Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-10-22
Published by the Unitarian Temperance Society. |
Don't Smoke.
TO QUE AMERICAN BOYS: !:

TO OUR AMERICAN BOYS 3
l want to talk with you little while
about a very common habit OF boys and
men, that Of smoking. remember, when
| was boy, my friends helped me very
| much by their kind advice. So hope you
will read this article about smoking.
Nature seems to say, don't smoke, don't
chew. Because, when persons begin to do
these thngs. they are apt to become
quite sick and dizzy. This is hint not 10
touch. taste or handle the article.
But why. then. do so many form the
habit, when it is at hrst so nauseating?
Because they think it manly to smoke.
Because they like to follow the example
of their fathers and brothers. Because
smoking gives them companionship. Be-
cause after while they get broken in, and
smoking becomes pleasant.
But If 1t can be shown that smoking is
bad habit. you will resolve to break it of,
or, il you have not formed it as yet, you
will SGT yourselves as flint against it for
| think, as general rule, boys wish to do
what is right. That is my experience.
So, If you will have a little patience, | will
give you some Of the reasons why smoking
is bad habit either for men or boys, and
especially for boys.
|. Tobacco is ] poison, and generally
Injuries ones health. That is what chem
lists and doctors say, and they know. To
De sure, poisOns as medicines are often
used, and may do good. But in health
poisons are not necessary, and do mischief
Tobacco is seldom used AS medicine. 1t
is not food or drink: it gives no nourish-
ment or strength. At the most, it is only
a sedatve. The chief ingredient Of to-
bacco is nicotine, very active poison
One concentrated drop is enough TO kill a
d z. 1t also contains an oil and other in
gradients that are very hurtful and pro-
duce disease. DR.. Drysdale, in book on
Tobacco and the Diseases it Produces"
says, Tobacco is one of the most violent
of all vegetable poisons." So in France
they forbid the use OF tobacco in schools
and colleges In our country they do not
allow smoking in the Naval Academy at
Aunspolis or the Military Academy at
West Point; for cigars and cigarettes
weaken the memory, and make students
nervous, dyspeptc, ana irritable. 1t has
been observed that the students who stand
highest in their classes In the colleges are
not usually smokers. Children who work
In tobacco shops become feeble and sicky
by inhallng the poisonous fumes Dr.
Twitchell, an eminent physician says that
tobacco often weakens the nerves of in
voluntary motion, such as act in the lungs
heart, and stomach. causes starts and
spasms on going to sleep and heart fail
ure. 1t sometimes Causes cancers in the
mouth, lips and stomach. Gen. Grant,
Emperor Frederick of Germany, and Gen
Albert Pike are instances Like liquors
smoking may eXhilarate for the time be-
ing, but the permanent effect is to produce
weak nerves and low spirits. Cigarettes
are adulterated with drugs and other sub
stances to make them cheap and pleasant
Laws exist In some States that they shall
not be sold to boys under sixteen because
they are SO injurious.
2 Smoking is bad because it leads to
drinking. Tobacco is the prime minister
of king alcohol. When the glass of H.
quor is in the drunkard's right hand, the
pipe or cigar is apt to be in his left hand
The fumes of whiskey and the smoke of
tobacco 90 well together The mouth heat
ed by the cigar or pipe Is naturally thirsty.
Cigars and liquors are sold generally at the
same bar. As rule, deep drinkers are
smokers.
s. Smoking Is a great expense If ii
did good, this argument against tobacco
would have less weight, but TO spend
money for what does US injury is a double
loss and shame. For remember, boys, the
money question is always moral question,
because money is the means Of support,
comfort, culture, charity, helpfulness.
Therefore, to waste 1t il a sin against God
and man. Because the money of the smok-
er wastes In little sums of nickels and
dimes, he does not realize how fast and
how much he spends, and how much good
1t would do him and his family If he spent
IL for better things. Many paupers take the
tobacco habit to the almshouse,- of
the things that have brought them there.
A friend of mine some years ago asked
a Young man of his acquaintance, an in
yeterate smoker, if it cost him ten cents
day for his cigars lie replied that 1t did
more than ten cents. My friend asked
him If he had ever made an estimate what
1t would amount to If he should at the end
OF every year invest his tobacco bill in
money at interest instead Of blowing it
away in smoke. Suppose he spends Hf-
teen cents day in smoking (maDy spend
more), and, when he Is twenty years Old,
he resolves to put that annual amount at
interest, let Us see what it would amount
to in the course of time.
Fifteen cents day tor one year Of 3G5
days would be S5475 That sum put at
compound interest for ten years at four
per cent. would amount to S65T .33; for
twenty years it would amount to 8 $50 33
for thirty years. bringing him to the age
Of fifty. 1t would amount to So ,065.l5. In
vest S34 10 at five per cent. in the same
way for thirty years, and it would amount
to S3,637.54- Or invest the same sum
at six per cent for thirty years, and it
would amount to 81 1928. .39,-enough to
buy good farm or build fine house.
.,f,
tional indulgences. The tobacco bill is
greater than the bread bill, the school bill,
or the church bill, or greater than all three
put together. Do you wonder that there
are many failures in business, that there
are so many poor people, tramps and pau
pers, so many farms and houses mort
gagged, so many children ragged. so much
wretchedness in our fair America! The
smoke bill and the drink bill will account
fer good share of this misery. The
wastes caused by tobacco, rum, and crime
go far to explain it. The same holds good
in Germany, Great Britain, Holland Spain
and the other countries Of Europe.
4. Smoking is an enervating habit 1t
takes the vim and energy out of a boy or
young man. 1t depresses the vital forces
of the physical constitution. Look at the
crowd of idlers and loafers at the corners
of our streets, in hotels and clubs, and
places of public resort and amusement
They are sallow in complexion, lifeless, ir-
resolute. Or, on a great scale, witness the
nations addicted to sedatives and opiates,
as tobacco and opium; viz Turkey,
China, Egypt, Spain, the West Indies,
South and Central America, and Mexico.
One cause of their lack Of energy and i'm
provement is the sapping Of their stamina
by this indulgence.
5. Smoking is an impolite and offensive
habit Else why is special car set apart
for smokers on railway trains, special
room in hotels? Else why in waiting
rooms at stations. or on boats or street
cars or shipboard, is the notice conspicu-
ously put up. mo smoking here? Some
cities forbid smoking on the street; and
hardly anything can be more offensive than
tobacco smoke puffed in the face of ladies'.
gentlemen and children, as they walk the
thoroughfares of our towns. The London