Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-12-12
NO. 50.
TOBACCO TAKING"
Csers of the Weed Labored Under Disad
vantages 250 Years Ago.

vantages 250 Years Ago.
People who make a speciality of un
comfortable statistics have lately as,
serted that warehOuseful of to.
baccO is consumed by smokers in thi:
city every day of the year. AS d
unit of measure the warehouse Is
vague and variable quantity. but il
carries the impression of unlimited
tobacco and an ininitude of smok.
ing. But this Is not all, for the
statisticianS no not seem to include
in this statement the amount OF
1.-THE weed" consumed in other ways.
Doubtless Just such prevalence Of
habit did the General Courts" OF
Connecticut foresee when it drew ut
the famous blue Laws" bearing
date in the year of our Lord loot.
The good people of Windsor, Hart.
ford, and Wethersfield established
this court by provision OF the Civil
Compact OF 1888.
The smoker OF to day may medi
tatively wonder at legislation that
made license from the court and a
prescription from 'some approved
for knowledge in skill and phisickh
use of the fragrant weed, and that
prohibited the taking of any 40
backo in the streets. highwayes OF
any barne yards" Fortunately, the
cigarette had not attained its later
deadliness, else the violatOr of the
statute might not have escaped witt
So light fine.
This was the law as enacted:
TOBAC. o.
For as much as it is observed, that
many abuses are crept in and com.
mitted, by frequent TAX Dg Of to
backo.
1t is oriered by the authority Of
this Courte, That no Ierson under
the age of II years, nor any other
that hath not already ac ustumcd
himself to the use thereof, shall take
any tObackO until hee hath brought
a certificate under the hands of some
who are approved for knowledge and
skill in phisick. That it is useful for
him, and also, that hee hath re-
ceived lycenSe from the COu te for
the some And for the regulating of
those, who either by THERE forever
taking it. have, to THERE own ap-
prehensionS made it necessary to
them, or upon due advice. are per
suaded to the use thereof
1t is ordered, That no man with n
this cOlonye. after the publ alton
hereof, shall take any tubaCko pub
liquely in the streets, highwayes er
any barne yards, or uEOn training
days in any open places. under
the penalty of siX-penCe for each
offence against this order, in any the
particulars thereof, to bee paid with
out gainesaying. upon conviction.
by the testimony of one witness that
is without just exception. before any
one magistrate. And the COnsta-
bleS in the several towns are required
TO make prcsentment TO each partlc-
ular Court as such as they doe un.
derstand, and car eyict to be trans.
greSSorS OF this order.
1t is certain that tobacco-uSers
were. metapl 'ically at least, not in
the best of oder in those days. Here
is provision Of the same court that
came under the general head OF
'Idleness."
1t is ordered by this Courte and
authority thereof That no person,
householder or other, shall spend his
time idely or unprotitably, under
paine of such punishment as tho
COurte shall thinke meete to inaict,
and tor tn S end 1t is ordered that
the constable Of every place shall use
special care and diligence to take
knowledge OF offenders in this Kinde;
especially of common coasters, un-
profitable fowleIs and tObacNO-takerS,
and present. the same unto any mag.
istrate, who shall have power TO
heare or determine the case, or trans.
fer it to the next Courte. New Yosk
Tripune