: No ^r ^^c5cg3^^gQ2^g^g^g^g^-^-- 1 TUB BEAUTIES AND DEFORMITIES TOBACCO-USING; ITS LUDICROUS AND ITS SOLEMN REALITIES. BY L. B. COLES, M. D. i > • FELLOW OF THE MAfcSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SOCIETY, AND .MEMBER nP THE BOSTON MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. AUTHOR OF THE " PHILOSO PHY OF HEALTH, OR HEALTH WITHOUT MEDICINE." « > CO riun& v§snu0/ BOSTON: TICKNOR, REED, AND FIELDS. M DCCC hi. nun ^/W Euterea according to Act of Congress, in the year 1351, BY h. B. COLES, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. Stereotyped by HOBAET & BOBBINS, BOSTON. Printed by Geo. C. Kami. PREFACE. This work is dedicated to God and humanity — under the fullest conviction that the habit which it attacks has become the besetting sin of the church; and of all oral indulgences, the greatest ENEMY OF PHYSICAL LIFE. Ever since entering the medical profession — while in its active practice, and since travelling and observing its workings throughout the States during the last three years — this dreadful truth has pressed upon me with increasing weight. Under this conviction and feeling, my pen has done what seemed to be the dictates of duty; and the result, in hope that some good may be done, is sacredly consecrated to the Author of nature, and the highest interests of my fellow-men. It was principally written on steamboat, on my second visit to iSew Orleans; and partly in Gal- veston, Texas, with small additions since my return home. It is the product of twenty-five years' in- creasing convictions of truth. This is the most potent enemy of right physical, if not right moral character, which is making pop- 4 PREFACE. ular warfare against the interests of the American people. There is no foe to human society that is so enticing, so enslaving, or so invincible. It is to be hoped that every friend of health and virtue will read, be open to conviction, and come to the rescue of the present generation and the race. Let him enlist against the great enemy of physical life, moral culture, and Christian enterprise. Health and longevity are Christian duties; and their abuse, by needless ignorance and lust, is a crime against Nature and Nature's God. And from the punishment of that crime, there is no redemption. Whoever wars with Nature must sometime pay the damages. Let the slaves of habit awake. Let them break their bonds, and achieve their freedom. And let them lend a helping hand in plucking others from the fire that is consuming them; and not rest till the foul monster shall be conquered. L. B. C. This work can be had wholesale of George C. Rand, wholesale agent, No. 3 Cornhill, Bos- ton. Money forwarded to him, post paid, will be promptly returned in books per order. Price, $250 per thousand; $30 per hundred; $16 for fifty copies. CONTENTS. Its Physical Deformities. PAGE Tobacco as a Luxury,............. 7 Tobacco as a Medicine, . •............29 Tobacco on Health,...............37 Tobacco on Posterity, .............65 Its Moral Deformities. Tobacco as a Sin,...............70 Tobacco on Intellect,..............74 Tobacco on Morality,..............83 Tobacco on Religion,..............96 Its Beauties, Personal Beauties,............., . 118 Social Beauties,................ 127 Domestic Beauties,......".........138 Public Beauties,.............> . . 143 Tobacco Song,.................16- Earnest Appeal,................ 163 1* V JBTtP&y/y INTRODUCTION. This concise Treatise on Tobacco is written from the fullest conviction of its fatal ravages upon human health and longevity. From a pretty extended examination into the nature of the article, and the prevalence of its use, it is my settled conviction that it is now doing a more deadly work to the physical welfare of the American people than alcoholic liquors. The devastations of alcohol are fearful beyond the power of pen or tongue to tell; but the destructiveness of this dreadful poison to the physical system, though now comparatively unperceived by the popular eye. is more cer- tain and irresistible. If fate would chain me to one or the other of these degrading habits, let me be fastened to the use of any quantity of alcoholic liquor short of prostrate intoxication, rather than to the filthy narcotic power of this poisonous weed. Besides being a more filthy sin than liquor-drinking, the use of tobacco, in any form, to the same excess, more effectually de- 8 INTRODUCTION. ranges the natural action of the system. It makes wider inroads into Nature's arrange- ments than alcohol. It disturbs in a greater degree the natural currents of life. Hence it becomes almost infinitely harder for any one to break up the habit of using tobacco, than the habit of using alcohol. In this work, it is my intention to present the simple unvarnished truth; so that every one who will read it, can easily understand what kind of influences he is exerting upon the house he occupies, and what kind of con- sequences he may expect to suffer from his present destructive course. In using the terms "Beauties" and "Deformities," it is intended to introduce under the latter, the real nature of the article, and its destructive influ- ences upon the human body, and mind, and soul; and under the former, used ironically, the debasing, filthy, and ludicrous aspects in which the habit presents itself upon the face of civilized, intelligent society; hoping that all who read, especially those who are still held in bondage by this enslaving appetite, may examine this matter with the eyes of reason, common sense, and conscience, fully open to all the truth, and with solemn resolu- tion to abide their righteous decisions and demands. TOBACCO-USING. ITS PHYSICAL DEFORMITIES. Under this general head, using the terms with a little license, it is proposed to speak of the use of tobacco for unnatural purposes; its perverted uses; uses contrary to Nature's ar- rangements ; uses for which the God of nature never intended it; uses which derange Na- ture's processes, and deform the beautiful work of the Creator in the functions of organic life. TOBACCO AS A LUXURY. The question is often proposed, "For what was tobacco made?" and it is asked evidently for the purpose of proving that, because it is a natural production, it is proper to use it for chewing, smoking and snuffing. But is everything that is made, or, in other words, everything that is a natural product, every- thing that grows on the soil, to be used as a luxury? If so, Opium grows, and therefore 10 TOHACt'O-USING. should be chewed, or otherwise habitually used. Deadly-Nightshade and Henbane are productions of nature; and should these, there- fore, become habitual luxuries? Tobacco, doubtless, with other kindred poi- sons, was intended for medicinal purposes. It is one of the most powerful agents which grows on the earth. It is one of the very strongest of poisons. It possesses about three times the power of opium in the same form. A single drop of the concentrated oil, put upon the tongue of the stoutest dog, will destroy life. It is said, by one writer, that if a man were to dip both of his hands into that oil, with a skilful surgeon by his side, his hands could not be amputated in season to save his life. Dr. Mussey, of Cincinnati, Ohio, in an essay on tobacco, has given several experi- ments made by himself with the distilled oil. The experiments were chiefly on cats. Two of those experiments must suffice. "A small drop of the oil was rubbed upon the tongue of a large cat. Immediately the animal uttered piteous cries, and began to froth at the mouth." After narrating various symp- toms which occurred within the space of seven minutes, he adds : " At this time a large drop was rubbed upon the tongue. In an AS A LUXURY. 11 instant the eyes were closed, the cries were stopped, and the breathing was suffocative and convulsed. In one minute, the ears were in rapid convulsive motion; and, presently after, tremors and violent convulsions extended over the body and limbs. In three and a half minutes, the animal fell upon its side, sense- less and breathless, and the heart had ceased to beat." Half an hour after death the body was opened, and startling changes were found to have taken place. Narrating another experiment, the doctor says: " Three drops of the oil of tobacco were rubbed upon the tongue of a full-sized, but young cat. In an instant the pupils were dilated and the breathing convulsed; the animal leaped about as if distracted, and pres- ently took two or three rapid turns in a small circle, then dropped upon the floor in frightful convulsions, and was dead in two minutes and forty-five seconds from the moment that the oil was put upon the tongue." Dr. Brodie applied a single drop of the empyreumatic oil to the tongue of a cat; upon which, bodily prostration and convulsions ensued. Another drop was applied, and the animal died in two minutes. Dr. Franklin applied the oily material which floats on the surface of water, when a current of tobacco- 12 TOBACCO-USING. smoke is passed into it, to the tongue of a cat, and found it to destroy life in a few minutes. These experiments upon cats are strong testimony of its power; for there are few animals that possess so great tenacity for life. It is a very difficult matter to kill them, even by the severest concussions of the brain. They have great power and resistance of nerve. Such is the tenacity of the vital principle to the brain and nerves, that they have often been supposed to be dead by blows applied to the head, and afterward found alive and apparently well. Probably blows upon the head sufficient to kill a full-grown cat, would be found sufficient, when applied in the same way, to kill two ordinary men. Tobacco destroys life by its direct attack on the vital forces; in other words, the nervous circulation or electrical currents of the body. It strikes a deadly blow upon the very founda- tion of animal vitality. Its first attack is on the nervous system, the citadel of life; and then, through the medium of the nerves, it sends, by degrees, its destroying power into all the fluids and solids of the whole body. Look at its exhibitions in those who for the first time use it. See what awful prostration of the nerves follows. See how the powers of Na- AS A LUXURY. 13 ture rouse themselves to repel the attack. Not only extreme prostration of the nerves of the stomach ensues, but we find that organ rous- ing all its crippled energies to oppose the attack, by vomiting up the deadly foe. There are very few tobacco-users who did not find it a difficult matter to break themselves into the habit of taking it. Its use as a luxury is a direct violation of all the instincts of animal life. It is revolting to all the natural and undepraved senses. The taste of the clean mouth is dis- gusted with its touch : the sight of the unac- customed eye turns away with abhorrence from its loathsome spectacle: the uncorrupted nasal susceptibilities are offended with its in- sulting approaches. It is only when these senses are corrupted and depraved by its gradual seductions, that they are able to toler- ate its presence. It is only when, by a vio- lation of their instincts, they have become diseased in their functions, have lost their healthy susceptibilities, and taken on a mor- bid functional character. It is offensive also to the unensnared mind. No man who is free from its enslaving potency can witness its physical aspects, or contemplate its personal or popular bearings, without pain. Take those who now use it. cleanse them from 14 TOBACCO-USING. all its corrupting influences and associations, and send them to some place where the in- habitants, like the great mass of the American people, especially in the South and West, are presenting all the disgraceful features of this most offensive of all vices, and every single man would turn away with disgust from such society. He would not be able to bear, with- out pain, the various disgusting and loathsome aspects in which the habit presents itself. He would regard it as outraging all decency, and insulting every attribute of human nature. It is one of the most unnatural and poison- ous things that can be taken into the mouth. Its principal chemical ingredient is Narcotine. It belongs to the same order of poisonous plants with Henbane, Thorn-apple, and Deadly- Nightshade. The learned and celebrated naturalist Linnaeus classifies it with Foxglove, Lobelia, Henbane, and other powerful poisons, under the name Atropa, or the Furies. The appetite for it is entirely unnatural — artificial — created by habit. God never made in man the appetite for tobacco. A very few instances have occurred where a love for it is found to exist from birth. Those cases are doubt- less to be accounted for, by tracing their origin back to some mental freak of the mother prior to their birth, or by its inveterate use by the ' AS A LUXURY. 15 father; and not to be reckoned as coming from any direct law of Deity in the formation of man. God never purposed for man an appetite for this poisonous weed, nor made it to be used as a luxury. He made man for more elevated enjoyments ; for more dignified practices; for more reasonable devotions. God made man upright—in his own image; but he has sought out many inventions. Fallen and degraded as man now is, there comes with the fall no moral necessity for his adding to his degradation by low and indecent- violations of the laws of his physical nature. He has no occasion for dissatisfaction with his natural appetites, while they are rightly treated and kept within due indulgence. All his natural appetites are right in themselves, and, while treated rightly, will all contribute to true happiness and health. It is from undue indulgence of natural appetites, and the creating and fostering of those wholly foreign to his nature, that disease, and suffering, and premature death, are brought on. Men seem to think they must have, how- ever unnatural and unpromising to health it may be, some one, at least, favorite indulg- ence. And tobacco-using has become, to the vast majority of men, that favorite. Instead of studying the true economy of life, calculat- 16 TOBACCO-USING. ing their highest earthly interests, and trust- ing in the unabused resources of nature for the enjoyment of life, they madly seek to make themselves happy by indulgences which are unnatural, uncongenial to the constitution, and bring on early old age, and a premature grave. The remark is often made, in reference to this habit, as well as in multiplied other in- stances, " I want to enjoy life while I do live:" as much as to say, ' The God of nature has given us such meagre natural resources of happiness, that it becomes necessary for us to get up artificial means, — means contrary to nature, and in direct conflict with the law of Deity revealed in the human constitution.' O, what fools men are to indulge the idea that they can excel the skill of the Almighty in establishing ways and means of human happiness! While men are resorting to such agents in securing the desired ends of life, they are digging away, most effectually, the under- pinning of the house they live in; so that, though it may stand to-day, looking as though it would remain safe a hundred years to come, to-morrow it falls with fearful crash, because the last stone that bore it up is torn away. Nature will bear abuse as long as she can. AS A LUXURY. 17 without complaint; but by and by she will ut- ter groans of agony, and cease to maintain her equilibrium. That man is a fool who in- dulges the idea of increasing his amount of happiness in this life, by seeking to do it at the expense of the true resources of Nature. The Creator has supplied, even to this fallen world, abundant resources for the com- fort and happiness of man. He has caused the earth to bring forth plentifully its rich fruits, to supply him with the most healthful nutrition to support his vitality. He has also given a natural appetite for these fruits; so that while they give strength and vigor, they also give pleasure to his physical tastes, — while he is delighting his taste in their luxurious- ness, he is supporting life. But when he resorts to tobacco, or any other unnatural thing, to add to the enjoy- ment of human life, he is actually diminish- ing it. While he resorts to this, he is doing violence to his natural instincts: and those instincts, thus mutilated and crushed, become gradually paralyzed and insensible; so that they can no longer rightly appreciate the true luxuries which the Creator has furnished for our comfort and benefit. The most delicious fruits, which so delight the unabused natural taste, become to the tobacco-user compara- 2* 18 IOBACCO-USING. tively stale and tasteless. The real enjoyment to be derived from them is lost, because that deadly weed has destroyed the sensibility of his natural appetites. Besides destroying our natural physical tastes, it deadens our natural mental tastes. The Author of nature has furnished abund- ant resources of beauty for the delight of the mind, through the optic, auditory, and olfac- tory avenues. But this deadly narcotic stifles their perceptive and discriminating powers. A profound worshipper of this demon weed is less able to appreciate any beauty in the flowery field, the harmony of voices, or the odor of natural perfumery. His susceptibil- ties to these divinely instituted luxuries of fmman life, are oppressed and benumbed. He makes an exchange of these heaven-born delights, for that loathsome, inconvenient, and sub-brutish violation of nature. While the natural sensibilities of the un- narcotized man arc awake to the variegated beauties furnished by the different kingdoms of nature, the tobacco-user's chief delight is con- fined to puffing and champing the dirty plug, and spitting in all directions its abominable syrups. While the one is feasting on the rich luxuries which Heaven has spread over earth, the other, a bond-slave, is working hard at the AS A LUXURY. 19 tobacco-mill, grinding the weed, expressing its juice, and spreading its odor and essence upon everything within his reach. The drunkard drinks because he wants to enjoy himself. He, too, wants to live while he does live. And if he indulges only with moderate drunkenness, he is not wasting as rapidly his true resources of life and comfort, as he who gluts himself with that more deadly poison, tobacco. He uses an article which burns up the vital powers by its stim- ulus merely. But tobacco, besides possess- ing a burning power by virtue of its stim- ulus, continually deadens and paralyzes the vital energies of the body by its narcotic properties. If a man possessing a large fortune should squander it in costly entertainments and ex- travagant enjoyments, till he had reduced himself to poverty and beggary, would he not label himself, in the eyes of all who knew him. a consummate fool ? And is he less a fool who is guilty of squandering property of higher value than oceans of gold, which Providence has cast into his hands? What sane man will waste the vital properties of his nature, destroy his health, and make himself a miserable sufferer for the rest of life? Who squanders the greater wealth, 20 TOBACCO-USING. and who the greater fool, he who squanders silver and gold, houses and lands, or he who treats with shameless wantonness the life and health which God has given him 7 If man would pay the same respect to his own instincts which the dumb animals are accustomed to do, —if he would behave him- self with as much propriety in this respect as the brute creation, he would save himself from vast suffering. If he would follow the example of the brute, in scorning the taste of this deadly poisonous vegetable, he would ele- vate his own dignity. But, in using it, he de- grades himself below the level of the brute. He takes that into his mouth which the brute creation, as a standing rule, will not eat. There are but three kinds of animals which generally will taste it. The Rock Goat of Africa, whose stench is so insufferable that no other animal can approach it, the To- bacco Worm, whose intolerable image gives to every beholder an involuntary shudder, and one other sort of non-descript animal, whose tobacco-frothings and spittings defile his own visage, bespatter and bedaub every- thing within his reach; who besmudges and pollutes the atmosphere with his nauseous fumigations, and whose Stygian breath seems AS A LUXURY. 21 to denote approximation to some bottomless pit. Tobacco is a narcotic stimulant. Its char- acter, in this respect, resembles that of opium, but possesses greater power in the same form. It gives an unhealthy stimulus to the nervous system, which is followed by a narcotic or deadening influence. Its narcotic and par- alyzing power is not easily discerned, while its stimulus is kept up: nor is the reacting and debilitating influence of alcohol detected while some degree of its intoxication is con- tinued. But let any one, long accustomed to the stimulus of tobacco, cease to use it for forty-eight hours, and he will probably have a fair view of its narcotic and destroying power. The whole nervous system will be found prostrated ; the power of muscular ex- ertion greatly diminished; the mind exceed- ingly deranged and prostrated ; the memory gone; the disposition disturbed. In short, the whole man is found in a debilitated, de- ranged, topsy-turvy condition, which defies description. Here may be seen the power of this destroying angel upon body, soul, and spirit, by its narcotic properties. It gradually supplants the vital energies of the body. Natural vitality is being driven 22 TOBACCO-USING. out, and the narcotic stimulus of tobacco is taking its place. Genuine vitality is being dispersed and wasted, and a counterfeit is being furnished. Instead of a healthy elec- tric fluid circulating throughout the nerves, — instead of a healthy vital force pervading the nervous system,—there is found the deadly narcotic power of this poison, sending its ex- citing and paralyzing influence into every nerve of the body. This is a perversion of Divine law. As be- fore said, Nature bears ill-treatment without murmuring as long as she can, so that the user of this poison verily flatters himself that it is harmless. He goes on destroying his native vitality, and supplying this counterfeit, to which he has become so strongly attached; feeling the glow of hourly excitement which it gives, without perceiving the waste going on in his natural vitality, till Nature, no longer able to bear abuse, bows down under her cruel load. And even then, such is the blind- ing nature of this infernal charm, that the sufferer does not perhaps perceive the true cause of this wreck of health, but tries to quiet himself under the Heaven-insulting idea that this is a visitation of Providence. By way of proving that tobacco drives out natural vitality, as just stated, let the use of it AS A LUXURY. 