Texas Baptist [Anderson, TX], February 2, 1860
For the Texas Baptist .
Brother Baines: In the first issue of your paper for the present year, I find an article devoted to the very disgusting practice of smoking and chewing tobacco. Sister Caroline, I think, has selected a subject too little spoken of, and there is, doubtless an injury connected with this practice too seldom thought of. We cannot believe, that tobacco was ever designed as a luxury for man, nor snuff for woman. I highly appreciate the spirit and language of the sister’s article, but I think while she was in such a good spirit, and commanding such appropriate language, might consistently have spent, at least a portion of it, for the benefit of snuff dippers. Is it a fact that there are no snuff eaters about Bonham? If so, happy town, happy people, happy country. If our worthy sister has been so fortunate as not to have been thrown into the company of those greedy persons she has escaped wonderfully well; and hence, she may not be conscious of the alarming extent to which this practice has been carried. If any person is ignorant of this, let them itenerate a short while, and if they possess any power of observation they will be forced to exclaim:
“Snuff, thou art no small curse
To health, beauty and the purse.”
In some schools I have seen the snuff bottle occupying a position equally as prominent as the dinner bucket and milk bottle.
I feel grateful to the sister for what she has said about the use of tobacco; and when she has heard my reason I am satisfied she will say it is a good one. I have been a regular smoker for the last three or four years, during of which time I have done full justice to the practice; and I have just finished smoking the last cigar I have on hand, trusting through the influence of her article I may never smoke another.
It is admitted by the majority, if not by all physicians, that snuff dipping is more injurious than the use of tobacco in any other way. If then it is any greater evil than smoking and chewing, I trust the sister will not take any exceptions should I use the whole of her article with the following changes: using snuff where tobacco occurs, and woman where man occurs. Let us make the change and see how it will sound:
“A certain habit has become prevalent among women to an alarming extent, which I can never think of without feelings of the most enfeigned disgust. I allude to the unnatural consumption of snuff. The use of snuff by professed ladies has absolutely become a universal nuisance. It seems impossible for women to become addicted to any other habit in society that could, in degree of filthiness, afford a parallel to this.
The filthy worm that preys upon the green tobacco leaf, and draws its nurishment from the foul plant, is, without dispute, a most loathsome object to behold; yet, it can hardly be said to equal in this respect the shameless female biped who robs it of the noxious food nature has prepared for its use.
When I see a woman who once had brains, now stuffing her mouth with foul unwholesome snuff, I cannot help thinking, alas, good woman, what a fall is here. And then when I see these same ladies who have already immolated themselves, as it were, upon the alter of stupidity and extravagance, still stalking about among human beings, and claiming the dignity of a place among women, I am made to wonder how it is that the noxious weed, that stultified their brains, can still serve to stimulate them in such a presumptious conceit. Verily snuff consumers deserve, and I think it is high time they should receive, the unsparing denunciation and censure of the more intelligent and refined portion of society. I repeat, the thing has actually become an unsurportable nuisance, and I do think that forbearance longer ceases to be a virtue, for it is no unusual or strange thing now-a-days, to see the stupid beings who use snuff, thrusting themselves even into the society of [illegible], while their [illegible] I really think there is hardly any one in this country, of refined feelings, that has not been repeatedly shocked at witnessing these creatures discharging their venomous saliva (except the pint or two that creeps unbidden down their chins) in disgusting profusion upon the floors of church houses, school rooms and even private residences.
Are not snuff dippers guilty of this? –I think so. But I had better use some caution in denouncing this most disgusting practice, for this is leap-year, when women’s rights prevail. Yet I trust they will bear in mind that leap year does not necessarily take away any of the rights of men.
In some slight hope of reform among the Queens of creation, I subscribe myself,
Your brother,
J. P. T.