Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-10-06
PRETTY GUM cHEWERS.
a Practice Probably Originating Among
the Barbaric Tribes of Africa.

a Practice Probably Originating Among
the Barbaric Tribes of Africa.
1.-THE origin of chewing gum is un-
KNOWN said manufacturer who was
in Detroit the other day, land it is i'm
possible to definitely decide what peo-
pie to charge with it's invention. Deal
ers who sell it and the manufacturers
who make it profess profound ignor-
ance of its genesis, while savants
differ as to where the practice
originated. The majority of persons
who have given the subject investiga-
ton are disposed to trace the practice
to the barbaric tribes of Africa, whose
women find the resinous gum which
the tropical sun causes to exude from
the trees, and chew it. It is probable
that this custom was introduced into
the Southern States by the 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 al
most entirely given to the nauseating
habit of dipping snuff. e., rubbing
it over their gums with the frayed ends
of pine stick. In time they adopted
the more Clearly and healty custom of
their slaves, and the pine-tree gum be-
came their favorite, largely suppressed
ing the snuff-dip. An observing Yam
kee travelling through the South in
ante-bellum days noticed the feminine
gum habit and saw a prospective for
tune in manufacturing an artificial
gum of superior flavor to that gathered
in the woods. A little rancid tallow,
a trife of gum arabic mixed together
and hardened, then cut 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
a demand grew up for it in the cities
of the North. Gum-chewing in few
years spread rapidly among the lasses
of the East, and finally crossed the AL
leghenies and swept over the West like
wildfire.
There is no basis upon which to
estimate the percentage of American
women who chew gum, but the num-
Der has been put at from one-half to
two-thirds of the feminine population.
The practice is confined to no particu-
lar class. The lady in her parlor and
the maid in the kitchen exercise their
jaws over the tasteless substance with
the same industry. 1t is far more COM
mon among women than chewing to-
bacco is with men,"
"Who are the greatest users of the
snuffP''
Probably the girls employed in the
large factories are the most confirmed
gum-chewers. A walk along Gratiot
and Michigan avenues in the evening,
when those thoroughfares are thronged
with girls returning from work, shows
about every other one assiduously ply
ing her jaws"
A prominent Detroit candy-dealer,
when questioned upon the subject,
said: Eyes, two-thirds of my lady
customers when they visit me lay in
supply of chewing-gum, although the
principal demand for it comes from
school and shop girls. A few men buy
it regularly, but they are generally
persons who have been addicted to
chewing tobacco and are endeavoring
to conquer the habit. The dudes use
it quite extensively and usually want a
highly-favored brand. 1t is all harm
less"
A physician asserted that girls work
ing in large factories where there was
a great deal of dust were positively
benefited by its use. "It causes them
to swallow on to spit out the dust they
inhale, which otherwise would find
lodgment in their lungs" he explained
A dentist did not believe it could IN
jure the teeth, but thought it improved
them, as the constant friction kept
them free from tartar and other dele
tericus substances. ats continued use
for years, however," he admitted
''would in time wear down the side of
the jaw most used in its mastication.
Lately there has crept into the De-
troit market a substance known as
''black chewing gum" made out of
tar, which is SAID by medical men to be
extremely harmful and pernicious. 1t
is becoming great favorite with gum
chewers, but physicians assert its use
is productive of sore mouths and in
Vulnerable throat diseases. Put up in
fancy paper, sold at a penny a block,
favored with some unknown ingredi-
ent, and christened with a sweetly-
sounding name, as ''luti-tuti," for in
stance, the black chewing gum is
forcing it's entree into all grades of
society, and driving its rivals to the
wall. But it is nothing but tar-cheap
tar at that mixed with gelatine and
favored with-heaven and the manu-
facturer only know what. Detroit
The Ruling Passion.