The morning call., 1893-03-22
1T MAY SAVE HIM.
An Infants Aptitude for
the Soothing Weed.
HE STOPS AT CIGARETTES.
A North Beach Baby That Chews
Cigar-Ends and Plays With
Antique Pipes.
HE STOPS AT CIGARETTE

The glorious climate of California never
produced a more unique curiosity of the
human species than Mrs. McGwynn's
14-month baby boy. who cnews cigar ends
instead of a rattle ana is more pleased with
an ancient clay pipe than baubles or sweet
meats.
When months old the infante Nc
Gwynn's chubby hand came in contact with
papa's cigar
With crow Of delight baby carried that
cigar from papa's vest pocket to baby's rosy
mouth.
Whereupon Mr.. and Mrs. McGwynn fell
over each other in their haste to summon
the doctor TO quell the internal disturb
ances which they were sure would soon
take place in baby's stomach.
Ihey TOOK the cigar away first. however,
but not until the infantlle McGwynn had
crumbled lot of the weed in his rosy
mouth aud was smacking his lips over the
taste.
The doctor told the alarmed parents to
await some develOuments and then admin
lister the prescribed quietus.
But Developments failed to develop, and
the elder McGwynns might be still waiting
for them if they had not long ago discovered
that the tntantile McGwynn had an abnor-
NAL appetite for the soothing weed.
NOW, when baby is cross mamma gives 1t
plug OF hard tobacco to play with. or an
tlu NOlhNOb plpt ludt Is olIUlB Will Tue
memories OF many soothing puff.
The MeGwynns live on Bay street, within
sight and sound of the noisy breakers that
moan and foam against the sands of North
Beach.
This enfant terrible is their first and
only child. He is ruddy and chubby, hale
and healthy. His teeth are the pride of his
parents and the envy OF The neighDurh0Od
He IS fat, plump baby that verybody adj
mires in spite of his early vice.
IL Cnts do,
at time, and his only fault is his over
weening liking for cigar-stumpS and Old
pipes.
And the stronger these are the better.
he hates cigarettes.
And in this his parents see a hopeful
sign. They have tried him on cigarettes,
and were Tejoiced to find that perverted
taste still undevelOped.
III he only leaves cigarettes alone" said
the fond Mrs. McGwynn to & CALL re-
porter, we shan't care much And, in
deed, tobacco isn't such a terrible thing.
Nowadays the boys begin on cigarettes as
soon as they get into knickerboekers. That's
dreadful
His father smokes al awful lot Never
has the pipe or cigar out of his mouth, but as
long as have known Mr.. McGwynn have
never seen him smoke a cigarette.
III L can only say as much for his son
when he's grown up into a man. I'll be
proud OF him, in spite OF his early love for
tobacco.
Dear, no, 1t never made him sick one bit.
lie took 10 tobacco sort of naturally. When
he was wee little baby he used to chew
ana suck cigars.
"Of course il frightened us at first, but
when we saw it didn't hurt him any we Just
humored him a little.
81 tried keeping pipes and cigars away
from him VIXEN he was seven months oil
but he cried so and was so cross aud fever
ish that the doctor said Id better let him
have them.
81 kept them away from him whole
week and wouldn't even let his father
smoke in the house or 90 near the baby
when his clothes smelled OF tobacco.
But all this didn't do a bit of good;
that baby had tasted tobacco, and there
was nothing to DO bat let him have some
thing that smelled or tasted like it,
II think an old pipe is the least harmful.
Tor he can't get anything but the smell
from that and 1t seems to do hun just
as well.
IF ne gets cigar he will Just lay quietly
IN his crib and chew II by the hour. The
doctor has examined him and watched him
Tor long time, and has come TO the con-
clusion that tobacco is his natural weed.
There's something abnormal about the
0aby's stomach or nerve centers, he SAYS,
which makes it perfectly natural for it to
require tobacco.
81 used to think 1t was an awful thing.
but now | hardly think of it at all apv
more, and If his liking for tobacco will save
him from cigarettes when he grows up I'll
be satisfed."