Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-04-11
BOwSer SwearS OF.

| 'MrS. BOWSer," OeRan Mr.. Bow
ser the other evening as he laid
aside his paper, "have you missed
anything in particular tonight ?"
"Eou haven't smoked since din
ner, and / was wondering if you
didn't feel WE'LL" she replied.
"No, / have not smoked since din
ner, and shall never smoke anoth-
er cigar. / have been figuring, Mrs.
Bowser-1 have not only been figur-
ing, but / have been to doctor and
had long talk and learned some
thing new"
"GOu are not going to give up
smoking again? You know how
it always affects you when you try
to stop"
81 know nothing about it - he
stitfiy replied. "I have never tried
to give up smoking. IF / had de-
termined to abandon the habit
should have done So"
"But Oh twenty different occasions
you-you-n
"Never mind what | have tried
to do on twenty different occasions,
Mrs. Bowser!" he interrupted with
q wave OF his hand. GAS | said be-
fore, have been figuring. My ci-
gar bill averages 50 per week"
"But you enjoy smoking"
"That has nothing to do with the
matter. Three dollars per week is
S156 per year. In the course of ten
years / throw away about 81 500. If
l smoke for forty years, which is
quite probable, / have burned up
the sum of $1,000. Not only that,
but / have meanwhile paid the doc
tors at least $4,000 to cure ills aris-
ing from the habit. There you have
it, Mrs. Bowser-10,000 big dollars
gone up in smoke ~
"But you take such comfort in
smoking," she PERSISTED.
"What if do ?" he replied. "No
man has a moral right to throw
away $4,000. Smoking is vice
"a habit. No man who is a man
should let habit make an idiot
of him. had long talk with the
doctor, and he told me smoking be.
got about forty different ailments of
the human system. 1t also short
ems human life by from five to ten
years. My mind is fully made up"
"And you will quit smoking ?"
~ will quit"
'But can yOu?"
MRS. BoWser,n he said as he
arose and stood before her, with his
thumbs In the armholes of his vest =.
"l am determined man. There is
no such word as can't in my vocab-
ulary. | shall quit smoking. |
have quit. The So which | have
heretofore wasted, and worse than
wasted, will hereafter he handed to
you every Saturday. 1t will buy
|. your hats, hosiery and gloves. For
the last fifteen years / have been an
idiot. am an idiot no longer"
81 wouldn't try to break off all at
once" she replied as he promenaded
around the room.
"Thats where my strength of
character will come in, Mrs. Bow.
ser. No man can break off a habit
by degrees. l have put my foot
down, and there it will stay. l will
conquer or die, and don't expect
to die. AS | had neglected to state
. the doctor gave me something tc
take, the doctor gave me something
. to take three times day to remove
the desire to smoke. | will now
take the first dose. Have the gir
bring me up little water in ,
, glass"
"You-you won't blame me -
> querried Mrs. Bowser as she pressed
=. the button.
"Blame fiddlesticks That's
nice way to encourage husband t.
preserve his health and save money
). How can | blame you? | contrac
the habit of smoking ten cigars
day. l am fool. l make up m
mind to smoke no more. | get owe
being fool. What is there to blam
g you about ?"
k "But every time you have tried
d before you have"
r "Never tried it befGre-never
n am now trying for the first and las
3 time. Here goes for the dose
e A-h h! That instantly quIets tn
J. craving for the weed Ten thous
IS and dollars saved and ten year
ii added to my life -
J, Mrs. Bowser had no words of er
a cOuragement. She had been thrOug
g. the mill about twenty times, an
r, the result had always been the sam,
III Mr.. BOwser sat down again an
is tried to read, got up and wandere
ls around the house, was moody an
lie tnciturn for the next two hours an
so when ready for bed complained {
ia cramps and dizziness, He droppe
m to sleep soon after tumbling I'M
III bed, however, and it was midnigl
vi before his dOleful sighs and groal
"a aroused Mrs. Bowser. She Ia
TO quiet and let him go on, and w
es not at all surprised when he final
al crept carefully out of bed, tumble
o. around in a drawer Of the dresser Fl
y. cigar, and having lighted the wee
IS sat down by the open window al
CO putfed and grunted in his EMO
Ill ment.
ne "Mr. Bowser," she suddenly brol
OF in on him, "you are a despera
e. man !"
ld He gave sudden start, but SAL
's- back in hopes she was talking in h
sleep.
"You will conuuer or die! f