23 be discontinued a few days, and he will soon find his vital energies weakened; and if a large consumer, he will find them exceed- ingly prostrated. His natural energies of life and of mind will be so far prostrated, that he will be ready to conclude that his very continuance in life depends upon his re- turn to the deadly thing; and though he may have supposed his resolution to quit it to be strong, there are nine chances in ten that, like the dog, he will return to his vomit again. Its work of destruction on the powers of life, as before remarked, is generally unper- ceived. If it would kill men suddenly, with as much certainty as it is killing them grad- ually, they would be frightened into its dis- use. But, though gradual in its work of ruin, it kills as truly as though its first touch was death. Tobacco as truly intoxicates the brain and nerves as docs alcohol. The word "intoxi- cate " is derived from two Greek words, en and toxon ; the toxon was an arrow dipped in poison, to render its wound more certainly fatal He who had received this into his flesh was intoxicated. He, too, who receives any other poison into his system, has a meas- ure of intoxication proportioned to its power and quantity. Tobacco being a more power- 21 TOBACCO-USING. ful poison than any other used by the known world as a luxury, it therefore more power- fully intoxicates the system than any other. Though it is not now pushed to an extent which results in immediate insanity, like alco- hol, yet its tendency is that way; and the habit of depending on its intoxicating proper- ties is more steadfast, unremitting, and un- conquerable. The more inveterate the poison habitually used, the more powerful are its chains binding to slavery. Those who have been addicted habitually to alcohol and to- bacco, and have quit them both, will uni- formly testify that it was almost infinitely more difficult to conquer the latter than the former. The degree of morbid excitement which it produces is not generally known. The smok- ing of a single cigar will create such a degree of fever as to increase the number of the pulse from fifteen to twenty beats in a min- ute. The pulse which beats naturally seven- ty strokes per minute will be increased to eighty-five or ninety. Such, too, is the effect of chewing. No man can be constantly pro- voking such a febrile action of his system, without gradually exhausting the forces of physical life. AS A LUXURY. 25 Objection is sometimes raised against the proof of its poisonous power, on the ground that men live under its use to old age. So, too, some live to old age who have kept themselves literally pickled in alcoholic li- quor. Some have lived to advanced age who were habitual opium-eaters. Do these instances prove the habitual use of opium and alcohol to insure health and longevity? They only prove the native strength and firmness of their natural constitutions; and enhance the guilt of those whose habits show a disregard for the possession of such bless- ings. The habit of using this article tends to lessen its immediately perceptible effect. But what is the true philosophy of this ? How is it that a man by habit can use such a quantity, and not kill himself outright? The answer presents a fearful truth. It is this : the habit of using it tends to stupefy and paralyze the immediate sensibility of the nerv- ous system to its properties. The more it is used, the less vivid are the nervous suscepti- bilities to it. And that deadening process is going on as long as the tobacco shall continue to be used. And in the latter part of life, if not before, its deadly workings will more clearly develop themselves in local diseases, or in the form of a broken constitution. 3 26 TOBACCO-USING. Nature's feelers after danger, set to watch day and night for her safety, become stupid and insensible, by being long drugged with narcotism. Her physical perceptions are com- paratively destroyed. They lie prostrate and trodden under foot of her assassins. Their voice is hushed, and the destroyers riot on undetected, till her habitation is demolished ; and she, ravished of her virtue and her pride, is abandoned to wantonness and ruin. The habitual use of any poison will pro- duce analogous results. Habitual opium-eat- ers so overcome the susceptibility of the nervous system to an immediate recogni- tion of the narcotic power of this drug, that they only perceive its stimulating properties, and verily think they are made better by its use. So, too, persons may for a long time continue taking arsenic, till they can bear a quantity that would destroy the life of two or three persons, who should divide the same quantity between them for a first dose. In like manner as the continuance in crime tends to stupefy the conscience, so the con- tinuance of poisons to the body blunts its susceptibility to impressions. Want of con- science, or its obtuseness by oft-repeated crime, does not relieve the weight of real guilt; nor do oft-repeated poisons to the body AS A LUXURY. 27 diminish their intrinsic power. Though un- seen for a time, their inundating forces upon the foundations of health and life will finally manifest themselves; and perhaps too late to make amends. Many chcwers of tobacco take enough every day to kill any three men who never used it before, if compelled to use it in the same way, for the same time. Take one man's twenty-four hours quantum, cut it into three equal parts, and give them to three men, compelling them to use the article in the same way, and they would all be, within twenty- four hours, dead men. Although men para- lyze the susceptibility of their nerves to its perceptible power, yet its poison is there, and takes permanent lodgment in the system. The habit of using it does not lessen its really poisonous property, but only the susceptibility j of the nerves to take cognizance of its presence \ and destructive potency. The use of tobacco, as already stated, not only strikes a deadly blow on the nerves, but sends its essences throughout all the fluids of the body. The tobacco flavors, denoting the presence of its essential properties, can be detected in the blood taken from a tobacco- user's veins. Every drop of blood that passes through his heart, that circulates through his 28 TOBACCO-USING. arteries, and flows back through his veins, is flavored and impregnated with the essence of this offensive drug. And from this tobacco- nized blood the secretions of the various glands and membranes of the whole body are made; so that every drop of the fluids of the whole system becomes saturated with the foul tincture. Tobacco is not only carried with the circu- lating fluids, but into all the solids. In proof of this, it is an incontrovertible fact that the race of human beings called cannibals — from their habit of eating human flesh — detect in the flesh of tobacco-users, by the flavor and the taste, the presence of the article, and cast that flesh aside, as unfit for their use. The reputation of human flesh, among cannibals, therefore, is destroyed by being tobacconized. The use of the article would destroy, also, the reputation of the hog fatted for pork. Let a farmer bring his pork to market; and, on being asked how it was fatted, if he should say, ' Fatted chiefly on tobacco,' no man of sense — not even the tobacco-chewer or smoker himself—would purchase the pork. Such would be the intuitive perception of the una- voidable tobacconization of the flesh thus fatted, that every one would reject it, at any price, as unfit for market. AS A MEDICINE. 29 TOBACCO AS A MEDICINE. It has already been stated that the proper place for tobacco is upon the list of medicinal agents. But it has too often been proposed for such a purpose where it was exceedingly ill-advised. Medical men have often shown themselves in this respect great novices in science, and in matters of common sense. This article has often been prescribed where the remedy was infinitely worse than the dis- ease. Many have said, " Tobacco was rec- ommended to me by a physician, to cure a watery stomach." The first objection to its use in any such case, or, indeed, in any other case by mouth, is, it never cures the disease. The second objection is, it is never taken like other medicines, and then laid aside. If a man begins taking it, he takes it eternally — he finds no leaving-off place. A man takes it for a watery stomach; — how came that watery stomach ? Did the Creator make a mistake in the structure of the man ? or did the man hifnself, or through his parents, by some violation of law, reach that condition in the form of a penalty ? That watery stomach was the result of some wrong habits estab- lished by himself or those who had the charge of his childhood, or by hereditary influence. 3* 30 TOBACCO-USING. All that can be done, or that is generally need- ed, in such a case, is, abstaining from the cause which produced and prolonged the difficulty, and giving nature a chance to relieve herself of her disease. Instead of advising this, some medical ignoramuses have not only allowed their patients to continue the-unlawful burden upon Nature's back, but have piled on an addi- tional and heavier one, in the form of habitual drugging with tobacco. And yet they never in this way get a cure. A man takes this so called medicine for forty years perhaps, but gets no cure. Let him cease tobacco, and he will find his watery stomach still in existence. Tobacco only covers up the fire, but never puts it out. He has taken the doctor's medi- cine faithfully, many times a day, for forty years, but has yet gained no cure. How long would a man of common sense take the doctor's prescription of any other medicine, and, finding no cure, be willing to continue it? Would he be willing to take ipecac, calomel or jalap, thirty or forty years, eight or ten doses per day, without any signs of cure? Tobacco allays the morbid state of stomach, not by creating a healthy action, but by creating a greater morbid action. The tobacco disease is so much greater than the one for which it was taken, that it puts the AS A MEDICINE. 31 former complaint into the shade, but does not remove it: it merely covers it up where it is not noticed till the tobacco is discontinued. The quack who prescribes tobacco by mouth — no matter what his claims to respect in other things — the quack who does this, acts on the fundamental principle of another quack, wliOj being called to a case of simple fever, pre- scribed something so unusual, that an observer inquired what he was going to do. He an- swered, that he considered himself " death on fits;" and if he could change the case into fits, he was sure to cure. Would to Heaven that those who have commenced on this principle would carry it out; — having succeeded in cre- ating a new morbid action with tobacco, that they would now set at work, and prove them- selves, like the fits doctor, death on tobacco ! When prescribed in justifiable cases, tobacco needs to be used with great caution, knowledge, and skill, or it becomes a very unsafe, and even fatal medicine. Its use by the mouth is, in about all cases, uncalled for, inexpedient, and even morally wrong. But it may be sometimes given by injection, in cases of se- vere spasmodic diseases, with great and bene- ficial effects. A wet leaf may be introduced into the extremity of the bowel, in case of 32 TOBACCO-USING. obstinate colic. It is fit for the fundament, but not for the mouth. Men apply the pipe, the cigar, the plug, at the wrong extremity of the body. The mouth is no place to stick tobacco. But, when used as an injection, great caution is essential to the safety of the patient. Some- times death has been occasioned by this kind of use by unskilful hands. Cases of lockjaw, hysteric spasms, and kindred ailments, have been speedily overcome by its judicious ad- ministration. It will relax the severest spas- modic contractions, and speedily present the patient in the aspect of dissolution. Every muscle will become as flaccid and pliable as cotton cloth dipped in water, and the whole body covered with a cold, clammy sweat. A single leaf, dipped in hot water and laid upon the pit of the stomach, will produce a powerful effect, by mere absorption from the surface. By being injudiciously applied to a spot where the scarf-skin is destroyed, fearful results have followed. Professor Mussey, in his excellent " Essay on Tobacco," gives a case. Dr. Long, of New Hampshire, was consulted by a mother, to know whether she might apply tobacco to a ringworm, scarcely three-fourths of an inch in diameter, on the nose of her daughter, then about five years AS A MEDICINE. go old. He objected to it, as an exceedingly hazardous measure; and confirmed his judg- ment, by relating a case which he had seen recorded, in which a father destroyed the life of his son by putting tobacco-spittle upon an eruption on the head. Immediately after the doctor left, the mother, thinking she knew more than her medical adviser, proceeded to moisten the ringworm from the essence of the grandmother's pipe, remarking that, "if it should strike to the stomach, it must go through the nose." The instant the mother's finger touched the part, the eyes of the patient rolled up in their sock- ets, she sallied back, and, falling, was caught in the arms of the alarmed mother. The part was immediately washed, but to no pur- pose; the jaws were locked, the patient was senseless, and apparently in a dying state. The doctor was called immediately back, who found the following symptoms: " Coldness of extremities, no pulsation at the wrist, jaws set, deep insensibility, countenance death-like." He succeeded in opening the jaws so as to ad- mit spirits of lavender and ammonia; applied friction and other means to resuscitate the apparently dying child. These efforts were continued about an hour and a half, before the patient became able to speak. 34 TOBACCO-USING. Until this time, the child had been robust and healthy ; but since the tobacco experi- ment, she has been continually sickly and feeble. For the first four or five years after this, she was subject to fainting-fits every three or four weeks; sometimes lasting from twelve to twenty-four hours. Many times, in those attacks, her life appeared to be in immi- nent danger. Within the last three or four years, those turns had become less severe. A medical writer has recently undertaken to show that the use of tobacco is a preventive of bronchitis. He alleges that no tobacco-user has ever been known to have that disease. It is to be feared his observations have been limited. Cases of that kind have come under my eye, even within the last few months. Indeed, a gentleman who is an intimate acquaintance of mine, in this city, once suf- fered severely from this disease, who was at that time a chewer and smoker. During my tours South and West, where this article is used to a far greater extent than in ^ simply because its poison so paralyzes the stomach, that it allayed the gnawings of hunger, which of themselves were wearing out life. By killing the life of the empty stomach, hunger was not as readily felt, and therefore life was prolonged a little space. Many instances have come before my ob- servation, where medical men have been con- sulted in cases of disease from such an origin, who, instead of searching out the primary cause, and decidedly proscribing the tobacco, have permitted the article to remain in the mouth uncondemned, and have recommended various drugs to restore health. This, by whomsoever practised, is the most consummate quackery; and should be sternly condemned by every man of common sense, whether in the profession or out of it; as a gross violation of principles of philosophy and humanity. One trouble, probably, in the way of too many in the medical practice, is, they cannot see clearly through the dingy flood, and the dense clouds of smoke, which proceed from their own mouths. Shame, shame on the medical profession for this ! They ought everywhere and always, to be examples to the people in all righteous physical habits. They ought to be patterns of obedience to physiological laws to all beholders. 56 TOBACCO-USING. Because tobacco does not kill outright and im- mediately, many young men, and many in the meridian of life, suppose they have no occasion for alarm. But could they see the numberless instances of wreck in after life, which have come within the reach of my observation, and of every tobacco-discerning practitioner, they would be filled with trembling for the calami- ties that cluster in the path before them. Many, possessed naturally of the most solid constitutions, have, in the decline of life, under the long-continued habits of tobacco-chewing, or smoking, or snuffing, brought on themselves varied and accumulated infirmities, premature age, and a suicidal dissolution. A gentleman, who had been my acquaint- ance for many years, possessing one of the most thorough, athletic bodies found among men, was from early life a tobacco-chewrer. Until he became forty-five or fifty years of age, he seemed not to notice the ill effects of this habit. Then his nervous system be- gan to give way. Dyspepsia came on; he had severe and alarming turns of nightmare; symptoms of approaching palsy often ap- peared; he was unable to get through with daily business without an ill turn; and was finally obliged wholly to suspend his avoca- tions. All this was evidently the fruit }f ON HEALTH. 57 tobacco. All his other habits were simple and inoffensive to health. This is only one case out of millions of like results from like habits. In all such cases, and those approach- ing such a destiny, the great question lies be- tween health — even life—and the filthy, poisonous tobacco. Tobacco is a powerful agent in the removal of vermin from cattle. Farmers have applied it in decoction to calves; and not unfrequently it has occasioned death. It might be lawful to chew it when a man should find himself internally infested with vermin, until he shall have purged himself from such an engorge- ment. And it ought everywhere to be restrict- ed to such a use; so that it should always be understood, when we see a man with a cud, or pipe, or cigar, stuck in the upper orifice of his body, that it is because he has become in- ternally so verminized that he finds himself obliged to resort to this desperate measure, as his last effort to remove the awful calamity. The ordinary and general effects of tobacco are — whether by chewing, smoking, or snuff- ing— weakness, pain, and sinking at the stomach; dimness of sight; dizziness and pain in the head; paleness and sallowness of countenance; feebleness of the voluntary mus- 58 TOBACCO-USING. cles; tremulousness in the hands; weakness or hoarseness of voice; disturbed sleep, by starlings and a sense of suffocation ; night- mare ; epileptic or convulsion fits; confusion of mind; peevish and irritable temper; insta- bility and laxness of purpose ; depression of spirits; melancholy and despondency; partial, and sometimes entire and permanent insanity. Insane hospitals have generally more or less inmates who are reported as insane from excessive use of tobacco. And doubtless a much larger proportion of them would be en- rolled on the same list, if the deadly workings of this article on the brain and nerves were better understood. An agent of such potency in destroying the healthy condition of the nerves is likely to find vent for its deadly poison somewhere, in some portion ofthe body. If there is any one organ of the body weak- er than the rest, it will be likely to manifest its disturbing qualities there. It maybe upon some gland; or upon some vital function ; or upon some important nerve, as the nerve of sight or hearing. It will be found that the eyesight of tobacco-eaters begins to fail earlier than that of other men. They are obliged to resort to wearing glasses at a much earlier period than would be required, if they had not in this way abused their nervous system. ON HEALTH. 59 Many have seriously, by the same means, impaired their hearing. While travelling on the upper Mississippi, two cases of this kind came under observation. They were both young men, between, probably, the ages of thirty and thirty-five. They had been hard smokers from early life. One was on his way for medical advice. On riding with him, and investigating the history and nature of his case, it became my conviction that the seat of the trouble was in the auditory nerve, which had lost its electric energy; and that it was the tobacco that had paralyzed its tone. It was here that its destructive agency had chiefly located itself. In the other, its direct attack on the nerves of hearing, had demonstrated itself. The man stated that a few months since, he sus- pended the use of tobacco for only a single month, and found his hearing essentially im- proved. But such was the strength of ap- petite, and his unwillingness to attribute the difficulty to the idol of his mouth, he entered upon its use again, and his hearing became as bad as before. Here the deadly work of this narcotic on the hearing department, had dis- tinctly and unequivocally demonstrated itself. Hosts of cases might be furnished of a sim- ilar character; where the agency of tobacco in 60 TOBACCO-USING. paralyzing the nerves and their electric forces, has been manifested; producing dimness of sight and hearing; and many other complaints produced directly or indirectly through a mor- bid state of the nerves. Some of the severest cases of palpitation of the heart, have been created by the agency of deranged nerves by tobacco. Diseased liver and lungs have had the same origin: but the limits of the work wiU not allow their statement in detail. As before remarked, men take advantage of a good original constitution, and go on doing violence to the laws of life, till by and by that constitution gives way, like the granite edifice when its underpinning is gone. Nature will sometimes have long patience with the offend- er; but we may rely upon her making signs of suffering sooner or later. She is jealous of her rights. Every infringement of her laws she will be sure to avenge. She will some- times bear a long-continued accumulation of wrongs, but the day of retribution is sure to come. Though her fires may be long in kin- dling— long remain smothered and unseen — they will break forth in devouring flames, from which there is no escape. Men may possibly escape the grasp of human laws and penalties. The thief, the robber, even the murderer, may ON HEALTH. 