New-York tribune., 1890-01-17
MRS. DANFORTH AND TOBACCO.

The pcrversty of human nature is sometimes
past belief man, for instance, will violate
every law Of health laid down by kind and
fostering body of doctors, and still live to be u
hundred or a hundred and ten years old follow
ing during life four different and distinct family
physicians to the grave. Why are some people
so unrcasonable2 Note the case of Mrs. Stephen
Danforth, Of Manchester Mass, who has just died
at the age of one hundred and one years. Tho
only thing for which She was ever remarkable
was her fondncss for tobacco. All through her
lifc-at least since childhood-she had used n
pound Of dark plug chewing tobacco a week
She smoked regularly after each meal. and nearly
every night would wake up and smoke pipe
ful or two in bed. and then drop of to sleep again
True. She has been cut of at the age Of one
hundred and one years, but who can say positively
that she would have lived much longer If she
had never heard Of tobacco?
THOUGH Mrs. Stephen Danforth moved in a
humble sphere Of life perhaps few women ever
performed their apparent mission more faithfully
For forty wears Mrs. Danforth was the great
source of inspiration for the Robert Reed Anti
Tobacco League, of Manchester. When this or
ranization was formed, in 1850, it unanimously
selected Mrs. Danforth for the Leagues " terrible
example" She was invited to It's first meeting
and seat on the platform was given to her, where
she solaced herself with a pipe Of inc-cut
See" exclaimed the president Of the Robert
Reed Anti-robacco League, see this victim of
the accurscl weed Born in Virginia. at an early
aoc She soon found that both Of her parents were
addicted 10 tie Use Of tobacco. When ten years
old Size began using it herself And now, az er using
tie vile poison daily for over fifty years, what
do wc find my friends? A wreck, total wreck
She cannot live twenty years. Before Size Is
eighty she will be in the grave, victim OF
tobacco. All. my friends, let us shun TINS rank
POISON, tobacco. which, terrible maclSTom'
crouchcs all around us and every moment threat
ems TO leap mp Ike pcstilence ana oVerwheIh
us with its fierce upas-tr rcc-likc flames
Tic Robert Reed League did not give mp Mrs.
Dauforth till 1.-THE over year ago, when She
reached The age of 700 Then the president
NOT the Hrst ouc-he died in 1852, said that he
c,-Ild not see why they should waste more time
ON such an unreasonable creature and. the others
concnrrinp. she was formally dropped, with the
private agreement that the less said about her
fine letter. This move was source Of great
ANNOYANCE 10 the good old lady. and it was
noticed that she never took her tobacco with
tic samc spirit aftcrward. Sic was fond II
uublic attention, and the notice Of the LEAGUE
prca,ci her She always admitted that she
,upposcd tobacco would shorten her life, but
size could not bear 10 give n Up.
Many anecdotes are related Of Mrs. Danforth
i'm Manchester II WAS she WHO, about ten years
4so. while sitting iu thc railroad waiting room
~ Worcester. was approached by thin young
iaou with pa,e paper-coyrrcd cigarette, unit.
between his iinrcrs. who asked II smoking WAS
offensive - her Size was LONGING for smoke
herself but did not think IT was allowed In the
w1it.rv. room Hess your soul" she REPLIED
-do they ct people smoke here '' The young man
fcpIci IN Tie affirmative, bat added tat ne
would not indulge II smoke was dlsias'"iul T.
her. Size made no answer. but took ont a short
nine. cut OF three or tour small Jumps Of plus
tobacco and crowded tiru into TIE bowl. and in
frc milatc.. though it vl, In the winter and very
coid outside Size had smoked out the young man,
$50 hrt.ciucn and trtycllu- salesman for
wholesale Boston tobacco house. few years
AGO "a friend sent her box ~ So-caIcd anti
nicotine" cigars. Size smoked ONE ami used the
fc,' for klrdl,ng-wood. rcWnrk.n- that II was
tr ricoilrc size wanted. She was never III m
l,r Ifr except once. i'm l-j}. Tie Lco-uc made
much n this. but f. son of hers AGED cigity-two
WHO still h.c, DO Mancucster says that tie real
olu,c Of the sickness was her attempt. at the
advice of th. president of the League. 10 break
herself OF the habit of smoking couple OF pipes
before breakfast
Though Mrs Stephen Danforth lived longer
than. hy all tie rule, Of health and common
SENSE, size should have lived. still We hope the
Manchester Robert Reed AntiIobacco League
viii not despair There is great work before
il vet Ihcn for instance, is Mrs. Daniorlhs
son. before referred to; despite tine terrible
warning which his mothers death must have
been 10 him. We learn that he still continues 10
Use nr-c quantities Of tobacco. Success, say we,
10 the Robert Reed League.
II is row charged that pisrict-Ntorncy Eel