The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-04
This terrible cigarette curse is debauching


This terrible cigarette curse is debsuching
our youth and sending our young manhood 10
untimey graves" said the Gargoyle, as he al
lowed his scant figure the luxury OF sinking
into two OF he Westminster foyer chairs.
Eyes, Pm a nomad in my habits, know
that. But I'd have stayed at the Westminster
longer on the last trip if it hadn't been ior
those noisy college boys. And yet IL wash
their noise that worried me- because the truVh
is thy behaved themselves indoors. Ihey
made m, think too much OF tho past years
when | used to kick the wind-oown sphere
ard yell rah, rah Well, they're all gone now
They made money here, l believe. someone
told me they carried off nearly $1,000 above
their expenses. 1t all goes to buy new balls
and apparatus for making young tigers out OF
them Helgho, if l were only young again.
"Give me a light, please? Thanks. started
in to say something about this awful curse oil
cigarette smoking. l.
"Anoth.r light please; this cigarette ap
pears to be moist; l can't Ike p the tire on IT,
The curse cigarette smoking, as l was say
ing is oh, pshaw give me one out OF your
pack, please. This one won't burn at l. :.
That's much better.
.No, Pm not an inveterate cigarette smoker"
said the Gargoyle, his bald head. now almost
invisible in oud of white smoke. Cut OF
the cloud c,me a thin, pipidg voice that
seemed afar off.
II like to burn the weed in almost any
FORM" said the voice, land often these brown
paper cigarettes are most enticlng TO me.
They are tonight, at all events. Maybe 1t was
the talk I had with Tony Mesmer OF the United
States hotel this afternoon that set me yearn-
ing for the aroma of the Cuban cigarettes He
was telling me how he had conquered the
demon and had quit the cigarette habit Yes,
it's nearly year now since Tony has hit the
weed in its most seductive form. He was tell
ing me that his cigarette cough was gone now,
and that his head was triiie clearer 1hen
we fell to mourning the general prevalence OF
the baneful habit and its demoraizing effects
upon the youth of tire country. Tony pointed
out the case of young friend of his who be-
came addicted to the cigarette habit at the
early age OF 10 years. And what do yon sup
pose became OF that mis- guided young man,
my friends?"
There were tears in the Gargoyle's eyes, and
pious look of sanctity mingled with his
wrinkles.
"Did he die?" asked the belboy with
scared look, as he crunched o rice paper cigar
cite in his hands
perhaps he joined football club" said the
clerk.
The Gargoyle wiped his eyes and snuffied.
sit was worse than that he said Gle went
to the legislature. 1t was Senator Mathews.
Maybe you've heard OF him.
Solemnly and sorrowfully little coterie
headed by the Gargoyle passed into the buffet.
When they came out the Gargoyle's wrinkles
were wreathed into smile. He was smoking
another brown-papcr curse. r4stsFe
"But l hadn't reached the climax OF my
story, gentlem No. he said "There il man
in this city who ought TO be an awful warning
to everyone addicted to the cigarette habit.
He came into the United States hotel while
Tony Mesmer and 1 were sounding the dirge of
the cigarette He came over to the counter,
reached for match and lighted brown
paper cigarette that was deal stronger than
anything in that line ever inhaled.
''When he went out said TO Tony Isn't it
dreadful to see middle-a5ed man like that
still smoking cigarettes?'
.'Horrble,' said Tony, but you're wrong
about him being midd Gagged man.
"'IIe's certainly older han l am said,
and can hardly class myself as young man
much longer
"rhat man is 116 years DID, said Tony,
solemnly. He has smoked cigarettes for
solid century. That is old Don Francisco
Garcia. You should have seen how well he
rode his horse in the last fiesta You are still
a Young man, Gargoyle, if Garcia is a middle
aged man..
81 considered Mr.. Mesmer's last remark as
an unjustifable reflection upon my personal
appearance. He will have to apologize to me
for that"
The Gargoyle sat down and cleared his
throat. Presently he said; ~ met Colonel
Otis yesterday He still has that hereal,
nether-world expression on his face so l did
not dare to ask him why was that the Times
gave its readers no information about the
Riverside Water company. | had to buy a
HERALD Wednesday morning and again this
morni G TIC read about that. IT'S an important
piece OF news, you knew.
"And then there was that interview with
Senator Perkins about san Pedro and the Mica
ragua canal and all those things that Pve be-
come interes ed in since / came to Southern
California. Wasn't word about it in the
Times. However, didn't think so much of
that, for Senator Perkins was interviewed by
THE HERALD's correspondent at Oakland. and
/ suppose the Times has no rep sentative
way up there. But Rive de is SO near by,
you know, that really And there was that
interview with Representative Bulla about
the attitude OF the Southern California delcga-
ton toward my friend, Harry de Young. Bulla
was right here in the CITY, and-oh, well,
there's no use arguing tho matter. The col
onel's paper simply don't have the Ecws in it.
Pm sorry for my subscription won's run out
for year yet. | suppose pll have to keep on
buying two morning papers every day in order
t. get the news.
THE coloners New Year edition, did you
say? Fine? Ahem. Well yes, it did look
rather pretty. bat they tell me that tn.
HERALD is soon going to appear in new
dress. When that comes Well see something
neat in the way OF newspapers, IN told.
THAT page OF statistics? Shows enterprise
on the part of the colonel, you say? Cost losI
OF money?
well, 1 suppos, it did cost the Chronicle
some money, but my friend Harry he con-
siders it very rude If you call him Mike-has
lots of money you know. and can afford to get
out such a pag Rather dry for u newspaper.
thought, when l saw it in the Chronicles
Christmas issue. There was another page in
the colonels paper that also came from The
| Chronicle that one with the big border ON it
and the word Chronicle on the shield held
by the damsel emerging from the urn.
Don't you know, feel for the colonel.
| What grand man he was in the pastl All.
that past. that happy past! 1t viii never dawn
! again" SE rs
John F. Bragg and wife OF Chicago registered
| at the Westminster yesterday. ~ Bragg is