Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-09-21

lErom the New York Times l

If those planetary mugwumps, the in
habitants of Mars, shall be able by reason
of their superior intellect to communicate
with us, they will not fail to be sstonished
to learn that we smoke, chew and snuff to-
bscco. Even If they have some red Mar
tisl weed wherewith to produce effects on
their high strung nerves, it is not likely
that they burn the weed and inhale the
smoke. If they shall be able to see what
goes on here it will be certain to amaze
them, whether they happen to perceive a
Kalmuck falling down in heap after ILL
ing his lungs with tobacco smoke and gas,
or an American 'poor white" rubbing
snuff on his teeth, or an italian officer
roasting one end of his long Virginia in
the flame of candle TO extract all moist
ure before he smokes. And IL the tele-
phone service to Mars is in perfect work
ing order and the Martians ask us to ex-
plain tobacco-what shall we sayl
The fact Is that the weed of Jean Nicot
remains a puzzle and paradox More to-
bacco is grown in the United States now
than ever before; yet it Is pretty certain
that the use of tobacco in all forms is be-
ing avoided by more men every year.
heretofore, but their favorite cigarette
only proves by its huge popularity the
truth that tobacco is less universally con-
sumed and used in lees quantity in proper
ton to populatisE The cigarette is, for
the most part, a despicable as well as q
lethsl form; yet ii marks the step toward
less and milder tobacco, and the same
movement is seen in the demand for small
and very mild cigars with which every
dealer is besst- The chewing of the weed
is as filthy and disgusting a habit as one
cares to think about; yet most people
know or can recollect some charming per-
son, in all other respects q gentleman, who
cannot or will not stop the practice. Snuff
taking is another nasty custom; yet on the
stage the snuf-box is part of the equip
ment of the dandy, the precious fop, and
of the sristocras of France, who repre-
sents grand life at court.
If they ask whether tobacco is harmful
or not the answer will depend on circum-
stances. Those who smoke not, nor chew,
nor snuff, will note that the doctors talk
much of tobacco heart, which has the
cheerful habit of contracting in the suf-
ferer's chest as if devil were clutching 1t
long and hard; of tobacco palsy, seen in
the trembling hands of boys who dare each
other to combats of cigarettes; of emblyo-
pis, or whatever else they call the affec-
ton of the optic nerve that gives transient
color blindness, aud, worse than all, of
cancer of the mouth, started by pipe or
cigar holder. Horrifed Mars will learn
that four drops of the oil of tobacco
would kill a horse in a few minutes, and
two drops are fatal if placed on the tongue
of dog or cat. His cultured inhabitants
will know what to think when they learn
that the uss of tobacco gives at first nau-
LII. -. Il
and that nevertheless the men and women
of earth persist until they can imbibe
enough of the poison in their system to
kill an elephant. They will hardly believe
that some hosts introduce the cigarette
near the middle of a banquet, and that
even the fascinstions of American ladies
do not avail to tear the other sex from the
beguilement of the after-dinner cigarI
Why do you do ita Mars will surely
ask. Who can answer enthusiastically A
smoker may affirm that If he takes exact
ly the right quantity his nerves are
soothed, his digestion promoted, and his
brain is apparently clear and in easy work
ing order. He will say that he cannot do
his stint properly at hesd work or manual
labor until he has had his pipe, cigar or
cigarette. He may acknowledge that the
sight of the churling smoke is a large fac
tor in his pleasure, having observed that
to smoke in the dark gives little real salts
faction, and is only done through force of
habit. But he is cure there is direct eff
feet also on his nerves, and that If he
smokes too much he will feel the bad re-
suits. Pressed to defend his vice, he may
we'll aver thst all the endeavors of the en-
emies of tobacco during four centuries to
prove 1t hurtful have merely come to this:
Some men are better without the weed in
any form. But he will challenge those en-
emies TO say that on the whole more harm
comes of tobacco than good, and they will
find it difficult to back such a claim with
medical or other proofs He will have to
acknowledge, nevertheless, that the tobac-
CO habit is diminishing. and that after the
medicinal qualities of "our holy herb, nj
cotisn," ss William Lilly called it, had
proved fallscious, its discontinusnce coin
cided with sn epoch in which its enemies
relaxed their yituperatioEs and its friends
cessed their laudstions. Nowadays the
rhylners rarely sing in praise of tobacco,
and the anti-nicotians have ceased from
troubling. At the same time the United
Kingdom raises more than fifty million
dollars of taxation on this weed alone.