The morning call., 1894-01-16
NO CIGARETTES FOR THEM.
Crowds of Embryo Citizens Sign
the Pledges.
NEARLY ALL OF ONE SCHOOL
Partial Returns Show That Young
San Francisco Is Arising Against
the Evil.

The Anti Cigarette League was fairly
started yesterday.
large number of boys In the public
schools signed THE Calls" pledge,
the signatures in one school alone
amounting to 50 per cent of the whole
number oE scholars.
Returns are yet Incomplete, but
enough have been received to show
that "The CalPs" crusade is a success.
The anti-cigarette crusade inaugurated
by THE CALL in the public schools was
proved yesterday great success.
Despite the bad weather large number
of boys who attend the public schools
signed THE CALLS pledges. thereby
promising TO abstain from cigarette-smok-
Ing until they attained the age of 81. In
fact the number of signatures was over
whelming and will require time to segre-
gate. Only partial returns have as yet
been received from the principals, but
quite enough to show that the league is
warmly greeted by the parents and the
boys themselves.
No compulsion of any kind was used to
induce the boys to sign. The teachers
simply laid the matter before the boys and
the latter grasped the opportunity. They
recognized that self-government was the
root of American liberty and declared
their personal independence with prompt
ness.
Miss NJ. NJ. Murphy, principal of the
Jefferson School. and grand secretary of
the league, made the signing of the
pledges the natural climax of lesson on
physiology. She unrolled a Chart showing
no hmm " tod
and explained the effect upon that organ
produced by misunderstanding. She asked
the boys to listen 10 the heart-beats of
their companions and the "thum -thump"
heard added considerably TO The force of
the lesson.
AS a practical result of Miss Murphy's
capable lecture on. physiology. the whole
school Of boys Joined the crusade against
cigarette-smokiDg
Miss Murphy writes as follows:
Editor Morning Cdll-DEAR SIR: Parents,
educators and friends of the children in this
community must recognize the value OF the
movement The CALL has inauguTated for the
cure OF the cigarette habit among little chill
dren. You WA be pleased 20 learn that the
boys of the Jefferson School organized league
Every boy IN the Jefferson School above the
receiving grade has signed the pledge. We
have adopted IRE CALL pledge, although We
had one OF our own. differing but slightly from
the form OF The CALL pledge. Thanking THE
CALL Tor Its earnest work in one OF The grand
est movements OF the age, and wishing success
10 the undertaking on behalf Of the boys, am,
respectfully, NJ. NJ. MURPHY,
Principal Jefferson School.
1t would be impossible TO detail the pro-
cess Of signing al other schools, but il
may be mentioned that Principal Hamil-
ton of the Lincoln Grammar estimated
that 95 per cent OF the whole boy attend
ance of his school signed THE CALLS
pledge. This record alone. if no other
schools contributed, would show the wide
p6 nj fiUar
League.
1t was notable that the boys in the
seventh grade in the Lincoln Grammar
School signed the pledges. These are not
small boys bnt young men, who fully
realized the opportunity offered them and
the dangers they thereby reduced to a
minimum. Voluntarily at the suggestion
of Professor hnOwltoD they came forward
and affixed their signatures. Their exam
pie will doubtless have its effect.
Superintendent of Schools john SWEET
expressed much qualification when he
heard OF the result of The CALLS cru
sade. All along the veteran educator has
supported the movement He himself
suggested placing the boys on their honor
by the forming of a league or society, in
stanclDg the success o! the Band of
Mercy successfully instituted here in GER
tain schools He also gave CALL repre-
sentative an open letter to all the princi-
pals and teachers in order to facilitate the
movement ana IN every way lent ii his
warm support. NO educator has the good
of the public schools more at heart than
the superintendent.
The following letter has been received: ::
Editor Morning CoJL Your "Boys' Anti
Cigarette League pledges were received. l
think when properly presented 70 the boys the
plan VIII work reformation. Both myself and
our thrtv-hve teachers are in hearty sympathy
With the movement and l think our 1000 boys
Will be heard from. Very respectfully.
A. II. MCDONALD,
Principal Lincoln Evening School
The enrolment Will be continued until
all the boys in the public schools have had
an opportunity to signify their disappToyal
of cigarette smoking