The leader., 1905-02-04
JONES cor SMOKING HOT.
Cave His Son Heroic Treatment for
Tobacco Habit and Struck
q snag.


Jones noticed q few weeks ago that
his cigars were disappearing good deal
faster than he himself was smoking
them, but 1t was some time before he
suspected that his son, Jim, who is
barely IL years old, could so far have.
departed from the line Of conduct he
had laid down for him as to have had
anything to do with it. The shock came
one day when Jones found a cigar in
Jimmy's playroom, relates the New
York Press
Jim was summoned before the pater-
nal tribunal, accused and pleaded guilty.
Mrs. Jones held watching brief on be-
half Of the prisoner, and when her first
born admitted he had been smoking his
fathers best cigars she almost broke
down. Yet she put IN a strong plea for
mercy.
You must leave this matter entirely
to me, Mrs. Jones' said Jones, sternly.
Il think / can give Jim lesson which,
without being unduly severe, will induce
him to leave my cigars alone for some
time to come. Jim, come to my study,
and yous Mrs. Jones, will be good enough
to come with US and see how manage
the boy"
1t was fearful little procession that
followed Jones down the hall, the moth
er torn between grief at her sons crime
and fear for the consequences, and the
boy apprehensive of his personal comA.
fort
sit down." said Jones, solemnly
Jimmy perched on the edge of a big
chair while the mother fiuttered to and
fro.
Jones brought out box Of cigars,
opened it and walked over to Jimmy.
Take a cigar" he said, and the boy.
recognizing threat rather than an in
Vitation, hesitated
Any one you like" said Jones, in
grim encouragement and Jimmy in des-
peration, picked out the biggest and
blacklist and fattest Of all
There was a painful silence as Jones
turned and brought the matches for his
son. Mrs. Jones looked as though she
were watching a human sacrifice.
Light it." was the next command
With whimper Jimmy bit off the end,
while his father struck match and
watched him draw in the first whiffs of
smoke
Now Mrs. Jones, you will please sit
down and watch Jimmy, said the stern
father. Il think this will be an objec.
lesson to you as well as a practical
warning to him." He took cigar him
self and sat down in comfortable chair
opposite his young hopeful.
Father and son smoked away together
for quarter of an hour in a silence
that was broken only by an occasional
shuttle from Mrs Jones. Jimmy, par
alyzed at first with horror at the idea of
smoking in full view of his parents, had
gradually wriggIed back into the depths
of his big chair and with his legs barely
touching the floor puffed away vigor-
ously Both cigars were getting short,
but there was no sign of any action on
the boys part beyond the steady sue
cession of whiffs that came from his
rounded lips. Jones at last threw his
butt away and Jimmy politely followed
his example.
Have another" said Jones with
forced politeness The mother protested
in vain. but Jimmy, now thoroughly at
home, selected his weed with fine af-
fectation of care, and leaning back with
crossed legs, as he had seen his father
do, went on smoking in serene content,
ment. Jones began to do some pretty
close watching on his own account, and
allowed his cigar to go out more than
once as he waited anxiously for some
signs that would prove the success of
his theory. None came.
At last, in disgust, he threw away his
cigar and left the room.
i believe" he said to Mrs. Jones a
little later. "that boy has been smoking
for year. Why. he wouldn't get sick
if he smoked the whole box 2