61 possibly outrun his pursuer; but the offender against Nature's law can never outrun, can never hide away from her civil officers. They must and will be overtaken, and when arrest- ed they are sure of punishment. There is no reprieve and no redemption from the punish- ments made due in Nature's code of laws. The tobacco-eater must sooner or later pay the debts accrued and accumulated from this unlawful, unnatural animal indulgence. Besides various ills and infirmities, while liv- ing, directly or indirectly incident to this habit, he will be obliged to die the sooner. Chewers, and smokers, and snuffers ■—for these habits are all about equally destructive — as a general rule, are probably cutting off about twenty-five per cent, of their natural period of life. They are not content with burning the pure oil of life till all is consumed, but wickedly adulterate it with the essence of tobacco; and the lamp goes out before its time, from the inignitibility of the incongruous mixture. One seeming misfortune about this per- nicious habit — to which allusion has already been made — is, it remains so long doing its fatal work without being perceived. If its doings could speak out as readily and as loudly 6 62 TOBACCO-USING. as those of alcohol at this day, many a life might be saved that is now being sacrificed upon its cruel altar. The time has been when alcohol did its work unperceived. It walked boldly among men of the first respectability with its arrows of death, without being con- sidered a destroying angel, but rather an angel of mercy, exercising good-will to man. Now its cloven foot is seen, and the demon tries to hide himself. He is still doing a fearful work, but not with so bold a face, nor in so reputable a circle. It is somewhat amusing, as well as pain- ful, to see the monster now retire behind a large screen, or in a back apartment of the dram-shops; or down, out of sight, in the basement of respectable hotels; in order that he may carry on his work unblushingly, and that his friends, who would be glad to pre- serve their respectability and their drams, may associate with him with much less em- barrassment. But as yet the devil's great agent, tobacco, goes shamelessly forth, without the external signs of blood upon his skirts. Not because no blood is there; nay, his garments are full of the blood of his victims; but the world has thrown over him the long red veil of fashion, which shields his real character and the marks ON HEALTH. 63 of his doings. But my prayer before Heaven is, that the veil that covers the sins of this incorrigible monster may soon be torn asun- der. It seems to me, that time is not far ahead; that a revolution will soon take place; that men of common sense, of thought and reflection, will wake up and concentrate the forces of public opinion, to dispel the darkness that hovers over this enormous evil, and wipe its foul stain from the face of human society. A few men are disseminating light upon the subject. It is to be hoped others will enlist their powers in this warfare. Every medical man is called upon, for the highest good of humanity, to which the profession dedicates itself, to carry a lamp in his hand that will shed light upon the subject. Every minister of the Gospel ought to "cry aloud and spare not," against an evil habit that not only de- stroys the bodies of those who are required to present themselves living sacrifices upon the altar of Christ, but is benumbing the highest susceptibilities of their souls an evil habit which, like alcohol, stands in the way of those whom they would persuade to become reconciled to God; an evil habit that is cost- ing the members of the church not only a large amount of their physical and moral en- ergies, but an enormous amount of money, 64 TOBACCO-USING. which, in the Christian treasury, would do immense good to a benighted world. There never has been a time since tobacco came into popular use, when men, possessed of a spirit of humanity or of Christian zeal, were so loudly called upon to come to the help of God and the rescue of the race in this mat- ter, as at the present time. Americans are using it more extensively than any other peo- ple. It is estimated that the consumption of tobacco in this country is eight times as great as in France, and three times as great as in England, in proportion to the population. The habit is increasing. There is a larger number, in proportion to the population, who are using it now, than at any former period. It is being used earlier in life than formerly. Our fathers began to use it later in life than the present generation of men. Now it is used very early. Young boys are chewing and smoking. It often seems to me that if laying my own life on the altar of humanity could save this rising generation, and those that may follow them, from this dreadful de- stroyer, the offering should freely be made. To see the boys in our streets crippling their vital energies in the very buddings of life, with this Bohun Upas, is truly appalling. This is the time, if ever, to lay in a good ON POSTERITY. 65 stock of health and soundness. If the vital forces are crippled now, they are probably crippled for life. Its withering influence at this period, on the brain and nerves, and the electrical currents that flow constantly through them, and on the serous and mucous mem- branes which gather this electrical fluid, is far greater than at any other age. At this period especially, are needed all the avails of the nervous energies, for accomplishing the full and perfect developments of the different organs of the body; and for ushering in the completions of manhood. But perhaps a more fearful view of the matter still, is its destruct- ive power transmitted from parent to child. TOBACCO ON POSTERITY. In that part of my work entitled " Philoso- phy of Health," found in the "Appendix," which treats of the " Healthy Reproduction" of the species, this subject is treated some- what more explicitly than can be done here. In this matter there are more fearful respons- ibilities involved than can be easily measured. There is a general idea prevailing in com- munity, that unhealthy and debilitating in- fluences are inherited by children from their parents; yet that idea is so exceedingly vague and indefinite, that no one seems to be im- 6* 66 TOBACCO-USING. pressed with any proper sense of responsibility in the matter, or with any personal liabilities to transmit such influences upon his own progeny. This matter ought to be better understood ; and each one should intelligently scrutinize the bearings of his habits, not only upon his own health and life, but upon those who may become his own immediate posterity. If Ave could possibly have a right to treat our own bodies wrong — infringe upon our natural measure of health and longevity — no one, however much blinded by the grossest animal- ities, would hesitate to confess his responsi- bilities, touching the health or the suffering which it was in his power to transmit to those who were to be " bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh." Tobacco has already been charged with striking its first and heaviest deadly blow upon the brain and nerves; and it is from these directly that the germ of the future being pro- ceeds. Wliatever, then, tends to enervate these and adulterate their vital fluid, sends pro- portionate debility and derangement into the foundations of vitality of the being that pro- ceeds from them. The user of alcohol, who is steeping himself in the accursed fluid, and the tobacco-user, who is keeping his brain and ON POSTERITY. 67 nerves constantly saturated with the essence of this diabolical narcotic, must inevitably transmit a measure of their deadly influences into the physical, and also indirectly, into the moral systems of those who are begotten by him. Tobacco-using tends to animalism, by ex- citing the various animal propensities beyond their proper balance ; and must transmit that influence also upon posterity. The creating and fostering of any unnatural appetite, the habitual use of any unnatural stimulant, tends to this result. The use of alcohol and of tobacco increases the activity and strength of the animal propensities. They excite them in undue proportion. They operate with peculiar force upon the base of the brain, to which belongs the animality of our natures. Man is quite sufficiently animal in his charac- ter, without any such artificial promptings. Undue excitement here tends to debase his character; because, while this portion of his phrenological character is under excitement, the just balance between the animal, intellect- ual and moral qualities, is destroyed. While the animal nature is under excitement, the sensibility and activity of the intellectual and moral faculties are diminished. Those ac- customed to animal excitements are the less 68 TOBACCO-USING. cultivated in intellect and morals; because, while the electrical currents are called unduly in this direction, they are drawn away from other portions of the brain. The same philosophical principle is also developed in the opposite direction. Great intellectual and moral culture tends to lessen the growth and excitability of animal propen- sities. According to this principle, while a man is keeping himself under the stimulating power of tobacco, he is constantly goading up the activity of his animality, and stinting the growth and developments of his higher ' powers. And while he is doing this for him- self, he is casting upon his posterity the same features of character. In confirmation of the exciting nature of this habit upon the animal portion of the brain, it is a fact well attested by observation, that inveterate consumers of the article, in the latter part of life, have often found the natural powers of the genital organs completely pros- trated ; so that the natural offices pertaining to them have been found to be impracticable. So long has the nervous system been excited, and especially that portion of it which is con- nected with this faculty, that the nerves of this portion of the physical being have be- come so paralyzed as no longer to be able to ON POSTERITY. 69 comply with the original dictates of nature. Long-continued morbid amativeness has ex- hausted its power of development. In view, then, of this Avell-attested truth, that tobacco exerts a powerful influence upon the general animal portion of the system, let every man who puts this infernal article to his lips, for chewing or smoking, remember, while he degrades his nature by this unnatural in- dulgence, and puts the standard of his own habits below that of the brute creation, he is also degrading in the scale of animate beings his own offspring and his race. If only the physical character of our pos- terity were affected by the bad physical habits of their parents, much less damage would accrue than now appears. In another place will be shown the effect of tobacco on the in- tellectual and moral faculties; and whatever tends to such a degradation in them, will, through them, lower the intellectual and moral tone of those who shall proceed from them. So that, while the use of tobacco is de- grading the standard of his own body, mind, and spirit, in the scale of health, activity, and purity, he is also preparing himself to degrade the physical, intellectual, and moral nature of his " children, and his children's children, to the third and fourth generation." 70 TOBACCO-USING. ITS MORAL DEFORMITIES. Under this general division it is purposed to show the moral bearings which are incident to the habit of using tobacco: that it is a violation of natural law, and therefore a sin : that it tends to degrade the standard of intel- lectual and moral attainments; and that it militates against the religious culture of the soul. TOBACCO AS A SIN. The natural laws which belong to our animal life are Divine. The Creator has as truly revealed his character and his law in the works of his hands, as in the Book dic- tated by the inspiration of his Spirit. Every true science is of Divine origin, and contains a revelation of Divine law. The sciences of Astronomy and Geology reveal to us truths from Deity which can be derived from no other source. The science of Anatomy and Physiology exhibits, not only the existence of a great and wise Designer, but reveals to us his laws, written in the fearful and wonderful mechanism and economy of our physical being. Whoever, then, studies the laws of his AS a sin. 71 own organization, studies the laws of God. Whoever obeys the laws that govern health and life, not only reaps the reward due in his physical welfare, but is treating the arrange- ment of his Creator with that reverence and respect, which will secure Divine approval. On the other hand, whoever violates the laws which Deity has* given to our animal life, violates moral obligation, and sins against God. It is as truly a sin to transgress physio- logical laws, as to violate one of the ten com- mandments. These are no more the laws of God than the laws of organic life. And knowingly to transgress them, is as truly a sin, as it would be to steal. It is not for me to measure the comparative magnitude of sins. This, Omniscience alone can do. It is only due from me to say, to transgress Divine physical laws, is as truly a sin as to steal. Should an objector say, to disregard the laws of our bodies is a small offence compared with theft — that the one was only an injury done to self, and the other an injury done to our neighbor — let me ask, on what is the law which requires love to our neighbor based? Thou shalt love thy neighbor — how ? better than thyself? nay; thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The law of love to our fellow-beings is based upon the preexisting 72 TOBACCO-USING. law of self-love and self-protection, implanted in our own nature; written without amanu- enses— by the legible hand-writing of Jeho- vah ; a law which we cannot disregard, with- out committing the crime of suicide on ourselves, and that of manslaughter on our posterity. But if we must attempt to compare crimes as to their real magnitude, let us see the result; let a comparison be drawn between the criminality of habitual rum-soaking and that of robbery. The man who robs, takes from the pockets or coffers of his neighbor the sum of — it may be — five thousand dollars; he com- mits an injury to him of five thousand dollars' damage. He who steeps his body, mind and soul in alcohol, injures himself, his family, society, and his posterity, infinitely more than can possibly be computed within this com- paratively paltry sum. Now take the tobacco- user : he is doing an injury to his own body, which, if it could be put down in dollars and cents, would amount to no small sum. How many dollars are ten or twenty years of a man's life to be considered worth by himself? especially when stretched upon his premature dying couch, which he has prepared for him- self, how much would he give to have life prolonged that much ? AS A SIN. 73 Let the user of tobacco seriously ask him- self this question; then let him look further into this matter. He is, by this habit, dis- pensing suffering upon his posterity. He is lowering their standard of health and sound- ness for life. How much is this to be reck- oned? By his example, also, he is leading young men and boys in the same course of sin. If. too, his services are worth anything to the world, how much less, in this respect, is sustained by the weakening of his powers, and the shortening of life. Put all this down, if computation be possible, in dollars and cents; and then tell me which is the greater sin, to rob a man of the five thousand dollars, or rob himself and his posterity, society and the rising generation, of that which moun- tains of silver and gold cannot buy! Let him realize that in every champ he gives, or puff he makes, of this unnatural thing, he is committing a suicidal and a murderous act, which make a twofold sin against God, of fearful magnitude. A crime against Nature is a crime against God. A crime against Divine law, written in Nature's book of revelation, or rather God's book of nature, in which He reveals his will, may be as fearful in magnitude as a crime against Divine law written in the Bible. 7 74 TOBACCO-USING. Because the Bible does not say, Thou shalt not feast thyself upon Opium, Henbane, or Tobacco, is it any less a sin to use these arti- cles for such purposes, when we learn from the revelations of nature their deadly quali- ties? The Bible is for a different purpose than to teach us facts in science; and yet all facts in science are as truly of Divine authen- ticity, and may discover to us Divine obliga- tions as truly, as the Bible itself. God's book of nature teaches him who reads it rightly, that tobacco possesses properties of a fearfully deadly character; that it was not intended as a luxury for man; that it-is contrary to natural instinct; that it is destroying him and his posterity, and that consequently he ought not to use it. All this is taught as plainly to an intelligent, unbiased mind, as though it was written in the Holy Volume, Thou shalt NOT LUST AFTER TOBACCO. TOBACCO ON INTELLECT. Whatever excites unduly the nervous sys- tem, excites the mind. The electrical cur- rents of the nerves are inseparably connected with the developments of the intellect. Men who become accustomed to the excitements of tobacco, find themselves comparatively in- ON INTELLECT. 75 adequate to any considerable mental effort without it. If tobacco is gone, all is gone; and they are perfectly unmanned till that stim- ulus can be procured. This habitual mental excitement produces many fearful conse- quences. One is the paralyzing of the native mental energies, so that they become less ac- tive and enduring. A mind which is de- pendent on this stimulus is more fluctuating in its emotions and decisions. It cannot duly act, unless duly excited; its native sprightli- ness is diminished, and must nov/ be prompted by artificial steam. When that steam is low, the mental enginery cannot promptly work till the steam has been renewed. The mind is also less enduring. If extra drafts are made, if uncommon mental toil is demanded, if perplexities arise, if afflictions supervene, an extra quantity of tobacco is taken. On the approach of unusual burdens of this kind, this article is devoured with extra zest, to give the mind power to bear them. If the poison happens not to be at hand — if the man's chief mental resources do not happen to be in his pocket—he is afloat, without sail or ballast, till a supply is furnished. Another consequence of habitual excite- ment of this kind is, depression of spirits. In spite of all the artificial promptings de- 76 TOBACCO-USING. rived from this habit, melancholy and gloom- iness will ensue. Dr. Mussey gives a case of a lawyer, who, being accustomed from early life to this stimulus, complained that his "life was greatly embittered by excessive and inor- dinate fear of death." He says, "My spirits were much depressed. I became exceedingly irresolute, so that it required a great effort to accomplish what I now do without thinking of it. My sleep was disturbed, faintings and lassitude were my constant attendants." He gives another case, of a man fifty-five years of age, who lost his voice, so as to be unable to speak above a whisper for three years. It is said, " He was subject to fits of extreme melancholy; for whole days he would not speak to any one; was exceedingly dyspep- tic, and subject to nightmare." He aban- doned tobacco, recovered his voice, and his melancholy disappeared. A number of similar cases could be cited, several of which came under my own obser- vation, where deep melancholy was produced from this cause. Some, of long continuance, terminated in partial or entire insanity. And there is no doubt in my mind, that if the truth could be ascertained, many a case of suicide has been the result of this habit. One writer, of his own experience in this matter, says: ON INTELLECT. 77 "At times I had feelings which seemed to border on mental derangement. I felt that everybody hated me, and I, in turn, hated everybody. I often laid awake nights under the most distressing forebodings. I have often arisen in fitful and half-delirious slumbers, and smoked my pipe to obtain temporary relief from these sufferings. I often thought of suicide, but was deterred by a dread of a hereafter." He continues, "In a few weeks after entirely relinquishing this habit, all these feelings were gone, and my health fully re- stored." A gentleman in Richmond, Va., who had himself and family read my work on Health, in which tobacco is slightly noticed, informed me that his son, aged about twenty, prior to this had been exceedingly dull and lifeless. He feared he had lost all his early sprightli- ness of character, and would never have energy enough for any efficient business. "But," said he, "since reading your work, and leaving off his tobacco, to which he has been accustomed from early boyhood, he has waked up, has excellent spirits, and seems like a totally new being." Many a case of irritable, peevish, fretful temper, has been cured in the same way, which might be re- lated, if space would allow. 