The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-29
AND so IL GOES.
The Deadly Tobacco Plant That Is Kill
ing Its Millions.

| ''Pve come to the conclusion that IL Is
better not to smoke at all"
| He settled himself comfortably In one
of the chairs in the Russell House ro-
tunda and placed the tips of his fingers
together as he spoke.
81 agree with everybody who says
moderate smoking is harmless" he con-
tinued. 81 know all about that. l
know all about the power of a good cigar
| to cheer the heart of lonely man too.
Often have thought when sitting with
my evening cigar that the weed acted as
| a disinfectant, carrying away In Its curl
| ing blue smoke all the blue thoughts and
blue feelings within me. And the burn
ing of cigars in congenial company of
men promotes good fellowship. OF
course it does. It adds to the enjoyment
of social life.
He checked an involuntary movement
of his right hand toward his upper vest
pocket, and then he remained silent for
a moment, with his eyes bent on the
| floor.
"But when you've come to realize all
this" he said after a while, ''you're
slave. l began by smoking a brand OF
little, stubby, rough cigars that cost
four cents apiece. remember that CT
gar perfectly, because I've never found
its equal since at any price. l smoked
about one of these a week, sitting on
rail fence in the darkness of night and
sneaking up the back stairs to bed after
ward, holding my breath for fear some
body would smell it.
CATER awhile went to the city and
there I smoked cigar after supper
every night. Then / began to smoke
once in while as l walked TO the store
in the morning, which established the
habit of smoking after breakfast. l in
dulged as moderately as this for three or
four years and fondly believed that
would be my limit through life. As l
got my wages raised began to smoke
higher priced cigars, which always
tasted better for little while and then
became as unsatisfactory as the others.
"In the course Of time took to smok-
ing mild cigar after lunch at midday.
Finally 1 smoked after eating anything,
even cracker. From four cent cigars
had advanced to twelve cents by the
box, and how many smoked a day do
not know. Mind l do not make the
costliness of the habit an argument by
itself, because l believe that anything
which adds to the innocent enjoyment
of this short life is worth its cost. But
the trouble was, the more l smoked the
less l enjoyed it. One cigar day, pei
haps two, would be enjoyable. The
others would taste rank, and would
throw away one half smoked and light
another hoping it would be better.
''When you've got well beyond the
shadowy line between moderate and i'm
moderate smoking you ind that your
pleasant indulgence has given place to
morbid appetite. Still, you can stop if
you want to-of course.
"And now, leaving the individual
alone, how about the general public?
Ny wife requests me to smoke in her
presence because she loves the odor; calls
it fragrant. To most women think it
is offensive, nothing more ror less, and
1t is the same to many men. And yet
people smoke in promiscuous crowds,
they smoke on the decks Of steamboats,,
they smoke On the platforms of street
cars, they puff away in the ends Of parlor
coaches on railroad trains until the air is
dense with the vile smoke Of cigars and
pipes, which oozes through the separat-
ing doors and floats through the whole
car, annoying, if not sickening, the
other helpless passengers, who may lump
it if they don't like it. 1t makes Inc hot
to think that in every street car, in every
ladies' waiting room, in every restaurant
where ladies go, such signs as this must be
tackled up, Smoking Positively Prohibit
ed Good heavens! Why isn't it neces-
sary to say, 'Treading on Ladies Feet
Forbidden?
"A man who can understand the effect
of cigar smoke on some women would as
soon think of doing that as to smoke in
their presence. But smokers don't I'M
derstand. Their habit has made them
selfish and inconsiderate to the last de-
gree. 1t is a shame" The man gazed
out the window for awhile in silence be- |
fore he concluded.
$50, while all said at first about the |
pleasure and comfort to be derived from |
moderate smoking is strictly true, there !
are other considerations which it seems |
to me should have greater weight than
these"
so you have decided not to smoke at |
alp" said the man to whom all these |
words had been addressed.
Il did not say that" replied the other, |
taking a cigar from his pocket and re-
fectively biting off the end. II said l |
had come to the conclusion that it is
better not 10 smoke at all. May trouble /
You for a light? Waite in De-
troit Free Press.