The Cigarette

We are so accustomed to the sight and smell of tobacco that we entirely overlook the fact that the tobacco of commerce in all its forms is the product of a poisonous weed. It is first a narcotic and then an irritant poison. It has its place in all toxicological classifications together with its proper antidotes.

We are so used to the sight and smell of tobacco that we completely overlook a fact. All forms of tobacco sold come from a poisonous weed. Tobacco is first a narcotic and then an irritant poison. It appears in all classifications of poisons, along with its proper antidotes.

Tobacco has not achieved its almost universal popularity without strong opposition. In England King James launched his famous "Counterblaste" against its use. In Turkey, where men and women are alike slaves to its fascination, tobacco was originally forbidden under severe penalties; the loss of the ears, the slitting of the nostrils and even death itself being penalties imposed for the infraction of the law forbidding the use of tobacco in any form. Since then pipes, cigars, snuff and chewing tobacco have become popularized and tobacco in some form or another is used by almost every nation. The last development in the form of tobacco using was the cigarette rolled between the fingers, and the worst form of the cigarette is the manufactured article sold in cheap packages and freely used by boys who in many cases have not reached their teens.

Tobacco did not achieve its almost universal popularity without strong opposition. In England, King James launched his famous "Counterblaste" against its use. In Turkey, where men and women alike are slaves to its fascination, tobacco was originally forbidden under severe penalties. Breaking the law against using tobacco in any form could mean losing one’s ears, having one’s nostrils slit, or even death. Since then, pipes, cigars, snuff, and chewing tobacco have become popular. Almost every nation uses tobacco in one form or another. The latest development in tobacco use was the cigarette rolled between the fingers. The worst form is the manufactured cigarette sold in cheap packages. Boys use these cigarettes freely, and in many cases they have not yet reached their teens.

The manufactured American cigarette seems to be especially deadly in its effect. It is said to contain five and one-half per cent. of nicotine, or more than twice as much as the Cuban-made cigarette contains, and more than six times as much as is contained in the Turkish cigarette.

Manufactured American cigarettes seem to be especially deadly. They are said to contain 5.5 percent nicotine. That is more than twice as much as Cuban-made cigarettes and more than six times as much as Turkish cigarettes.

I am not going to quarrel with the use of tobacco in general by mature men. He who has come to man's estate is free to decide for himself whether he shall force a poison on his revolting stomach; for the nausea that follows the first use of tobacco is the stomach's attempt to eject the poison which has been absorbed from pipe, cigar, or cigarette. The grown man, too, is able to determine whether he wants to pay the tax which the use of tobacco levies upon his time, his health, his income and his prosperity. The most that can be said of the use of tobacco is that if habitual users of the narcotic weed are successful in life they must be successful in spite of the use of tobacco and not because of it; for it is opposed to both reason and common sense that the habitual use of a poison in any form should promote the development and exercise of the faculties whose energetic use is essential to success.

I am not going to argue against tobacco use in general by adult men. An adult man is free to decide whether to force a poison on his resisting stomach. The nausea that follows the first use of tobacco is the stomach's attempt to expel the poison absorbed from a pipe, cigar, or cigarette. An adult man can also decide whether he wants to pay the price tobacco use exacts from his time, health, income, and prosperity. The most that can be said is that habitual users of the narcotic weed succeed in life in spite of tobacco, not because of it. For reason and common sense tell us that the habitual use of a poison in any form cannot help develop or exercise the abilities essential to success. Those abilities must be used energetically.

What I desire to do is to warn the boy, the growing youth, of the baneful influence of the cigarette on minds yet unformed, on bodies yet in process of development.

I want to warn boys and young men about the harmful effects of cigarettes on their developing minds and bodies.

The danger of the cigarette to the growing boy lies first in the fact that it poisons the body. That it does not kill at the outset is due to the fact that the dose is small and so slowly increased that the body gradually accommodates itself to this poison as it does to strychnine, arsenic, opium, and other poisons. But all the time there is a slow but steady process of physical degeneration. The digestion is affected, the heart is overtaxed, liver and bowels are deranged in their functions, and as the poison spreads throughout the system there is a gradual physical deterioration which is marked alike in the countenance and in the carriage of the body. Any person who cares to do so may prove for himself the poisonous nature of nicotine which is derived from tobacco and taken into the system by those who chew or smoke.

