TOBACCO AND ITS HISTORY. 27 



With sueli an arr^'^y of facts recorded as to the nature of 

 tohaceo, is it not surprising tliat many wlio l)ear the name of 



TEMPERANX'E AND SOCIAL REFORM ADVOCATES, 



should indulge in its traflic or use? In charity to such, it is 

 hoped they do so ignorantly. Notwitlistanding the knowledge 

 now possessed hy the world regarding the true character of 

 tobacco, it is a deplorable foct that some who are addicted to 

 the ch'ug, will advocate its use on the plea that many of our 

 most celebrated divines, fiction writers and other groat authors, 

 were men who used the weed. This plea at best is no argu- 

 ment in favor of tobacco. No doubt niany great and good men 

 have used tobacco and are still using it ; but is this any argu- 

 ment in its favor ? If wo investigate the biographies of the 

 groat characters of the past, we will find that many of them did 

 some very questionable things. Solomon is recorded as the 

 wis(>sfc man ; l)nt some of his actions were very foolish, and ho 

 would Jiave been a happier and better man had ho not been 

 guilty of them. However, it is well known that the majority 

 of our l)est authors, statesmen, and disines never used tobacco. 



Whatever opinion may be held to the contrary, fohacco and 

 mm evidently stand on the same footing as regards the principle 

 of intoxication. While alcohol has an allinity for the brain 

 and dethrones reason, thereby throvving the whole system into 

 a state of al>solute disorder, v/icotuic, like opium, silently and 

 seci'ctly burns long and deep, s'lppliij the U/n^s blood from its 

 deluded victims. 



The effects of tobacco and alcohol are both inebriating, and 

 they who habitually indulge in their use, are beyond all quea 

 tiou companions in drunkenness. 80 far as can be gathered 

 from the best authority, it seems that these two 2)oiso)is work 

 harmoniously into each other's service, as stimulant and depress' 

 ant — tobacco generally playing the original part in the work 

 of destruction, and alcohol conqdeting the ruin. 



