The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-08-31

President: .;;:....Mrs. w: II. BUTTON
Sd pice President. .......... MRS. j. W. QUINLAN
Edtfress. ............ MRS. w. w. THOMAS
Recording Secretary. MRS. GEO. C.WALKER
Treasurer. v. w. BLANCHARD
How Shall We Deal with the Tobacco
Evlls
In all the instructions to children, on
the temperance question, every where
and every time make this fact promi-
nent, namely, that the use of tobacco
in any form is the first step towards
life of drunkenness. Not that all men
who use tobacco use alcohol, but the
instances are very, rery rare, to find
man who is habitual drunkard who
did not commence his life of dissipation
by using tobacco. This must be thor
oughly impressed upon the minds of
the boys and little boys too. Iremem-
Der one bright little boy who refused
to sign the triple pledge, because, he
said, when he got little bigger, he
wanted to smoke because his pa did.
Now l am aware that it is delicate
task to teach child that anything his
father does is wrong, and it becomes
us to be cautious at that point. But if
we are persistent with our instructions,
showing them the effects of tobacco on
the brain, on the heart, and in fact on
the whole human system, they will
most likely turn home missionaries
and preach these same truths to their
parents with better success perhaps,
than we could hope to have ourselves.
Then give them the financial argu
ment against tobacco. Boys will al
most always listen when you talk about
money. Many boys at ten years of age
are spending ten cents per day for Gig
arettes. Now compute this sum for
eleven years, and see their eyes glisten.
Ten cents per day for one year would
be $1,000, and this SUN placed in the
bank at per cent for ten years, would
be 80 10000, nice little sum for a
young man twenty-one years old to
commence business with. Then con-
trast this young man with enc, who for
eleven years has been burning up his
money and wrecking his health, in the
use of this poison. A child will remem-
Der such teaching and it will make an
impress.
This should be followed up by les
sons on tobacco, introduced into our
public schools. This could be done at
once, on small scale, provided the
teachers concur, by following the ex-
ample of Prof. VIM. Stephens of Phila-
delphia, who prepared and had printed
a short statement of the physical and
mental disorders produced in children
by tobacco, and has pasted it On the in
side of every Textbook used in his
school. He makes the startling state
ments, that of the $4,000 pupils in that
city, large majority use tobacco, and
that the habit has increased to All
alarming extent since the cigarette was
instituted.
Another method ofinstruction which
had worked well, and produced some
fruit in Kalamazoo, is the liberal dis.
tribution oftobaccO leaflets, at the close
of our temperance lectures. Money
spent in that way is well spent. Also
in this connection, | would suggest the
propriety of petitioning our city and
village boards to pass an ordinance
making 1t a Unable oflense to sell OF
give tobacco in any form to student
or any minor. This, where it could be
effected, would be long step in adj
vance.
Another missile would advise to be
hurled at this giant evil is our owl
loathing and disgust for this detestablt
habit. Let us each become a picket
guard, ever on duty, "Reprove, re
buke, eXhort' these tobacco consumer,
whenever and wherever a suitable op
portunity presents.
1t is fact not to be ignored, tina
mankind as a whole are not averse t.
the good opinion of the opposite sex
therefore | would urge that we seek t.
utilize this advantage. realize that
am here treading on delicate ground
and would say to my co-laborers in thi
cause for humanity, if your father, hus
band or son is addicted to the Tobacco,
habit, yours is a task requiring tn,
graces of patience and perseverance
Nothing is gained by being cross, fret
full, or impatient, but by persuasive ar
gument and your evident aversion
make the tobacco user feel constants
that by this practice he justly merit
your displeasure, which should be in
contive enough to break off habit s,
harmful to himself and disgusting {,
others.
Next as we 90 from our homes, thi
ever-present nuisance meets us. o.
7 the street, in the stores, at the railroa,
. station, on the cars, In the hacks. il
5 fact everywhere. Now it is in on
power, and it is our duty as professe,
9 reformers, in all these places, respect
Q fully and kindly but decidedly, to ex
= press our disgust at this wholesale pol
f, luton of the pure air of heaven. Sue
s remonstrances may call forth words G
a contempt or derision, but they wi
have an effect, and this will be seen i
Q the gradual cleaning of such publ
: places. In fact. it is already seer
!. Public opinion is being aroused. Onl
P a few days since l read of a man /
!, New York city who was fined So
: because he persisted in carryin
@ his cigar stub in street car. Surel
!. this is in advance of the time when
n man could smoke his cigar in Grove
n ed omnibus, and in the presence too