Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-01-17

BY WILLIAM CHAMBERS

ing of cigars or pipes seemed TO dull
their faculties, and to have the effect ol
preventing them from sedulously gather
| ing facts sufficient to excel at examinations
tor degrees. We repeat the remark As
we heard it, and submit, it Tor considera'
ton. Perhaps other professors, equally
candid and observant, might have 0
similar tale TO tell.
As is pretty generally known, the
smoking of tobacco has 4 certain intoxica-
ting effect. 1t soothes the nervous
system. and in cases Of poor living il
lulls the craving of hungry stomach
without in any degree feeding the animal
system. Men who happen to be enclosed
in coal-mine, and are perishing for lack
of food, are stated to have protracted life
by few consoling whiffs of tobacco. In
cases of this nature smoking may be allow
able as u positive necessity; but we can
not perceive the slightest reason for this in-
diligence in ordinary circumstances. Az
usually observed. smoking is vice, like
dram drinking. 1t is taken up in spirit
OF idleress, without veStige OF excuse
We, need say little of its wasteiulness OF
means, though that must bs very consid-
erabie. The government duties alone
exigible on the tobacco used in the Uni
ted Kingdom amount to about nine mil
lions annually; and ii we add the cost of
the article the yearly tobacco bill to smo-
kers probably reaches the sum-total of
twenty millions. We have heard OF instan-
ces ofyouths in fashionable life who yearly
smoke fifty pounds worth of cigars, and
doubtless there are many whose outlay
must be far greater. Among the less
affluent classes the habitual expenditure
on tobacco cannot but encroach on avail
able means of living, and often when the
outlay can be i'll spared. Viewed as a
narcotic, tobacco may be presumed to be
OF some value medically, though we have
never heard what are its actual merits in
the pharmacopGia. What we specially
draw attention to are its mischiev Gus eff
fects sn the youths growing into man.
hood. 1t tends TO weakening Ct the
intellectual system, which TO all who have
to make sheir way in the world ought to
he exposed TO no such blighting influence.
1t is scarcely necessary to point GU. the
fact that tobacco-smoking pollu;es the
breath. damages the teeth. and wcakens
the digestive organs. In not single
feature. rs common indulgence, is it
commendablc but very much the reverse.
II dispo>es to inactivity and carelessness.
Few habitual smokers attain TO eminence
in business. Farmers given 10 smoking
are usually the latest in getting their crops.
As publicity exhibited. the practice is
odious. Smoking in the streets has be-
come downright nuisance, for passen-
gers are compelled TO inhale the fumes,
whether of cigars or pipes. disgorSed by
smokers. In steam-vessels the nuisance
has risen to something absolutely intole-
rable. We believe il is often the cause of
destructive fires in dwellings, ware
houses. farm-vards, and ships. In our
VOYAGE to American in steam-vessel.
some years since. we were not little
surprise and mortified to observe the reck
less Indifference with which certain pas
sengers threw down the still-burning ends
of cigars and matches on the deck, a
practice. which strangely enough. did not
seem TO incur the reprobatiOn of the
officers on duty.
Within our recollection few but
those of middle or old age smoked. The
practice has now been initiated by the
young Boys OF ten years old are seen
with pipes in their mouths. and lads at
the different colleges think it manly to
have smoking parties Itappears TO us
that writers on matters of public health
have been singularly remiss in not de-
nouncing the mischieyous effects of smok-
ing on youth We hear plentiiully of the
ruinous effects of liquid intoxicants, but
it'll. Of the injury committed M the
youthful body or mind by drugging with
The German authorities As we
learn by CORES Spondencc in The Times.
nave at length become alive to the pesti
ent evil They would probably no: have
roubled themselves on the subject, but
or q politial reason. In Germany all
males from their birth are enrolled to be
soldiers, and the discovery is made that the
youths VINO are about to take their turn in
The ranks have been weakened by SmOk-
ing The State, as is observed, "must
have a nation OF soldiers. Smoking is
believed 10 be ruinous TO the constitution
IF the young. 1t weakens the powers OF
he stomach al that Important crisis of our
development when the largest quantities
of food have to be assimilated to build up
he growing frame 1t lowers the vital
ity of the body, and affects the action
of the heart. Muscle, energy, endurance,
indeed all that makes the man and the
soldier, are thus at stake. The youthful
nature is more susceptible of such ipjuri
Dus influences, and the young may be
said 10 make or unmake themselves by
their own habits. The German physi-
clans appear to have arrived at the con-
,lusion, no doubt proof of facts, that a
-oung tooacco-smoker unmakes and in
manner destroys himself, aud ncapaci-
ates himself for the defence of his
As result, the police in GER
ain towns have had orders to forbid all
ads,under sixteen years of age 10 smoke in
streets, and to punish the offence by fine
)r Imprisonment. As the Germans might
je called nation of smokers with a cor
amount OF dreamness in their
constitution. We await with some inter-
,St to hear the outcome OF this new and
iudlcious course OF policy.
In reference to the foregoing observa-
ion on the encouragement OF tobacco
mCking in Germany, correspondent
sives his own experience: II may mem
ion." he saws, "that while travelling last
month on Danish steamer. had much
on various subjects with a
Belgian medical man, who informed me
hat he was then engaged, at the request
# the Belgian government, on a journey
II observation and inquiry as to the causes
4 cOlOr-blindness, an ocular affection
which, he said, j. ocCasi0ning increasing
InXiely, not merely in his own country, |
lut especially in Germany, from its in
luncc upon railway and other accidents,
md also, 10 some extent, upon military
ncficicncv. 1 asked the question, What. |
10 far as Your Investigations have pro-
'ecdcd, appears tu Ice the main cause OF
his cnlor-biinGucs- - lie replied The
ooigencral and excessive Use OF tobacco"
We have only touched on this impor-
an; subject The odious practice OF to-
,acco- smoking 10y the young concerns the |
national welfare, and j. worthy OF very |
general consideration. Every one in his |
phere is called on, rs a matter of moral |
obligation, to do what lies in his power |
o discounteDanoe and abate Il practice |
% needless and reprehensible.
A WASTED DEEAM-An Italian gentleman
With q nice little servant girl, VINO said to |
nm one morning: "Oh, If You please.
won't you give me three francs TO buy lot |
cry ticket with | dreamed last night that
10. Al l4i was going TO draw the capital
,rize, and / want To buy that number.
lie gave the girl the three francs, and,
lext day. Oh happening to look at the report
II the drawing saw that Ne. la had
irewn the capital prize OF 5lS, CS2. 81 lire, or,
o speak more accurately, slUO,OOO.
Returning quietly to the house he con-
,ealed hi5 emotion and said to the servant
girl, "Susan. have long observed with ap-
your piety, beauty, modesty. skill
n the art of cookery aud other good quail
les calculated to adorn the highes. station.
Be mine. Let Inc lead you to the hymeneal
'ltar. No delay. just AS you are
Honest InJun; = said the bu-hing virgin.
"You bet. 1 swear 10y yonder silver spoon
hat tips with beauty all tho fruit-pie top
"Then count me in, and regard me here
lfter in the light of your turtle-dove.'
Hasten, then, Susan put on your bon
net and shawl and let US take II walk around
he block to the holy friar's cell, where we
shall be made one.
In few minutes the bride elect returned
lad ia a red shawl, with black velvet bon
act trimmed with sunflowers and ict0rid