The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-11
AN INSTRUCTIVE Story.
Why Secretary Noble las Such an An
tipathy to tobacco.


w ny secretary NODle 4 as Sucn an An
tipa5by to Z obacco.
From the Washington Post.
II notice by the Post that Secretary
Noble dislkes the scent of tobacco smoke as
much as ever, and can tell you the cause
Of it," said an old Ohioan last night. ut
dates back to his boyhood days, when his
father and Capt. John Duble, one Of the
best-known river men who ever walked the
deck Of a western steamer, kept the old
Dennison hotel In Cincinnati
John w. Noble was q small boy, bright
and ambitious then as now; wanted TO run
things aftor his own way Of thinking. He
was known around the hotel as little Jack
the cake boy He got that name from the
fact he was the boy who brought the hot
buckwheat and corn cakes from the kitchen
to the dining room for the guests. The Dem
nisou was noted in those days for its hot
cakes.
There arc few Of us left who have not
pulled in our gaug-planks and headed for
the other shore. | remember little Jack,
the cake runner, and the good times we
had in the winter around the blazing IRE in
the large sitting and reading rooms, smok-
ing our CLAY pipes filed with choice Ohio
and Kentucky tobacco. You can imagine
what fog twenty or thirty clay pipes, well
charged with strong tobacco, would make
in a close room. Young Jack Noble mad TO
look after this guest room and see that the
servants kept it clean and tidy and properly
waited on the guests. Il was a very respon-
sible duty for a small boy. but he did his
duty like a man, and from that day to this
he has been an open enemy of the weed.
"There are many anecdotes told of John
and his troubles with tobacco. When he
was st school large boy one day, knowing
his aversion to tobacco smoke. lighted
pipe and walked by John when he was
deeply absorbed in his lessons and pulled
the smoke in his face. Young Noble spraug
at the big fellow aud before he could be
pulled off whipped him thoroughly. L will
strike any boy or man who puffs tobacco
smoke In my face said John. as he picked
up his books and resumed his studies.
During his service in the army on one
occasion, early in the morning, he was
passing around the camp Of his regiment
and found a soldier in front OF the commits
sary tent smoking cigar. The colonel re-
ceived Whit OF the blue curl Of smoke as
he passed. He halted and asked the soldier
to advance 4 have one request to make OF
you said Col. Noble, 'aud that is never
again smoke your cigar about the camp
when l am likely to be around
- The trouble about that is, colonel re-
piled the soldier. you are very uncertain in
your rounds; you always turn up when we
you about SO early. but will pass the word
along the line never to smoke when the
colonel is expected aronnd.'
"Since be mas been Secretary OF the In
terror, Mr. Noble has been worried almost
into madness at times because people, not
knowing his popularity about smoking,
have smoked in his presence. Senators,
congressman, attorneys and others have in
this way offended him, but be has no
complained. His position as a cabinet
officer demands that he treat them politely.
"The story OF Mobiles dislike for tobacco
accounts for something that happened In
the general land Office during tho holidays
Of 1889. There was a young man in the
office who wished to be polite to his chief,
so he presented him with a box OF fine
cigars as a Christmas present. On the
morning of Dec. 90 the clerk received a
note from the chief clerk, returning the
cigars, and a letter Of dismissal.
The clerk was astonished at such treat>
ment, and took an appeal to Secretary
Noble, asking that he might resign, and
thereby not be disgraeed by dismissal
When the clerk appeared before the
secretary be informed that official that the
only thing be had done was 10 present Com
missioner Graf with a box Of cigars as
Christmas present. Then, sir. you have
smoked yourself out OF ofiioe.' came the an
swer from the So rotary. Your case lie
hopeless, young man; your example 10
bad one, and cannot have you under this
roof as an employe'
"The young man said the other day that
Noble I'D made one reform la che tobacco
line. de bad Dot bought o. smoked q cigar
since, and said that be had saved since that
tliae on De tobacco account w 70 June 81
last. s5S2A"