The Monroe journal., 1922-02-14
SOUND ARGUMENT
AGAINST TOBACCO
Rev. Mr.. Huggins Says He Tried
II Once But Got Enough
Then and There
CIGARETTE FEARFUL EVIL
Quotes Judge webb's Saying That
He'd Rather His Boy Would Drink
Liquor Than Smoke Them

BY REV. L. y. hussihs.
Some time ago | indicated my de-
sire 10 write an article on the use OF
tobacco, so here | 20.
When | was little boy | heard
somewhere this little rhyme:
Tobacco is a poisonous weed,
And little service has it done,
And that which mortals do not need,
Surely they had better let alone"
Father and mother also told me that
tobacco was not good for children 10
use. But Notwithstanding all this
warning and advice. had SO much Of
the old Eve nature in me that | could
never be satisfied until | tried It for
myself. After having tasted it
slightly for few times, decided one
day to try il on a larger scale. Moth
er had some lying BY the fire for the
purpose of manufacturing some home
made snuff. While she was out | en-
tered the room and saw my opportun-
ty. 1t was ready pulled into pieces
about the right size for a good chew,
so | Immediately went TO work on it,
but the tobacco also went to work on
me; and so thoroughly was the work
done that from that day until now |
have not tasted tobacco in any form.
Now. | do not claim much credit for
not using it, for il certainly did not
agree with me. But knowing what !
do about it, | feel sure that if / had
learned to use il, ! should have quit
long ago.
Why do people want to use tobacco
an,w s? Is it not a filthy. expensive
ard dangerous habit? OF course it
has me medicinal properties about
il, ar used moderately it may be
good fer bad teesh, bad indigestion
and had breath, but the evil accomp-
listed by its use is so much greater
than ne good derived from it that
it G-es seem foolish, if not sinful to
encourage the young generation to
use it. And yet there is a desperate
effort being made by the tobacco man.
ufacturers to induce the boys to
smoke cigarettes. | am told that re-
Gently millions of cigarettes were sent
to China and distributed free to the
boys and men in order that a desire
for them might be created there.
CU1 "a dNNlOl - u N4Sh,i dNt W NuA Wv lAk-
zation, and the guilty ones ought to
be behind the prison bars, Judge
Webb recently said that he had ra-
ther a ten year old boy of his would
learn to drink intoxicants than to
smoke cigarettes. DR.. Sewer, the
county physician Of Buncombe county,
said that cigarettes injure the health
of young boys faster than whiskey
Physiology also corrcborateS these
statements. | have seen hundreds Of
boys who arc nervous and res. less and
never will be worth much to them
selves, or to anyone else, just because
they learned TO smoke. Of course
the.c are some boys and men who
smoke moderately and still maintain
their health aud will-power, but the
habit is exceedingly dangerous. When
the cigarette smoke comes in contact
with the blood N the lunC cells. it
f,is the led cornuscles with the nico-
tine poison, thus hindesins them in
their work Of carrying oxygen and
food to the different parts of the
body. Besides this, there are several
other poisonS created by the chem cal
action Of the tobacco smoke an oher
substances. IL the moke were nltI
inhaled il would not be so injurious,
hui nearly all cigarette smokers learn
to inhalc i. Besides the injury oil
the ho5lth, cigarette smoking is re
~pc-a.5i1 for millions of dollars worth
of property gong up in smoke every
year.
The tobacco habit M orl. Injuries
the health and Gcr!e.es the manhood
of the youth OF our country. but it
also costs an immense amount of
money. Last Year he cigarette bill
alone was $550000o00 do not
know VIVA the entire tobacco bill was.
but ! should think il was nearly So
100000. coo. One will soon sncni
enough for tobacco 70 build q good
hore if he us,s it excessively. ! GER
fainly admire ,hc action Of the old
colorcd brother who qui. because /.
wes costing so much.
! have n,t W.T. ttcn this for the pur-
pose Of offending, or unduly CRITICS.
ing anyone. Everyone must decide
Sucn thirgs for himself But | do
pray that someone may be berefited
by my advice. II may not be hes
for all the old reoplc to quit, for they
may need a little stimulation, and
their system has already adjusted it.
self to the nicotine poison; but / do
hope that our young people, and es-
peeially teachers, ministers and other
leaders OF the people will refrain
from the use Of this filthy and poison
Gus weed. But what is the use Of
taking all this valuable space and
time to discuss this question? Will
It do any good? But anyway | shall
have the consolation Of knowing that
have done my little part in trying
to persuade our boys not to indulge
in habit that is both injurious and
expensive. And, if | can only sue
ceed in in1uenc ng one boy or young
man TO stop this e'..l habit, | shall feel
amply rewarded lOr my effort.
There is law en- our statute books
forbidding TIE sale or giving cigar
ettcs to boys unier seventeen years
of age. This law should be rigidly
enforced, for anyone who either d.
rectly or indirectly encourages young
n A L. Ia 4 Il.