7^ 78 TOBACCO-USING. Another injury which the mind sustains from the use of this excitant is, a diminu- tion of moral courage, self-respect, and self- government. This habit is more completely enslaving to the mind than any other to which human nature is addicted. When once completely formed, the man is chained, hand-cuffed, and incarcerated for life. His chance for escape is exceedingly small. Few comparatively ever scale their prison walls. Their chains are not easily sundered: they are destined to be slaves, and subject to the most menial service for life. And not only this, but that service so degrades their mental perceptions, that they soon lose all realizing sense of the low-life, unmanly nature of the labors they are called upon to perform. They go through with their daily and hourly performances without seeming at all to realize howr they appear in the eyes of all decency and true civilization. Let these same men once come out of the theatre of their servi- tude, wash themselves clean, and put on un- stained garments, and then let them look back upon men now serving under this foul, tyrannical monster—see the degrading, filthy, servile employments they practise, and the power of those bars and gates that shut them in — and they Avould individually exclaim, ON INTELLECT. 79 Avith religious reverence, The Lord deliver me FROM SUCH ASSOCIATES AND SUCH BONDAGE ! While in this enslaved condition, they seem to have lost all self-control; — at least, they have lost their consciousness of such control. Thou- sands daily acknowledge the ugliness and det- riment of the habit, but declare their imagined inability to rid themselves of the practice. And doubtless it comes nearer a complete in- ability than in any other case. They see the fierceness of the enemy, and ha\re not courage to attack it. Even the most intelligent Chris- tians and Christian ministers can meet and resist the devil and his legions on any other battle-ground; but Avhen they come to this, they shrink back, give him the Avhole advan- tage of the field, and surrender themselves unresistingly as prisoners of war. O, shame on such cowardice! and shame on the men Avho tamely tolerate such a debasing, soul- destroying tyranny! When a man sells himself to this servitude, and continues in it, he not only parts with all his native moral courage and becomes a ser- vile coward, but he dethrones his reason, and gives himself up to the control of animal appe- tites. The reins of government have fallen from the hands of his higher nature, into those of the lower. He abandons the teachings of 80 TOBACCO-USING. common sense, intelligent judgment, and a sound mind, to humble himself at the feet of a licentious god. No code of morals, no rules of etiquette, no suasions of reason, now avail him anything; he knows no law but that of ap- petite— no rule of life but the ruling power of self-created lust. And while he abides under this form of government, he is exposed to the dominion of other tyrant appetites, Avhich as- sociate with this for purposes of mutual assas- sination and plunder. And Avhen one of them has succeeded in dethroning and incarcerating Human Reason, another and another of the associated conspirators come in, to avail them- selves in turn of conquest and of spoils. When Reason bows her head to one licen- tious plunderer, she gives fearful encourage- ment for others that follow in his train ; and establishes a dreadful precedent for her own future abandonment of virtue. When she gives herself to vice in one form, she lowers her general standard of virtue, and her power of appreciation of all other forms of chastity. When she allows appetite in one case to gain the ascendency, she finds it hard to gain, and harder still to hold, the reins of government in another case. Before the safety of her virtue and her government can be made secure, she ON INTELLECT. SI must again be fully seated on her throne, and guard and defend herself on every side. To overcome this foe Avhen once he has set his foot upon the soil, requires a desperate gathering up of mental and moral forces; and a settled determination to die or conquer. It requires more real courage, than it does to arm and Avalk out into the fierce literal battle- field. Bonaparte did not find the resources of his courage so severely taxed at Waterloo or Lodi's bridge, as the man, long accustomed to the fatal Aveed, in gathering himself up to cast this devil at his feet. He that conquers here, deserves more credit for genuine valor, than he Avho slaughters thousands and achieves a nation's freedom. If any one should think of heading an army of men, let him see Avheth- er he has courage to govern himself. He that proves himself able to do this, has given the first and most important evidence of ability to command armies. As desperate as must be the battle to over- come tobacco, it is every one's duty to enter the field. The conquest can be made—a vic- tory can be won. Let every man rouse up his latent, sleeping, smothered moral courage, and come to the battle-ground. Let him do it to-day. There must come a now in this matter; procrastination is not only the thief 82 TOBACCO-USING. of time, but, by delay, his own forces are growing Aveaker, and the arm of the enemy is groAving stronger. Many have tried to quit it, but have not succeeded; and Avhy ? Be- cause they only half resolved; resolved merely to try the experiment; and the devil tried against them. The only Avay to conquer this habit is, to be determined, come life or death, they never Avill again put the deadly thing to their lips. While a man is half resolved, the adversary of all good Avill stand at his elboAV, tempting him. And Avhile the half-penitent is writhing under the agonies of denied longings, the tempter Avhispers, " A little tobacco will re- lieve you; a small quid or a single cigar Avill put all right again ;" and unless the resolu- tion has its foundation deep in the soul, the temptation will prevail. But Avhen a man is determined, without mental reservation, to con- quer this besetting sinful lust of the flesh, and give reason and moral principle their sway, that enemy of all righteousness Avill turn on his heel and depart. But while he suffers himself to be led cap- tive by this morbid appetite, he not only yields himself to the Avill of the evil one, but is crushing all the poAvers of his higher na- ture. The higher faculties of his being, like ON MORALITY. 83 the noble Hungarian captives under the heel of Austrian brutality, are subjected to the foulest tyranny of base grovelling lust. TOBACCO ON MORALITY. Habits that tend to degrade the body de- grade the soul. A man's moral tastes will keep pace Avith his physical appetites. By carrying natural appetites beyond their bounds, he Aveakens his control over those propensities of his nature which are right in themselves, but Avhich become vicious and immoral Avhen suffered to overreach their ap- propriate limits. Again, by creating and in- dulging unnatural appetites not furnished by the Creator, but contrary to Nature's laAvs, he may not only look for the various penalties connected with those laAvs, but will find a tendency dowmvard in his appreciation of moral obligations. Licentiousness in eating and drinking pre- pares the way for licentiousness in other things. The effects of gormandizing on the stomach and brain, call into their immediate sympathy, influences that are besotting and demoralizing on mental tastes and habits. The effects of simple or narcotic excitants on the nervous system, create a demand for 84 TOBACCO-USING. other excitements, Avhich can only be satis- fied at the expense of moral principle and obligations to Divine command. Those very things introduced into the stomach, Avhich fret the nerves, corrode, by sympathy, the finer feelings of the heart. By disturbing the equilibrium of physical action, they make turbid and morbid the disposition of the mind. Thus a licentious body will beget a licentious soul. See the insanity of mind and heart pro- duced by alcohol, even on those who do not indulge in continued intoxication. See its morbid influences on the disposition, and on the affections. It blunts the finer feelings of the heart, and turns the affectionate husband, brother, father, into a cold, unfeeling, inatten- tive marble. It makes him prize his drams more than the bread that feeds the inmates of his dwelling. Not less certain is the in- sanity from tobacco. Nay, its sovereign sway is more unyielding. The dram-drinker pos- sibly may be deterred, by the moans of starv- ing children and the tears of a tender Avife and mother, from spending the last sixpence to quench his eager thirst; but let the man who daily lays his money on Tobacco's burn- ing altar find himself unable to furnish a sum sufficient for this, and the supply of the ON MORALITY. 85 requisite quantity of bread for his Avife and children, and the quenchless embers of that fire Avould say, " We must be gratified." With that monster's grasp unclenched, there are no groans or Avoes, no fell disease, no Avithering, gradual, early-coming death, nor tears of Avidowed Avives or hungry orphans' griefs in prospect, that can avail. No pres- ent Avants of those dependent on his purse; no Avarm appeals to parental or connubial love; have eloquence enough to quell the riot- ings of lust, and persuade the Avorshipper of this god to cease this base idolatry, and this human sacrifice. Tobacco blunts the conscience. Appetite and conscience Avould be at Avar in this af- fair, but conscience has lost its poAver; it is noAV seared Avith this scorching, scathing poison. To this form of sin its sensibilities are dead — its perceptive faculties are de- stroyed. The tobacco devotee knoAvs his course is wrong. His judgment, reason, com- mon sense, all conjoin their testimony that this is sin. Yet he heeds it not. Conscience has lost its power of utterance. It takes no just cognizance of the Avrong, and there- fore has no call to speak. The deacon of the church, Avho sees, and rightly too, the 8 86 tobacco-using. sin of even moderate steeping of the soul Avith liquor from the drunkard's cup, disciplines Avith godly fear his brother for his unchris- tian walk, but heeds not the devil's smearings on his own polluted lips. With conscience Avide aAvake to his brother's errings Avith the Aveaker bane, he himself, Avith the stronger poison in his mouth, goes on in sin. He lifts his hand to exclude his incorrigible brother for not Avithholding his lips* from the destroy- ing boAvl; while he himself, unconscience- smitten, champs the accursed Aveed betAveen his teeth, and rolls it as a sweet morsel under his tongue. One excitant, as before stated, creates a de- mand for some other excitant. This explains the origin of the fact that so many bad physi- cal habits become associated. Tobacco pre- pares the Avay for alcohol, by creating a dry, husky, parched feeling in the mouth and throat; and by creating also a sensation of faintness, and Avhat is often called " a gone- ness " at the pit of the stomach. Alcohol creates a demand for tobacco, or some other excitant, in a similar Avay. This mutual re- lationship existing between these articles, makes it extremely important, that Avhen a reform is entertained in regard to any of ON MORALITY. 87 these, all others of this associated family should also be abandoned. Tobacco greatly retards the progress of temperance; and in my opinion that cause can never make much further advancement, until the men Avho advocate it shall put aAvay this deadly thing out of their mouths. Men Avho quit their cups, and still hold on upon their cheAving and smoking, are only about half reformed. They give up their drams, but take the more tobacco. What stimulus they deny themselves in one form, they fully supply in another. What is lost in alcohol, is gained in tobacco. And there is a close re- semblance, in some points, betAveen the two. Delirium tremens has been known to result from the use of tobacco. And Avhile this ex- citant is continued, there is less certainty of the steadfastness of the reformed inebriate. There is great danger that the parched and hankering thirst produced by it, will draw him back to the intoxicating bowl. Wrong physical and bad moral habits clus- ter together. They bear a kindred relation to each other, and generally appear in family groups. Rum and Tobacco long have been as- sociated. They may certainly be called twin- brothers, — nay, more appropriately, twin- ss TOBACCO-USING. devils. And not these two evils only, join their hands: too often are there three that go together in triplet union, especially in the West and South. The three are Rum, To- bacco, and Profanity; indeed, another might be added, Avhich is Gambling. Not all Avho use the one indulge in the others; but gener- ally the foulest words come from the foulest mouths. And from extensive observation through these United States, my settled con- viction is, that RARELY CAN A PROFANE OATH BE FOUND ISSUING FROM A CLEAN MOUTH AND A PURE breath. As a general rule, — a rule Avith too few exceptions — the more reckless the bodily habits, and the larger the quantities of unnat- ural stimulants, the more reckless and pro- fane the Avords that give utterance to the soul. One bad habit makes a pathway for anoth- er. And after a second, there follows a third, a fourth, and onward, till a chain is formed, Avhose clanking sounds make known the resi- dence of a spirit blackened Avith the stains of varied sins. The general standard of virtue Avill rise or fall Avith the comparative eleva- tion or degradation of physical habits. The physical habits of individuals and of nations Avill grade the general level of their virtues. Intelligence and civilization have important bearings on the morals of any people; but by ON MORALITY. 89 no means govern them. A people may be, and have been, very intelligent, and at the same time very wicked. But any people Avho Avill discipline their physical habits into obedience to natural laws, and practise self- denial on unlaAvful appetites, will be found to practise discipline and self-denial in other things. While those Avho know not self-de- nial in their bodily habits, and let the reins of government fall into the hands of unre- strained indulgences of the mouth, are apt to know no self-denial, and no self-control, in other matters. When animal appetites sway the sceptre in one case, the Avay is prepar- ing for this SAvay to be carried in another, and another, till their government becomes universal. Hence, Avhen Ave see individuals who do not practically recognize the duty of self-denial in their physical appetites, we may safely conclude that the standard of moral integrity is in a state of declension — that they do not practise self-denial upon habits Avhich relate to moral character. If parents, especially mothers, to whom is committed, in a large degree, the physical, in- tellectual, and moral growth and soundness of the rising generation, Avould secure in their children right moral habits, let them watch diligently over their physical habits. If they 90 TOBACCO-USING. Avould have them become more eminently moral, they must see that they are accus- tomed to obedience to their physical laws — that they use themselves to right physical habits. The more they are taught to regard the laws Avhich the Creator has given to their bodies, the more they will be likely to regard his moral laws. They Avill also avoid those habits of body Avhich draw after them prac- tices that degrade moral character. Let the mother remember, that Avhile she neglects proper physical education of her children, she is neglecting her main founda- tion on which she may expect to edify them by intellectual and moral training; Avhile she even indulges their right appetites and their digestive organs Avith unnatural things, or Avith good things in an unnatural Avay or degree, she is paralyzing their susceptibilities to moral culture. An irritated stomach will beget an irritable disposition, and blunt the finer sensibilities of the soul. While children are allowed by their parents, or in after life allow themselves, to treat their own health and life in a reckless manner, they prepare the way for being reckless toAvard their fellow- men. This accounts, in a fearful degree, for the apparently low and declining standard of vir- ON MORALITY. 91 tue among us. Who can look upon the pres- ent standard of morality and integrity among the people of our oavh country, in comparison Avith what it Avas half a century or more since, without feeling convinced that it has not risen, but much declined? Did not the early history of our country give far greater signs of a healthful and vigorous state of moral feeling and sentiment, than can be found now? \A here are the men who are ready to endure self-sacrificing toils and hardships for the salvation of their country? Where those ready to dedicate to its Avelfare "their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor"? Where are the men — Avhere their rising race ? and echo answers — Avhere ? But few and far betAveen are they Avho seek not more the promotion of self than their country's good. If Ave look for moral honesty and political integrity among the ranks of politicians, we search for commodities of rare value, because of their great scarcity. Look at the rapid increase of thefts and robberies committed on the treasury of the country, by men holding offices of state. Look at the bickerings of party factions, groAving hotter and hotter with human Avrath. If our country's rights Avere invaded — if her civil rights and religious freedom Avere 92 TOBACCO-USING. threatened with ruin by an inimical nation — it is to be feared that few Avould be found, among the statesmen of this day, Avho would as devoutly lay themselves upon their coun- try's altar, from motives of pure patriotism, as did the pioneers of the Revolution. There are men enough who Avould go to the battle-field, — men enough ready to perpetrate the horrors of war, whether that Avar were right or Avrong, offensive or defensive, avoidable or unavoid- able,—men enough ready to fight; for their habits of life haAre been such as have promoted the Avarring propensities of their natures. Their habits haA^e been adapted to give an over balance of action to the combative and destructive organs of the brain. But the momentous inquiry returns : Avhere are the men like our country's fathers, Avho purchased oux freedom Avith their own blood? where the men Avho Avould come to the rescue; not because they love the fight, but because they love their country's rights 7 Where are the men of high moral worth — men Avith large souls — men in .whom the animal instincts are held in subjection, and sanctified by the higher powers of human nature? These are few, very few, com- pared Avith the men who lived two centuries ago. And where need Ave look for the cause ? ON MORALITY. 93 Where, but to the physical depravity of the age? Here lies the great, if not the sole cause, of this moral declension. By degrading the physical, they have degraded their moral nature. This physical cause does not consist alone in tobacco-using, but in various other unnat- ural indulgences. The Teas and the Cof- fees resemble in their nature and effects the articles Alcohol and Tobacco. They are as truly hurtful, but are not as powerful. Tea intoxicates the nerves, but not to the same degree as spirituous liquors. Coffee possesses a large amount of sedative poison, but not the potency of tobacco. There is no habit of the age, there is no unnatural luxury at- tached to this generation, that is so deadly — so at Avar Avith human vitality — so depre- ciating to the physical, intellectual, and moral soundness of men, as that now under con- sideration. It is the major-general, leading the great army of invaders Avhich array them- selves against human life and human virtue. Our country is increasing in Intelligence, but not in Virtue. These two form the basis of any successful republican government. These are the tAvo great pillars on \vhich such an organization must be founded, in order to endure. One of those is increasing in strength; 94 TOBACCO-USING. but, Avith all due charity, and due allowance for difference of circumstances, are Ave not compelled to think that the other is too fast losing its power? Look not only at men in political life, but men in business life. In these days, Avhere shall Ave find an honest man? We are almost hourly shocked Avith the most unlooked for developments of Avicked- ness lurking where Ave least expected it. We meet with sudden Avrecks of honor here, and of virtue there, Avhich shake the foundations of all human confidence. If there is a decline in the moral standard, the question comes, and should be Avell con- sidered, Avhat are the causes? To show one cause, and a certain one, must now suffice. It is the disregard Avhich the American people pay to the laAvs of physical life. Their reck- lessness of the laws of their own animal life leads to recklessness, of social and moral obligations. While they trample fearlessly upon their own vitality, they grow heartless and improvident of the vital interests of all others. There probably is no nation, con- sidering the light they have, Avhere the stand- ard of moral honesty is so low; and there certainly is no nation, civilized or uncivilized, that is living in so extensive violation of natural law as the Americans. When our ON MORALITY. 