The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-02-07


North as far as Vermont, south to
cific, and along the Atlantic coast, with
possibly the exception Of Maine, We
find the planting, the cultivating and
care of the crop occupying portion of
the time, energy and means of the
farmers of all grades where the cult
walton of soil suitable to the under
taking with prospects of success. What
was almost experimental north of Vir-
ginia, scarcely half century ago, SO
far as raising tobacco is concerned, is
now, in very many States, reduced to
actual practice and with beneficial and
profitable results. III not raised for
market at first there has been desire
to see how the crop would thrive in the
more Northern States, and with that
satisfactorily attained, portion of
farms have been set apart to the pur
pose, until we may be said to be grow
ing tobacco everywhere Corn, wheat,
oats and potatoes are sure to find their
place in the soil as well as in the gran
aries and bins. These necessaries give
place to no luxuries, however great the
demand or profitable the investment.
State after State has fallen into line on
the tobacco question, and while each is
noted for certain productions, as lead
ing, we find that about all include
tobacco in their reports of crops
to the Agricultural bureau. 1t
is entirely proper,-the grain crops
receiving full attention-that We should
be known in addition 10 our other
great and varied productions, through
the staple of tobacco; that we should
be behind no country in quantity, and
approach every other country rs closely
as conditions of climate and soil will
admit in quality. While tobacco plants
are natives of warm climates, and while
they thrive best and reach their great
est perfection there, it is admitted that
very many of the species attain TO fine
proportions and flavor in our Northern
States where the soil is suitable and
they are properly treated and perfectly
cured. In many of the Northern States
the crop is yet new one, and ineXperi-
ence has great deal to learn In regard
to its proper treatment. All the plants
possess the narcotic properties on ac-
count of which they are SO extensively
cultivated, but some TO greater eX
tent than others The Virginia tobac-
co had been cultivated far north of
that State before Columbus discovered
this country, and it Is questionable
whether the use of tobacco as n narcotic
was known in the East before that
period While it is claimed that the
use of tobacco is of great antiquity
among the Chinese, it is received with
doubt in many well-informed quarters,
for the reason that its use did not eX
tend TO neighboring nations. On the
other hand, when its soothing proper
ties became known TO Europeans,
the use Of tobacco spread with
great rapidity. Its use was
common in the West Indies
as well as with the Indians in this
country when Columbus made his voy-
age of discovery. In fact, smoking
tobacco has been prevalent from un-
known antiquity among the American
Indians, not only in the Middle States,
but as far north as the Canadas. With
them, it is we'll known, it assumed a
religious character, and entered into all
their important transactions. Smoking
the calumet, or pipe of peace, was re-
garded by them as indispensable to the
ratification of o treaty, while it also had
an important bearing in their councils
upon the question of their going TO war
or remaining at peace with other tribes.
1t was regarded as a friendly act, draw
ing them closer together in bonds of
harmony and friendship far more so
than the Widespread and well-served
table is amongst other nations at the
present time.
Wilson's prehistoric Man" has this
paragraph in regard TO the religious
rite of smoking, as setting forth It's
religious character:
In the belief of the ancient wor-
shippers, the Great Spirit smelled a
sweet SAVIOR as the smoke of the an
cient plant assembled to the heavens,
and the homely implement of modern
luxury was, in their hands, a sacred
censor, from which the hallowed vapor
rose with fitting propitiatory odors, as
that which perfumes the awful pre-
cincts of the cathedral altar, amid the
mysteries of the church's high and holy
days.
What is now so common and in such
general use among all classes, especially
in this country, it is difficult to
conceive as having been, when intro
duced in Europe. so expensive that
only the wealthy could indulge in its
use. Then, as now, it was regarded as
an article of luxury, but theprice was so
high that its use almost amounted to
prohibition. Besids that, when it be-
came cheaper, certain of the Popes
launched the power of the church
against its use. In certain parts as
much power was used to prevent the
use of tobacco as has been in later
years to prevent the use of alcohol.
1t has been declared a crime to use
tobacco by both priests and sultans.
King James /. of England Numbered
against its use, saying that lit was
loathsome to the eye, hateful to the
nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous
to the lungs, and, in the black, stink
ing fumes thereof, nearest resembled
the horrible Stygian smoke of the pit
that is bottomless."
All opposition to its use, however,
was vain, whether the price was high
or whether it was low. The use of