“Tobacco is ruinous in our schools and colleges, dwarfing body and mind.”—Dr. Willard Parker.
“I shall not hesitate to pronounce tobacco in young men to be evil, and only evil, physically, mentally, and morally.”—Edward Hitchcock, of Amherst College.
“The use of intoxicating liquor by men, and the use of cigarettes by boys, is creating a race of feeble-minded, unhealthy, and valueless citizens.”—John Wanamaker.
“We might as well go to the insane asylum for our men as to employ cigarette smokers.”—The late E. H. Harriman, railroad magnate.
“Cigarettes are ruining our children, endangering their lives, dwarfing their intellects, and making them criminals, fast. The boys who use them seem to lose all sense of right, decency, and righteousness.”—Judge Crane, of New York City.
“Cigarette smoking in the case of boys partly paralyzes the nerve cells at the base of the brain, and this interferes with the breathing and heart action. The end organs of the motor nerves lose their excitability, next the trunks of the nerves, and then the spinal cord.... The power of fine coordination is decidedly lost.”—Prof. Sims Woodhead, of Cambridge University.
“The use of cigarettes affects the nervous system, weakens the will-power, and destroys the ability of the boy to resist temptation; and because of this he easily falls a victim of those habits which not only destroy the mind and soul, but irresistibly lead him into a violation of the laws of the state.”—George Torrance, superintendent Illinois State Reformatory.
Tobacco using is demoralizing in its general effects, and tends to create an appetite for strong drink. It originated with the natives of North America, the Indians. In November, 1492, when Columbus discovered the island of Cuba, he sent two sailors to explore it, who, when they returned, reported, among many other strange and curious discoveries, that the natives carried with them lighted firebrands, and puffed smoke from their mouths and noses, which they supposed to be the way the savages had of perfuming themselves. They afterward declared that they “saw the naked savages twist large leaves together, and smoke like devils.” Originating with the wild barbarians of America, the smoking habit, after some years, was introduced into Europe, and was rapidly adopted, not only by the lower classes, but by those in high authority, even princes and nobles participating in the new intoxication. It has since become well-nigh universal.
9. Where does intemperance often begin?
Intemperance often begins in the home. Many who would not think of placing on their tables wine or liquor of any kind will load them with food that creates a thirst for strong drink,—with strong tea and coffee, injurious condiments, rich pastry, highly seasoned foods, and the like.