Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-09-05
THE PET FEMININE VICE.
Habit Of Chewing Gum--A Practice
Originating Among the Barbaric
Tribes Of Africa.



"The origin OF chewing gum Is un.
known" said manufacturer who WAS IN
Detroit the other day, "and II is impos-
sible TO definitely decide what people 20
charge with It's invention. Dealers who
sell Il aud the manufacturers who make II
profess profound ignorance OF It's genesis,
while savants differ as TO where the prac-
tice originated. The majority Of persons
who have given the subject investigation
are disposed to trace the practice 10 the
barbarlc tribes OF Africa, whose women
find the resinous gum which the tropic
sun causes to exnde from the trees and
chew It. IL Is probable that this custom
was introduced Into the Southern States
by African slaves, who found the pine
trees Of the South as prolific In gum as
the trees OF their native forests. The
white women of that section at that time
were almost entirely given TO the
nauseating habit OF dipping snuff. O.,
rubbing II over their gums with the frayed
ends I pine stick In time they adopted
the more oleanly and healthy custom OF
their slaves, and the plne-tree gum be-
came their fayorite, largely supersoding
the snuff-dip. An observing Yankee
! travelling through the South In ante.
bellum days noticed the feminine gum
habit and saw a prospective fortune in
manufacturing an. artificial gum Of SUI
perior flavor to that gathered In the
\ woods. A little rancid tallow, a trifle OF
| gum-Rrabic mixed together and hardened,
/ then put into small cubes and wrapped In
| colored paper, constituted the chewing
! gum Of twenty years ago.
1.-THE mixture found ready sale among
! Southern women. and in time demand
grew up for II In the cities Of the North
Gum-chewing in few years spread
rapidly among the lasses OF the East, ant
finally crossed tie Allegnenies and swept
\ over the West like wlld-hre.
"There Is no basis upon which 10 esti
mate the percentage OF American womer
who chew gum, but the number has beer
put at from one-half to two-thirds Of tn,
feminine population. The practice 4
confined To no particular class. The lad
In her parlor and the maid In the kitchen
exercise their jaws over the tasteles
substance with the same industry. 1t I
far more common among women tina
chewing tobacco Is with men,
"Who are the greatest users OF tn
stuf2n
"Probably the girls employed in tn
large factories are the most contlrme
gum chewers. walk along Gratiot an
Michigan avenues In the evening, whe
those thoroughiares are thronged wit
girls returning from work, shows abou
every other one assiduously plying lie
laws"
A prominent Detroit candy-dealer, whe
/ questioned upon the subject said; "Yes
two-thirds Of my lady customers whe
they visit me lay In supply OF chewing
I gum, although the principal deman
I, for II comes from school and shop-girl
!. A few men buy 1t regularly, but they al
= generally persons who have been addicte
> TO chewing tobacco, and are endeavorir
y; TO conquer the habit. The dudes use
y quite extensively, and usually want
i highlylHayored brand. The women
. the demi monde buy 1t In large quaint
! ties. II Is all harmless
A physician asserted that girls workil
!, In large factories whore there was gre
: deal OF dust were positively benefited
y Its use. at causes them TO swallow
/, to spit out the dust they inhale, whit
otherwise would fad lodgment In the
I. lungs" he explained.
T, A dentist did not believe IL could Il
luIe tue lScAHi uub tnbuEul ~ iHPiNN'
!. them, as the constant friction kept the
: free from tartar and other deleterio
/, substances. ats continued use for year
/ however, he admitted, "would in tin
y wear down the side Of the jaw most us
T; In it's msstication.n
y Lately there has crept into tie Detrc
. market substance known as "bla'
chewing gum made out Of tar, which
L said by medicine men TO be extreme
% harmful and pernicious. IL is becomii
J. q great iavorite with local gum chewer
n but physicians assert its use Is product
Of sore mouths and innumerable thro
diseases. Put up in fancy paper, sold
penny block, Favored with some u
q known ingredient, and christened with
y understanding name, as 'Luti-Tnh
for instance, the black chewing gum
forcing It's entrec into all grades of u
- troit society, and driving It's rivals TO 9
o. wall. But It is nothing but tar--cbei
tar at that-mixed with gelstlne al
n favored with--heaven and the man
facturer only know what.