The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1897-08-13
W. T.u. CONTEST ESSAY.
First Prize. First Division. Tobacco
Some of the Effects.

First Prize. First Division Tobacco
Some of the Effects.
More than four hundred and fifty years
ago tobacco was unknown in the civiliz-
ed world, only the savage Americans
knew of it. The white men thought
they were far superior to any one else;
yet they allowed these savages to teach
them one Of the most demDralizing, FL
tly, low and vile habits man has ever
known. Tobacco contains that deadly
poison, nicotine, which has no equal only
in prussic acid.
When tobacco is taken for the first
time it causes nausea and headache. By
continual use the the system becomes ac-
customed to it, and the first effects are
not noticed.
But yet it is silently at work all the
while; the strong may Withstand it for
time. But in the end tobacco con-
quors. As soon as it is taken into the
system it iscarried by the blood to all
parts of the body. 1t causes fatty
degeneration of the heart, hob-nailed
liver, cancers, insanity, the foundation
Of nearly all of the nervous disorders
known, color blindness. 1t aids brOnci-
tie, epilspsy, rheumatism. asthma, dys-
pepsia, and cataITh. 1t weakens the
brain: consequently there is no control
over the body. Tobacco causes dry
ness in the throat that can be relieved
only by strong drink, so the one sin leads
to the greater one.
Often persons who use tabaccO do not
seem to care how disagreeable it is to
other people, as long as they themselves
are satisfied. Walks and floors in public
buildings are made unsightly by those
who chew. Men are sometimes so steep
ed in tobacco that in taking hot steam
baths the color comes through their skin
onto the sheet wrapped around them.
Because a few great men used tobacco,
it is not saying that they were benefited
by it. Emperor Frederick and General
Grant died of cancer in the throat, caus
ed by smoking. II they had not used
tobacco, they might have lived many
years longer.
Though cigaretts have only been know
about sixteen years, yet they have killeC
hundreds Of times as many boys. Ii
the large cities boys and girls regularl!
90 about the streets hunting for old ci
gar stumps which are used in the man
ufacture of cigaretts. Besides these the.
are adulterated with opium and man
other poisonous things. The wrapper
are often made Of the dirtiest paper rags
bleached white with arsenic. Cigarette
cause more diseases and weaknesses 0
the brain than either cigars or Tobacco
alone. Boys who use Tobacco whel
they are going to school cannot remem
Der the lessons they try to study, it
, very hard for the teacher to make then
understand anything. Their deport
ment is always below the average
These boys hardly ever graduate froI
the high School. They have lost all in
, terest in their school work. When the
ale men they are so stupid that no on
wants any business to be done by then
> The moral result is as bad as the menti
: or physical one. The boy or man is M
; truthful, will cheat when he can do 81
; never keeps his promises, and has no II
q gard for the rights or wishes OF tn
a people. Although tobacco has a ba
2 enough effect on men, boys do not rea
: lze that it will stunt both their CROWN
s bodies and minds. II man wants
Q good, steady, honest boy to help him,
does not inquire for him among Il
boys who lounge on the street corner
smoking and chewing, but goes to Il
one who is not seen in those places, al
o who does moi use liquor or tobacco. II
following is good definition Of whi
cigarette is "A roll Of silly enchaI
: ment, with fire at one end, and 4
q at the other.
: Jennie Sherburn