The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-03-02
IN. Y. INDEPENDENT
The Tobacco Habit.
BY HON. NEAL DOW.

IlON. NEAL DOhs
There are many reasons why con-
scientious man, if he means to be gov
erned fairly, if not strictly, by consid-
erations of right and wrong, should
abstain from tobacco. | do not say
refrain from acquiring the tobacco
habit, because no intelligent man does
that. The habit is always acquired
when the man is yet unfedged, when
his habits are determined by fashion,
by custom, or by what "the fellows
will say" or by what ''other fellows
do" and not by the propriety Of the
thing or its rightfulness.
Boys from the best families, prop
erly brought up at home, when away
at school or at college, allow them
selves to be led away into many bad
things by the custom Of the school or
college, or by the example of some
smart, reckless boy, who has been
badly trained at home, or who, in all
probability, has been unframed and
unrestrained there.
1t is in that way that ''hazing" had
become fixed custom in many col
leges, unchecked as it was by the
weak, foolish dealing with it by the
faculty. 1t was always shocking,
shameful outrage against the most
sacred rights of others-rights Of per-
sons and of property, involving all the
criminality of burglary in the night
time, of robbery and Of assault, with
intent to do bodily harm. 1t was al
ways an exhibition of the lowest,
meanest cowardice, as well as the most
rocious ruffianism. The boys en-
gagged in it were always sneaks and
towards, because they made it point
to seize their victim by surprise, to
overpower him suddenly by numbers,
so that resistance would be impossi-
BILE; or, if the attack were not by sur
prise, it was always upon some feeble
youth, with narrow chest and slender
limbs, having no physical strength to
inspire him with courage and ability
to resist.
In some colleges at certain times
raids were made at night through the
village or town by some class of the
students, by whom gates were taken
off their hinges or broken down, signs
were stolen from the shops, and some
times trees, shrubbery, or flowers were
destroyed, and water-conductors were
torn down; and, if solitary citizen
were met in the street, it would be in
suited or maltreated. Some of the
victims of this hazing were perma-
nently injured by the exposure to the
cold which they endured, being taken
directly from their beds and carried
to the pump out of doors in Winter
night. or they suffered from some 9th
er form of violence. The boys en-
gagged in these shocking outrages,
mildly spoken of as 'frolics," were
often from families most careful and
scrupulous in all their social relations,
to do nothing to others which they
would not that others should do to
them, and their children were trained
in that school of Christian morality
and duty. But these boys were led
away by the influence Of others to en-
gage in deeds that would be fittingly
punished by the bastinado, the jail, or
the penitentiary, with the prison.
dress, prlson-work, and prison-diet
In the same way boys from the best
families are led away by the example
and influence of the bold and reckless
to contract habits, especially in col
lege, that will probably. if not GER
taini determine their future and
make theirs wasted life. These fool
ish boys do not consider that the high
est wisdom for them would be to avail
themselves of the experience of men
older than themselves wiser than
they, and with more knowledge of
men and of the world than they can
possibly have.
Among the worst of these danger
Gus habits, often contracted in this
way, are the tobacco habit and the al
cohol habit. All persons with any
knowledge of college life have seen
the miserable wrecks of men, often of
the most brilliant parts, scattered all
along the shores of Time, utterly ru-
ined by the habits thus contracted in
their student days, from which escape
was impossible to them after they
came to see the folly and the danger
! of them.
[ have seen many cases OF wasted
life among young men of promise,
only from habits contracted in early
life in that manner-young men pass
ing along thoughtlessly and foolishly
in a course of life leading inevitably
to misery, shame, and ruin. | had a
friendly talk with two such, not long
ago, under circumstances that ena-
bIed me to approach them without
offense. They were just beginning
life. After some general talk, | said ::
DO you smoke?"
Yes, they both answered.
How much do you spend day on
cigars?' | sked.
One answered: Half a dollar" "
The other said: 'Seventy-fve cents "
But can you afford that large ex-
penditure?" | asked.
They said they had an allowance for
board and clothes, and confessed that
they were often out of money.
Have you considered how much
the sums you thus expend will amour,
to in ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty