The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-08-01
A Public Nuisance.

1t is not the least of the evils which
accompany the use of tobacco that IL
seems To make it's devotaes unmindful of
the rights of others. We do not denv
that IL comes within the limits of per
sonal liberty to smoke or not to smoke.
Those who assert their rights against
smokers must be careful not to infringe
in turn the rights of smokers. If full
grown man chooses to take cigar be-
tween his lips, or even the abominable
cigarette, it is his own business. To him
belongs the responsibility for whatever
rhvsical and moral results NAV follow.
But it is other peoples business If he
chooses m assert his rights in public
places Railroad and ferry companies
and other public servants are obliged to
make stringent rules against smokers. and
to isolate them from the rest of their
patrons. But everv traveller knows how
frequently these rules are broken, even
where officials are most watchful against
violations. MANY will puff their smoke,
when the back of the official is turned,
into the faces of fellow passengers
in Pullman or ladies' cars, or in the
ladies' saloon of the ferry-boats; while
all seem to regard it as an indefeasible
right to smoke in every place which is
not placarded with prohibition. If Ia
dies or gentlemen wish to stand outside
the saloons of our ferry.boats on hot
day, to enjoy breath of fresh air, they
must, perforce, take into their sensitive
lungs cloud of smoke discharged from
somebody's mouth and nostrils No
greater insult could be offered to person
than to spit upon him; and yet there are
thousands of smokers who claim it as a
right to nauseate those who may happen
to be in their company and thus at their
mercy. Wherever crowds are gathered,
in political conventions. at most meetings
of men, on the streets, in restaurants, and
in many other places where those who alb
hor tobacco are compelled to 90, the
smoker ndulges himself with sublime
disregard for their comfort.
So persistently are their rights disre-
garded that many to whom the smell of
tobacco is extremely offensive have come
TO believe that there Is sort of disbol-
ism produced by it's use. Where smokers
are rigidlv excluded from carving cigar
between their lips they will often intrude
themselves with it lighted in the hand,
partly concealed. And often, where this
annoyapceis escaped, one maybe quartered
by the side of man fresh from a smok.
ing-car or smoking-room, whose clothes
are reeking with the fumes of stale smoke
and whose breath is as vile as though it
came from hennery. Smokers who are
members of public body. like an ex-
change, insist, wherever they may be in a
majority, on the privilege of nauseating
their unfortunate fellow-members. The
question of extending this privilege to all
hours in the New York Maritime Elk.
change was recently up for considera.
ton, with the prospect of being carried
| by the smokers. So great and 80 I'm.
avoidable are the annoyances arts.
ing from this practice that many, who
are compelled, to mingle freely with
their fellow-men, have been tempted to
overcome their scruples and their detesta.
ton of tobacco and try to learn to use it.
in order to deaden their constituencies to il
aud thus lessen their discomfort. The
Turks tried to prevent the practice by
cutting off the noses of those who in
dulged in it. Is mutilation of the Of
Tended member the only way of escape
open to the non.smoker
If smokers were to show more regard
for the feelings of others it would doubt
less put them to some Inconvenience
There are many who could scarcely say
that the odor of the smoker is less often
sive than that of the stableman and, if he
would,cease to annoy at all, he would smoke
nowhere but in some isolated place, would
take bath after every indulgence, and
would invariably change his clothes. But
much less sacrifice than this would cause
would give great relief to the general pub
lie; and yet we cannot hope that smokers
will voluntarily assume it. They are more
inclined to intrude further than to surren
der. There seems, as we said at the be-
ginning of this article, to be an influence
connected with the habit which dulls the
edge of the sense of regard for others
rights.-Independent.