The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-12-14
Snuff Dipping.
A Habit Prevalent in the South and Not Confined
to the Lower Classes.

WIZ W % Ao"A
Madison street with member of the
Chicago Herald staff. His companion.
who passed his opinion SO freely on the
subject of a clipper" was ore of those
ramblers known to every cline and sail,
who spend the major portion of their
happy-go-lucky existence in drifting
from place to place.
AS the speaker passed his terse YER
diet, the reporter turned to see the
cause. A fairly dressed young woman
with cheeks thickly overlaid with pearl
of Roses was passing. There was
nothing noticeable in her appearance,
and the reporter asked his companion
to explain.
What, you don't mean to tell me you
don't know what a 'dipper' is?''
II have heard the term used in con-
nection with snuff-chewing or dipping,
l believe"
'1Wen, / have just an hour to spend
before l dine, and I'll accommodate you
If you Ii come up to my room with some
information regarding snuff dippers,
and where to find them. Turning down
Clark to Monroe street, he led the way
to handsomely furnished room, the
scribe was seated, and the wanderer
commenced.
Speaking of snuff dippers, the Gus
tom of using snuff for chewing and dip
ping came very near originating in the
South. In North Carolina and Georgia
in particular the poor white trash as
the fifteen amendments used to call
them, were constant users of snuff. The
upper class and planters in the country
c4,.r -l.ad lNr,o ha 1aI 1,,t =
was too seductive, and like an expert
menter in opium smoking, they tried
dipping and fell victims to the habit.
1t is done all through the South now. /
was greatly surprised one time in
Lowell, Mass, to see 'dipper' on the
street, and upon investigation to learn
that great many of the factory girls,
and particularly those just crossing the
boundary line between virtue and vice,
were snuff users in all sorts of ways.
They would hold little snuff-dipping
| matinees Sunday afternoons in each
others rooms in parties of four or five,
while evening performances went on
every night nearly. Eli! What did you
say?''
Il asked you to tell me how dipping
is done"
''Wait, don't be impatient. st. Louis
is famous for snuff dippers and chewers,
and in certain classes there you may see
the dippers at any time.
A ring at the door bell of certain
houses, good looking girl answers the
bell, opens the door a trifie and eyes
you from head to foot. AS seen by the
visitor she has clean white and pink
complexion, is well dressed and has
white little hands, with plenty of rings
decking her fingers. Her hair hangs
down her back in wavy tresses and al
together she is an inviting spectacle.
| She does not question you and silently
throws wide the door and you mechani-
cally walk in. She leads the way into
the parlor and then for the first time
speaks. The good impression abruptly
disappears, for the parted lips display
teeth coated with yellow film, while
disgusting traces of snuff are visible as
she attempts to talk. She is a snuff dip
per and chewer, and has just been call
ed to greet visitor"
But are not such practices confined
to that class of women?'
well, as a rule; but tell YOU. that
in St. Louis, and elsewhere that I could
name, especially in the South, chewing,
dipping and snuffing is carried on by
many high-toned and upper-ten women,
and the only difference is that they clean
the teeth and mouth after chewing or
dipping, and the demi-monde do not
always do so, that's all. believe that
if investigated here you would find that
the practice is not alone confined to that
class, and that in many a respectable
mansion young girls could be found this
afternoon seated about cup with warm
water, CASTLE soap and snuff, with tooth
brushes, merrily rubbing the teeth and
gums and chatting like magpies. They
sit down on the floor about bowl OF
warm water and CASTLE soap, with tooth
brush in hand, or in the South, q pine
stick, with well chewed end. The brushes
soaped, dipped in the water, and the
snuff dropped on it. 1t is then applied
as tooth powder would be except that
the operation is continued until it has a
narcotic effect. At first the sensation is
| unpleasant, but afterit has been learned
it has all the horrible fascination of
opium smoking. 1t is very hard to
conquer, and usually sticks to the wo-
man who acquires it through life, though
many are able to conceal the fact from
even intimate friends.