95 fathers made bean-porridge their luxury, they enjoyed not only the fruit of that simplicity in their bodily soundness and longevity, but maintained sound and healthful morals. So, if Ave Avould bring back to us the sunny days of that favored period, Ave must bring back its simplicity of living. Parents must accustom their sons and daughters to such physical habits as will, under Providence, give them sound bodies, and they will have compara- tively sound minds and sound morals. Men and Avomen must put aAvay their artificial excitants, that embarrass the healthful func- tions of nature, and mar their bodily, mental, and moral soundness. Tobacco is a prominent member of the family of excitants. It may be said that our fathers used it, and lived a moral life, and to old age. So they did use it to some extent; but their other habits Avere far better than ours; and they used less in quantity, and fewer in number Avere devoted to it, in propor- tion to the population. One bad habit may not at once destroy body or soul. But noAv, this deadly article stands at the head of an army of unhalloAved agencies. It enslaves Avith a more inveterate grasp, and binds Avith more enduring bands, than any other; and draws into its Avake many coadjutors in its 96 TOBACCO-USING. work of physical, mental and moral degrada- tion. To reform these, we must first slay the tyrant that heads the army of our physical foes. TOBACCO ON RELIGION. If paralyzing the native energies of the nervous system can impair mental and moral developments, then tobacco is doing its Avork of destruction on religious character. While it deadens the natural power, stability, and activity, of every nerve in the body, it puts a damper upon the developments of religious sentiment and feeling. Tobacco-users so abuse their spiritual energies in this respect, that they cannot conveniently carry out the form, much less the true spirit, of religious services, without this ungodly agent. A social meeting for religious services, composed of tobacco- users, deprived for several hours of that filthy companion, would be a dreary affair: there Avould be no signs of emotion except those of ungratified lust, and the Devil laughing over the victory he had Avon. A deacon once said to me, in self-defence against my appeals to his conscience on the subject, " If I go to conference or prayer meet- ing Avithout first smoking or taking a chew of tobacco Avith me, I cannot enjoy the meeting; I cannot speak or pray without it; the meet- ON RELIGION. 97 ing passes like a dull and heavy task ; I enjoy none of its exercises; and I long to have it close, that I may procure relief. But Avhen I previously smoke or carry my plug of tobacco with me, I then can enjoy the meeting, can talk and pray, get good and do good, and all goes Avell." My reply, in substance, was this: "Instead, deacon, of going to the social meet- ing under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, depending on its agency to give you enjoy- ment, and freedom of feeling and utterance, you go there leaning on the inspiration of to- bacco — an agency not from above, but from be- neath—one that is 'earthly, sensual, devilish.'" This is a perfect sample of the condition and feeling of thousands; and more or less of all tobacco-users. They so deaden the natural sensibilities of body and mind, by using it, that they are not immediately suscep- tible of the impulses of the Holy Spirit, by which alone a true spirit of devotion and religious enjoyment are induced. Everything to them is insipid and lifeless, Avithout their tobacco. They absolutely depend on its ex- citing properties to give them what they call spiritual life. Unless excited by its immedi- ate use, they come under its paralyzing power, Avhich disqualifies them for any and e-very calling in life. But so far from being 9 98 TOBACCO-USING. under any proper religious feeling, or any in- fluence of Divine energy, they have yielded themselves to the ensnaring and beAvildering excitations of the devil, through his great agent, tobacco. They are in a like condition Avith the liquor-drinker, who, under its excit- ing power, can talk eloquently on religion, and shed alcoholic tears of alternate joy and penitence. The time Avas when the professed minis- ters of Christ were accustomed to make use of the unhallowed inspirations of alcohol to prepare and preach their sermons. Now their eyes are opened to its diabolical agency. No ecclesiastical council would noAv ordain a man Avho Avas addicted to his cups. But Avhile they reject this, many of them hold on to the more deadly and soul-crushing agent, tobacco, — an agent, Avhich, when compared Avith gradual rum-steeping, is making their souls and bodies more perfect slaves to earthly lust. And, besides being a more inveterate enemy to grace, it is a far more filthy sin against God. Now, instead of giving to the mind the un- hallowed inspirations of the intoxicating drink, they give themselves to the inspiring properties of tobacco. The more intently they study, the more they cheAv and smoke the deadly stuff. Instead of denying the ON RELIGION. 99 flesh, that the Divine agency may fill the heart, quicken the mind, and guide the thought, they so indulge this sensual appetite as to paralyze the finer susceptibilities of the soul, and, in a degree, shut out. the Spirit of God. For tobacco and the Holy Ghost can no more dwell together in the same person, than the Holy Ghost and alcohol. The tobacco more effectually and permanently bars out the Spirit from the inner temple of the man, than alcohol in moderation, because of its pro- tracted sedative influences, Avhich the former does not possess. And it not only embar- rasses the indAvelling of the Spirit, by becloud- ing the man's inner temple, but by defiling the outer temple. The Spirit of God not only chooses a pure heart, freed from the stains of unhallowed lusts, but a body free from the literal defilement of gross indifference and filthy physical habits. While the mind occupies its earthly taber- nacle, its vigor and activity depend much upon the healthy state of the vital forces. Consequently, Avhen those vital forces are impaired, mental energy and durability are diminished. Our religious enjoyment and usefulness depend much on a healthful con- dition of the mental faculties. When the vital forces are depressed, comparative gloom- 100 TOBACCO-USING. iness hangs over the mental and spiritual energies. In this Avay, spiritual despondency, or apathy, or both, are general attendants on a depressed state of the nervous system. Whatever, therefore, depresses the vital or electric forces of the body, depresses the forces of the soul. Tobacco's most destructive thrust is hurled at the very seat of vitality — the electric circulation of the nervous system. Here is its chief work of destruction to the body. And, while doing this, it is jostling the equilibrium and power of the mind, and destroying the vigor and animation of the soul. The dream of an elderly lady may pos- sibly illustrate this truth. She Avas professedly very pious, but alloAved, for many years, her devotions to her pipe, like thousands in the church, to exceed her devotions to God. She Avas more sure not to forget her vows to this carnal appetite, than not to neglect her closet for prayer. One night she dreamed of an aerial flight to the regions of the spirit Avorld, where not only her eyes could feast on the beauties of elysian fields, but where she could converse with perfected spirits. One of these she asked to go and look for her name in the Book of Life. He complied; but at length returned, Avith a sad countenance, saying it ON RELIGION. 101 Avas not there. Again she besought him to go, and search more thoroughly. After a more lengthy examination, he returned Avithout finding it. ■ She Avept bitterly. But she could not rest till a third search should be made. After a long and anxious absence, he returned Avith a brightened countenance, saying it had, after great labor, been found; but that so deep Avas the covering which years of tobacco-smoke had laid over it, that it was with great difficulty that it could be discerned. She aAvoke, and found herself prostrated with Aveeping. It is not for me to say whether there Avas, or Avas not, any Divine instruction in this dream; but it produced in the old lady a repentance from her evil habits, and a pious resolution henceforward to give unto God, not a divided, but a whole heart — to cast the idol at her feet, and lay no more of her time, and money, and vital energies, upon its unholy altar. Tobacco stands in the way of Gospel im- pressions on the mind of unconverted men. It not only dampens Christian love and zeal, and lessens the spiritual enterprise of the church, but blunts the mental susceptibility of those Avho have never knoAvn the power of Divine grace. Any artificial excitement cre- 9* 102 TOBACCO-USING. ates a barrier to impressions from the Holy Spirit. Alcoholic liquors, or opium, or any other excitants of like character, form insuper- able obstacles to saving grace. Take two individuals alike in every respect, except that one narcotizes himself habitually Avith tobacco, and the one who is free from the habit, would be found far more impressible, under Divine influences, than the other. This Avould be found true, whether these influences Avere bestowed Avhile the subject Avas under its immediately exciting properties, or under its ultimate narcotism. That this poison ob- structs the intercourse of the Spirit, seems practically admitted by the generality of tobacco-using professors ; for, as they "are about to enter upon the duty of prayer, they ahvays cast away their quid. They seem intuitively conscious that tobacco and the Spirit have no affinity. Therefore, when they are about to pray, they cast this devil out of their mouth. The time is coming, and Ave may hope near at hand, Avhen the church will Avake up on this matter; Avhen no one will be received into the church Avho defiles his body, the temple of God, Avith tobacco; Avhen it Avill be considered as truly wrong to paralyze the mind and soul Avith this poison, as to weaken ON RELIGION. 103 their powers by alcohol. The time is doubt- less not far distant, Avhen .no ecclesiastical council will ordain one Avho brutalizes his nature Avith this deadly thing. No man can conscientiously or effectively preach on the duty of self-denial, Avhile he is giving the lie to all that he can say, by such an unnatural indulgence. Nor could he consistently preach on the duty of saving money for charitable purposes, Avhile he was Avasting his oavii money for such unhallowed uses. Wrhat would be the effect of a man's preach- ing from the text, "Abstain from fleshly lusts Avhich Avar against the soul," on the mind of an enlightened, common-sense congregation, with a plug of tobacco in his mouth, or being knoAvn as a smoker or snuffer of the Aveed ? While he calls on them to put away unholy appetites, and save their money for the altar of Christ, he must put that most unholy and expensive oral lust forever from him. And while he would gain access to the hearts of an idolatrous Avorld around him, he must persuade his church, Avho are the epistles of his min- istry, to put aAvay that idol Avhich adheres closest to the flesh. For unconverted men Avill have \rery little confidence in the sin- cerity of ministers or churches, Avith all their professions of love for lost men, Avhile they see, 104 TOBACCO-USING. by demonstrative facts, that they will give more money, on an average, for a plug of Cavendish or a Principe, than to save a soul from hell. If the money spent by the church for this object, could be spent for Bibles and their distribution, Avhat a mighty enlargement of means Avould at once be brought, to bear upon the extension of Gospel light! Tobacco costs the church, every year, more than five times as much money as is collected for sending abroad Gospel light into a be- nighted Avorld. Nor is this expenditure simply a Avaste of the pecuniary means of the church, crippling its financial strength, but a Avaste of time, and talent, and moral poAver. And if Ave reckon only the Avaste of money, Avhile so much is needed for extending the triumphs of the cross, it reflects shame and dis- grace on the whole Christian church. To think that the means for sending the Gospel to all the Avorld Avould be more than five times Avhat they iioav are, if the money paid for tobacco by professors of Christianity, were cast into the Gospel treasury, is enough to chill one's blood to the heart. O, shame on the church for their stupidity and sin, touching this thing ! Instead of loving Christ and his Gospel Avith all the heart, and denying themselves every needless thing, especially every Avorldly lust ON RELIGION. 105 and ungodly indulgence, in order to increase the Gospel fund, they are Avasting money, time, and energies, for that "earthly, sensual, devilish" appetite for tobacco. They are, also, by their example, encouraging others in a habit Avhich helps to close the avenues of the soul against the saAring poAver of the Gos- pel ; and are practically saying to ungodly men, that the self-denial of unnatural lusts is a non-essential or an impracticable grace. The literal defilements of tobacco hin- der the progress of Divine truth. Instances have occurred, in times of religious revivals, Avhere individuals Avho Avere occupying the position of inquirers, Avere so disturbed Avith the tobacco breath of the minister or deacon, who Avas conversing Avith them on the sub- ject, that they have made this objection against putting themselves any longer in the seat of the inquirers. O, let ministers and deacons put away a breath Avhich resists the Holy Ghost, and nauseates the subjects of its convicting power ! The devil casts infernal smiles on those professors Avho champ and puff this deadly essence ; not merely because it paralyzes physical energy and shortens human life, but because it stupefies the native susceptibilities of the mind, and blunts the soul to the moral suasions of Heaven. Nay, 106 TOBACCO-USING. he triumphs Avhile he knows that its nauseous fumes choke up the gateway that leads to the kingdom of Christ, and become a "stench in the nostrils of Jehovah." The time has certainly come Avhen men possessing intelligence and a spirit of human- ity,— men desiring the promotion of virtue and religion, and especially men professing Christianity, — should Avake up to this matter, and commence a reform. In this, as in every other moral enterprise, the church ought to take the lead. It is a lamentable fact—one that should bring theblushings of shame upon the face of Zion — that, in some of the most worthy enterprises of moral reforms that have ever come to the help of humanity and of God, the church have been among the last that have put their hands to the work. Men of the Avorld, Avho cared not for Christ or his kingdom, began and carried on the effort, till the current became so strong, that those Avho professed the name of Christ must either suffer themselves to be disgraced, or get aboard the life-boat and ply the oar. Heaven grant that the dense, dark cloud that hangs over the moral vision of the Avorld, on this sub- ject, may first break away from before the mind of the church! Let them become in this mat- ter "a peculiar people, zealous of good works." ON RELIGION. 107 Let the ministers of Christ aAvake. Let their condemning testimony be duly given in their preaching; — ay, first let them cleanse their own mouths, if need be, from this un- godly filthiness; and then, Avith eloquence, portray the evils of this vice. And let the church sustain them by example and pre- cept in this labor. If any one has become so blinded by habits that stupefy the moral sense, that they cannot see, let them resolve, at least, that they never will put this thing to their lips again till they have gone to their closets and asked counsel of God. Does any one think that tobacco Avould ever have be- come a luxury to Adam and his posterity, if the primitiAre state had been maintained ? Does any one suppose that, if Christ Avere noAV personally upon earth, he Avould be found putting the deadly thing to his lips? If not, then let his followers cease to defile them- selves with it. And let them Avipe off the dark stains of their sin in this indulgence, Avhich they have hitherto left upon their house dedicated to the hallowed purpose of Divine Avorship. Let Satan hencefonvard be unable to track his dirty customers Avhere\Ter they go, and especially to know their steps in the house of God by their marks Avhich they leave upon it. Hoav would Paul, and Peter, and John 108 TOBACCO-USING. look, standing up now among the people in the house of God, with quids of tobacco in their mouths, Avith its juices defiling their lips, spitting the stuff in every direction, spending ten or twenty dollars of their stinted salary, every year, on this besotting, enslaving sin, and preaching the doctrine of self-denial, cru- cifixion of the flesh, pecuniary economy, and liberal support of the Lord's treasury ? How would they and the primitive church look, devoutly spitting over the house of God, and leaving the marks of their debasing habit on every side of them ? Could any one consider their devotion to such a fleshly, lustful habit, a mark of deep sanctification of the Holy Ghost, and profound consecration to Christ? And is the habit among modern professors of Christianity any less in conflict with true godliness than it would have been in primi- tive times ? Such a habit would have scan- dalized the Avhole primitive church : and it is a living scandal on modern Zion. To see church-members, professing to deny them- selves of all ungodliness and vvorldly lust, carrying this satanic agent of human lust and self-destruction in their mouths, and leaving the sure marks of their physical, mental and spiritual degradation on everything within their reach, reflects shame, and disgrace, and ON RELIGION. 109 hypocrisy, upon the whole modern church. All enlightened common sense must see that it is not only an indulgence which is supremely foolish, but that which Avars against the soul and the salvation of men. How annoying to a decent man to be seated in the church beside a tobacco-user, who is continually vomiting up his foul decoction at his feet! The liquid filth of a sty could scarce- ly present a more loathsome spectacle. The pourings-forth of this foul syrup from his mouth, Avhich floods the floor or covers the box devoted to its reception, together Avith the splashings and spatterings Avhich are the una- voidable accompaniments, are quite enough to spoil the best sermon that could be preached, if not capsize the stomach of every unfortunate beholder. The dresses of ladies and the hats of gentlemen are generally compelled to share in the besmearings of the operation. Especial- ly, if a lady Avould bow in prayer upon the kneeling-stool, the folds of her dress must be dipped in the fountain that has fallen from the tobacco-mill by her side. In view of these truths, which no one can intelligently gainsay, the church ought at once to aAvake to the dreadful evil. Let those Avho not only love humanity, but the cause 10 110 TOBACCO-USING. of God, take a decided stand against this enemy to the physical, intellectual and spiritual Avel- fare of the Avorld. Let them say to this de- stroyer Avithin their precincts, "Thus far shalt thou go, and no further." This decisive stand should be taken by every present user of the article. Let each determine that this indecency, and this sin against Christ and his cause, shall no longer be found upon him. And having Avashed his oavii soul and body from these stains, let him endeavor to rescue others from the grasp of this tyrant. But this should be done in the spirit of Christian meekness and love. We must re- member that the progress of all moral improve- ment depends on the progress of light. By the light Avhich we have to-day, we may too severely condemn the position of some one who yet is encompassed in our own yester- day's darkness. Before we censure, we should throw light and moral suasion around those Avhom we Avould win to paths of righteous- ness. If. after all due light and entreaties, some Avill continue slaves to fleshly lusts, we must condemn and deliver them over to the buffetings of Satan on earth, and the judg- ment of God in eternity. Some are so \Aredded to unnatural and un- godly habits, that it may be found impossible ON RELIGION. Ill to approach them Avith light upon their sins, without giving offence. Whoever makes war on created appetites, must expect often to find his hand thrust into a Avasp's nest, and stung by Avay of their making self-defence. But this should never intimidate him Avho puts forth his energies for the spread of truth. The fact that men get angry Avhen Ave kindly but promptly describe their vices, furnishes incontestable proof of internal, though perhaps unrecognized, consciousness that the truth is against them. When the devotees of tobacco become moAred Avith Avrath against those who J exhibit the realities of such idolatry, it sIioavs the devil is disturbed, and is trying to defend his habitation. This should encourage, rather than intimidate, the advocate of reform; be- cause Satan has too much common sense to be disturbed, except Avhen his castle is really in danger. Let me say again, Let the church wake up! They are more firmly Avedded to this de- basing idol than to anything else on earth or in heaven. To be gratified in this lust is a greater desideratum to its devotee than any other attainment. Every Christian is certainly bound to be a decent man. But in this he makes a perfect sacrifice of decency to pamper his lust. For no man can be decent, and 112 TOBACCO-USING. defile his mouth and his breath, his exterior person, and those around him, with such foul besmearings. Every servant of Christ is bound, ex officio^ to be, in the choicest sense of the term, a gen- tleman. But no man can be strictly a gentle- man in the use of tobacco. Aside from the fashionableness ofthe thing, Avhich, of course, does not change its real character, the habit would be considered by all, one of the greatest outrages on civilization and gentlemanly con- duct. The constant spitting of the filthy juice; daubing of floors, carpets, Avails, dresses, and the faces of spittors and spit- tees ; and the beclouding and adulterating of the atmosphere, together with the suffocating puffs in the face, which is a perfect nuisance to the lovers of pure air, — are considerations quite sufficient to keep a man of such habits from ever being graduated a gentleman. Christians should be lovers of humanity. After the example of the Divine Pattern, they should go about doing good, by relieving hu- man suffering. But tobacco makes a stronger draft upon their affections and their funds than human sympathy. There is many a man Avho would see widows and orphans, and even his own Avife and children, suffer long for Avant of bread to eat, rather than leave off ON RELIGION. 