Casco Bay breeze. [volume] (South Harpswell, Me.) 1901-1917, 1907-08-01
MINIATURE ALMANAC
Week Of August I to August 2.
Sun Length High I'll
COWBOYS TOBACCO.
United States Laws Play Havoc With
the Weird Mixture.


The United States pure food law has
played havoc with tobacco smoking IN
Texas The lifelong habits of the
cowboys have been revolutionized by
an innocent looking little pamphlet
issued recently by the government. 1t
contains the analysis of various prod
ucts that are in general use, and
among them popular brand of smok-
Ing tobacco, which comes in little
sacks, and Is popular throughout the
Southwest. When Jim" Bedford came
In from his ranch to get his mail the
other day. he found this pamphlet in his
postodce box. says Uvade (Tex.) cor
respondent Of The Kansas City Star"
IL had been sent to him by his old
friend. Major more" Harris, Of San
Antonio. Deputy United States internal
revenue collector for the district. Ma
5or Harris had writtentupon the front
leaf Of the pamphlet. ~
This will tell you what kind OF
stu9 we have been smoking"
. Belford took the pamphlet over to
the store and glanced through 1t while
his order for ranch supplies was being
nled. Under the heading Of the brand
OF tobacco which was smoked by al
most every man in this region its an
aIysis was given as follows: Tobacco.
" percent; alfalfa. s. percent; arsenic.
percent; opium. ] percent; iuid. 3
percent.
Could 1t be true that he had been
smoking alfalfa~to aay nothing Of
arsenic and opium! He read the an
alysis over a second time. Then he
arose and walked over to the counter
where the storekeeper was wrapping
up the goods he had bought.
''Bill, put me up about three pounds
OF alfalfa, mixed with arsenic and
opium and a little tobacco thrown in"
he ordered.
Bill stared at Bedford in amaze
ment.
What's the matter of you, Jim? You
know ] don't keep any Of them things
on sale, except tobacco" he said. i
here last summer, but 1t did not pay
me to carry it, so ! quit"
"Oh, yes. you do sell ell of them.
and you have got them In stock right
now" Belford quietly replied.
The imputation that he did not
know what was contained in his stock
Of goods angered Jennings. and the
outcome might have resulted some
what seriously had the argument been
pursued much longer.
Il want you to read this document"
Belford said Its from Washington
and Is Official"
Jennings read the tobacco analysis
and announced forthwith that he did
not believe a word OF H. IL took Bel
ford some little time to convince him
that the analysis had been officially
made and must be correct.
What am 7 going to do with all the
stun ] have on band?" inquired Jen-
ninss.
Judging from the amount Of aIfal.
Ia In IL. II ought TO make good cattle
feed Belford suggested. You'll be
In luck II you amt mobbed by some OF
the cowboys when they hear that you
have been selling them alfalfa and ar
senic and other things In the goise Of
tobacco"
The first thing that attracted Bel
lords attention that evening when
he rode up to bis ranch corral was a
bunch Of his cowboys sitting upon the
board gate. each with rolled cigarette
Do his mouth and the strings of to-
bacco sack hanging out OF his hip
pocket. They were the very picture OF
eontentment as they poured the
wreaths OF smoke from their mouths.
Belford rode up in front Of them and
silently looked them over for a min
ute. should he break the news to
them? Would IL not be best to let them
continue in Ignorance of the kind OF
stun they we're smoking? Then. he
thought Of the arsenic and opium.
and decided to tell them about H.
You are a nice set OF haybnrners, .
he said lv wav Of a bcgfuuin0