St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-13
HOW 1T AFFECTS THE Roxs.

The following Is taken from the report OF
Prof. McGarrah, S1pt. of the public schools
of Anthony, Kansas
Although not a part of this report, permit
ME to speak of what | consider the greatest
hIndrance to our school work at the present
times. l refer to the use of tobacco, es
pecially cigarettes.
Let me give few ideas from a man OF
recognized ability, honesty aud influence
He speaks about as follows;
"After making study of several hundred
boys through a period OF ten years, | give
only observed facts:
First: Boys that begin using tobacco at
an carly age arc stunted physically aud never
reach normal bodily development.
Second: have not found a single case in
which the boy did not suffer from one of the
following conditions Indigestion, impaired
taste, defective eyesight, dull hearing,
nervous affections, diseases of the heart.
Third: Tobacco destroys the ability to
apply one's self to study, and prevents his
c"mprehending his lessons. The mental
power is weakened and depraved, and there
Is but little nse for the teacher to try to
arouse the dormant, paralyzed energies, or
to interest Or foster the tagged desire.
nave not met pupil that is addicted to this
habit who will go through a single days
work and have good lessons. l have never
had one whose scholarship or record was
good. In the regular examinations for pro-
motion nearly every one failed.
Fourth: These pupils are constant sub
Jects for discipline, and are not truthful,
practice deception, cannot be depended upon
aud lose selfrespect.
Fifth: The use of tobacco by one who
has reached full mental and physical develop.
ment before the habit was formed may not
show the effects for several years, but not so
with tho boy; and the younger the more
disastrous the effect upon the mental
power.
Sixth: Users of tobacco frankly admit
that it causes thirst. The nerves of taste are
half palsied and cause intense thirst, Water
is too insipid. The liquid in order to satisfy
this tormenting thirst, must be pungent or
stimulating.
Seventh: The reason cigarettes are so
cheap Is that they are made from the cheap
est grade of tobacco. They are more harm.
full than tobacco i'll any other form, because
OF the drGss, used in making them. The
principal OF these is opium, which gives IL
soothing effect that in short time obtains
control OF the smoker. The more cigarettes
one smokes the moro he desires to smoke
We all know the effect of opium when used in
any other form, and it is not different in
this"
quote the above, not to provoke any CON
troyersy. but because, after u careful study
OF the situation, think that if some of the
parents could see as | do the magnitude Of
the evil, they would not rest day or night
until all that lies within their power to do,
has been done to bring about different con-
ditions
by observations lead me to the following
conclusions regarding the usc of tobacco,
and more especially cigarettes, by the boys
now in school:
First: There are many that are being
ruined by the use or cigarettes whose parents
THINK they never use tobacco aud are puzzled
to know why their boys arc not as interested
ana DO not make as great progress as they
have made in the past
Second Those who made the best recita |
tons and received the highest grades in the
last examination are not cigarette smokers.
Third: Some OF those who received the |
highest grades in their classes last year are
Unable to do so this year because of the ex-
cessire use Of cigarettes during the summer |
md fall and will never take high rank again |
unless they cease this habit very soon.
Fourth: Those boys who require the most |
discipline and have the poorest lessons day |
,y day, nearly all use tobacco.
Fifth: There are boys now in school who |
Esnder why they do certain things they |
'eaiiy did not intend to do, and why after
long their utmost to get lesson, they can
neither understand it nor remember it. They
ire very much surprised at times that what |
hey thought was well learned, seems hazy
md refuses to be expressed In words when
hey come to recite it in class.
Sixth; Our boys who use cigarettes are al.
most incapable of home study. They expe-
fence either stupid dullness or a nervous
Unrest; which almost compels them to seek
onle excitement down town, They are in
apable of earnest, long continued effort in
ny direction.