Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1889-01-31
CHEWING GUM.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE HABIT
THAT HAS GROWN ON US.

Some of the Girls Are Asked Why They
ions of Physicians on the Eaects-Tons
Are Manufactured.
In spite of the manifold warnings of
physicians; in spite of the fact that the
shape of Cupid's bow is changed; and in
spite of al! the contemptuous and sarcas-
tic remarks which are constantly appear
ing in the papers, gum chewing in this
country is rapidly on the increase.
Two-thirds of the girls, be they pretty
or otherwise, that one meets on the high
ways OF this city are either working
their jaws for all they are worth or have
a small lump tucked away in some OBJ
scure corner of the mouth and give it
gentle squeeze between the teeth when
they are sure of being unobserved.
Gum chewing is less disgusting than
tobacco chewing.
And if it becomes natural habit, as
it seems likely to do, we may comfort
ourselves that the gum chewing Ameri-
can is far preferable to the snuff dipping
! Mexican.
And gum chewing is not as exclusively
confined to the female sex as is smoking
to the male, for many men use gum to
help still the craving for tobacco, thus
jumping from the frying pan into the
fire. perhaps.
True, gay young women are lately be-
coming somewhat addicted to the use Of
the weed, claiming that if men have the
right to put their feet on the mantel and
make a room blue with smoke why
should they be denied the privilege,
since it has such soothing effect on the
| AM nj
thing that has a salutary effect upon
their tempers what folly to deprive them
of it!
| UNSATISFACTORY REASONS.
Why do women chew gum? You do
not know, and even the chewers them
selves do not seem to.
20, chew because I can, guess"
said one pert young miss upon being
| questioned.
"And l because my mother tells me
not to" said another, with mischievous
laugh
Il chew because I like the taste and
because everybody else chews," said a
third indifferently, and likewise an
swered they all; the truth is, they really
did rot know why they chewed and had
never thought to ask themselves the
question.
The history of chewing gum is like the
growth of all animal and vegetable life
one of evolution.
Children began to chew the exuda-
t1ons from different trees, from the peach,
plum. pine, spruce and sweet gum, thus
putting it into somebody's mind to make
an artificial gum.
1t was first made of beeswax, gutta-
percha, and other rubbery and sticky
substances, which were perfectly pure
and harmless, and costly in preparation.
But three years ago some inventive ge-
MUS discovered that by boiling some of
the baser elements of petroleum and
mixing in small amount of beeswax a
gum similar to the more expensive could
be produced which was quite susceptible
to fiavors and trifiing in cost.
BY the use of scents and large uuanti-
ties of sugar, which is the principal
article used in the composition of any
gum, the disagreeable taste and odor of
petroleum was entirely obliterated and
salable article was produced. About the
same time a gum called "Balsam Tolu'
was produced, which also found ready
sale, particularly among children, and
then ''Paraffin" in all of it's f1avors and
mixtures had its day.
One variety of white gum was for
some time quite extensively manufac-
tured in China. That country has tree
peculiar to itself which possesses an at
traction for an insect with queer
Chinese name which one will neither at
tempt to write nor pronounce. Numbers
of them collect upon the tree. and when
they have departed to pastures new
branches are found to be literally COW
cred with a waxy deposit. By boiling
the branches the wax is separated from
them, and when the water and twigs are
drawn o. The white deposit remains.
MORE THAN 81, 100000 YEAR.
This is purified, sweetened, favored,
cooled in cakes, and little fancy picture
pasted on top, and we have the old white
gum which SO many of us have chewed
until our jaws ached. The sale of this
variety was enormous, but it has now
been supplanted by newer kinds, as has
the old rubber wax.
Physicians differ considerably in their
views on the subject. An eminent ply
sician from Ohio declares that gum
chewing seriously affects the eyesight,
and that he never fails to detect the use
of it by an examination of the eye.
Another says that the muscles of the jaw
and face near the temple are enlarged
and hardened and the curve Of the Gpsis
destroyed. ana, on the Oeler nanQ,
doctors without number advise its use
to cleanse the teeth and aid digestion
1t is quite the fad at the present time
to chew spruce gum. It, at least, is pure
from all the adulterations which are now
50 common.
Dealers in gum say that until within
few years its use was almost exclusively
confined to children, but at the present
lime the demand among adults is con-
,inually increasing.
1t has been computed by statistician
hat the people Of the United States
spend more than S1,50O,0OO every year
or chewing gum. There is a manufac-
ory in Louisville, KY, that alone turns
'ut 50O,O 900 boxes of six dozen cakes each
early, which is distributed all over the
world. And when we think of all the
'ther manufactures of gums of different
7arieties which are in full blast, selling
s much or more than the one mentioned
.bove, we are astounded at what mans
avs can do.-Chicago Tribune.