New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-22
1NTI-CIGdRETTE LAWS.

There is no diversity of opinion among per-
sons Of mature years as to the deleterious elects
of the tobacco habit upon the young. Elderly
gentlemen often maintain that to those VINO nave
reached or passed the most vigorous periou OIL
life the weed is more than luxury-restlng the
weary, tranquilizing irritatcd nerves, promoting
the digestive processes and arreSting the undue
waste of vital force But these same persons
are convinced that the fumes and juices which
soothe and sustain the adult will stupefy the
growing boy, blunt all his faculties, unstrins
his nerves, debilitate his muscles, set his heart
a-futter, dIsOrganize his digestive functions,
and denoralize his entire mental ana physlcal
economy. 1t is only fair TO say that the boy
holds totally different theory. lie Is quite
positive that the surreptitOus or deiiant Gig
arctic makes man of him at once. His con-
versation grows larger and louder and he con-
siders himself more important member OF So
cety "a soon as he can smoke without exciting
n revolt in his stomach. He doesn't know
much about his heart or liver, but so Tar as he
IL aware those organs behave with proprie'y'
At all events he cannot understand why SAUL
ration with nicotine should be benenclal 10 the
@old man y and fatal to him.
The late Legislature of Ncw-Jersey not being
conposed of boys took the adult view OF the
ouestion. Their belief was so energetic that 1t
found EXPRESSION in an act entitled An act pro-
hibitng the sale of cigarettes or TOBACCO III any
of its forms to minors" The act has been ap-
proved by Governor Ludlow and now every
person who sells the narcotic IN any form 10 Il
boy or girl under sixteen years OF age Is llaoIe
to a penalty of twenty dollars Tor each ana
every offence. The New-Jersey theory, Us
legally formulated, now is that infants nave 10
natural right to either rum or tobacco until they
reach the age of sixteen. AT this period OF lie
the right to consume snuff and navy plug Is
recognized, while tho young man docs not
reach tho full height of his privilege as IL legal
absorber OF appe-jacli until the age of twenty-
one is attained. The young savageS were more
stcrnly dealt with by the aboriginal smokers on
this continent. No Indian ever knew the lux
urv of tho manly pipe until he had come to the
rine age of Twenty-Five and it is to De hoped
that the Ncw-Jersey Legislature at It's next SEES
sion will amend the law 80 rs 10 ioroiu Ine seli-
ing of tobacco 10 any minor.
II remains to be seen whether there is enough
stern virtue behind this law to insure its en-
forcement. Bnt in any event the statute stands
ms an evidence that the representatives OF the
people of New-JeIsey consider cigarette smok-
ing by tue young an evil of serious magnitude.
Il will invite public attention to what all COM
petent physicians pronounce perniciouS prac-
tIce-and to what appears to be a growing
danger to the health and stamina OF the next
generation. Some cautious observers hold that
the quality of American manhood i'll the years
70 come is involved TO a considerable extent
in the treatment of this problem. If the Anti
Cigarette act acccmplishcs anything toward the
rcscue of the coming Jerseyman from the temp
,otop IN parcotism. it will be worth more than
all the rest of the sessions legislation.