in the disgust
ing practice, the snuff-taker retires to the
privacy OF her own chamber to enjoy the
sensual delight in secret. The filthy pow
der is deposited on the inside of the lower
lip by means OF a peculiarly shaped horn
or silver spoon. The article of snuff used
is .one manufactured expressly for dig
gers use and is a mixture of high toast
Scotch and other snuffs, to which is added
a certain proportion of salt, pearlash and
other pungent ingredients, with a view
to enhancing its stimulating qualities. Its
exact composition is a secret, and known
only to the trade. As to the quantity
sold in Kew York for this especial pur-
pose we cannot very well tellt
amount; but one shop in the
100 pounds week, and anot
way sells three times as niue
ger consumes from a quart
to pound per week.-Hcrt