New Ulm weekly review., 1885-12-30

I

8
3. .es in Nev udent.l
Did you tsll ths coll boys
the other day, - tie lers reported,
that you we're glad that they werefor-
hidden to smoke, becauseif they did
not smoke now, they would be less
likely to do so IN later years?''
s'Did the papers say said that?'' :.
Yes
sWell, then, ] said it!'' Then after
a brief pause, as if trying to recall the
circumstance: cat any rate, that ls
what think. II / could have my way,
I would let nobody. smoke under q
years OF age It Is much more lnJurl-
GUS to boys than to adults. What
ever it may do to men, it is certainly
bad for the young. Then, as if the
questionable side of the practice were
still before his mind, he went on:
'eThe newspapers are responsible for
my smoking"
..How is that? Do they charge you
with smoking more tn an you do?"
Yes; but that is not what / mean.
I mean that it IS because of what they
did that am a smoker. Before the
war used to smoke very rarely; once
in SIX months, perhaps, would
smoke pipe; but had no taste for
smoking, no habit, and was not q
smoker. When went into the army,
at times of leisure, i smoked more; but
/ not much at first. In those days the
l papers did not think much of me. /
/ did not pay much attention to their
men in the army. did not have
them at my mess. They used to
i speak of me as inaccessible. They
called me you know, the man on
horseback, the silent man. the man
with cigar in his mouth, and when
Fort Donelson was taken they got me
into trouble. To be sure, was pro-
noted; was made a major-general
right off, but the papers We're down on
me, and on account OF what they said
was put under arrest, and my COM
mand taken from me for a week.
However, the people up North
[, were so glad to have $4,000 or l5,-
600 rebels to feed that they said 'Ifthat
man has a cigar in his mouth, he ought
} to have q good one;;' and they
began to send me frst-class cigars; in
i and from that time there was always
: a box Of the best cigars in the United
States on the table in my tent, open,
| and free to everybody; and ! never
> bought any more cigars from that
time until l came East. OF course,
, such nice cigars were tempation;
/ every ybody else enjoyed them, had
continued opportunity, and / began
9 Ito smoke as never before. That is
e what Imean when Isay ythenewspapers
j are responsible for my being q smok-
er."
r "Well, general, one question more,
8 if you please
\ 'sCertainly."
/ 'Did you ever suffer any inconven-
9 ience from the practice?"
g "Not that l know OF. cannot say
n what injurious effects it may yet pro-
0 duce; but ! have never felt any. Yet
+ often wish / was not a smoker.
8 Especially when / 60 to supper, sit
:, down at and stay till midnight, and
8 there are ladies present, or for some
8 other reason do notfeel at liberty to
/ smoke. That is just the time when !
d most want to smoke, and, if Icannot,
Z wish was not a smoker"
It A few more words, and withdrew,
d impressed, in a conversation Of which
n q small part is given, with the clear
;, ness of his vision, his rare command
. of language always saying just e1-
r actly what he meant-his simplicity,
e genuineness, and unostentatious great
e ness. Would that the boys VINO ad-
e mire him might heed his. counsels to
t them! Subsequent events furnish
y adults an impressive commentary on
9 his words: II cannot say what In
lurious effects it may yet produce; but
q have never fell any,