The first danger of cigarettes for a growing boy is that they poison the body. Cigarettes do not kill at first because the dose is small and increases slowly. The body gradually adjusts to the poison, just as it does to strychnine, arsenic, opium, and other poisons. But all the while, the body slowly and steadily deteriorates. Digestion suffers, the heart is overworked, and the liver and bowels do not function properly. As the poison spreads throughout the body, physical deterioration gradually becomes visible in both the face and the body’s posture. Anyone who wishes can prove for themselves that nicotine is poisonous. Nicotine comes from tobacco and enters the body when people chew or smoke it.

Dr. J. J. Kellogg says: "A few months ago I had all the nicotine removed from a cigarette, making a solution of it. I injected half the quantity into a frog, with the effect that the frog died almost instantly. The rest was administered to another frog with like effect. Both frogs were full grown, and of average size. The conclusion is evident that a single cigarette contains poison enough to kill two frogs. A boy who smokes twenty cigarettes a day has inhaled enough poison to kill forty frogs. Why does the poison not kill the boy? It does tend to kill him. If not immediately, he is likely to die sooner or later of weak heart, Bright's disease, or some other malady which scientific physicians everywhere now recognize as a natural result of chronic nicotine poisoning."

Dr. J. J. Kellogg says: "A few months ago, I had all the nicotine removed from a cigarette and made into a solution. I injected half of it into a frog, and the frog died almost instantly. I gave the rest to another frog, with the same result. Both frogs were fully grown and of average size. The conclusion is clear: a single cigarette contains enough poison to kill two frogs. A boy who smokes twenty cigarettes a day has inhaled enough poison to kill forty frogs. Why doesn't the poison kill the boy? It does tend to kill him. If it does not kill him immediately, he is likely to die sooner or later from a weak heart, Bright's disease, or some other illness. Scientific physicians everywhere now recognize these illnesses as natural results of chronic nicotine poisoning."

A chemist, not long since, took the tobacco used in an average cigarette and soaked it in several teaspoonfuls of water and then injected a portion of it under the skin of a cat. The cat almost immediately went into convulsions, and died in fifteen minutes. Dogs have been killed with a single drop of nicotine.

Recently, a chemist soaked the tobacco from an average cigarette in several teaspoons of water. He then injected some of the liquid under a cat’s skin. The cat began having convulsions almost immediately and died within fifteen minutes. Dogs have been killed by a single drop of nicotine.

A single drop of nicotine taken from a seasoned pipe, and applied to the tongue of a venomous snake has caused almost instant death.

A single drop of nicotine taken from a well-used pipe and placed on a venomous snake's tongue has caused almost instant death.

A Western farmer tried to rear a brood of motherless chickens in his greenhouse. But the chickens did not thrive. They refused to eat; their skins became dry and harsh; their feathers were ruffled; they were feverish and drank constantly. Soon they began to die. As the temperature and general condition of the greenhouse seemed to be especially favorable to the rearing of chickens, the florist was puzzled to determine the cause of their sickness and death. After a careful study of the symptoms he found that the source of the trouble arose from the fumes of the tobacco stems burned in the greenhouse to destroy green flies and destructive plant parasites. Though the chickens had always been removed from the greenhouse during the tobacco fumigation and were not returned while any trace of smoke was apparent to the human senses, it was evident that the soil, air, and leaves of the plants retained enough of the poison to keep the chickens in a condition of semi-intoxication. The conditions were promptly changed, and the chickens removed to other quarters recovered rapidly and in a short time were healthy and lively though they were stunted in growth because of this temporary exposure to the effects of nicotine. The symptoms in the chickens were almost identical with the symptoms of nicotine poisoning in young boys, and the effects were relatively the same.

