The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-10-26
Fun THAT MAY KILL.

We want all the boys who are in the
habit Of smoking cigarettes, or who are
| beginning to learn how to smoke them,
to pay attention while we tell them of a
sad event that recently took place in
one of our Eastern cities.
Among the number of bright BOYS
who had set out to become business
men was lad fifteen years of age, en-
ployed in a lawyers Office. During his
leisure hours and on Sunday he was in
the habit of smoking cigarettes, the
smoke of which he inhaled. From this
he passed to chewing tobacco, and it
is said that when he was not smoking a
cigarette he always had tobacco in his
mouth, and occasionally he combined
the two. His parents endeavored to
break him of the habit, but all they
could say and do had no effect His
health soon began to fail rapidly, and
his family, who were not aware that to-
bacco would have such injurious effects,
| fancied that his weakness was caused
by the close confinement when he had
to undergo at his place of business.
He soon became so i'll that he could
not sleep at night, and his appetite be-
gan to fail. His countenance was very
sallow, and he had severe headaches.
Finally his mother took him to see a
physician, who, on examining him,
thought that he was suffering from the
want of the right kind of food, and pre-
scribed tonics and things that are nour-
ishing and Strengthening.
But instead of improving in health
the poor lad grew constantly worse,
and was soon confined to his bed. The
doctor then learned that the boy had
been addicted to the excessive use of to-
bacco in every form, and he came to the
conclusion that his patient was suffer-
ing from nicotine poisoning. Nothing
that could be done had any effect in re-
storing the suffering boy. He fingered
for about week, when congestion of
the lungs set in, and the heart began to
fail in its functions. This was the be-
ginning of the end. Within twenty
four hours he was dead, killed by the
foolish habit he had formed Of smoking
cigarettes and chewing tobacco.
1t would seem as if such story as
this would be all the warning a boy
could ever want against cigarette
smoking. But while we are on the
subject we want to tell our boy readers
something more about this foolish hab-
it, and what makes it so dangerous and
destructive to those who practice it.
A gentleman who writes a good deal
for Young People, on making inquiries
of one of the largest manufacturers of
cigarettes in this city, was informed
that the annual average of cigarettes
consumed in this country amounts to
not less than thousand millions.
Now perhaps this statement in itself is
not SO very wonderful, when we think
of the number of people in this country
of ours; but take it in connection with
the fact that the consumption of tobac-
60 and cigars has not decreased in that
time, and one naturally asks how it is
that such an increase can be had in one
form of smokers articles without fall
inc off in the other forms of the ma
terial.
A gentleman who had two large re-
tail tobacco stores, on being asked the
reason of this increased demand, said
that so far as his experience could be
relied upon it was due mainly to the
fact that they were consumed largely
by boys who took their lessons in smok-
ing by the use of these miniature CT
gars.
Now let us see if we can not find out
a few facts about the materials that 90
to make up these cigarettes which are
SO universally used:
OF course the cigarette is made of to-
bacco rolled in what is called rice-pa-
per; that every one thinks he knows.
Each manufacturer of cigarettes says
that his particular house uses none but
the best Turkish, Virginia or Havana
tobacco; but that other manufacturers
are perhaps dishonest enough to use
cheap Maryland or Western leaves,
while they also put in all kinds of ma
terial, such as old cigar stubs, and odds
and ends of all kinds.
1t is quite impossible to say that such
material is used; but there is a very odd
kind of fact to be taken into consid-
Grafton, which may have some connec-
ton with the charges some people
make against cigarette manufacturers.
Five years ago there were but few
cigarettes made in this country, and
at that time the ends of cigars which
were thrown into the streets were con-
sidered worthless, unless twas to some
of the news-boys and boot-blacks who
were willing to put a great deal of dirt
in their mouths for the sake of a smoke.
Three years ago the demand for Amer
ican-made cigarettes began to increase,
and then the ends of cigars that had
been thrown away had such value
that the Italian immigrants in this city
began to gather them from the street,
and to-day there are on Crosby and
Mott streets alone, as has been found
from personal inquiry, over a hundred
men who make a living by gathering
this refuse tobacco. That number may
be found on two streets, and it is GER
tainly safe to say there are others in the
same business.
Is it not just trife odd that as the
demand for cigarettes increased so did
that for cigar. stubs. A member of
large cigarette manufacturing company
said to the writer: You have heard of
the new alkaloid from tobacco which a
French chemist has just discovered?
Well. our chemist WIS on the point of
making that discovery just as it was
announced to the world, and / as
sure you it is one of the most powerful
of poisons, being very similar to sui
phuric acid
Every boy knows that rice-paper
wouldn't hurt a fly in case he should
smoke it; therefore when he buys cigar
cites he is always careful to get those
which are wrapped in that kind of pa
per, or at least those which it is said
have rice-paper around them. Now let
any boy go to a paper manufacturer
and ask him the simple question as to
whether he or any one else could make
paper from rice, and the answer will be
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