Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1884 — Changes in Smoking. [ARTICLE]

Changes in Smoking.

It is estimated that one man in every five uses tobacco in some form or other. The soothing influence of the weed on the nerves has been made the subject of many newspaper articles. The habit of smoking has also been the subject of numerous discussions as to its injurious effect on the health of those who indulge in it freely. But notwithstanding the numerous discussions and the appalling effects pictured of its terribly deteriorating influence, lovers of smoking will continue to invest their small change in tobacco only to see it vanish in delicate wreaths of smoke, while it gratifies a taste strongly formed. It is still a question as to whether smoking has any effect whatever on the possible longevity of man. A centenarian will die and his unusual longevity # will be recorded by the press, together with a statement of his personal habits and appearance. If he had been a continuous smoker, then the advocates of smoking will immediately cite his longevity in support of their theory that smoking prolongs life. On the other hand, if a centenarian’s death is recorded, and the fact mentioned that he never used tobacco in any form during his life, the anti-tobacconists, with surprising suddenness, will deduce the argument that, owing to his abstinence from tobacco, his days upon the earth were length-: ened. Smoking may be classified in three different classes—cigars, pipes, and cigarettes. The latter, a comparatively new innovation, but whioh has taken a strong hold not only on the younger men but on those of middle-age and even a few gray-bearded men indulge in the delicate whiffs and pleasing inhalations of the penny-paper cigars, as they are termed by the votaries of the violent pipe and the fragrant cigar. A conversation with a cigar dealer recently deyeloped the fact that styles in smoking change as frequently and as Adically as do styles of dress. “Ten years ago,” said this dealer, “the sale of meerschaum pipes was very large, but lately the sales of this commodity have fallen off so that but few are now sold or even kept in stock by tobacconists. ” As the style of smokers is seldom noticed by an unobservant person, the statement at first seems strange, but when considered for a moment its truth is very apparent. It does not take a very old man to remember the time when the pride of the veteran smoker was his favorite meerschaum. He would cherish it carefully, and closely watch it each succeeding day to notice the high color which he was so anxious should embellish the bowl of the pipe gradually •increase in strength. After long and continuous use it would be seen that the bowl of the pipe presented a repulsive, shining, black surface, dotted with large brown specks, making the bowl resemble a highly polished negro’s face which had been sun-burned. The owner would show it to his jriends as a priceless treasure, and would expatiate on the magnificent color attained, but the friend perhaps never considered a colored meerschaum a very high degree of art, while ladies would promptly express themselves on its beauty by naming it a nasty, horrid, dirty thing.* Hut the days of meerschaums have passed, and now the great mass of smokers indulge in the fragrant cigar. In cigars the style has changed somewhat, but not so radically as the change from pipe to cigar smoking. Domestic cigars are more sought for than formerly among those who wish to enjoy a good smoke and are willing to ■ pay for it. They are manufactured in this country of alleged Havana fillers, and wrapped with a leaf selected for its bright or dark looks, according to the grade of the cigar being made, its free burning qualities, and its absence of veins. Formerly the naming of cigars consisted of good American names of “Domestic Five-Cents,” and ' “Havana, ” at all prices. But in the latter-day style it taxes the brain of the most ingenious to devise high-sounding and musical titles for the differeilt brands of cigars. The price seems to correspond to the beauty of the name. Cigar smokers indulge more in smoking through a cigar holder than formerly, and the sale of them has reached large proportions. Within a few years cigarette smoking has reached enormous proportions. Probably no innovation has met with more popular prejudice than the introduction of the smoking of cigarettes. A great howl arose that they were terribly injurious to the health of those who indulged in them, and everything conceivable was brought about to suppress their use. But it was unsuccessful, and the consumption of cigarettes is steadily increasing. The peculiar charm to many cigarette smokers comes from the inhalation of the smoke by which every whiff is carried to the lungs before being exhaled. The taste left is exceedingly pleasant, and in it consists the whole charm of smoking them. No set of smokers, are more fastidious than cigarette smokers and none more enthusiastic for their favorite brands. A whole host of different brands have been introduced, but the best brands are made of a delicate quality of tobacco wrapped with pure rice paper. —Cigar and Tobacco World.