Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-12-19

Evolution in the Methods Employed 10
Crafty the Desire FOR the Smoke OF the
Fragrant " eed.
Harper's Weekly.
The study Of evolution has caused
particular attention 20 be paid to the
ste. $ by which man las advanced to
that degree &c progress which is en-
bodied in the cosmopolitan dweller
along the bouevards of Paris. Every
step upward has appeared, at first, as
the daring innovation every improve
ment has had to meet Of spontaneous
opposition. OF course, history does not
inform as to the reception accorded
such devices as chairs and tables,
when 1t was proposed TO substitute
these for the primitive rocks found by
the caye-dweller quite good enough To
support him and his bill Of fare.
1t is not strange, then, that in the
progress from the ancient days when
tobacco leaves were thrown upon a
smouldering fire. and the smoke caught
under a blanket that enveioped the
smokers head, the lover CT tobacco
smoke has been an object OF continual
criticism. Next came nOse-tube-a
long. hollow cane-used for suufiing to-
bacco fumes. This was followed by
the tobacco pipe. The mex step ia the
evolution Of neat smoking saw the
abandonment Of the pipe and its re-
Placement of a leaf forming the cigar.
There can be no question that every
improvement along the smokers path
Of progress was successfully regarded
as an affected and effeminate addition
to the good old methods" known to
the smokers fathers. Consequently
the universal spirit of opposition TO
change and Improvement takes. In our
own day, the form of antagOnigm 10
the substitution Of a paper wrapper
for the accustomed tobacco leaf. The
cigar-smoker has learned 10 like par
ticular kind of smoking. He prefers to
wait until he has sufficient leisure to
enjoy a good, long smoke" 1t Is hard
for him to understand that smoking
may have to his son. @ perhaps to
his neighbor. an entireiy8 different
meaning. If re has read the'history OF
the use Of tobacco unGerstapdingly, he
must have discovered a cclstant pro-
gress in the direction Of a kiminuti0n
in the amount Of tobacco used, in the
time given to it. and in the fec. pro-
duced. This viii be readily seen by a
comparison of the two extremes Of the
chain. To the savage. a Satisfactory
smoke once meant partial Etupefcatlon
produced by copious inhaladons Of
sitting smoke rising from the damp
leaf pressed down and smoulderlng
upon not Goals. Come now to the lat
est method Of smoking and we shall
find something Of a contrast: we shall
see a man coming from the opera. TAX
ing a few whiffs Of light tobacco rolled
into a tiny cigarette. and throwing it
away when but one-third consumed.
Yet in both cases tire smoker has been
satisfied. The result for which he de-
sired to smoke has been accomplished.
1t is not necessary to compare this
later, most aesthetic method Of enjoy
/ Ing tobacco with that Of the savage
In order 10 be convinced that evolution
has brought about what may be called
a spiriEualizing Of smoking. Some
thing OF ire same advance. though in
lesser degree. must be admitted In the
change from the short. blaekened "cnt-
ty- 10 the light. quickly consumed
neat and delicate cigarette. In fact.
even in the. cigarette itself there has
been continual advance IA the same
direction of increasing del1acy and re-
finement New methods 81 manufacture
have staedily made f ~ paper more