The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-15
WANTS SMOKING sTOPrED.
Col. Mercer Thinks IT Great Evil
when Practiced by boys.

The effort Of the school authorities 10
put a stop to the smoking OF cigarettes
by boys will meet with the Endorsement
of most parents. Col George A. Mercer,
president of the Board Of Education, was
seen yesterday relative to the Information
conveyed in the report of the superin-
tendent of schools at the boards meeting
night before last.
Something should certainly be done. 3"
he said. TO make children stop smoking.
But the school authorities need the CO.
operation of parents in making boys give
up their cigarettes. l was out on visit
to one of the schools, and was told by
several of the little girls that their fathers
did not disapprove of their little brothers
them with money to buy cigarettes. When
such cases are met with teachers, of
course, have hard work. 1t seems diffi-
cult to believe that men can allow their
little sons of and 10 to use cigarettes,
when 1t is known that they are so hurtful
in their effects / suppose their permitting
it has to be accredited TO Ignorance.
Steps have already been taken 20 break
up the habit among the boys in school, and
they have been successful TO a great ex-
tent. The method is to visit punishment
upon those who may be caught smoking.
This has a very good effect. The names
of a number of dealers who have been
guilty of selling cigarettes to minors have
been given the solicitor general, and /
suppose something will be done to bring
them to justice knowledge has been
gained of various subterfuges that have
l,ao utI,f ole hd
been secured by boys. and some of the
INSCRIPTIONS men who would sell poison
for the sake of a few pennies have been
endeavoring to keep within the pale of
the law In that way"
Superintendent Ashmore was asked If
It were true that girls In the schools have
taken up the cigarette habit. report had
been heard that such was the case, and
that there were some of the
girls who would often, prob
ably merely in a spirit of fun,
puff away at one of the coffin "tacks'
with as much pleasure, evidently. as a
boy. The extent of such practice among
the girls, however had been greatly eX-
aggerated, for 1t was learned that there
had been only one girl in the entire school
system who smoked.
you have not been seeing so much
smoking among the boys lately, have
you?" remarked Superintendent Ashmore.
II am sure there is much less than there
was some time ago. I have been around
among the boys and have talked TO them
about the habit. We have adopted
measures that have brought about a de-
cided decrease in smoking among the
boys"
Superintendent Ashmore has received
several notes from cigarette
dealers and others since he
has begun his crusade against
those who have been selling 70
minors. He says assurances have come to
him that certain street stand men have
not been selling TO the schoolboys; that
they are honest and upright and above
such a thing as breaking the law for the
sake of the nickels of the young smokers.
Two or three such cases are those of deal
ers against whom the strongest evidence
Is had.
Superintendent Ashmore has determin-
ed to push the prosecution of the people
who have been selling to the boys, and he
says he wants the aid and cooperation
of all who feel an interest in the matter
and desire to save the boys from the per
nlcious effects of the weed in its worst
form, that of the cigeratte