Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-11-23

/. 1t destroys his will power. He
becomes the mere plaything of temp.
alton and the worser impulses of his
own nature.
2. |; destroys his self-respect. Note
1t in his personal appearance, his
manners, his feeling about the esteem
of others, his attitude toward others
and mis- whole view Of life.
3. 1t robs him of his ambition. This
is one of the most painful observa-
tions OF teachers. He gets into a
possible to arouse him from.
II encourages deception. There's
hardly anything that a boy will lie
about so quickly and unblushingly.
The truancy and insubordination in
our schools is largely confined to the
boys who smoke.
5. 1t brutalizes, coarsens and de
files the boy. The rough rowdy. un-
clean spirit seems to he indissolubly
connected with the use of tobacco
among the boys. 1t fosters that which
is low. And as | said before, In a
sad and alarming way, 1t develops un-
chastity.
6. 1t breeds Irreligion. 1t blunts
the mind and heart toward that which
is pure and holy. and the boy who has
become confirmed smoker is almost
a hopeless case SO far as conversion
and religious life is concerned, as /
have found by sad experience with
boys.
I. 1t prepares the boy for crime,
The reports of reformatories and ti-
venile courts are simply appalling at
this point. The Hon. Mr. Torrance,
general superintendent of the Illinois
reformatory, says:
"0f 4.l17 boys received into the re
formatory since its organization on
January s, 1893, 95 per cent were in
the habit OF using tobacco, and nearly
all were cigarette smokers"
Friends, think these things over.
and kindly and earnestly tell them to
the boys. and lei every one exert his
influence TO get the beginners TO stop
and others to resolve that they va.
never begin using tobacco.
No one thinks of denying the injur.
ious effects from smoking cigarettes.
especially for Young boys; but the
teacher can certainly speak from an
intimate knowledge of the subject
Only few weeks ago the principal
of one of our public schools had oc-
casion to speak very seriously to a
number OF boys on this subject. When
asked II they wanted their younger
brothers to acquire such a habit, they
were emphatic in stating that they
would do all they could to keep the
younger boys from doing as they did.
The principal talked very seriously
with them and the offense has not
been repeated.
Too many parents and teachers
make the mistake Of exaggerating the
evil of this habit The effects are
certainly bad enough; but have
known teachers who told the children
tainly kill them; that they would be
| come imbeclles, etc. Children are
reasonable and quickly lose faith in
the person who does not stick strict
| ly to the truth. OF course. these ter
rible results do occur, but the more
frequent effects are not made plaiI
enough.
AS n teacher of drawing | have fire.
quently shown boys that | knew used
cigarettes now much they we're being
injured by employing some of tho
simple tests to determine steadiness
of nerve. found that they were
much below their fellows In this re
spect. When 1t dawns on them that
they can not fire gun as accurately
as some other boys because Of this
terrible habit. they are impressed
with the seriousness of the matter
and are ready for the lesson we wisf
| to teach.
Let the boy understand how un
pleasant is the odor from his clothes
Any teacher is justified in refusing
to help a pupil with his work wher
his whole person is redolent will
the fumes from the cigarettes. have
frequently found that boy was prop
erly ashamed Of himself when he un
derstood how disagreeable this habi
made him to other people.
1t may be well to tell the childrei
of the extreme cases Of the effect
OF cigarettes OF which we know. bu
/ strive in every way to bring home 4
them the evil as II Is about then
every day.
, But In this, as in other matter
where the school and the home ar
both concerned, the parents and tn
: teachers must work together II an
; lasting good is to be accomplished
. II parents would only believe tina
what the teacher wishes most is t
!. help and not hinder them In this NJ
r BILE effort OF making good citizens {
our boys and girls. not only the evil