The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-08-02
A PUblic Nuisance.

1t is not the least of the evils which
accompany the use Of tobacco that it
seems to make its devotees unmindful
of the rights of others. We do not
deny that it comes within the limits
of personal 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 smo-
kers. If full-grown man chooses to
take cigar between his lips, or even
the abominable cigarette, it is his own
business. To him belongs the respons-
ibility for whatever physical and NOR
al results may follow. But it is other
peoples business if he chooses to as
sert his rights in public places. Rail-
road 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 every 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 fell
low 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. lie ladies or gen.
tlemen wish to stand outside Of our
ferry-boats, on a hot day, to enjoy
breath of fresh air, they must, per-
force, take into their sensitive lungs
cloud Of smoke discharged from some
body's lungs and nostrils. No great
er insult could be offered to a person
than to spit upon him; and yet there
are thousands of smokers who claim
it as right to nauseate those who
may happen to be in their company
and thus at their mercy. Wherever
crowds are gathered, in political con-
ventions, at most meetings of men, on
the streets, in restaurants, and in
many other places where those who
abhor tobacco are compelled to go,
the smoker INDUCES himself with
sublime disregard for their comfort.
So persistently are their rights dis
regarded that many to whom the
smell Of tobacco is extremely offens-
i've have come to believe that there is
sort of diabolism produced by
its use. Where smokers are rigid
ly excluded from carrying a cigar be-
tween their lips they will often in
trude themselves with it lighted in
the hand, partly concealed. And Oft
en-, where this annoyance is escaped,
one may be quartered by the side of a
man fresh from smoking-car ar smo-
king-room, whose clothes are reeking
with the fumes of the stale smoke and
whose breath is as vile as though it
came from a hennery. Smokers who
are members of public body, like an
exchange, insist, wherever they may
be in majority, on the privilege of
nauseating their unfortunate fellow
members. The question of extending
this privilege to all hours in the New
York Maritime Exchange was recent
ly up for consideration, with the pros
pect of being carried by the smokers.
So great and so unavoidable are the
annoyances arising from this practice
that many, who are compelled to min
gle freely with their fellow-men, have
been tempted to overcome their scru-
Piles and their detestation Of tobacco
and try to learn to use it, in order to
deaden their sensitiveness to it and
thus lessen their discomfort. The
Turks tried to prevent the practice by
cutting Of the noses Of those who in
dulged in it. Is mutilation of the Of
Tended member the only way of es-
cape open to the non-smoker?
If smokers were to show more re-
gard for the feelings of others it would
doubtless put them to some inconven-
ience. There are many who could
scarcely say that the odor of the smo-
ker is less offensive 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 re-
lief to the general public; and yet we
cannot hope that smokers will volun-
tarily assume it. They are more in
clined to intrude further than to sur
render. There seems, as we said at
the beginning of this article, to- be an
influence connected with the habit
which dulls the edge of the sense Of
regard for Others rights.