The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-09-12
coWBoYs' ToHAcco.
United States Laws Play Havoc With
the Weird Mixture.


the Weird Mixture.
The United States pure food law has
played havoc with tobacco smoking IL
Texas. The lifelong habits Of the
cowboys have been revolutionized by
an innocent looking little pamphlet
issued recently by the government. II
contains the analysis of various prod
ucts that are in general use, and
among them a popular brand of smok-
ing tobacco, which comes in little
sacks, and is popular throughout the
Southwest. When Jim" Belford came
in from his ranch to get his mail the
other day, he found this pamphlet In his
postofflce box, says Uvade (Tex.) cor
respondent Of "The Kansas City Star.
1t 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
jor Harris had written upon the front
leaf OF the pamphlet:
This will tell you what kind OF
stuff we have been smoking"
Belford took the pamphlet over to
the store and glanced through it while
his order for ranch supplies was being
filled. Under the heading of the brand
Of tobacco which was smoked by al
most every man in this region it's an
alysis was given as follows: Tobacco,
q percent; alfalfa, 60 percent; arsenic,
percent; opium, l percent; fluid,
percent.
Could it be true that he had been
smoking alfalfa-to say 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 little tobacco thrown in .
he ordered.
"Bill' stared at Belford in amaze
ment.
What's the matter of you, jim? You
know l don't keep any of them things
ON sale, except tobacco" he said. II
did have few bales of alfalfa hay
here last summer, but it did not pay
me to carry it, SO l quit"
"Oh, yes, you do sell all of them,
and you have got them in stock right
now" Bedford quietly replied.
The imputation that he did not
j 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 word of it. 1t took Bel
ford some little time to convince him
that the analysis had been officially
made and must be correct.
What am going to do with all the
stuff have on hand?" inquired Jen-
nfngs.
Judging from the amount OF alfal-
Ia in 1t, it ought to make good cattle
feed" Belford suggested. You'll be
in luck If 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 guise Of
tobacco"
The first thing that attracted Bel
ford's attention that evening when
he rode up to his ranch corral was a
h,Ynoh IF nc rouhovc cit+ipo ,,,,op ~ q
board gate, each with rolled cigarette
in his mouth and the strings OF a to-
bacco sack hanging out of his hip
pocket They were the very picture of
contentment as they poured the
wreaths of smoke from their mouths.
Bslford rode up in front of them and
silently looked them over for min
ute. Should he break the news to
them? Would it tsbe best to let them
continue in ignorance Of the kind of
stuff they were smoking? Then he
thought of the arsenic and opium,
and decided to tell them about it.
you are a nice set of hayburners,'
he said, by way of beginning.
The cowboys looked at him in sur
prise.
tits wonder every one of you, and
me along with you, have not been 10
coed from using arsenic and opium
he continued.
The cowboys were aroused by this
time. They demanded to know what
he meant by his insults.
II mean that that tobacco which
we've all been smoking is mostly al
falfa, arsenic and opium, and I've got
the document here to prove it."
Mr.. Bedford then read the analysis
of the tobacco from his seat in the sad
die. When he had finished the cow
boys solemnly threw away their Gig
arettes and emptied their sacks Of to-
bacco upon the ground.-New York
Tribune.