JULY 1, 1916 



555 



to swim to a point of land. It looked simple and 

 easy. But they had been warned of danger and 

 told not to be so foolish as to take such a risk — • 

 for Death had caught others there and was still 

 lurking for new victims. 



The boys, in their mistaken desire to be manly, 

 and heedless of the danger, kept on. At a place 

 where the sea appeared no rougher than elsewhere, 

 the lads suddenly felt that they were losing control 

 of their feet. 



For the first time in their lives they encountered 

 that danger known as an undertow. Experienced 

 sea bathers know of it and they avoid the places 

 where it is liable to exist. These lads, however, did 

 not understand what was wrong. At first they 

 fought to control theni.selves and to swim to the shore 

 — only a few rods. 



They were unable to hold against the terrible and 

 mysterious foe. The undertow laaght them and suck- 

 ed them under the surface of the water, as if a 

 horrible octopus had drawn them into its ugly maw. 



Excited observers saw that something was amiss. 

 Two strong swimmers jumped into a boat, pulled 

 sturdily and attempted to save the lives of those 

 boys. One of them was dragged from the water 

 nearly drowned. He recovered afterward. The 

 other two ladu were drowned. 



Think of the agony of the parents and friends! 

 Two boys who were finding life full of good things 

 and who were growing into fine manhood, became 

 victims of the cruel enemy that was concealed be- 

 neath the innocent-looking surface of the sea. Two 

 lives were thrown away. You will agree that the 

 affair was horrible. A tragedy without excuse. 



This brings me to the point where I can tell you 

 about another danger which exists all around you. 

 I mean the cigarette habit. 



You learned it for the fun of the thing, probably 

 in the spirit of " don't take a dare." You thought 

 it would be manly to know how to smoke. You saw 

 oilier boys doing it. 



In the appendix to the book there is a 

 large amount of matter in regard to cigar- 

 ettes, and the effect of tobacco on the com- 

 ing generations. I select only one of them. 

 ,As you will notice, it bears on the point 

 made in our last text. 



As a matter of fact, the number of conceptions in 

 smokers' families exceeded the number in the other 

 class, but the loss by still births and miscarriages 

 was twice as great — which fact is in line with Dr. 

 Lichty's inductions from the United States census 

 figures. 



Additional tables of figures give the information 

 that wives of tobacco users suffered, in excessive 

 numbers, abscesses as well as abortions. 



From the above you will notice that the 

 one who deliberately decides to use tobacco 

 not only impairs his own usefulness here 

 in this world, but he bequeaths to his un- 

 born children a handicap that may follow 

 them more or less all their life. 



I found a printed slip inside of the book 

 wliirh reads as follows: 



TOBACCO HABIT. 



The mother or wife who has a loved one addicted 

 to smoking, chewing, or snuff-taking, will be delighled 

 to know that a book has been published which should 

 convince any man that his health and efficiency will 

 b? greatly improved, and his life lengthened, if he 

 gives up the use of tobacco. This book is entitled 

 "Tobacco Habit Easily Conquered." It tells how 



to overcome the addiction, without drugs, quickly 

 and pleasantly. Those interested should write to 

 Albro Society, 181 Lexington Ave., New York. This 

 volume is bound to bring happiness to many homes. 

 It is a handsome book of 155 pages; price $1.25. 



In closing, let me mention just two or 

 three illustrations from what I have seen of 

 tobacco during the past forty years. My 

 own father smoked until his health broke 

 down so he was about to give up his busi- 

 ness. Somebody told him to try giving up 

 tobacco, and I am sorry to say the advice 

 did not come from the family physician. 

 Now, my father was quite stubborn and 

 contrary; and when somebody suggested 

 that he could not get along without his pipe 

 even if he should try to, he showed his ''Root 

 spunk." But he did give it up, and in just a 

 few weeks he began to flesh up and look 

 happy, and the people joked him about 

 growing young instead of growing old. He 

 lived about twenty-five years after that 

 breakdown. Once more : 



Our family doctor, E. G. Hard, of Medi- 

 na, gTadually failed in health, and was 

 finally confined to his bed. A council of 

 able doctors, one or more from the great 

 city of Cleveland, came to his bedside, but 

 could not tell what ailed him. He was told 

 he had but a few days to live. Not long 

 afterward I met him on the street. Of 

 course I started to see him out looking 

 bright and fairly well. Before I could ex- 

 press my astonishment the doctor said some- 

 thing as follows: 



" Mr. Root, I owe you an apology." 



I was more perplexed than ever; then he 

 added : 



" You wonder to see me up and around, 

 and of course you want to know what mira- 

 cle brought me back from death's door. 

 Well, the upshot of it all is I took the ad- 

 vice you have been giving me for years, and 

 stopped one of my bad habits." 



" Why, doctor," said I, " v/hat 'bad habit' 

 do you mean? " 



" Yes, Mr. Root, the confession I have to 

 make to you is that I smoked pretty much 

 all the time while in bed. It was the only 

 thing that gave me any relief from my pain. 

 Wlien the doctors failed to find out what 

 the trouble was, it occurred to me that 1 

 might try giving up tobacco. I did so, and 

 here I am." 



" Why, doctor, do you mean to tell me 

 it was the use of tobacco that dragged you 

 down by slow degrees to death's door, as 

 you call it? " 



" Yes, Mr. Root, it was tobacco and noth- 

 ing else." 



The good doctor lived for several years 

 after that. 



Now, in order to be strictly Irutliful 