113 tobacco, if he had no other means, and devote toe money for its purchase to their supply of food. This is a startling, and yet a tangible truth; and one which should look every tobac- co-slave in the face. Nine out of ten would sooner endure the sight of starvation in others, than the teasings of this denied lust. Let ten men devoted to tobacco visit the dwellings of the poor in company; let them look into the cottage of the poor widow: she and her orphan children are gathered around a feAv expiring embers in mid-winter's even- ing, all shivering with the increasing cold, and in prospect of freezing to death. They ate the last morsel of bread in their dwelling for breakfast —have nothing left, and are in prospect of starvation. These men, who are accustomed to lay their money on Tobacco's foul altar, look on, and pity, so far as a nar- cotized soul can be made to feel; but, rely upon it, if their only means of giving relief was forever to abandon this destroyer, and cast a portion of their money saved, into the trembling hand of this suffering Avidow, for herself and orphan babes, nine out of ten of these idol Avorshippers, if not ten out of ten, Avould pass on and let them perish. O human nature! how deeply hast thou fallen! into Avhat appalling slavery hast thou sold thyself! 10* 114 TOBACCO-USING. unto Avhat degrading idolatry hast thou aban- doned thy soul! But more than this. They love this idol- god more than they do the Author of their salvation, and the souls for whom He died. Instead of loving God Avith all the heart, they love tobacco with supreme attachment, and lay a far greater offering upon its altar of incense than upon the altar of Christ. As already stated, the American church is paying five times as much money for this needless, hurtful indulgence, as they are paying for the spread of Gospel light and the salvation of benighted men, at home and abroad. By their example, they are leading the rising gen- eration into a destructive habit; Avhich engen- ders other physical and moral vices; and Avhich, in itself, as also'its associates, tends to shield the heart against Gospel grace, and shut its victims out of the kingdom of heaven. To illustrate the fact that Christian tobacco- users— if the terms are not incongruous—■ are more attached to this idol than they are to the cause of Christ, the case of a church in Texas, which Avas related to me when there, will be found appropriate. A small church, of some fifty members, made an effort to supply their village Avith Gospel preaching. To meet this demand re- ON RELIGION. 115 quired the sum of three hundred dollars to be subscribed. They succeeded in raising two hundred, but the remaining one hundred could not be secured; and for want of this, the place remained destitute of preaching. On examin- ation, it was found that in that church there were twenty male members who used each, on an average, twenty dollars' Avorth of to- bacco annually — making collectively the sum of four hundred dollars paid out annually for their supply of this destroyer of body and soul. This shows, by mathematical demonstra- tion, the comparative estimate in Avhich they held the preaching of the Gospel for them- selves and the community, and their carnal gratifications with tobacco. While they did not love Christ, and his truth, and the salva- tion of souls, enough to raise another hundred dollars, they did think their unnatural fleshly gratifications Avorth four times that sum; they loved tobacco more than four times as much as they did the glory of Christ in the eternal salvation of men. This is not to be reckoned an isolated case. This only illustrates a general rule, which has few exceptions. The churches generally, throughout the land, are Avorshipping this loathsome idol Avith more zeal and steadfast- ness than they are the God of heaven. The 116 TOBACCO-USING. proportion of money, which cannot be less than $5,000,000 annually, together Avith the sacrifice of time and health and life, compared with the offerings made to God^ shows forth this soul-chilling truth in dreadful certainty. O! let the church up and shake herself from the grasp of this foe that has enslaved her! Let her Avash herself from the stains of his polluting touch. Let her put aAvay this " superfluity of naughtiness," this Avorldly lust which Avars against the soul. Hoav can a Christian pray for God to sanctify him Avholly, — body, soul and spirit, — Avhile he is habitu- ally indulging an unnatural appetite, which paralyzes the body, animalizes the mind, and carnalizes the heart? How can he ask Heaven to give him means for sustaining the various Gospel enterprises, Avhile he is worse than Avasting many times as large a sum as he now contributes for such purposes? Hoav can he ask for the agency of Divine inspiration to make his instrument- alities effective in Avinning men to the Cross, and the crucifixion ofthe flesh, Avhile he him- self is serving a fleshly lust, which drives aAvay the Holy Ghost from his own soul, and is set- ting an example of devotion to carnality which turns all his zeal into mockery? How can he pray for health and life for any ON RELIGION. 117 purpose, Avhile he is counteracting both, by a habit Avhich is striking deadly bloAVS at the very foundation of his vitality? In short, ho\v can he pray for anything, Avhile he keeps companionship with vagabonds and human brutes, and is harboring in his mouth Satan's chief agent in defacing the image of God? Let him cleanse his mouth and breath from its corruption, purge his conscience from its guilt, and then his prayers may avail. 118 TOBACCO-USING. ITS BEAUTIES. Under this division of the subject, in Avhich the term "beauties" is, of course, used ironi- cally, it is intended to present in some degree what is truly ludicrous in regard to this habit. These beauties are considered as Personal, Social, Domestic, and Public ornaments in practical life. PERSONAL BEAUTIES. You can generally detect a tobacco-cheAver as far as you can distinctly see him. One side of his face will stick out with unnatural fulness. He has a treasure deposited there Avhich he values above gold : a treasure which he will scarcely exchange for health or longevity, intellect or morality, Avealth or hu- manity. And Avhile, under its influence, one side of his visage is groAving lank, the other is puffing out Avith gradual enlargement, by increase in the size of the quid. How avoii- derfully a large plug stuck in the face adds to the beauty and manliness of the countenance ! PERSONAL BEAUTIES. 119 While he champs the precious Aveed like the steed champing his bits, he, like him, feels the inspiring impression of his own dignity, and struts to display his physical consequence. Every dignified cheAV he gives is another proof that he is a man of function, and is occupied Avith an honorable calling. And this inspiration of personal consequence is contagious. The boys in the streets think that, to promote the grace of early manhood, they too must swell the face, and chew the cud, and spit the delicious fluid. Another means of recognition of tobacco- chewers at first sight is, the sign Avhich they hang outside of the face. They generally carry the "mark ofthe beast" on the outside of the mouth. They hang out a kind of tav- ern sign at each corner of the mouth, some- times extending the Avhole length and breadth of the chin, which reads, Avhen duly inter- preted, Inn for Tobacco. So full is the pre- cious stuff of delicious sweetness, and so ample the joy it gives to the refined and delicate soul of its possessor, that the juices and their joys involuntarily run over and spew out of his mouth. At the same time that it fills and rejoices the soul, it beautifies and ornaments the body. Out of the abun- dance of the heart, the mouth overflows. It 120 TOBACCO-USING. gives an exterior proof of internal delight, Avhich is far more convincing than all that words could possibly utter. Its strongly- marked and deeply-dyed lines and coatings are but so many testimonials of its internal virtues. That must be an insane taste that cannot appreciate such delights and such ornaments. That face that does not carry ample tobacco- marks, is so out of keeping with the customs and improvements ofthe age, that it can only be accounted a speckled bird in the flock. It shoAvs the indwelling of a soul that knows little of the realities and decorations of civil- ized life. To be sure, if a man, in eating his dinner, Avere to mark his external face with his grease and gravies, it might, Avith justice, be condemned; but food, Avhich is only intended for the mere nourishment of the body, is not to be compared to this spiritualiz- ing, soul-charming luxury, which magnetizes man's higher nature. Ay, it not only electri- fies his soul, but actually creates soul, Avhere there is a natural deficiency. There are some Avho are evidently entirely dependent on this creative power: men Avho have no souls except what is furnished by the creative func- tions of tobacco. They Avould remain on a level with the brute creation, Avere it not for PERSONAL BEAUTIES. 121 the elevating power of that which brutes never presume to eat. When, therefore, Ave see a man's face well stuffed within, and duly besmeared Avithout, so that his chin becomes an island, surrounded by two rivers of tobacco- syrup, Ave should reverence him as making his very best endeavors to elevate himself in the scale of being. Did the remark escape me that brutes neArer presume to encroach on the rights of higher beings, by using this luxury ? This is true as a general rule — a rule almost univer- sal. Their instinct teaches them better than to intrude on that Avhich nature never intended them to use. The SAvine of the mire Avould degrade himself, were he to infringe upon this law of nature. The dog Avould loAver his canine dignity, Avere he to attempt to orna- ment his mouth Avith such unnatural embel- lishments. While this habit Avould degrade the dignity and the reputation of the dog and the swine — Avhile to have them chewing and speAving over all the beauties of creation, would be exceedingly annoying to all the Avorld—it elevates man, by removing his juve- nile greenness, and putting on the essential and indispensable finish of a gentleman. So entirely out of character Avould it be for a dog to undertake to be a gentleman in this 11 122 TOBACCO-USING. way, and so intolerable Avould be his exhi- bitions of the Aveed, Avith the gravy thereof drizzling from his mouth, that the OAvner of the dog, even Avere he a cheAver himself, would turn him out of his house, and even shoot him if he should ever attempt to return. He would say, " I cannot have my dog fol- loAving my example." There are, however, as before mentioned, two animals, besides man, which have at- tempted to elevate themselves in this Avay to the level of the human species. These tAVo are the Rock Goat of Africa, and the To- bacco-Avorm of the South. The goat pos- sesses a bodily flavor Avhich prepares it for association Avith those who create on them- selves the tobacco stench. The smell of this goat is so perfectly terrible, that no other dumb animal Avill ever associate Avith it. The very atmosphere, for a distance around, is deeply tainted Avith his effluvia. His Avhole visage, also, is disgusting. All this precisely quali- fies him to be classed and associated Avith those users of tobacco, Avho, by some mistake, go upon two feet, instead of four. A mouth Avhose outside not only carries the beslaverings of the luscious stuff, but Avhose inside looks like a cage of unclean birds, or a seAver Avith its filth choked up, makes any PERSONAL BEAUTIES. 123 human visage, in point of beauty, closely allied to that of the goat. And his breath is well adapted to be on equality Avith its stench. Indeed, the whole atmosphere around him, from the fumes of his breath and his smoke, must be remarkably adapted to coincide Avith this great and wonderful goatish stenchifica- tion. The Tobacco-worm also comes in for per- sonal introduction and fraternal membership in this tobacconization society. He comes, with his dingy green hue and his vermicular gait, and knocks for admittance at the door of the common brotherhood, saying, "I too love tobacco, and am come for a share in its ecstatic beatifications." Such a request Avould be so appropriate that it could not be denied. And it has long been my sincere desire that these three divisions of animals, might not only belong to one general society, but also have some local paradise by them- selves, and dwell together so long as their to- bacconization affinity shall last; so that they could mutually enjoy the full benefits of their OAvn flavored atmosphere, Avithout the intru- sion of those who did not contribute to its sweetness — so that these two-footed, four- footed, and no-footed animals, might share in each other's variegated and yet harmonious 124 TOBACCO-USING. profusion of personal beauties; and so that all the rest of the Avorld, AA'hose nasal and ocular tastes Avere so far uneducated and perverse, that they could never enjoy such a paradise, might have this loAver Avorld Avholly to them- selves, and leave the lovers of the Aveed alone in their glory. What a world of dazzling glories that Avould be, Avhere the lovers of tobacco could dwell at leisure, and feast all their senses on its exalted beauties ! Where the olfactory per- ceptions of all could go from stench to stench, and be gratified Avith their harmonious vari- ety; Avhere the eye could rest upon the alternate beauties of drizzling mouths and faces, painted carpets and floors, decorated spittoons and boxes, filled with cast-oft* quids and gravy; and where none but smiling coun- tenances could be seen behind the dense clouds of curling smoke, denoting the absence of the wry faces and the sickening groans of those who Avere never converted to the tobacco faith. Where the entire occupation of the favored inhabitants of this paradisiacal city, could ever be chew, and spew, and puff eter- nally. And where the refuse and surplus of the charming Aveed, Avhich the mouth Avas unable to contain, might be stowed into the nasal depository, and thence be carried into PERSONAL BEAUTIES. 125 the skull, to occupy the vacuum made by the absence of brain. Where goat, and Avorm, and human brute, could join hands in common brotherhood and mutual sympathy forever. And Avhere snuffing and puffing, chewing and speAving, make the beauty of the body and the feast of the soul. The mere smoking of tobacco is a great per- sonal accomplishment. Smoking and chew- ing make a sort of double accomplishment, in etiquette and gentility; and smoking, chewing, and snuffing, may certainly be styled triplet finishings of a gentleman. There are but feAV that can reach this ex- treme height of personal perfection. But a gentleman Avho will put on these three stand- ard embellishments, certainly stands at the head of fashion for personal gentility, and deserves to bear the credit of a gentleman of the highest style. No one could Avell excel him in claims to such a rank. A gentleman with a plug stuck in one side of the mouth, and a cigar genteelly poised in the opposite side, Avith fire burning at one end and a fool sucking and puffing at the other, and then the nose bestud inside and out with rich gems from the golden powder of the weed, is cer- tainly completing the climax of high personal quality. 11* 126 TOBACCO-USING. But smoking alone is no small evidence of personal importance. Every young man who Avants to make a figure in the world, should not fail to acquaint himself Avith the art of smoking. When he has so perfected it, that he can carry a cigar Avith becoming style, — poising it betAveen the first and second fingers, reserving the third to brush the ashes dexterously from the end of the burning roll, and genteelly forming one corner of his mouth into a kind of chimney for letting off the smoke, — he has added much to his personal dignity. Before this, he was, perhaps, able to pass only for a common man, or a mere boy; but now he can surely rise to perfect manhood, and become an associate Avith the dignitaries of the earth. Between the peri- odical discharges of smoke from the chim- ney of his face, he can utter bright thoughts and Avise sayings. He can talk largely of the rise and fall of stocks and merchandise; the political interests and conflicts of the nation, and the progressive and retrograde movements of the governments of the world. Like each draught from the bacchanalian fountain, each puff of the inspiring weed, quickens mental perception, and enlarges thought. It gives enlarged views of his good condition in life, and makes him abundantly PERSONAL BEAUTIES. 127 satisfied with himself. The veriest vagabond or blackguard on the earth can thus elevate himself to the highest rank. SOCIAL BEAUTIES. Tobacco makes an indispensable ornament in social life. The eye of one Avho has been sufficiently educated to appreciate such orna- ments, cannot fail to be delighted Avith the luscious gushings forth of this rich fluid from the mouth of an associate, Avhether it comes in regular, periodical, and oft-repeated projec- tions upon the floor, carpet, or elseAvhere around him, or sIioavs itself in splendid droolings from the corners of the mouth. Any one Avho is fond of the rich syrup of tobacco, cannot but admire to Avitness its dec- oration upon his neighbor's face. It tends to raise him in his estimation, as a man of con- sequence, of taste, neatness and gentility, and a member of the tobacco aristocracy. He admires to Avitness its golden lustre shining upon his beard, upon the corners of his cra- vat, the bosom of his shirt, and on other parts of his dress. He loves to catch an opportu- nity to look into his mouth, and admire the richness of unction Avhich pervades it. Hav- 128 TOBACCO-USING. ing a fancy for the juices of the weed, he ad- mires the fashion of the mill that grinds it. There are, to be sure, some few drawbacks upon this source of social enjoyment. There is no earthly pleasure Avithout some detrac- tions. Notwithstanding the real enjoyments referred to, there is constant danger, Avhile Ave are thus associated and delighted, of being spit upon. This often becomes truly annoying to one Avho admires the ornaments of the weed as seen upon others, rather than upon himself. Several times, since travelling and lecturing on this subject, has it been my lot to experi- ence something of this sort. Once, while pass- ing rapidly through the railroad depot in Buf- falo, N. Y., a tobacco-cheAver, standing by, got just ready to deliver himself of a small half-pint of his pumice and its syrup, and spewed the whole of it upon me. He Avas very sorry for the accident; but this did not clean it from my dress. As much as this rich dye-stuff is admired by me, ornamenting the mouth, face and garments of my associates, yet it is impossible for its lustrous beauty to shine as brilliantly upon my own person as upon that of another. At another time, in Illinois, Avhile convers- ing Avith an elderly devotee to this method of personal decoration, and extending my hand SOCIAL BEAUTIES. 129 toward him, he, in the act of delivering his mouth of a surplus of tobacco-cordial, covered the entire back of my hand Avith it. He Avas very much mortified, but did not think even to lend me his own pocket-handkerchief with Avhich to Avipe it off. Again, while in Texas, a similar incident occurred. While in conver- sation Avith a Avorshipper of the Aveed, — for there Avere scarcely any other men in that region to associate with, — he had, of course, occasion to empty his mouth, to enable him to talk; and in doing so, he let down a heavy aA'alanche of his oral mixture squarely upon my nicely-polished boot. He did not perceive the occurrence; therefore he had not the priv- ilege of comforting my affliction by a "Beg your pardon." A professor in a western college related to me the folloAving. He Avas travelling in com- pany Avith a clerical brother. They stopped to spend the Sabbath, and the professor Avas invited to preach in the evening. His brother in the ministry. Avho Avas a practical admirer of tobacco and its fruits, Avas Avith him in the desk. The professor set his hat—a neAV one— at the end of the pulpit sofa; and while preach- ing, saAV his brother, avIio Avas near-sighted, so that he mistook the hat for a spit-box, de- livering the contents of his mouth every mo- 130 TOBACCO-USING. ment into his hat. But he was obliged to sub- mit to the process. It Avould not do to make an apostrophe in his sermon, by saying, "Don't spit your vile stuff* into my hat!" So he bore it like a saint, and let his brother spit away — casting into this new-fashioned spittoon, not only the syrup from his poAverful tobacco-mill, but cud after cud of the solid refuse. Think Avhat a hat the professor had, Avhen the meeting closed! He found a large proportion of a quart of the offals and juices of the stuff in his hat, and strewed all over its outside. He threw the hat aAvay, and Avent home bare-headed. His brother being unable, either through poverty, to pay damages, hav- ing spent all his money for tobacco, or from obtuse sense of moral obligation, produced by this stupefying habit, the professor was obliged to proAade for himself a new hat, Avith money from his oavu pocket. Sometimes chewers unluckily spit on them- selves. A minister of rather eccentric genius, who Avas accustomed frequently to preach on the sin of intemperance, rum-selling, and of all literal as well as moral impurity, in vieAv of their social offensiAreness, and their connec- tion Avith personal degradation, and especially their fearful blottings on Christian character, — Avas riding to his parish church, on Sabbath SOCIAL BEAUTIES. 