Deuorvaic Wada,
Bellefonte, Pa., April 20, 1923.
A TALE OF TOBACCO.
By L. A. Miller.
Why do people smoke?
Because they want to. This is prob-
ably as satisfactory an answer as can
be given to this oft repeated question.
Why did they ever begin to smoke?
It would be more interesting to
trace—the habit to its origin, but un-
fortunately there are no very reliable
records from which to gather the de-
sired information.
Will they ever quit?
find out. However, the strong, very
strong, probabilities are that men will
smoke as long as tobacco grows on
the face of the earth, or until some-
thing better has been discovered. To-
bacco is a queer sort of weed anyway.
The first account given of it was in
1560, when Jean Nicot found it in Por-
tugal and sent seeds to France. He
described it as possessing wonderful
medical properties. The active prin-
ciple of the plant was called nicotine,
from the name of the discoverer. His
researches showed that it had been
known and used in Portugal for about
forty years, to promote relation of the
muscles and to soothe pain.
The fumes of it were used for these
purposes as well as decoctions and ap-
plications of the leaf. At the time Ni-
cot discovered it the Portugese were
becoming quite fond of it and almost
every house contained a tobago—a
reed pipe—in which the dried leaf was
smoked. The natives called it a so-
lace and resorted to it for relief from
every form of ill. - If a man ate too
much he smoked, if he was hungry he
smoked, if in pain he smoked, smoked
when he was glad, and smoked when
he was sad. ;
Catherine de Medici got a whiff of
it in 1572. It had such a queting ef-
fect on her conscience that she clung
to it, calling it herb de la reine.
Soothing as it was it could not drown
the recollections of the part she play-
ed in the St. Bartholomew massacre,
or in the removal of her husbands and
son when they stood between her and
the throne.
The culture of tobacco spread so
rapidly over Europe and Asia that it
was only a few years after its discov-
ery until it was known and used in all
parts of the civilized world. It is so
easily acclimated that there is no dif-
ficulty in raising it anywhere, from
Canada to the Equator. In 1660 a law
was passed in England restricting its
production to a very small quantity,
for medical purposes only. This law
still remains in force. The early set-
tlers of Virginia devoted their atten-
tion so exclusively to raising it that as
early as 1616 a law was enacted pro-
viding that food crops should not be
neglected in its favor. The active
principle of tobacco, a volatile alka-
loid, was first obtained and described
by Vanquelin in 1809.
Its vapor is so powerful that one
drop- of the alkaloid. evaporated .in a.
room will render the atmosphere
deadly poisonous. It is indeed a most
potent poison, one drop of it being
sufficient to kill a dog almost instant-
ly. It has frequently been used in
criminal poisoning, the case of Bar-
come being one of the most noted.
Orfilo, a chemist of high standing,
found that it preserves animal tissues
from decomposition, but it is so much
more expensive than arsenic and has
such an offensive odor that it will
never be used very extensively for
this purpose. He fixes the proportion
of alkaloid in Havanna tobacco at two
per cent.; Maryland from 2 to 3, and
Virginia from 6 to 9. :
A peculiarity about tobacco is that
its quality depends almost entirely on
the character of the ground in which
it grows. That grown on the western
portion of the Island of Cuba is far
superior to that grown in the eastern
section. There is a marked difference
in that raised on different plantations
in the same section and even In dif-
ferent parts of the same plantation.
Havana seed planted in the Connecti-
cut valley produces an entirely differ-
ent quality, the leaf being remarkably
thin and silky and almost devoid of
the aroma peculiar to the Cuban pro-
duct.
In Virginia the seed produces a leaf
so rich in nicotine that it is entirely
unfit for cigars, but especially well
adapted for chewing and smoking to-
bacco. Maryland, Ohio and Kentucky
each produce very different qualities,
all of which find special uses.
The Connceticut leaf makes the fin-
est wrappers for cigars, and is ship-
ped in large quantities to Havana for
that purpose. Cigars were not known
until about 1815. Previous to that
time pipes were used exclusively.
Chewing had then been in vogue to a
limited extent for some time, while
snuffing dates back almost as far as
smoking. :
The first package sent to Catherine
de Medici was in a fine powder. She
found that in smelling it, in the box,
affected her similarly to smoking,
which led her to filling one of her
smelling bottles with the dust. Her
courtiers adopted the habit of snufting
small portions of it up their nostril.
As the precious stuff became more
plentiful the snuffing habit became
more general, until at last a man or
woman was not considered as being
in proper form unless he or she snuf-
fed.
The custom became so common in
England that a snuff-box was no long-
er an insignia of rank. Then it was
that the law prohibiting the culture of
the plant, except for medicine, was
passed. About the same time a heavy
tariff was placed on the important ar-
ticle, thereby practically placing it
beyond the reach of the common herd
and giving royalty a complete monop-
oly. Since it first began to be used as
a luxuiy, there have been conflicting
opinions in regard to its effects. The
Romish church once forbade its use,
and the Church of England declaimed
against it. The Wesleys opposed it
hotly, and at one time it was consid-
ered so unclean as to unfit men for
menibership in the Methodist church.
