News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-04-16
tobacco and the BOYS.

The spectacle of small boys of six
or eight years of age smoking cigar
cites is one of the sad sights that fire.
quently meets the eyes of people in
Burlington aud other cities. The
question is not a moral one alone.
1t involves the physical health of
host of American youth, and involves
in no small degree the future welfare
of the race.
The terrible effects of tobacco on
the systems of young persons is in
dictated in many significant ways.
After exhaustive examinations by
both the French and the German
governments, they have become sat
isfied that as a matter of patriotism,
politics and of economics. it is nee
cessary for them to suppress juvenile
use of tobacco. This they do vigor-
ously but not as question of NOR
al reform.
Investigation of court record show
ed that of 700 male convicts in an
American prison, 600 were there for
crimes committed under influence of
liquor, and that 500 of that 600 tes-
titled that use of tobacco was the be-
ginning of their incorporate habits.
The Superintendent of the United
States Military Academy at West
Point says that on several occasions
during the past two years youths,
who have successfully passed the
physical tests have developed eye
trouble, soon after commencing to
study. In three cases the expert ocu-
list in New York reported that the
weakness of vision was caused by to-
bacco poisoning, resulting from the
continuous use of the "deadly cigar
cite" before coming to the academy.
The regulations of the military Acade-
my prohibit the use of tobacco, and
prompt and severe punishment fol-
lows, if cadets are detected smoking.
A recent article in the Chicago Tri-
bune shows that the cigarette habit
among school boys is making gigan-
tic strides, several thousand having
become addicted to the habit, while
the majority are so affected mentally
and physically that they are unable
to make further progress in their
studies" OF 1875 boys addicted to
the habit, only ten were able to keep
pace with their classes. Twenty five
stated they could not learn their
lessons because most of the time they
were too sleepy" thirty were dizzy,
twenty-five were unable to write be-
cause of trembling hands. They "felt
shaky" when they walked. ga large
were unable to run any dis
tance, some not more than a block"
Nearly all had headache. "Ten of
these boys were four or five years too
old for their grades"
The Vermont Legislature has deem
ed this matter worthy of considera-
tion and various statues relating to
the subject have been enacted.
Section 5156, chapter 225, Vermont stat
utes provide that person who sells a cigar,
cigarette, snuff or tobacco in any form to a
person under 16 years of age, except upon a
written order or permission of the minors
parents, or who gives away cigar, cigarette,
snuff or tobacco in any form to a person
under Is years of age shall be fined not more
than 500.
In 1900 the Legislature passed an
act providing that "a person who
sells, gives away or furnishes to any
person under twenty years of age
cigarette paper or cigar
cite wrappers shall be deemed guilty
of a misdemeanor and, upon convic-
ton, shall be fined not more than
fifty dollars or imprisoned in the
House af Correction not more than
two months, or shall suffer both pen
alties at the discretion of the court,
for each offense."
The legislation was intended to |
guard the health of our boys and it |
should be carefully observed and en-
forced.-Free Press.