Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-12-11
4 DISGUSTING HABIT.
The Prevalence sof SNUFF Dipping In East
Tenno-aee.
fCOr Utica OhaarvarI

lCor. UTICA ODOcrver.I
The mountain ranges of East Tennessee
are dotted with camps, the houses of
summer visitors. A corresp mdsnt called
recently at . cottage situated a. one OF
these resorts, and from her description of
what occurred during her visit an idea
may be obtained OF the Irsvalence Of
snu ff-d piping among Southern women.
and OF the way in which it IL done A
number Of the n arrived at the cottage
( while the correspondent was there, and
81 must observe" she writes, that
have seen prettier women. old and y oung,
here than elsewhere" After introduce
tions and comm nplace chit chat, the
men withdrew to Ioange in the shade Of
The trees, and change took place among
the women directly after their depart
ure.
"Air they gone fur goo ~" asked the
ellerly maiden along In the twenties,
running her hand into a pocket among
the hIiiags and pufinss of her dress
skr-
Yes; / see them settling themselves on
the benches with their knives and pipes"
replied this Sister Anne, a tidy, childish
miss of fifteen, slyly peeping out at the
objects OF their remarks.
The aged hostess said to the first
speaker, "Hain't you got a tootht tresh?"
A negative shake of the head was given,
and she addressed the youngest:
Run out, Grain Ia, honey, an git
granny a toothbresh; dropped mine in
the fire this mornin'"
During her absence the relative merits
of several kinds of wool were discussed
as best for the desired implement, but al
agreed that althea couldn't be beat. The
reader may 'imagin, me with my full
quota of Ewes Inheritance awakened,
Luk womanlke. Covered by an impene-
trable assumption of ind .ffsrenc to these
myst erious proc ,edtngs.
Miss Graingie returned, and, quie'ly
seating herself near m ), diligently chewed
bit of twig while talking about last sea-
son at the spri ngs.
Five chairs were presently drawn closer
together about the hearth, little fat
pasteboard box was handed to the hostess,
who now had in her hand the twi- afore-
said. faile1 to perceive the s.eight- Of
hand perform inca that resulted in the
twig pro ruding from the agel lips Tne
box passed into the hands of the lady out
OF her teens, who politely reac Ied 1t over
to me.
Itook II, and q quick glance showed the
words Scotch snuff" on the lab
"She don't Dip" laughed The young
girl. l asked her husband but he SAYS
she hasn't prejudices about anybod d Ding
anything they please tn ats nice.
"Oh, don't they dip snuff where you
cIme from" cried dainty girl Of sweet
sixteen, scooping a little stckful of the
brown powder, and with a practical mo-
tiou Of the fingers transferring it to the
right side Of The cheek and deftly moving
it to and fro along the teeth or gums, the
short end of the twig showing between
the cherry ripe lips.
When all were served lnz5, droning
ccnver sation followed, in erru ,ted by the
zZ of ej cted fluid OH tn 9 live Goals, and
l was informed that almost every lady In
the State enjoys her snuff privatsiy; non
hut very csarse persons ex pose themselves
by dipping in public CT befor, mon; that
now -comers mad g fun at first. but soon
took 10 the ha bit. etc.
After several months residence here
am led TO believe the assertion incorrect
and the habit is not nearly SO prevalent
among the b.tter class as it is repre-
sented.
Wien the dip was usel up the brush
ends of the sticks were surreptisous,y
dried and put in pocks.s, cor lers OF
mouths rubbsd with handk.rchie s, and
a walk under the tr ses followed The old
dame, like most old w1mqn snuff ID D.
pers, retained her toothbrush between
the mid lie of her lips, aud, through long
years Of practice, it in no way incom.
moded her tongues manipulation Of
words