The Labor enquirer., 1883-06-02
Ungentlcmanly Smokers.
To the Editor of The Labor Enquirer.

DENVER, June |, I8S3.-Thinking of
your paper as one touching a great re-
form, thought | would present few
ideas concerning the growing habit of
using tobacco, and its influence on those
who use it; Also on those who are COM
PEELED to inhale the poison even against
their will.
am forced to believe, from the evil
dence adduced, that theb use Of tobacco
has a tendency to demoralize its SUBJ
jects. l hold that man who can be a
good man and use it can be much better
man without it. Many men who are
gentlemen by profession and practice.
in all the general walks of life, and who
would not think of refusing fellow be-
ing a kindness under most conditions,
when asked, in politest terms, to desist
from smoking, because it makes the
asker sick and faint, turns on you, and
looks, if he does not say it, Nonsense
I like it, and of course you do, only you
are putting on airs, feigning what you do
not feel" and continues his smoking.
A few daysago, whileriding in street
car, became very faint from the scent
Of a cigar that was alight and held in
the hand of professed gentlemen, who
was standing in front of me. l said ::
"Will you put away your cigar? The
smoke from it comes in my face, and
makes me sick and faint" He looked
at me, expressing much indignation,
saying: II will turn around, then"
| have many times, within the past
few months, paid my fare, and then been
compelled to get out and walk because
some man, or two or three of them,
would smoke in the car or on the plat
form and send smoke into the car.
Perhaps male mind may be able to
explain the humane and wise philosophy
Of the practice. |, being woman, can
not see the Justice or common politeness
of bringing lighted cigar into any place
of public resort where gentlemen and
ladies are, without their consent and ap-
provaI, or into other persons houses.
And if these men were not under the
demoralizing influence of the miserable
weed they would never dream of doing
anything so unkind towards others.
l would like to say to all temperance
workers, Ought you not to strike effect
ual blows that shall induce reform OF
the most powerful habit and influence
that leads to alcoholic drinking? plead
for thought on this subject. | believe |
can be sustained in the assertion that
tobacco in all it's forms of use Injuries the
souls and bodies of its victims. And
the smoker puffs his poisonous smoke
down the throats of all near him, and
compels them to suffer that he may in
dulge in habit which brings him no
good, but much evil. Is there an intel
ligent physician who will say that the
use of tobacco is at least injurious to the
children and the youths? And yet the
little ones of Denver use it to such an
alarming extent that disease and prema'
ture death move on with relentless
tread.
Again l invite, yea, urge thought in
vestigative of this subject, for am sure,
if the minds of our parents and teachers
can be moved to comprehension OF the
weight of this evil in society, public
sentiment will be created which will ed
ucate the whole people beyond the
demand for tobacco in all its forms, and
prepare the way for the rebuilding OF
temperance in its highest and purest
sense Yours for highest progress,
SoPHRoNIA E. BISHOP.