Year: 1869

THE TOBACCO BOX.


By a; WASHINGTON TOES.


AS our able and fascinating cOtem-
porary Wfiter, 4. JEFFERSON THUMBS,
has assumed the management Of the
'Cigar Box" and as we have agreed
to ill up d half column or SO in the
literary department. of the Banner
of Light, /" and thus to a half columns
extent to relieve the Editor of slight
portion of the arduous duties devOIV-
ing upon him, we may, with proprie-
ty, adopt the next best 6O1 from those
remaining unappropriated, which, in
our estimation, Is the Tobacco Box.


Now, therefore, we promise nOth-
ing and attempt lfttley in this half
column, save and except to flll the
same according to agreement with
some well timed and appropriate
thoughts and considerations upon the
subject in hand, and will only indulge
in side explanations when it is neces-
sary so to do to prevent incorrect or
improper inferences from being drawn.


Our style shall also be plain and un-
imbelished, so that all that have a
moderate education may comprehend
an appreciate. Hence-"Blessed arm
he dat" &c.


The Tobacco BOr.


We presume, gentle reader, that If
you can't smoke, you win at least al
low us to chew, provided we do not
eject the expressed juices of the de-
lightful narcotic upon your store
clothes or patent feathers.


Taking it for granted, then, that we
have your cheerful consent to our use
of the weed, we viii, in the first place,
proceed to equip ourselfwith a tobacco
box.


OF course it is promised that the art
Of using tobacco had, years ago, been
successfully achieved after many
we were about to say frWitJess-at-
tempts. But every unsuccessful at
tempt brought its consequences Of a
dizzy head-also the contents of the
stomach. These characteristics of
early attempts may not Inappropriate
" be denOminated the first, or early
fruits.


But the peculiarities of the process
are sufficiently distinct to your mem
ory, provided you chew or provided
you failed without our enlarging in
that direction.


Having provided ourself with a few
stamps, we sally forth from our sane
tum, and presently find that we are
busily engaged in contemplating the
great variety of boxes spread out upon
the case. Here before us are some f1f-
teen or twenty styles, and these boxes
are as diversified in capacity as in style.
Ah, here is beautiful tOrtoise-shell
for only one dollar and a half; but,
alas! it is deficient in capacity. This
one is sufficiently capaciOus; but then |
it is NEARLY a plain tin case, rounded |
at the cOriiers, and something less i'm
than an Oystercan How
ever, as our motto is utility before
STYLE" we place our two stamps upon
the counter, take possession of the box
and Immediately proceed to the Elk
Horn and haYe it filed with golden
thread. ~ e..-


Now, those tobacco chewers who use
plug, have no occasion for box; for,
having purchased a navy" they in
sert it in their left breeches pocket,
and thus the weight of their pocket
book, which reposes in the right, is
equalled. We, who sport box, con-
slider it to be more genteel to use "gol-
den thread; :" but those who are the
more hearty chewers, claim that solid
'navy" is far more substantial, and
that one good chew-say as large as
a medium sized walnut-will keep the
jaws i'm constant operation as long, or
longer, than a dimes worth of golden
thread; and that whereas fine cut
diffuses itself, good navy swells in the
mouth; and herein they claim the
greater economy as well as tie more
Lastly pleasure.


The plugists also contend that fine
cut mushes up in the mouth, and
when the saliva and juices are elected
a great portion Of the tobacco itself
follows suit; and farther, that If said
juice is deposited with this more than
visible admixture Of fine cut, it pre-
seDts very questionable appearance,
especially upon a clean floor.


However, it Is not our present plan
to argue the relative merits of the
above points raised by our opponents.
But in this connection it will be quite
appropriate to mention q well known
fact, wiz that those who are addicted
10 the use Of plug are the greater
spitters and this is wherein we be-
lieve that they go to extremes. It is
true that one great argument against
large and frequent spittings, on the
side walks, is lOosing its force. When
it was the fashion for ladies to ware
long dresses trailing behind for yard
or more, it was quite impracticable for
a tidy lady-and, of course, all ladies
are tidy-to ware the same. white
robe for a second parade 1--WE should
say -promenade), until it had passed
through the wash-tub. This state Of
affairs is very -incOnvenient-nOt but
what every lady delights in abund-
ant exercise over the wash-tub-but
ineonvenient when it is good policy