Baptists and Presbyferian ministers
preached against it, and societies were
organized to oppose the spread of the
habit, but all to no purpose.
Parents disowned and disinherited
No fellow can
a
their children because they used it,
and husbands divorced their wives on
account of their having contracted the
habit of smoking. It is singular that
when women grt into the habit of
smoking a pipe, they prefer a strong
one. There are few men who have
nerve enough to smoke a pipe such as
a woman likes when she has become a
confirmed smoker. When they first
begin puffing cigars they prefer them
very mild, but it is not long until they
want them black and strong, and lots
of them.
The first chew or first cigar, is al-
ways long remembered, for they al-
most invariably produce a sickness
only parallel to that of the sea-sick-
ness, and, like the latter, the victim
is not at all frightened, but wants to}
die, or at least does not care whether
he lives or not. As soon as the at-
tack is over, however, he'is ready to
try it again. By patience and persist-
ence the nauseating effects are over-
come, and the deathly sickness gives
place to delightful sensations.
The pipe is less popular among ladies
in this country now than it was fifty
years ago. In the southern States,
however, the women of the middle and
lower classes nearly all either smoke
or rub snuff, and not a few do both.
Storekeepers in many parts of the
south buy snuff by the barrel, and
keep it under the counter with their
stock of sugar and coffee.
The excessive use of tobacco in any
form cannot help being more or less
harmful. That it deranges the stom-
ach is evident from the number of
well defined cases of delirium tremens
caused by it, to say nothing of various
other nervous phencmena.
The moderate use of it, while rarely
ever beneficial, may not be positively
harmful. The most that can be said
in its favor is that it affords a great
deal of satisfaction to those who have
become used to it. On the other hand,
smoking fouls the breath, injures the
sense of taste, vitiates the atmosphere
of a room, and entails unnecessary ex-
pense. Chewing is more filthy than
smoking, but not as expensive. Phy-
sicians are not agreed as to which is
the more harmful.
rt A ees.
Sure to Succeed.
Original men are not content to be
governed by tradition; they think for
themselves, and the result is often
that they succeed where others fail.
Now a certain photographer never
says to a woman customer, “Look
pleasant, madam, if you please.” He
knows a formula infinitely better than
that.
In the most natural manner in the
world he remarks: “It is unnecessary
to ask you to look pleasant; I am sure
you could not look otherwise.”
Then click goes the camera and the
result is never in doubt.—Philadelphia
Ledger.
Ask for 590,000 Seedlings.
Moie than 590,000 forest tree seed-
ER BR RCT
This number is 150,000 more than were
requested in 1922 and greatly exceed-
Bee number for any year since
1916.
Tempting Fruit Blossoms.
“Consider the farmer,” is a message
to the town and city dwellers of Cen-
tre county, coming from the county
Farm Bureau office. Hundreds of dol-
lars of damage is caused each spring
through unintentional acts of auto-
ists and hikers who like to get out
into the country on a day’s outing in
the spring of the year.
A spray of apple, peach or cherry
blossoms, to be used as a house deco-
ration in the city home, is a great
temptation to a motorist passing a
tree in full bloom and out of sight of
the farm house. Those tempted are
likely to overlook the fact that hun-
dreds of others on the same day might
be struck with the same fancy.
The Farm Bureau office points out
that the farmer has a hard enough
time these days making ends meet
with his pruning and spraying of fruit
trees, picking and packing the fruit
and marketing it. The armful of blos-
soms carried off by an auto party may ,
mean a bushel or two of apples lost to |
the grower; a group of boys can |
thoughtlessly lose him a bushel of |
peaches, and a crate of cherries may i
be represented in the armfulls of blos-
soms that cannot be resisted by a,
group of young men and women hik-
ers. Spring time in the country is a
good time to observe the “Golden
Rule,” says the State College agricul-
tural extension representative.
Honey Crop Could be Increased Ten-
Fold.
“It is conservative to estimate tnat
the honey crop of Pennsylvania could
be increased ten-fold. The State has
too many bee-keepers and too few
honey producers,” says Professor N.
E. Phillips, extension bee specialist at
The Pennsylvania State College.
Through too frequent instances of
poor management, he claims that the
true value of honey production on 2
commerical scale has not been real-
ized. A survey of the State shows
that the honey crop is greatly lessen-
ed each year, chiefly due to bee dis-
eases, inadequate winter protection, no
attempt at swarm control and the use
of scrub stock of bees or those of in-
ferior breeding.