131 morning, on horseback. He Avas quite re- markable for his neatness in dress, but used no ornament, except that of a plug of tobacco in his mouth, and that in as secret a manner as practicable. This he had several times been tempted to put away, fearing it might lessen the force of his preaching against intem- perance, uncleanness, idolatry and lusts. He had prepared himself to preach from a text found in Hab. 2: 16. "And shameful spewing shall be on thy glory;" in which his object Avas to apply this prophetic declaration to the church, and show in Avhat ways she Avas defiling the purity of that character Avhich she ought to sustain, in order to be the light of the Avorld and the salt of the earth. He Avas riding against a strong current of wind; and as his mouth grew burdensome Avith fulness of the liquid unction of that god Avhose in- spiration his masticating powers were ardent- ly seeking, in order to help him preach, he tried to relieve himself by letting some of its extra solids and fluids fall to the ground. And as his mouth poured forth its contents, there rushed a gale of Avind, and carried the whole of it upon his siioav-white shirt-bosom. In this painful condition, he knew not Avhat to do. He had not time to go back and change bis dress. He had almost reached the church, 132 TOBACCO-USING. and the time for service had arrived. He therefore took out his handkerchief, — a clean Avhite one, and the only one he had Avith him, — and wiped off the defilement as much as possible, but it left his bosom in complete ruins. For a moment, he held up his horse, and ru- minated in mind and mouth, to contrive Avhat to do. "Why," said he, "if I go looking so, the people will surely say I am a living illus- tration of my text; and that shameful spewing has already come on my glory. TheyAvill say that all my reputation for preaching tem- perance and cleanliness by word and example, is sadly besmeared; that my glory is spewed over." Finally, he concluded his only hope consist- ed in putting his handkerchief into his bosom; but this also was now bedaubed. But he found one side Avith a small space only slight- ly defiled, covered his bosom Avith it, and rode on. He then was tempted to dismiss such an inconvenient companion as tobacco. But a certain angel, apparently an " angel of light," seemed to Avhisper in his ear, "Not noAv; you can't preach Avithout the unction; if your in- spiration is gone, all is gone." He therefore chewed the harder, spurred his horse, and rode the faster. He \vent into the desk, Avith his stains covered up. He Avent on preaching SOCIAL BEAUTIES. 133 from his text, "And shameful spewing shall be on thy glory." ToAvard the close of his sermon he got somewhat heated up with narcotic fervor; and as the essential oil of his zeal began to be in danger of spattering and oozing out at the corners of his mouth, he unconsciously plucked his handkerchief from his bosom, wiped his face, and preached on, holding his handker- chief in his hand, as he Avas accustomed to do, in its obvious defilement. He finished his pathetic and eloquent discourse by exhorting his people most earnestly never to let the enemy of all souls lead them to stain their garments; but to keep them pure and white, and spotless from shameful pollution. He sat doAvn, as he thought, in his glory; but oh, hoAV did he feel when he saw he had exposed to the Avhole congregation the shame of his own filth! His bosom and handkerchief had pro- nounced his sermon either a farce or sheer hypocrisy. He felt to say to his tormenting thoughts, in the language of Job to his com- forters, " Let me alone till I swalloAV my spit- tle." He never more indulged that lust of the flesh. Many other incidents of the kind have either become matters of personal experience 12 134 TOBACCO-USING. or observation. These things, hoAvever, can, of course, be annoying to those only, Avho are so far behind the times in point of civilization and social qualifications, as not to use this kind of decoration. Those who delight in the luxuries of tobacco, can never be annoyed by any contributions of this sort from their neighbors. How pleasant to one Avho loves to have its juices not only in his face, but upon its outside, to receive a feAv spatterings from his neighbor's lips while spitting against the wind in the street, or in the railroad cars in full motion! In this Avay, by the kind con- tribution of his friend, he is able to put the ornament upon parts of his face Avhich could not be reached from his OAvn mouth without making the fluid run up-hill. Such mutual contributions ansAver, there- fore, a fine purpose, when they can be confined to those Avho love such kinds of amusement and gratification. And it has often been my earnest wish that such men had noAvhere else to deposit their gravies, but upon each other, — nowhere else to spit but in each other's faces. Then the feAV Avho are so unfashion- able as not to relish such an operation, would be freed from this affliction, and those who do relish it, Avould not be deprived of any part of its comforts. Then, too, ladies' dresses Avould SOCIAL BEAUTIES. 135 be saved from the spatterings and daubings Avhich noAv meet them everywhere. They then could not get daubed, except they were such consummate fools as to alloAv their faces to come in contact Avith tobacconized lips. As the customs of the times now are, for the sake of those Avho have no relish for such adornings, there ought to be a sign, like that at railroad crossings, "Look out for the en- gine while the bell rings," written upon every tobacco-lover's forehead, — "Look out for being spit on Avhen the tobacco-eater comes." But if tobacco is such a beneficial and orna- mental thing, everybody, even the ladies them- selves, ought to go into its use. If it is truly beneficial, let them have the benefit. If it is an ornament, let them use that ornament. If faces are truly improved by its paintings, — a matter which seems everyAvhere practically admitted among men,—let ladies improve their beauty by it. There is no good reason Avhy men should be more highly favored, in this respect, than women. But it strikes me, if the ladies Avere to adopt its ornamental use, some men, not sufficiently initiated into its genuine embellishments, and even many of those who are its warmest devotees, would scarcely admire its use by their Avives and 136 TOBACCO-USING. daughters, as they seem to relish the thing in themselves. In the West and South, some, professing to be ladies, cheAv Avads of snuff. In some sec- tions, they practise what is called "'dipping." They take a stick, Avet it in the mouth, dip it in snuff, and rub their teeth with it. This is done professedly for cleaning the teeth; but their inveterate devotion to it, shows a strong passion for its stimulus on the nerves. Many have ruined their health in this Avay. A cud of wet snuff must be a delicious morsel in a lady's mouth ; the luscious stuff must taste delightfully ! And what they cannot conve- niently wad into the mouth, they can stuff into the nose: and through the nose it can very easily pass into the mouth, and doAvn the throat. Snuffing tobacco is a delightful habit, which every gentleman tobacco-lover is cer- tainly bound to admire in ladies. JeAvels of it appended to the nose, and the odor of it in the breath from dipping and cheAving snuff, are finishings to a lady not to be lightly con- sidered. Every chewer and smoker is bound inevitably and conscientiously to be attracted and enamored by charms of this kind. The flavor of her breath and purity of her mouth, especially should the impregnated saliva be alloAved delicately to overfloAv the SOCIAL BEAUTIES. 137 outside of her lips, giving incontestable proof of its internal presence, are enough to secure the admiration, if not the heart, of any genteel tobacco-user. If his sensibilities are so ob- tuse, and his affections so blunted, as not to appreciate such extra accomplishments in any lady Avho is a candidate for matrimony, he ought to be condemned to the solitude of bach- elorship for the remainder of life. So. on the other hand, the embellishments of tobacco in gentlemen are no small items of interest to ladies of taste and fashion. A sam- ple of this is now before me, Avhile writing this page. A gentleman has called to communi- cate to a lady important intelligence from her absent husband. Both are seated on the sofa, just on my left, while Avriting. He is a gen- tleman of fashion, carrying the testimony of quality in one side of his mouth, Avith its SAveet juices issuing from its corners. While engaged in conversation for a short half-hour, he has frequent occasion to deposit a large quantity of his extra fluid upon the carpet, at the end of the sofa. Every minute or two, my ears are saluted Avith a loud splash of this adorning solution. This must give extra in- terest to the ladyAvith whom he is conversing, and especially to the lady of the house, on finding her parlor carpet Avith a large puddle 12* 138 TOBACCO-USING. of this liquid, bearing evidences of having been visited by a gentleman of taste, refinement, and fashion. DOMESTIC BEAUTIES. Tobacco adds greatly to the excellence of a husband. It not only gives a sweet odor to the breath, a peculiar lustre to the face, but it prepares the mouth to give or receive the salutation kiss. The Avife not only receives the pressure of affection from her husband's lips, but her face takes the seal of affectionate regard. He actually imparts to her lips a portion of the SAveet essence that is issuing from his OAvn mouth. So, too, Avhen the Avife may return the salutation, she is not only favored with the privilege of beholding with her oavii eyes the lustre Avhich tobacco gives, but of actually tasting its sweets left upon the lips of her husband. How delightful to the eyes of a Avife of taste, to Avitness the profusion of beautiful juices Avhich her husband is every moment able to produce from his mouth : a juice so de- licious in quality, and so abundant in quantity ! What a pity to have so much of it Avasted ! That portion Avhich falls to the lot of the carpet, is very precious to every beholder; and that also Avhich lodges upon the stove or DOMESTIC BEAUTIES. 139 marble fireplace, to furnish it Avith extra polish and coloring. But the discharging of the precious contents of their mouths upon the unconscious earth is a matter to be regretted. Every household should provide itself with a large broAvn earthen jar, in every apartment, of size to contain at least four or five gallons, so that none of this beautiful liquid shall be wasted. Spittoons and boxes are quite insufficient. They are so small, that much is Avasted upon their sides and overboard ; and it is hardly to be expected that such a constant gushing from the fountain, Avill.ahvays hit the same small spot. But have a large jar, Avith a large mouth, in every apartment, and the precious stuff can all be saved. Such an arrangement would be of great service to all concerned; for, Avithout some such provision, great inconvenience is often ex- perienced. Not long since, a gentleman called on me, and Ave sat in close conversation. Very soon he ceased replying to me; my remarks continued, but no ansAver. It became a matter of Avonder to me, considering the nature of the subject, that he should remain silent. He saAv that his silence aAvakened my sur- prise ; he immediately rose, went to the door, and delivered himself of an exceedingly large 140 TOBACCO-USING. flood. He found no place for a deposit in the room, and Avas obliged to retain the juice in his mouth, till it had accumulated to such a quantity that he could no longer speak. A large reservoir in the centre of the room Avould have saved much of this embarrassment and inconvenience, Avith Avhich tobacco-lovers often meet, Avhere no accommodation for their disgorgement is provided. This fluid may be made to subserve im- portant purposes in culinary economy. Many a country houseAvife has found it a great con- venience to have her husband in the kitchen. She there could not only enjoy the brilliancy of his conversational poAvers under the imme- diate inspiration of a large plug in his mouth, but, while preparing her gravies for breakfast or broths for dinner, her affectionate husband would ever and anon be adding to them, both quantity and quality, from his OAvn gravy establishment. While she is introducing her salt and pepper, he will add the flavor and relish of the pure essence of the Aveed, as dis- tilled from his own mouth. Then, too, as she and her family are partaking of the repast, their relish of each morsel is enhanced, not only by an idea of the delicacy of its prepara- tion, but still more, especially by the tender Avife, as she sees her husband laying in Avith DOMESTIC BEAUTIES. 141 zest her meal thus carefully prepared, betAveen the two corners of his mouth, richly decorated Avith the same dried and crystallized essence. There is great economy in the use of this article, in keeping the apartments of the house clean and sweet. There is no occasion for paint on any floor to Avhich a tobacco-user has access. He will soon put on a coloring that Avill surpass and supersede all others. He Avill so put it on as to avoid the un- pleasant sameness Avhich occurs in ordinary painting. There will always be a marked variety, and one that is adapted to please the eye of beholders. No one can Avell be so dull, as not to see and appreciate the endless variations in shade and figure. It rarely becomes necessary to apply water to floors or Avails thus decorated. Dirt makes no show Avhere this is applied. This paint never Avears out. Though it be subject to Avear, yet it is constantly being replenished ; so that it is never exhausted, but rather accumulates in richness and variety. The houseAvife has no occasion for paper upon the Avails of her sleeping apartment, Her husband, in a short time, by his nightly expectorations, will cover those Avails Avith painted representations of the richest and most costly drapery, interspersed Avith the finest 142 TOBACCO-USING. natural scenery of seas, rivers and landscapes. He Avill also present the grandest display of the arts; sea-ports, Avith their tall spires and costly edifices, their sailing vessels and steamers, their flat-boats and mud-scows. He will exhibit, in great variety, both sea and land animals; from the massive elephant down to the ugly porcupine ; from the sea monster to the tortoise and crab. This infinite variety is not all presented to her astonished vision at once, but is brought forward from time to time. Every morning, as she awakes from unconscious slumbers, her eyes are saluted Avith new objects and modi- fied scenery; the products of her diligent husband's skill during each night. And not only such scenery as already mentioned, but sometimes there Avill be found displays of skill in human likenesses; from the rude Indian or uncouth darkey that blacks his boots, doAvn to an exact likeness of a tobacco- cheAver's face. And all this rich and abound- ing variety upon the Avail of a single room ! Every young lady of taste should be guided by these facts in the selection of a husband. She should select one, if practicable, — and there are a plenty of such, —Avho carries the sign of his profession as a fancy-painter in the corners of the mouth, extending doAvn the PUBLIC BEAUTIES. 143 chin. If she has a taste for the fine arts, es- pecially for the embellishments of painting a-nd draAving. she should certainly marry such a man. She is sure then of having her taste gratified during life. If she cannot discover, as is sometimes the case, the sign on the outside, let her Avatch the opening of his mouth, look in there, and see Avhether it looks like a pot of paint; or, Avatch his spitting, and see its quantity and complexion. If, pos- sibly, she cannot make a satisfactory test in any other Avay, let her, on meeting or parting from him, for the sake of the experiment, in- dulge a salutation kiss, as a young lady did to ascertain whether or not her suitor indulged in alcoholic drinks. In this Avay, one of two things, if not both, would probably not fail of giving the satisfactory test. One is, she could detect its flavor in his breath; the other is, by looking in the glass, she could probably find the marks of his lips still on her face. PUBLIC BEAUTIES. In addition to all the personal, social and domestic benefits and luxuries, to be derived from the use of tobacco, there are some in which the mass of the people in common have a right to claim an interest. 144 TOBACCO-USING. This Avorld is much indebted to the fumiga- tions of tobacco for the salubrity of its atmos- phere. When it carries no pleasant odors upon its breezes, how cheering to the nasal organs, of those especially Avho have no other access to its inspiring luxuries, is a full breath of air strongly tinctured with this odoriferous weed! In walking the streets, you can scarcely pass a single square or turn a corner, Avithout inhaling a strong current of tobacco-smoke. How convenient to one avIio chooses not to smoke, to Avalk behind the strong cigar or pipe of one Avho gives you generous puffs, falling constantly into your face! This enables one to obtain all the luxuries of the smoke, Avith no other trouble or expense, than just keeping himself in the immediate Avake of his generous benefactor. At the hotel, the steamboat, and in various other places Avhere gentlemen meet, no breath of air uniinpregnated Avith tobacco-smoke can scarcely be found. This is a contribution to the public weal, Avhich is rarely appreciated. Under a sense of obligation for such generos- ity, it has often been my Avish that my pockets Avere filled Avith gum-asafoetida, to burn as incense, to furnish a perfume in return for tobacco-smoke; taking it for granted, as to- PUBLIC BEAUTIES. 145 bacco-smokers do, that my smoke Avas per- fectly agreeable to all. We meet with the decorations of this article abroad, in the highAvays. No one can proceed the length of his body on the side-walk, or any frequented path, Avithout seeing large spots, Avhere some one has delivered his mouth of this beautiful dye-stuff. In winter, after the heavens have spread upon the earth a beautiful robe of pure Avhite snow during the night, Avhoever Avalks abroad in the morning Avill generally find some early-rising tobacco- eater has passed along, and left his mark upon the highway: he has painted on Nature's snoAvy garment a variety of figures, Avell adapted to relieAre the monotony of continuous Avhiteness. In this way, a civil officer might success- fully pursue a fugitive from justice. And he could be sure to track him; for the fleeing man Avould as soon be overtaken as be obliged to throw away his quid, or deprive himself of the privilege of deliA'ering his mouth of its juices. Those who love tobacco more than health and life, Avould sooner go to prison, or even suffer public execution, than deny themselves of its delicious taste. The only real embarrassment in the Avay of successful pursuit in this case is, thousands Avho are not 13 146 TOBACCO-USING. culprits in civil laAV, are making the same kind of tracks. Go into any public place, and you find everyAvhere the faithful tobacco-user, leaving the sure mark of his standard of civilization upon everything Avithin his reach; and he is leaving a pattern for those who follow him. Go Avith him to his place of business, and you will find him there, as faithfully as in his own domicile, paying his devotions to the fine arts. In meeting and giving the ordinary salutation of the day, he Avill give an extra sign of re- spect and friendship, by giving his quid another turn in his mouth, and, by spitting out a small gill of the fluid thereof, prepare himself to enter into conversation. Go Avith him to church, and you will see that he contibutes his share toAvard adorning it. Mayhap he is deacon of the band Avor- shipping there. You find him not only Avork- ing for the proper completion of the house, in all that decorates its internal finishings, but he sets an example for others to follow. He shoAvs them an economy like that employed in rebuilding Jerusalem, Avhen each one was to build over against his own house; — you find him first adorning over against his own slip, and aftenvard in and through the length PUBLIC BEAUTIES. 147 and breadth of that slip, as far as splash and spatter will reach. Then folloAv him to the devotions of the vestry. Here you Avill find him devoutly renewing his quid, in order to quicken the de- votion of his spirit, and prepare him to lead in the enjoyment and exercises of worship. And the harder he chews, the more his mouth overflows Avith the unction that inspires his soul: and out of the abundance of tobacco, his mouth lets forth, till a pile of his liquid devotion lies at his feet. There is another fact, which always appeared to me inscruta- ble : when he comes to lead in prayer, he casts the inspiring plug out of his mouth. Perhaps it is from fear that the devil, Avhile his eyes are closed, might suddenly push it down his throat and choke him off, without giving him a chance even to say Amen. FoIIoav the inspiring essence of the Aveed to the institution of the sacrament. While the vessels of the altar are passing among the elder members of the church, they receive fresh unction from their devoted mouths. Then all the rest of the church have the ben- efit of partaking from the unctioned edges of the cups, the sacred droolings from the elders' lips. Sometimes the minister at the altar, as well as elders and deacons of the church, will 148 TOBACCO-USING. be found as richly unctioned Avith the smear- ings of the consecrated stuff, as Avas Aaron Avhen his beard Avas covered Avith the holy oil. The financial benefits accruing from tobacco deserve attention. The church has her share of them. The five millions of money annu- ally expended by the American church for the consumption of tobacco is triumphantly sustaining the kingdom of Satan. By tobac- co's benumbing influence on the piety of the church — its power in creating a morbid ani- mal excitement—its ultimate paralyzing influ- ences on the consciences of men addressed by the Gospel — its close alliance Avith other agencies of like character — and its skill in forestalling all efforts against alcoholic drinks which stand in the Avay of the progress of morality and religion,— these five millions of dollars are hurrying in their mighty channel, every year, multitudes of men prematurely into hell. Satan looks on, and exultingly, yet in sup- pressed tone, exclaims, " This is the church for me; these the members, deacons, minis- ters, for me." " This is money in the right channel. Let the current flow on. It hinders the progress of civilization, of education, gen- eral intelligence, moral enterprise, and Gospel PUBLIC BEAUTIES. 