St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-02-13
WHAT WE SMOKE AND CHEW.
Not Pure Tobacco. but sweetened
and 1Iedicated Preparations.

Not Pure Tobacco, but Sweetened
and uedicated Preparations
Health and Home.
Ii is rather late in the daY to enter a pro-
test against the use Of tobacco. Whatever
the faculty NAV say on the point of its In
furious qualities. however much the clergy
may point out the possibility Of its leading
to intemperance. the fact remains that q
large proportion Of the world uses tobacco in
some fOrm OF other. The Chinese, accord
ing to their accustomed vanity, pretend to
have been acquainted for many ages with
tobacco. But we must remember that in
the earliest written oriental tales which have
come down 10 us-The Arabian Nights En-
tertainments-there is no allusiOn to the
custom OF smoking, and that Sir Walter
Raleigh Lit the first pipe smoked out OF
America
In spite of all there has been said against
il by teryid anti-tobacconists. pure tobacco
is an excellent remedial agent; but it must
be absolutely pure. No poisonous decoc-
tons must eat into its substance or change
its nature. Used in proper way. to re-
lieve neuralgia pains, or applied in various
affections, under the advice Of a skillful
physician. 1t is a valuable medicine.
The adulteration of tobacco is very
common, both in this country and abroad,
arises from two considerations. The pure,
natural leaf. in its yellow hue, is undoubt-
eddy the finest tobacco in the market. But
so many accidents cOnspire TO render the
finest leaves scarce that even the natural
leaf itself is lmmitated. Coarse leaves is
bleached by the use of chlorine to bright
yellow color of the natural leaf. and sulph-
urid acid, properly diluted. is used to make
the little ''freckles," which are supposed by
cOnnoiSseurs to indicate superior quality
of leaf
But the ''natural leaf" somehow doesn't
seem to suit the taste of the average chewer
of tobacco. He asks a certain degree OF
sweetness in his plug. To fill this bill and
create special flavor which shall give a
kind of identity to particular brand. and
cause it to be eagerly sought for; is the
object of the manufacturer.
When the bundles of steamed leaves are
fully dried they are ready for the applica-
ton of the mixture Of syrup and licorice
which inpaTts 70 the chewing tobacco of
commerce its sweetness and flavor. The
leaves must be as dry as bone when they
are subjected to this licorice bath, for the
least dampness will render them white with
mould in few hours. This mould Is re-
moved lone Of the adulterations) by a dip
into diluted muriatic acid, and In too many
cases forms part of the solid cake OF better
quality. The heat of the mixture causes
the pores of the leaf 10 expand, and the
sweet syrup, penetrating every fibre. i'm
pregnates il thoroughly. From the vat the
dripping bundles are carried out on the fat
roof of the factory and exposed to the sun,
for one days sunshine Is worth more than
can be told in the manufacture. After this
the leaves are taken into O drying room.
where the thermometer during the day is at
90 degrees. at night the whole power of
the furnace is turned, and the heat is so in
tense that in the morning the room has to
be cooled before the operators can enter 1t.
When the tobacco has, under this powerful
heat, become perfectly dry, the adulterator
gets in his work.
One factory sprinkles it with New Eng
land rum, another uses Jamaica rum, q
third moistens IL with the rankest corn
whisky he can find. and each brand has its
own peculiar essential oil. Some use fennel
others ginseng. while the acrid sumach,
Astounding in tannin. cheap and plenty.
gives that peculiar burning of the tongue
which characterizes the fine cut" AS
tringent barks. worm-wood. the refuse of
the cinchona, and Others. give the bitter
taste which some consumers like, and the
twist or NEGRO head" which is largely ex-
pOIlSu 10 iOplcdI clluldISS. BclS Speclal
absorption.
We have heretofore published the state
ment Of Nh. Cooper. reyenee collector of
North Carolina, himself a large tobacco
manufacturer, stating that tonqua bean and
wintergreen were also largely used in adul-
terating tobacco, both Of which are deadly
poisons, and that he knew of a negro who.
having drank wineglaSsful of the mixture,
died in half an hour.
If these things be true Of the ordinary
chewing tobacco. what can we say of the
smoking article. where sticks and stems and
dirt and all uncleanlneSs 90 10 make up the
cigar? Where an end ought to show the
wrinkled edge OF pure leaf. II shows a
front like that of a composite bit of marble
A true tobacco cigar is fine in grain and
free from stems. The wrapper is nothing
In a cigar; the filling Is everything.
No leaf is worthless for the manufacture
Of one or another Of the innumerable brands
between the golden chat with which the
millionaire fills his merchaum and the Ia
boreT his cuddy. Almost the only chemic-
ally pure tobacco is that which the planter
dries for himself. spreads on the cotton
sheet In the garrett and sends little Tommy
to bring him bunch Of-crumbling il be-
tween his fingers to fill his pipe. But t,'is
simplicity doesn't please. The public would
rather be poisoned.