The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-06-02
81 wonder what Rob will say? 1 tried
to talk him out of being in love just this
morning. He thinks the old man knows
nothing about it.
He Got Rid of the Chew.

From Pocomoke tMd.) Ledger Enterprise.
Landlord II. Clay Powell, of the Ford
House, this town, recently told the follow
ing, which happened many years ago in a
country church near Pocomoke City:
"Some years ago, when l was very
young man, well known Methodist divine,
now gathered to his fathers, announced to
his congregation one Sunday morning that
he would preach in that church on the fol-
lowing Sabbath sermon against the use
of tobacco and snuff. He added that he
expected the congregation would assist him
in securing large audience by insisting
on all -churchgoers to attend and listen
to his invective against the use of the
weed.
"On the day appointed for the serlnon
| was one of the congregation, which by
the way was a large one. had taken
seat on the front pew in the centre of the
church and sitting Immediately next to me
was minister, of another denomination,
whom | knew to be devotee of the chew
ing habit. The sermon was a strong one;
the fate of the tobacco user was pictured
in words that had 4 sulphurous odor; the
fiat had gone forth from this man in the
pulpit that hehceforth and forever the man
who lived on the lower end of the Eastern
Shore who profaned his mouth with the
brown weed would be damned eternally.
81 tell you, sir, it was sermon-it
was a hairraising, blood curdling affair.
Through it all my neighbor, the minister,
sat there with chew of tobacco as big as
a mouse in his mouth. There was at
times cynical look on his face and occa-
sionally a faint smile. At the close of the
sermon the preacher recognized my tobacco
chewing friend as a brother minister and
Immediately requested him to step into the
pulpit and finish the services with prayer
| Here was dilemma.
''The user of the weed looked aghast;
his cheeks bulged out with tobacco and
spittle; his smile was sickly one; his duty
was before him and he knew there was no
way of crawling out of it.
'EHe arose, and as he mounted the pull
pit steps he placed his hand to his mouth
and cleared his throat. 1t is needless to
say that the hand was the receptacle for the
saliva and tobacco. As he faced the con-
gregation he deftly threw the contents Of
his hand under the pulpit sofa without the
preacher noticing it. Then a soft white
handkerchief quickly covered his stained
digits, and he prayed devoutly.
''I believe was the only one who wit
messed the little drama
''The congregation was dismissed, and
the anti-tobacco preacher reached under
the sofa and brought forth his new silk
hat. Imagine his disgust and surprise
when he saw a half pint of tobacco juice
and cud Of well chewed tobacco spatter-
ed all over the interior of his hat.
"'Well, he said, while | was preach
ing my TRADE against tobacco, some scamp
filled may hat with the stuff.
"And the man who had unintentionally
made such good shot said never word,
but his eyes had merry twinkle as he
realized what he had done.
'sOf course the story was too good to
keep, and helped to spread it in the
neighborhood.