The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-09-15
politic. and rohacco Smoke.

To Editor of the Journal and Courier;
 Not long ago, one beautiful afternoon
 yes 1t was a beautiful one, for the sky was blue and fair as If troop or shining angels had come through 10 spend the afternoon with us and tell us how near like heaven this old earth was, only for the follies of erring nor tals in general and mans in particular.
 But, so balmy was the air, everybody l seemed out in 1t, trying to get all the purity out of it they could. l was troll ley riding, doing my best to get some of it, too, but while riding down Chapel street I became aware that the air was impregnated with a somewhat rare ele- ment. I endeavored to discover and locate it, when my attention was at- tracted to the people focking to the green. Finding myself irresistibly at- tracted I aIighted followed the crowd, found the band stand periodically dec orated, and instantly come to the thought, well. here it must be that the angels have decided to spend the after noon, and how fortunate I am to be here, etc, but learned later 1t was only a two-year- before hand Democratic | cempaign-sort of rally to welcome a gentleman named MT, Bryan, who was to address his welcor1lers and others. Caught and somewhat disappointed over suppositions and reality (angels visit, and Democratic rally) decided to remain, and the sufferings began, but cannot be justly escribed-suffer- ings, physically, mentally and other wise and all from tobacco smoke. Be- ing quite near the stand, congratulat- ed myself on seeing and hearing every thing well, but found myself pressed closer and closer into the mass while from every direction came the unbear- able odor and smoke of the detestable cigar and pipe of every brand and shape choking and blinding innocent victims all around.
 I remained and endured trying to en- joy the speeches. Though differing po- litically from the orators I thought them eloquent when I could attend to tpem, but I lost the connection between John the Baptist and the Democratic party for it went up in tobacco smoke, and even when Mr Bryan was coming I did not know whether the band was playing "Hail to the Chief or I've Smoked My Last Cigar" but soon learned it was not the latter for they continued to smoke cigars and the sup ply seemed exhaustless
 SO AtI s,,to casion made exceedingly disagreeable by the unbearable odor and smoke of tobacco. And why must it be so? I looked around and tried to solve the mystery of so many men using the vile weed and thought Do put the blame when so much is always put on the mothers shoulders, but mentally said, No! I will put it where it belongs, and that is on the. backs of the fathers of the land, and If it don't belong there it don't belong anywhere. If the fathers knew more what the sons were doing ;hepe would be less tobacco used every where. I think something more power ful than what has been done in the past should be done to put stop to the spread of this awful habit.
 Where can the reform begin when home. pulpit, bar, bench and saloon are alike polluted by it? 70, it is such a restfu comfort; why should we be de- prived of II" asks one, and perhaps that very one will look with whitening scorn upon a man who wants his rum for rest and comfort Where is the dif- ference? There is none!
 That day when the crowd pressed So closely that they could no longer scratch their matches the men held the cigars in their mouths and puffed and drew and drew and puffed until they