Evening star., 1883-10-24
The Smoke Nuisance.

Sc your own so as not to iniure another's ="
is maxim of our law. In another form, more
used In common speech, it is. Zones rights end
where another's begin" 1t is no less q rule OF
courtesy and social convenience than of posi-
tive law. The purpose OF this paper is to call
attention to one violation OF this rule which
causes much discomfort to many persons and
has grown to be great social evil.
Smoking tobacco may be a good thing or a
bad thing for the smoker. We will not enter
much into that question. What is insisted
upon is that he has no right to annoy another
with it. II may. for aught know, add to his
power of digestion, or he may think that it
sweetens his breath or imparts favorite per-
fume TO his clothing. or it may soothe his
nerves and soften his temper; bu. these do not
ciothe him with the privilege Of blowing his
smoke into my face OF into the air so near me as
to reach my mouth and nostrils. NV right not
to have his smoke is as great rs his can be to
have it,
That every one of US has the right to breathe
the air. and to breathe 1t the Dispenser Of
all good has made it. will hardly be disputed.
How then does it happen that this right Is so
often and 80 rudely infringed2 lis it because
the indulgence OF the appetite has bunted the
edge OF that delicate sensiblty which feels for
others. or extinguished that love of justice
which would yield to every one the full measure
of his rights. or that readiness of self-denial
which would rather abridge something of ones
own happiness in order to increase the happi-
ness of another?
Public dinners and clubs are made places of
tribuiation more than entertainment for those
who do not smoke. They who in order to do
honor to somebody or to some OCCASION are
drawn into public dinner. are smoked as II
they were so many pieces of bat on. No sooner
has the last course of dessert been served than
the cigars are brought in. and the room is en-
veiOped in cloud of tobacco. Probably half
the guests do not smoke at all That does not
matter. Those who do smoke have of course
according to their own theory, the right to
drive out. or, as one might put it, smoke out
all the rest; so that. with the ever-refied
glasses, the thick vapor blown out of mouths al
ready surcharged with the vegetables and
viands the clatter of plates aud the voices of
the orators. the sad and submissive nom
smoker a I, has, to put it mildly rather hard time
1t does not lessen the wrong which those who
do not smoke suffer from those who do that so
many OF the latter are unconscious of it. 1t is
impossible otherwise to account for the number
OF amiabe gentlemen who, without even ask
ing leave. make no scruple of lighting cigars in
places where there are ladies' or gentlemen who
not only do not smoke. but who detest the
practice. 1t may be that they think long toler-
ance has ripened into right. or, without think
ing at ALL but with an assurance alien to all else
they think or do, they assume that what seems
good to them must seem good to all. The
smokers creed appears to consist Of three ar
ticles: First. smoking is good for me. Second
Being good for me, it must be good for every
body else third, therefore. everybody else
shall have 1t. Now We nOn-smOkers disbelieve
the first deny the second, and resist the third.
II this creed were a true one, the smoking
car of a railway would be patch Of paradise
TRY it then with party of ladies. Let a trav-
eler. smoker or nOn-smOker. entering q train at
way station with such party. chance to light
w nh
were place accursed, and the first word to
hear from the ladies will be an exclamation of
extreme disgust and as they step on tiptOe
over the grimy floor. lifting their skirts and
every particle Of that cloud of tobacco, thick
enough to cut with knife they will rejoice on
reaching the other. as those who have escaped
from an evil den, SO foul, filthy and fetid is the
whole concern.
Why smoking is disagreeable to his neighbor
ls not for the smoker to ask that is none Of his
business That it is disagreeable is enough for
his neighbOr, and il should be enough for him.
He may, and no doubt does. like it, 1t is an old
maxim that there is no dsputing about tastes..
There are people who like unsayory smells.
One who has lived all his life by the side OF q
slaughter-hOuse may take pleasure i'm the smell
OF otfal: and wOrkmen in the fat-boiling estab-
iishments to the east of Murray Hill may like
the odor; but il Others do not like it, it is their
right not to have it. Reasons for disliking it
sary. Every puff OF tobacco blown out OF
mans mouth is loaded with saliva. Now. no one
likes to be spit upon. Take a white cambria
handkerchief. and hold it so as to breathe into
1t little tobacco smoke. There will be left
sediment of yellow matter resembling ear-wax.
This is what You take in when a smoker blows
in your face a Whit OF his tobacco.
When we pass beyond the domain of taste to
consider what is useful or hurtful. each must be
allowed to decide for himself. This much how
6lyo yr,ov h0 ~ fn
else, good or bad. smoking may do for the
smoker. it can hardly be doubted that it calls
into exercise the selfish elements of his nature
1t takes possession Of many men who are In
general amiable. generous and deferential to
others, but who are reduced to such q con-
dition Of servitude to tobacco that they forget
their habitual good manners In other respects,
and take no thought of the discomfort they in
fict: Some there are, the more scrnpulous and
the least enslaved, who before lighting cigar
will ask their neighbors whether they have any
objection, or whether it Is sdsagreeable to them.
Why do they ask? II they would reflect little
they would perceive that the mere fact Of ask
ing leave is condemnation of the practice.
When one holds bunch of grapes In his hand,
he does not ask his neighbor's leave to eat
them. More likely ne will ask the neighbOr to
Rartake Is and expect him to eat half Of
How can the smoker and the non-smoker
reconcile their respective pretensions? Nothing
is easier. Let the smoker smoke unto nlmSelf,
but let one, who does not smoke or take to-
bacco into his mouth or blow it out Of his nos
trils, be free from the annoyance. The nom
smokers have their remedy in their own hands,
Let them resist every encroachment on their
rights Ler them refuse to frequent places of
amusement or take passage in conveyances
where they are not protected against tobacco.
Ii, for example, it were once understood that
particular line of steamers makes adequate pro-
vision tor the defense of passengers against the
Of smokers. that alone would surely
gain, other things being equal. many passengers
who would refuse to 60 where their rights are
habitually violated. as they now are, in many of
the river and sea-gOing steamers. The COM
munity is made up Of individuals. Let each
assert his own rights and the abuse will cease
In short, If those who do not smoke will let ft
be well known once for all that they mean to
have their rights respected. they will be re-
spected.
Loves Coming.
She had looked for hts coming as warriors come
With the clash OF arms and the bugleS call;
But he came instead with q Stealthy tread,
Which she did not hear at all
She had thought how his armor would blaze In the
sun,
AS he role like a nrInce fo claim his bride.