The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-08-31
IS II MAY LOOK TO MARS
Fome ~Philosophic Reflections Made
on tho Use Of the Tobacco
Plant.

Tl6nLs
Whether Harmful or Not VIII
Depend Largely on the
Circumstances.
l ftsr the People on ths Little Planet
Read This They Will Think
Us Very Queer.
II those planetary mupwumps the inhab-
tants Of Mars shall be able by reason of
;hsir superior intellects TO communicate
nth rs. they will not fail to DO sstonished
10 learn that We smoke, chew aud snuff to-
oacco, says the New York Times. Even II
hey have some red Martial weed where
With TO produce s1ssts On their hiah-strunR
nerves, ii 10 not likely that they burn the
Weed and inhale the smoke. If they shall
DO able TO Soc What goes on here II will be
pertain to amaze them, whether they hap
pom to perceive q Kalmuok falling down in
heap after dlling his lungs with tobacco
smoke and gas. or an American ''poor
white rubbing snuff on his teeth, Or IN
italian officer roasting one end of his LONG
Virginia in the flame of . candle to extract
al moisture before he smokes. And if the
telephone service to Mars is in perfect
working order and the Martians ask usto
Explain to~bacco-what shall We say?
The fact il that the weed OF Jean Moot
femains . puzzle and paradox. Moro TO.
49, $780, - A. 1Y-,A.l SAnA-
than ever before; yet it is pretty certain
that the use OF tobacco in all forms 10 be-
ing avoided by moro mon svery year. Boys
and women are oftener smokers than here
tofore. but their favorits cigarette only
proves by ito huge popularity the truth that
tobacco 10 less universally consumed and
used in less quantity in proportion to popu-
lation. The cigarette is, for the most part.
q dsapioable AZ we'll a. a lethal form; yet it
marks the step toward loss and milder to-
baooo. and the lame movement il seen in
demand for small and very mild oiRats with
which every dealer IL bsset. The chew
ing of the weed is a. filthy and dis
guating q habit AZ one cares to hin
about; yet most people know or can reool-
spects a gentleman. who cannot or will not
stop the, practice. Snuff taking is another
nasty custom, yet IN the stage the snuff
box 10 part of the equipment of the danny.
the precious flop ana OF the aristoorat of
of France. who represents grand life at
court.
II they ask whether tobacco is harmful or
not the answer will depend on oircum-
stances. Those who smoke not. nor chew,
nor snuff. will note that the doctors talk
much of a tobacco heart. which has the
cheerful habit of contracting in the suffer-
er's chest as il a devil were clutching it
long n hard: Of tobacco palsy, seen in
the trembling hands Of boys who dare each
other to combats Of cigarettes; Of emily
opia, or whatever else they call the affec-
ton of the optic nerve that gives transient
color blindness, and, worse than all, Of
cancer of the mouth. started by pire or
cigar holder. Holrified Mars will learn
that four drops Of the oil Of tobacco will
kill a horse in a few moments. and two
drops are fatal if placed on the tongue of
log or cat. His cultured inhabitants will
know what to think when they learn that
ths uss OF tobacco gives at frat nausea and
shows every sign of ACUTE poison, and that
persist until they can imbibe enough of tina
poison in their Systems to kill an elephant.
They will hardly believe that some hosts
introduce the cigarette near the middle OF a
banquet. and that even the fnsOinatioIs Of
American ladies do not avail to tear tho
osAV . 80 VAN
sfter-dinuer cigar!
Why do You do it? Mars will surely ask.
Who can answer satisfactorily? A smoker
may affirm that il he takes exactly the
right quantity his nerves are soothed, his
digestion promoted, and his brain il ap-
parentiy clear and in easy working order.
He will cay that he cannot do his stint
properly at head work or manual labor
until he has had his pipe, cigar, or Cigar
cite. lie may acknowledge that the sight
of the curling smoke is a large factor in his
pleasure, having observed that to smoke in
the dark gives little real satisfaction. and
is only done through force Of habit. But
he is sure there is a direct effect also on his
nerves, and that If he smokes too much he
will feel the bad results. Pressed to defend
his vice. he may we'll aver that all the en-
deavors of tho enemies Of tobacco during
merely come to this: Some men are better
without the weed in any form. But he will
challenge those enemies to say that Oh 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.
that the tobacco habit is dininisbing. and
that after the medicinal qualities of ''our
holy herb, nicotian," as William Lilly
called it. had proved fallnoious, its discon-
tinuanos coincided with al epoch in which
its enemies relaxed their vituperations and
lis 1rleQU6 C0Ab0u tueIr lAuu6tlOn0. NOVA
days the rhylners rarely sing in praise of
tobacco, aud the anti nicotians have ceased
from troubling. At the Same time tho
united kingdom raises moro than Sc, O0O,-
COO of taxation on this weed alone.
The Chicago Worlds fair is to have e1-
haustive exhibits from Kentucky and Louis
lana thowinQ tho methods of growing and
curing that plant which Caribs and Mexi-
cans showed the Spaniards how to enjoy.
Varieties Of the tobacco plant have been
forced by gardeners for the beauty Of the
long velvety leaves and the red or yellow
ish flowers, but the tobacco field in flower
is not particularly Handsome; it does not
compare. for example. with the majestic
ranks of our maize or the tangled yet
orderly beauty of a hop field. smokers
believe that nothing becomes tobacco more
than It's death, and not one in a thousand
would know it by leaf or flower If he came
upon it. If the Marian demands the lat
est conclusions of r terrestr. ial scientist re-
Rarding the effects of tobacco OH
the people of this planet, tell
him that in n la.s number
of the Revue des Deu1 Mondes a member
OF the French academy of medicine sums
up its iniQuities and benefits to mankind in
such a way that the good about balances
the bad. NJ. Jules Rochard thinks that
women and children should be prevented
from using this narcotic. and that no one
should be advised to burden himself with
the habit. The society for the prevention
of the abuse OF tobacco. however, has
harmed its own cause by exaggerations
As a general remark. tobacco does no harm