Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-11-09
ABUSED NOSES.
The Old snuff Dipping sIande

Not many years ago the snuff box
wasa common pocket article. Almost
every honored grandpapa carried one
that was always we'll filed. Many
grandmas, too, we're not ayerse 10 a
wee pinch. now and then, and they
carried their own supplies.
In those days all the sociable old
souls took pinch whenever anything
troubled them, and repeated the per-
Torrance when they felt especially io-
vial, not forgetting an occasional sniff
between times.
IL was the correct thing, too. to pass
the box around. and every one, young
or old, feminine or masculine, WAS ac-
customed to take q nip just for sociabil-
:ty sake.
This was M old-fashioned custom, Of
course, and what might be termed the
veteran snuff takers were confined
mostly TO good, old-fashioned people.
Gradually the custom appeared to
die away, as old-fashioned customs and
ideas are wont TO do in these modern
times, and the snuff box become as I'M
common Il sight as the bandana hand
iserchief.
Yet strange to say, since 1870 the
consumption has just about doubled.
having been 3,500.O09 pounds in that
year rs against 100000 pounds dur
ing the year 1888.
This increase has not been due TO
any extraordinary event either, as
about the same increase has been main
tanned since 1870.
In 1888. for instance the consump-
ton, which is reckoned on the sale of
the product, was a trihe under 100000
while in 1886 it ran up to nearly $500,
900 pounds.
When it is considered that but two
or three thousand pounds OF this vast
I product finds its way into foreign
market, the good people who have
/ iondled the idea that the snuff practice
was fast disappearing from this conti-
/ nent may well be amazed at this proof
4 10 the contrary.
The truth is that with the relega-
ton of the snuff box 10 some other
! land more vile habit was formed, and
we are fast getting to be a n ton of
\ SNUFF chewers instead of snuff inhalers.
The practice of chewing or dip
! ping" snuff was for a long time con-
/ fined TO the south, and is still more
| prevalent in that section than any
/ where else.
Down in Arkansas it has been a
| common habit for years among the
older people of certain class. When
/ ever yon run across the typical Arkan-
sas native down his way you will be
made aware of this in very few mo-
ments. II he chances TO be a farmer
you will see him with his pants tucked
into n rough pair of boots. his shirt
sleeves rolled up and the front thrown
open at the neck and pushed to either
side.
You cannot talk TO him more than a
minute before he will dive his hand
into his pocket and fish out a saor t
wooden spoon, or q bit OF hardwood
stick This he will plunge into auoth-
CT pocket and dip up some snuff,
which he will carry TO his mouth, de-
posting it with great relish along the
outside OF the lower gums The upper
gums will be pasted likewise.
The farmer will then roll his tongue
from one side to the other gathering in
the particles until they are concen-
trated into tiny ball. In moment
the juice will be extracted from this,
and it will be thrown away. Then the
appetite will be satiated again in the
same way.
The custom, which originated in the
Virginia mountains, has extended into
about every state in the south, until
now Texas is entitled to the prize for
the amount il consumes.
II have known southern ladies OF
very high standing socially who made
no secret of their love of dipping,
and | have heard OF more than one
northern woman who has been initiated
by her southern sister, said drum
merN for snuff-house to the reporter.
i am satisfied. too. that great number
of southern ladies and gentlemen arc
accustomed 10 dipping, in private, but
it cannot fairly be said that this may
be a general custom among them.
"The use of snuff is INDUCED il
largely by the negroes. Their passion
for il is equivalent to an Indians lik-
ing for whisky.
III you we're to 60 into some of the
large factories in Now England YOU
would find any amount of dipping go
ing on there among the h nds. prslu
cipally the women and girls. In New
York city not much dipping is being
done. Judging from the amount of smut
sold, aud what is being used is con
sumed chiefly by women of shady rep
utation.
J 1t is generally conceded by physi
! clans that the use of snuff in any form
is very injurious II excites the ter
minal filaments of the olfactory nerves
and as q consequence overstimulate