Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-02-18

ed, is conscicntiously applied, II VIII
remain a dead letter. as the ordinance
against splitting on the sidewalk, for
instance.
IL is we'll known that the cigarette
habit is destructive Of both mental
and moral qualities. The boy who de-
sires to get along in the world, be II
I'm the school or In the office. or In
the field OF sport where strength ana
endurance are needed, cannot give
himself un to the degrading service
of any vice. and least Of all to the
vice Of tobacco. He must he free ana
deyelop in freedom. But slaves Of bad
habits are not free. Diseases and
deaths have frequently been traced to
the cigarette. which therefore has be-
come known as deadly" But in
spite OF all, the habit Ia growing rap
ialv ali over the world. II legislation
can step in and hclp arrestins its
deadly progress, 1t is high time to
do so.
Statistics for Austria, where the
government has u monopoly OF the
tobacco industry show a startling IN
crease OF the consumption of cigar
cites. Thirty years ago IT was only 2.s
cigarettes per capita OF the entire
population. Last year IT. was 1850
per capita. And cigars are decreas-
ing in sales, 31.0O0.O00 less having
beon smoked last year than in 1904.
During the same period cigarettes
showed an increase OF $4,000 0V'
The total receipts of the tobacco mo-
nopoly last year were fl0,OOo,OO0'
upon which the profits were $1,000
coo. 1t is to be feared that the increase
shown by the Austrian figures Is but
an indication of a worldwide condi-
ton.
while on this subject we would like
to say especially TO the boys, DO not
smoke. II you have commenced to
indulge. quit before the habit gets a
firmer hold on you. Do not smoke
In the first place, it is u costly habit,
gentleman the other day told us
that II no had put aside $4,000. the
annual interest on that money would
not have kept him in cigars when
he used to smoke. What a waste of
money! II you are not wealthy, you
cannot afford to smoke. If you have
any manhood you will not burn the
money that should be used for clothes
for yourself, or perhaps for a wife and
children. If there is a contemplate
sight on earth it is that of man
wasting the money that should pur-
chase the necessaries of life for those
dependent on him
Secondly, It is dangerous habit, The
smoker is likely to become u drlnker
and then drunkard. The two vices
very often go together 1t is better
not to invite the company of either.
Finally, 1t is u nasty habit, Were it
possible for the smoker to confne the
fumes Of the burning weed to the at
mosphere he himself breathes,h he would
not be as much of nuisance as he is.
But that is impossible. He poisons the
air that others have q right to have
as pure as they can get 1t. ON the
sidewalks, In elevators In public build
ings, the smoker puffs the smoke into
the faces OF other persons, compelling
them to inhale 1t after he has had 1t In
his mouth. lis It not strange that any
man with the instinct OF gentleman
will do that? No one would, except
for thoughtlessness.
Especially Is this in evidence at BAN
auets, where smokers hardly finish the
dessert before they commence blowing
smoke in all directions. In that case
guests who have not yet finished eat
ing are compelled not only to inhale the
fumes, but actually to eat the SCOT that
necessarily settles upon the food on
their plates. Surely. habit that leads
to such outrages upon the rules of good
conduct must be denounced even IL 1t
were less injurious to the physical and
moral welfare OF men than 1t is.
Boys. even smokers who have at
tanned to mature judgment Will tell you
that they regret having contracted a
habit Objectionable from every point
OF view. If you follow their advice,
It is. do not smoke The Chinese. just
awakening to new life, have seen the
necessity of waging war upon opium
smoking. They are forming societies
and applying cures" for the terrible
habit. 1t Is claimed that they have
been so successful that the sale OF
opium has already fallen off two-thirds
I'm one district alone. II the Asiaties
find It necessary to stamp out vice, in
order TO catch up with the progress OF
civilization, 1t should be evident that
We must wage similar warfare II we
desire to keep in the vanguard OF ma
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