A Western farmer tried to raise a brood of motherless chicks in his greenhouse. But the chicks did not thrive. They refused to eat, their skin became dry and rough, and their feathers were ruffled. They were feverish and drank constantly. Soon they began to die. The temperature and general conditions in the greenhouse seemed especially favorable for raising chicks. So the florist was puzzled about the cause of their sickness and death. After carefully studying their symptoms, he found that the trouble came from tobacco fumes. Tobacco stems were burned in the greenhouse to destroy greenflies and harmful plant parasites. The chicks had always been removed during fumigation. They were not brought back until there was no smoke that a person could detect. Even so, the soil, air, and plant leaves evidently retained enough poison to keep the chicks partly intoxicated. The conditions were promptly changed, and the chicks were moved elsewhere. They recovered rapidly and were soon healthy and lively. But their growth was stunted because of this temporary exposure to nicotine. Their symptoms were almost identical to those of nicotine poisoning in young boys, and the effects were relatively the same.

The most moderate use of the cigarette is injurious to the body and mind of the youth; excessive indulgence leads inevitably to insanity and death.

Even moderate cigarette use harms a young person's body and mind. Excessive smoking inevitably leads to insanity and death.

A young man died in a Minnesota state institution not long ago, who, five years before, had been one of the most promising young physicians of the West. "Still under thirty years at the time of his commitment to the institution," says the newspaper account of his story, "he had already made three discoveries in nervous diseases that had made him looked up to in his profession. But he smoked cigarettes,—smoked incessantly. For a long time the effects of the habit were not apparent on him. In fact, it was not until a patient died on the operating table under his hands, and the young doctor went to pieces, that it became known that he was a victim of the paper pipes. But then he had gone too far. He was a wreck in mind as well as in body, and he ended his days in a maniac's cell."

A young man died in a Minnesota state institution not long ago. Five years earlier, he had been one of the most promising young doctors in the West. A newspaper account told his story: "He was still under thirty when he was committed to the institution. Yet he had already made three discoveries about nervous diseases that had earned him respect in his profession. But he smoked cigarettes constantly. For a long time, the effects of the habit were not apparent. Then a patient died on the operating table while he was treating them, and the young doctor fell apart. Only then did people learn that he was a victim of cigarettes. But by then he had gone too far. He was a wreck in mind as well as body, and he ended his days in a cell for the insane."

Another unfortunate victim of the cigarette was, not long ago, taken to the Brooklyn Hospital. He was a fireman on the railroad and was only twenty-one years old. He said he began smoking cigarettes when a mere boy. Before being taken to the hospital he smoked all night for weeks without sleep. When in the hospital he recognized none, but called loudly to everyone he saw to kill him. He would batter his head against the wall in the attempt to commit suicide. At length he was taken to the King's County Hospital in a strait jacket, where death soon relieved him of his sufferings.

Another unfortunate victim of cigarettes was taken to Brooklyn Hospital not long ago. He was a railroad fireman and only twenty-one years old. He said he had begun smoking cigarettes as a young boy. For weeks before he was taken to the hospital, he smoked all night without sleeping. At the hospital, he recognized no one, but loudly begged everyone he saw to kill him. He battered his head against the wall in an attempt to kill himself. Finally, he was taken to King's County Hospital in a straitjacket, where death soon relieved him of his suffering.

Similar results are following the excessive use of cigarettes, every day and in all sections of the country.

Excessive cigarette use is causing similar results every day in all parts of the country.

"Died of heart failure" is the daily verdict on scores of those who drop down at the desk or in the street. Can not this sudden taking off, of apparently hale and sturdy men be related, oftentimes to the heart weakness caused by the excessive use of tobacco and particularly of cigarettes?

"Died of heart failure" is the daily verdict for dozens of people who collapse at their desks or in the street. Could these sudden deaths of apparently healthy, strong men often be linked to heart weakness caused by excessive tobacco use, especially cigarettes?

Excessive cigarette smoking increases the heart's action very materially, in some instances twenty-five or thirty beats a minute. Think of the enormous amount of extra work forced upon this delicate organ every twenty-four hours! The pulsations are not only greatly increased but also very materially weakened, so that the blood is not forced to every part of the system, and hence the tissues are not nourished as they would be by means of fewer but stronger, more vigorous pulsations.

Excessive cigarette smoking greatly increases the heart rate, in some cases by twenty-five or thirty beats per minute. Think of the enormous amount of extra work this delicate organ is forced to do every day! The heartbeats are not only much faster but also much weaker. As a result, blood is not pumped to every part of the body. So the tissues are not as well nourished as they would be by fewer, stronger heartbeats.