149 light, and is bringing me a bountiful harvest of human degradation and unredeemed souls." No wonder the fiend of human salvation ex- ults. See this mighty river, widening and deepening by its turbid tributary streams of drunkenness, profanity, gambling, debauchery and crime. As the stream Avidens and deep- ens, it grows darker and darker with the blood of its Aictims, till it empties its hell-black Avaters into the bottomless gulf of endless perdition. While the Roman people are ceasing to use cigars, that they may oppose the government of the Pope, by cutting off a portion of his revenues, the pious people of America are smoking and cheAving Avith extraordinary de- votion, that they may raise a rich revenue for their great pope, the devil. They roll the inspiring Aveed as a sweet morsel under their tongues, and pour out its sacred oil in filthy profusion at their feet. Their jaw-teeth tread the Avine-press, till the juices thereof run over the sides of the vat: and out of the fulness ofthe press they cast their rich "heave-offer- ings" unto their god, made "of the Avines on the lees," Avith " all the best part thereof, even the hallowed part thereof," upon the floors, and carpets, and Avails, and spit-boxes, of 13* 150 TOBACCO-USING. their temples. They pour out their tithes in infinite fulness, as a Avitness to the Avorld of their entire dedication to his infernal majesty's service. And they barrel up safely the rest of the wines, in human hogsheads, for preser- vation ; where it shall be exposed to no waste, except that which, by the energy of its fer- mentation, oozes out at the bung-hole, and runs doAvn the sides of the cask. Their ministers, even, enforce on the people the duty of this self-dedication, by the poAver of their own example. They Avork the Avine- mill for the quenching of lust, and burn their consecrated incense on the altar of the devil. They leave the mark of the beast upon every- thing around them, and often carry it upon their visage. And a breath issues from their nostrils Avhich stinks worse than the chimneys of hell. They preach to the people of the enslaving poAver of lust, Avarring against the soul, and present in themselves a living dem- onstration of its potency. They are teaching their people, by their example, to bring in all their tithes into Satan's store-house; and their followers are carrying out that instruction Avith all the faithfulness to be expected from any people, by devoting $5,000,000 annually to this purpose, and less than $1,000,000 to other objects of Christian benevolence. PUBLIC BEAUTIES. 151 They also teach the church Christian per- severance and self-denial. It is no small undertaking to enlist in performing the chew- ing of a Avhole year's quantum of tobacco. A great many pious chewers use a quantity Avhich, if cut in the form usually found in the retail shops, one inch Avide by half an inch thick, would make a strip one hundred feet long in a year; and some use twice that amount. This would be from thirty to sixty yards of tobacco per year; and in fifty years it Avould make a strip from one to nearly tAvo miles in length. Here is displayed Christian zeal and patience that has no parallel. See the ministers and the deacons Avorking their devoted tobacco-mills, Aveek-days and Sun- days. They sit down to their strip of the solid plug, and begin to bite and chew, and chew and spit; and they go on biting and chewing, and praying and speAving, Avithout cessation, year in and year out; till, by un- common Christian faithfulness in the course for fifty years — if they live so long to bless and bedaub the world — they have finished their strip of one or tAvo miles' length. This is "perseverance of the saints" with a long Avitness; and such as has no counter- part in any other department of Christian life and character. And it is "final persevcr- 152 TOBACCO-USING. ance;" for Avhen they get biting hold of the plug, they never let go— they persevere unto eternity. They not only give to this Christian service, Avith steady consecration, their time and energies, but their money most liberally and ungrudgingly. There is no cause in Avhich they spend their money so freely and joyfully, as to sustain practically their own vieAvs of Christian tobacco-ism. They act on the principle of the minister, preaching from the text, "The Avorld, the flesh, and the devil." He said he should dwell but a very short time on the Avorld, he should touch lightly on the flesh, and proceed immediately to the devil. They dwell but a short time in prayer — cannot do Avithout the quid long: they touch the Lord's treasury lightly —can- not spare much for such a cause; and proceed Avith their time, and labor, and money, imme- diately to the service of Satan in tobacco. It is the sine qua non of their Christian character. Should they lose their Christian plug, and not be able to find it, it Avould be the loss of the very soul of their religion. They would lose all their spirit for devotion; all the life of their piety; all the zeal of their godliness; all the enjoyment of assurance. All their prospects of future inheritance among the saints Avould be beclouded, for Avant of a PUBLIC BEAUTIES. 153 quid of tobacco. All their bright visions of a heaven of sensual glory Avould be gone, for want of a "pig-tail." All the Avitnessing of the Spirit Avith their spirits Avould be at an end, Avithout a cigar. And if the king of terrors should suddenly come, they could not be prepared to go till they had taken a smoke. If such a man Avere compelled to go Avithout a chew or puff, when no disease had destroyed this appetite, the passion that Avas strongest in life Avould be strongest in death ; to hear his moanings of soul, as every pulse grows Aveaker and weaker, would horrify the sympathies of every beholder, especially those of the tobacco- serving priest by his side; for his last dying Avords Avould be, even after his eyes had bid farewell to the Avorld, and Avith a voice linger- ing, and scarcely audible, " Give — me — some — more — tobac-co-o-o ! " This government, also, shares largely in the financial advantages to be derived from to- bacco. Such glorious entertainments and rich treats, such fascinating adornments and thick daubs, such SAveet filth and such stinking delicacies, are to be obtained from its use, that no nation can expect to enjoy them Avith- out expense. And though there is a deficiency in the revenue to meet the current expenses. 154 TOBACCO-USING. of some five or six millions, Ave can well afford to indulge in habits which cost about $25,000,000, annually. This expenditure, it certainly can be argued, is for the general good and for public improvement. In accordance with public sentiment practi- cally expressed, $25,000,000, at the smallest estimate, are being annually expended in the use of tobacco by the men of these United States, for the general advancement of ill- health and broken constitutions, for the deg- radation of intellect and morality, the aban- donment of civilization and good manners, the extinction of pure air and cleanliness, the grat- ification of manufactured passions and lusts, and the general adornment of all the Avorks of nature and of art Avith one universal flood of tobacco-soup. At an expense but little less than the annual amount expended for the civil and diplomatic departments of govern- ment, the people are delighting themselves in the luxuriance of tobacco's superlative folly and filth, and feasting themselves on the de- lectable glories of its unearthly beauties. Tobacco helps, also, to fill up our poor- houses, our hospitals, our insane asylums and state-prisons. It furnishes business for con- stables and laAvyers, sheriffs and courts of justice; for all the greatest rascals and vaga- PUBLIC BEAUTIES. 155 bonds, pickpockets and higliAvay robbers, are tobacco-cheAvers and smokers. Hence, too, it introduces all sober people to good society. All classes of men come upon one common level, and into one common brotherhood, Avhen they meet together on a tobacco-cud. Here blackguards, and blacklegs, and horse- thieves, — Avho are all tobacco-users, — and all other humble servants of the Aveed, are able to meet in joyful harmony. They can here salute each other — "Hail felloAvs, Avell met!" and exchange friendly greetings and bitings of the plug. It furnishes, also, great help to physicians and undertakers. It carries a larger propor- tion of people into a premature grave than any other popular agent. It also gives employment to a great number of people. In Richmond, Va., alone, there are manufactured annually about fifteen mil- lion pounds of the Aveed, requiring forty-five factories, and about twenty-five hundred hands. In 1840, there Avere employed in the culture and manufacture of the article in the United States, 1,500,000 persons — one-tenth of the whole population. And the consump- tion being on the increase, the manufacture, and, consequently, the number of persons employed, is advancing. The increase of 156 tobacco-using. consumption from 1834 to 1840 is $4,000,000, the amount for 1834 being $16,000,000, and that for 1840, $20,000,000. For Spanish cigars, $9,000,000; for American chewing and smoking, $6,500,000; for snuff, $500,000. The export amounted to nearly $10,000,000. The crop for that year, in the United States, Avas nearly 220,000,000 pounds. The same ratio of increase, from 1834 to 1840, Avould make the amount of consumption for 1850 a fraction less than $27,000,000; and, consid- ering the rapid increase of its use in proportion to the population, it may now amount nearly, if not quite, to $30,000,000, — and the num- ber of hands employed to supply this demand, about 2,000,000. What a noble enterprise is this for the em- ployment of the physical energies and mental ingenuity of two millions of persons ! What a contribution are they making to the cause of humanity ! How does it tell upon the health and the filth of the country! The persons employed exhibit its benefits to health. Hav- ing visited extensively the tobacco manufac- tories in the South, it gives me pleasure to testify as to the healthful appearance of their inmates. The Avhites have countenances that speak out decidedly on the subject. Their faces, as to indications of health and vigor, bear very PUBLIC BEAUTIES. 157 much the complexion of a mildewed sail- cloth, hung up to dry. The black faces look very much like — that of a sick negro. Poor negroes! they little think, as they Avet up the leaf from the pure spittle of their own mouths, and roll it into a cigar, what joyous gladness they are sending abroad into the Avorld. They toil on, mixing a portion of their OAvn vital fluid with the luscious Aveed, till death, and then their Avorks do follow them. Their spit- tle, even, mixes Avith the spittle of "all the Avorld;" and then it goes forth again, broad- cast and splash-dash, to the infinite delight of " the rest of mankind." We live certainly in an age of great im- provement; not only in respect to science and the arts, but in regard to the facilities for human enjoyment and glorification. Hoav strange that the glories of tobacco were never discovered till the very last of the fifteenth century, about 1496! The lovers of the weed ought to raise a monument to the memory of the Spanish monk, Romanus Paine, whom Columbus left on retiring from his second voyage to America, who was the first to bring the virtues of tobacco to light. This monument should be built of polished mar- ble, laid in tobacco cement, fresh from the vat of the mills that grind it. Hoav strangely 14 ]o* TOBACCO-USING. blind have some people been in past times, since its discovery, to its real benefits! In L590, a Persian king prohibited its use: but many of his devout subjects, like the Chris- tians during the dark ages, fled to the moun- tains to do up their devotions, and escape his persecution. In 1661, in Berne, Switzerland, in the police regulations, there Avas made a code of prohibitions, after the form of the ten commandments, in Avhich the one against smoking tobacco stood next to that Avhich said, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." In 1610, a Turk, at Constantinople, being found smoking, was led through the streets with his nose transfixed Avith a pipe, as a punishment. In 1630, smokers Avere con- demned to the punishment of having the nose slit. If such was the law here, Ave should find a great many slit-noses. It has often seemed to me, that if an artificial hole Avere to be made into the face, in which to stick the pipe or cigar, it Avould be a great saving to the beauty of the mouth. Then the smoker could have a pipe, even in each side of his face, continually, and there would. be no obstruction to his talking. In 1690, Pope Innocent Nil. reneAved a bull, issued at some former period by Pope Urban, Avhich excluded all tobacco snuffers and PUBLIC BEAUTIES. 159 smokers from the church. The pious old matrons of the present day, Avith the pulver- ized glory of their god hanging to their de- voted nostrils, would raise a loud cry against such a Pope. They Avould make a fresh prayer to their deity, taking a neAv pinch of his holy presence, and ask him to send their Pope to purgatory. And sure, Avhile snuff lasted, he never Avould be prayed out. But the Pope's bull did not last long; in 1724, Benedict NIV. revoked it, having become a snuff-taker himself. We have great occasion to praise the god of tobacco, that Ave do not live in the days of such superstitions. The days even of the { Salem Avitches and their punishments have passed away. Indeed, if the witches of Salem Avere now upon earth, it is not probable they Avould stay long. The holy stench Avith which Ave fumigate the air would stifle their inspirations; and the supernatural filthi- ness Avhich Ave spread out so deeply abroad, would run over the tops of their boots. We should see them coughing and scoffing, sneez- ing and Avheezing, through our streets; hold- ing up their skirts, and tugging at their feet, to Avork their Avay through the mire. 160 TOBACCO-USING. In closing, a tobacco song is given, Avhich can be sung by the assembled inmates of every rum tavern and groggery. Each stanza should be sung alone by the more sober chewers, smokers, and snuffers, Avho usually congre- gate there ; and then let them be joined by all their red-nosed brethren, the rummies, in full chorus, at the end of each verse. This song can be adopted, also, for the accommodation of social meetings, by those churches Avhere a majority of their members use the article, and offer their chief sacrifices upon its altar. It is intended exclusively for places Avhere liquor and tobacco are sold, and for vestry services. And it is only appropriate that they sing it; especially on those occa- sions when they cast up accounts with the Lord, and Avith the god presiding over the appetite for tobacco, and find, as they will, probably, now, in every church in the land, that the amount paid out for the latter, is much greater than that for the former, — that a far greater offering has been made upon the altar of this created appetite, than has been laid upon the altar of Christ for the promotion of his kingdom. At all future meetings, where this has been ascertained, the elder, or deacon, or Avhoever carries the biggest quid in his mouth, can strike up, — PUBLIC BEAUTIES. 161 all the tobacco-Avorshippers joining, — and sing, beginning Avith the chorus, — Now let us snuff and puff and chew. — ^ And when they have finished this soothing song, it would seem to be only appropriate that they take a neAV bite of the weed, and then kneel doAvn in the sacred unction of their own spittings, and pray most devoutly to the devil; that he Avould give a neAV heat to this narcotic searing-iron, and a new sizzle to their consciences, that they may depart in peace, and enjoy the Avetting of their lips at the first grog-shop on their Avay home. 14* 162 TOBACCO-USING. TOBACCO SONG. I love the weed, my mouth to fe»d, And fleshly lust to gratify; I love to puff th' inspiring stuff, My longing soul to satisfy. Chorus. Now let us snuff and puff and chew, And all its precious juice bespew, Till all creation 's covered o'er, And mouth and nose shall lust no more. I love to chew, and gently strew The juicy sweet with gravity ; I love to snuff, till I 've enough To fill my nasal cavity. Chorus. Now let us snuff and puff and chew, — I love to feel tobacco's seal Upon my chin, surprisingly; I love to mill its syrups still, And drool them round so drizzlingly. Chorus. Now let us snuff and puff and chew, — I love to taste tobacco paste Upon my lips so gustfully; I love to sup its luscious soup, And spout it out so lustily. Chorus. Now let us snuff and puff and chew, — EARNEST APPEAL. The sober question iioav comes, in view of all the solemn and ludicrous realities here presented, whether Ave Avill continue this habit, or hoav divorce ourselves from it for- ever. Has the habit been overcharged, or its consequences overrated ? If so, wherein 7 It has been my intention to come up, if possible, to the standard of truth, boldly and honestly, and there abide. Let this question come before a jury of scientific, unbiased men, and let them, under oath, bring in their verdict of Truth, or Not Truth. If called upon before that jury to give my testimony under oath, with my life depending upon their decision, that testimony must be, that. every Avord spoken here is believed to be founded on the truth, and nothing but the truth. If this small volume contains truth, and only truth, it is certainly time that every, thinking man, every moral man, eA'ery Chris- tian man, should Avake up and act. No matter hoAV fashionable the sin, — fashion, cannot sanctify or sanction it. If fault be 164 TOBACCO-USING. found Avith any part of the style of this treatise, let it be remembered that the style must be in some degree in keeping Avith the subject. If the times did not oblige me to Avrite on a ridiculous and offensive subject, they should be spared the pain of a style of thought and diction Avhich is indispensable to express it. Let that foul destroyer of human life be purged from the mouth of civilized society, and there will be no longer occasion to speak of it. Men who care for themselves or the race should get up organizations against the prac- tice. The testimony of every man, enlight- ened on the subject, is against it. Some of the first physicians of the land — hoAv Avould it gladden me to say all! — are against it. The testimony of the great surgeon of Mas- sachusetts, Dr. J. C. Warren, is against it. Dr. Twitchell, of ISew Hampshire, noAv de- ceased, the surgeon of all that section of country, Avas, during his professional life, a most valiant Avarrior against it. And after having often declared, during my lecturing tours South and West, my settled conviction that tobacco Avas doing a Avorse Avork to the physical character of the present generation than alcohol, it gave me pleasure to find in his memoirs, that that eminent surgeon had long since expressed the same conviction. APPEAL. 165 Physicians have a great responsibility in this matter. Like the police and night-watch of our cities, on the look-out for invaders upon the safety of the people, they are pro- fessedly set to guard the people from the en- croachments of agents that destroy health, and cut off life. Let them Avalk up to the standard of their high calling in this matter, and no longer sleep over this devastating scourge. Let them see the number of cases of consumption produced by it, by its influ- ence on the respiratory organs; cases of palsy, by its power on the nervous circula- tion ; cases of night-deaths, by its paralyzing influence on the nerves of involuntary mo- tion, producing fatal nightmare; cases of palpitation, by its effects on the heart; cases of cancer, by its disturbance on the glands; and hosts of other maladies. Dr. Warren reports the case of cancerous tongue attributable to tobacco, Avhich an oper- ation could not save from death. Dr. TAvitch- ell's memoirs, by Dr. Bowditch, published in 1851, reports a case of consumption saved by giving up tobacco; also, a case of nearly fatal nightmare cured by quitting it. Dr. Twitch- ell found that nearly all the cases of death during sleep, Avhich came under his observa- tion, were of men Avho had indulged largely 166 TOBACCO-USING. in tobacco. And the correctness of his state- ments Avas confirmed by investigations made by the Boston Society for Medical Observa- tion. Any medical man can see how liable is palpitation to follow the use of an article so powerful, that a single cigar Avill increase the pulse fifteen or twenty strokes per minute. In view of such facts, which are neither few nor small, let the medical faculty cleanse themselves from the shameful stains of the weed, devote their influence, by Avord and example, to the cause of humanity and of God, and come to the rescue- Can any man, in the exercise of common sense, give himself a good reason for indulg- ing for another hour this uncleanly, un- gentlemanly habit? If he can, then let him go on; if not, Avhy continue it ? A man who acknowledges no other government for him- self than mere animal appetite or fleshly passions, is in a very dangerous moral condi- tion. Into what excess of vice or crime may he not run, under such a rule of conduct? If a man be a man, let him act like a ra- tional, intelligent being; if not, let him no longer put on the counterfeit, and pretend to be Avhat he really is not. Why Avill a man use as a luxury this deadly nuisance? Is his vitality so deficient APPEAL. 167 in native stamina, his physical and mental machinery so destitute of force, that they need such artificial steaming? If, for such reasons, he uses tobacco, instead of curing this native lack, he is greatly adding to it. Does he feel himself so wanting in the es- sential qualities of a gentleman, that he needs the finishing strokes Avhich tobacco gives to make him pass, his chances must be ex- ceedingly small for rising in the scale of being. Nay; as he values himself in the sphere he is made to occupy, — as he values the body, mind and soul, Avhich the Creator has united in his person,—let him defend him- self against the destructive invasions of an enemy so foreign to his nature, and so hurtful to his being for time and eternity! Let every man avIio has a soul put aAvay this nerve-prostrating, mind-benumbing, soul- paralyzing drug, —this fleshly, ungodly lust! Let every man break the bonds of this vile and degrading servitude, and no longer let his spirit be in bondage to the flesh! Let the poAvers of his higher nature come to the rescue, and not flinch from the dreadful con- flict, till they shall gain the victory over their physical being, and the body shall yield quiet submission to the triumph of the soul! t ;'f ..m\ •f& iii i ;*'! li: mm1 !!!«•!! {!< "' 1 iii "mit:,; Mi H SI IT I |! : I1 iiii