Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1914-04-15
First Prize Essay.

1t is no longer a question, but il
is clear to every one, that purity i.
the grandest thing on earth. And
we all know that pure manhood i.
based upon purity. I would like to
ask the question, where can any
prospect of this be found in a youth
with a cigarette in his MOUTH"
This cigarette we all know is the
worst enemy the bo7 has. He doesn't
seem to realize that while the fire is
burning up the paper and tobacco
that it's effects are burning up his
whole intellect and the strength and
vitality of his body.
First, we ask how is this habit
begun? We might say that some
boys are led into it by being allow,
ed to roam here and there in bad
company or drawn in by the infu-
ence of some older boy: but l dare
say that in most cases the example
is set before him by his father, many
times day, smoking a pipe or
cigar. Soon the boy begins to think
that it must be type of manliness
and if he is ever to be a man, he
too, must take up this prided habit
of his father, only, he must begin
on q smaller scale with the little
cigarette, which he thinks most be.
coming to him.
Thds he faslens upon himself the
most dangerous h ,bit of all, because
Of inhaling into his lungs the smoke
from the burning paper ond tobacco
and soon poisoning the whole sys-
tenn with nicotine.
We say they are an enemy to the
boy, because most every organ Of
! the body has 20 suffer from the
effect of them. The little particles
ffT0f carbon aiid ash, which come
from the paper and tobacco ere
drawn into the lungs, and settles
! upon the air passages like SCOT on
the inside of stove pipe. This pre-
vents him from breathing pure
! fresh air into his lungs and purify
ing his blood. They also cause an
irritation of the delicate membrane
Of the nose. mouth, throat and lungs
or wherever they are deposited.
1t has lately been discovered that
there is a poison that comes from
! the cigarette called furfural, which
is about fifty times as poisonous as
alcohol. Just think how many boys
are, day after day, drinking into
their bodies these awful poisons,
all of which weaken the nerve that
controls the heart causing it TO beat
irregularly and weaken the diges-
| tive organs by poisoning them. 1t
also has bad effect upon the spinal
chord and interferes with the work
ings of the eyes, thus effecting the
whole nervous system, making the
boy a complete nervous wreck.
The cigarette causes the boy tc
become dishonest and untruthful,
weakens his brain and whole will
power making him sluggish and
lazy unfit to hold any responsible
position. 1t has been proven in col
leges that the tobacco users are the
du!lest and most inferior students
in every respect. They never grad
uate at the head of their classes.
/ have read of schools where the
principal had asked all the pupils
who would not give up cigarette
smoking to leave the school, while
other schools will not take them in
at all.
The whole world we see is fight
ing the cigarette. Business men in
many places, are refusing to employ
the cigarette users. These men are
working for protection to their
country as we'll as to their own busi-
ness.
Another reason why the cigarette
is an enemy to the boy, and one
that will do its part in helping to
destroy this evil and unmanly hal.
it in the land, is, that woman, the
fairess, the sweetest, the most low
ing and affectionate being that God
has placed before the eyes Of man,
is fast turning against the cigarette
users and frowning at them in dis
gust; and in their pride and self
respect are already beginning to
say, Give me an old maids life in
preference to a cigarette smoker" "
Just mention a boy as cigarette
slave and you have SAID enough in
the eyes of the whole world. How
foolish so MANY bows and Young