Proper care and management of
bees now owned by Pennsylvania bee-
keepers would do much to improve
conditions. The State College exten-
sion program for bee culture aims at
the bee man’s problems and also to in-
terest more bee-keepers in commercial
honey production. Professor Phillips
makes his headquarters at State Col-
lege, Pa., and between visits to the
lings were applied for through the
Johnstown office of the forestry de- |
partment for planting this spring. |
various counties for demonstration
work, answers bee questions for the
many who seek this information.
Man’s Best Friends.
PROTECT the birds
That eat the insects
That destroy the forests
That preserve the waters
That fill the reservoirs
That irrigate the lands
That produce the crops
That supply the markets
That previde the foods
That nourish the people
Who make the laws.
—OQOur Dumb Animals.
Real Estate Transfers.
W. Frank Weaver, et ux, to Hugh
G. Crumlish, et ux, tract in Spring
township; $3,100.
W. C. Krader, trustee, to Wm. W.
Vonada, tract in Gregg township; $75.
Sarah Sprankle’s heirs to Emma
Sahaeh tract in Spring township;
Cambria Steel Co. to Johnstown
Reatly Co., tract in State of Pa.; $100.
Adam Grenoble’s Exrs. to G. B.
Bitner, tract in Gregg township; $900.
D. B. Brisbin, et al, to Warren A.
Homan, tract in Centre Hall; $3,750.
W. R. Gardner’s Exrs. to Lloyd W.
Bechdel, tract in Howard; $5,250.
Darius W. Cole, et ux, to Emma
Sern tract in Spring township;
. Esther M. Sheiffer to Miles IL
Bressler, tract in Gregg township;
$1,500.
George W. Miller to William C.
| Martin, tract in Spring township; $1,-
800.
Arthur B. Lee, et ux, to Arthur M.
Sev, tract in Gregg township; $4,-
T. A. Womelsdorf, Atty., to Emma
M. Buckwalter, tract in Rush town-
ship; $150.
Sadie Myrtle Kennedy, et bar, to
John H. Garland, et ux, tract in Rush
township; $3,000.
A. A. Frank, et ux, to C. G. Hassin-
ger, tract in Millheim; $790.
J. D. Irish, et al, to Michael Mc-
Cartney, tract in Rush township; $30.
_ Flora Roach to Wm. Roach, tract
in Rush township; $10.
Rebecca Smith, et al, to John C.
Smith, tract in Gregg township; $1.
Esther M. Sheiffer to Harry A. Cor-
man, tract in Gregg township; $110.
But We Have to Have It.
From the Kansas City Star.
The Irish people are reported to be
disturbed over the prospect that the
Free State government will cost about
30 per cent. more than government as
part of the United Kingdom. They
may be disturbed. But there is no
reason for them to be surprised. The
rest of the world long ago discovered
that governments come high. A sus-
picion is arising that they come a good
deal higher than they are worth.
—Get your job work done here.
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Large Size Shoes
for Large Women
We can fit the very largest
foot with Stylish Shoes and
give comfort.
Yeager’s Shoe Store
THE SHOE STORE FOR THE POOR MAN
BELLEFONTE, PA.
Bush Arcade Building 58-27
IN
—_.
NUMBER OF BELLTELEPHONES IN
PENNSYLVANIA = 1919-1922
Pi353:1
rr mara
va {: ; Wy. ‘4
HN a
SEVENTY THOUSAND NEW TELEPHONES
WILL BE ADDED TO THE BELL SYSTEM
PENNSYLVANIA THIS YEAR
ArT the beginning of the year there
were more than three-quarters of a
million Bell telephones in the state.
Every new telephone
new wire, new central office equipment,
new switchboard facilities.
And new efforts on
twenty thousand Bell Telephone people,
who build, maintain, and operate the
system.
Seventy thousand new telephones in one |}
year is the essential part of our program
to keep pace with Pennsylvania’s tele-
phone needs.
THE BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY
OF PENNSYLVANIA
C. W. Heilhecker
added requires
the part of the
Local Manager
Come to the “Watchman” office for High Class Job work.
Lyon & Co.
visit to our store will convince
you that we have on display
an array of Spring Styles that will
please and delight the Woman or
Miss who is in quest of a Spring
Coat, Suit, Cape, Dress or Blouse, at
attractively low prices.
~ Lyon & Co.
New Line of Sweaters and Scarfs
just arrived—a beautiful combination of
colorings in Silk and Wool.
Hosiery
Attention, Kiddies-----The new hot weather
Socks are now on display—all colors, all
lengths, in plain and fancy.
Ladies Silk Hose in all colors.
Carpets and Draperies
Make your Spring house-cleaning easy
and your home attractive by buying your
Carpets, Rugs, Draperies and Curtains
here. Prices to suit all economical buy-
ers.
- Shoes
We have Shoes to suit everybody—
Mens Fine Dress Shoes Mens Working Shoes
Ladies Dress Shoes Ladies Oxfords
Ladies 1 and 2-Strap Oxfords Childrens Shoes—in All Colors
Lyon & Co. « Lyon & Co.