Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-10-19
An Evil That Demands Attention.

Principal Graves of the Village Ds-
trict schools has a communication In
this issue of the journal which we hope
will receive the attention of every one
who reads the paper. The cigarette
habit to which he calls attention in his
vigorous article, Is in many respects
the evil which at this time most serious
ly threatens the next and in fact sue
ceeding generation. 1t has been DEM
onstrated beyond the shadow of a
doubt that the cigarette habit per-
sisted in will in the case of young
boy retard the growth of his body and
his brains and will destroy all chance
of his attaining to the full measure of
manhood. This is true in whatever
way it may be viewed. 1t is not neces-
sary to prove that cigarettes, in many
instances, are made from old cigar
ends, saturated with nicotine, and af-
terward drugged. If the purest tobac-
co be rolled in paper and sold two for
a cent" opportunity for the qualification
of the vice and incentives to the spread
of that vice among those most suscep-
tible to it's deadly effects, are afforded.
healthy, grown person as compared
with that inflicted upon the growing
child. by the cigarette, is as a fly bite
compared with the bite of a mad dog
yet there are numerous instances of
self destruction in the former cases.
The prevalence of this deadly habit
is scarcely restricted to the populous
communities, where it is seen at its
worst. The schools of Augusta are
foul with it as well as the slums of New
York. The victims themselves have
in most instances wits enough left to
know that all this is true, that Princi-
pal Graves does not in the least exagger-
ate the condition of affairs, which are
apparent in some degree to every OBJ
serving person. 1t is not idle, however,
to constantly reiterate these truths
The agitation must be kept up. The
attention of parents and the community
must not be allowed to be diverted
from it. There is no measure too rigor-
Gus to be avoided if it but assures prac-
teal results. The very thought of a
nation of cigarette fiends, lunatics and
idiots, physical and mental incapable
is enough to make one shudder, but it
is not preposterous to imagine enough
of our young men being so debilitated
and unnamed. that the future of the
country would be imperilled. Should
this cigarette habit continue to in
crease among the boys and young men
as it has done in the past twenty five
years there would come a time when
we should be compelled to look to the
women for national defense, for they
would be the physical superiors of the
males. But there really is no need for
sufficiently alarming at present to de-
mand the attention of parents and the
full force of public sentiment and also
the attention of lawmakers The pres
ent law is not enforced when by con-
slant supervision it could be to quite a
degree. Because the vice does not send
its victims reeling and brawling through
the streets. however, does not excuse
laxity in legislation and in enforcement
of law. There are intelligent persons.
who believe this evil demands as much
attention as drunkenness Fault find
ing seldom suggests remedy, but the
fact remains that the present law left
to enforce itself. as is generally the
condition found. is an injury to the
dealer who tries to observe it. The
Legislature soon assemblies and would
it not be a good plan to know, before
that time, just how much of practical
value the existing law is and what is
needed to render it more effective?
Meanwhile, as always, the education
and agitation of public sentiment must
be looked to for the largest measure of
relief.