The indulgence in cigarettes stunts the growth and retards physical development. An investigation of all the students who entered Yale University during nine years shows that the cigarette smokers were the inferiors, both in weight and lung capacity, of the non-smokers, although they averaged fifteen months older.

Smoking cigarettes stunts growth and slows physical development. A study examined all students who entered Yale University over nine years. The cigarette smokers weighed less and had lower lung capacity than the nonsmokers, although they were fifteen months older on average.

It has been said that the universal habit of smoking has made Germany "a spectacled nation." Tobacco greatly irritates the eyes, and injuriously affects the optic nerves. The eyes of boys who use cigarettes to excess grow dull and weak, and every feature shows the mark of the insidious poison. The face is pallid and haggard, the cheeks hollow, the skin drawn, there is a loss of frankness of expression, the eyes are shifty, the movements nervous and uncertain, and all this is but preliminary to the ultimate degradation and loss of self-respect which follow the victim of the cigarette habit, through years of misery and failure.

It has been said that widespread smoking has made Germany "a spectacled nation." Tobacco greatly irritates the eyes and damages the optic nerves. The eyes of boys who smoke too many cigarettes grow dull and weak. Every feature shows the mark of the hidden poison. The face is pale and haggard, the cheeks are hollow, and the skin is drawn. The face loses its open expression, the eyes are shifty, and movements are nervous and uncertain. But all this is only the beginning. The cigarette habit ultimately leads its victims to degradation and a loss of self-respect, through years of misery and failure.

Side by side with physical deterioration there goes on a process of moral degeneration which robs the cigarette smoking boy of refinement, of manners. The moral depravity which follows cigarette habit is appalling. Lying, cheating, swearing, impurity, loss of courage and manhood, a complete dropping of life's standards, result from such indulgence.

Alongside physical decline, a boy who smokes cigarettes also suffers moral decline, losing his refinement and manners. The moral corruption that follows the cigarette habit is appalling. It leads to lying, cheating, swearing, impurity, loss of courage and manhood, and a complete abandonment of life's standards.

Magistrate Crane, of New York City, says: "Ninety-nine out of a hundred boys between the ages of ten and seventeen years who come before me charged with crime have their fingers disfigured by yellow cigarette stains—I am not a crank on this subject, I do not care to pose as a reformer, but it is my opinion that cigarettes will do more than liquor to ruin boys. When you have arraigned before you boys hopelessly deaf through the excessive use of cigarettes, boys who have stolen their sisters' earnings, boys who absolutely refuse to work, who do nothing but gamble and steal, you can not help seeing that there is some direct cause, and a great deal of this boyhood crime, is, in my mind, easy to trace to the deadly cigarette. There is something in the poison of the cigarette that seems to get into the system of the boy and to destroy all moral fiber."

Magistrate Crane, of New York City, says: "Ninety-nine out of a hundred boys aged ten to seventeen who appear before me on criminal charges have fingers disfigured by yellow cigarette stains. I am not obsessed with this subject, and I do not want to present myself as a reformer. But I believe cigarettes will do more than liquor to ruin boys. Boys appear before you who are hopelessly deaf from smoking too many cigarettes. Others have stolen their sisters' earnings. Some absolutely refuse to work and do nothing but gamble and steal. When you see this, you cannot help seeing that there is some direct cause. In my mind, much of this boyhood crime can easily be traced to the deadly cigarette. Something in the poison of the cigarette seems to enter a boy's system and destroy all his moral fiber."

He gives the following probable course of a boy who begins to smoke cigarettes: "First, cigarettes. Second, beer and liquors. Third, craps—petty gambling. Fourth, horse-racing—gambling on a bigger scale. Fifth, larceny. Sixth, state prison."

He describes the likely path of a boy who starts smoking cigarettes: "First, cigarettes. Second, beer and liquor. Third, craps, a form of small-time gambling. Fourth, horse racing, gambling on a larger scale. Fifth, theft. Sixth, state prison."

Another New York City magistrate says: "Yesterday I had before me thirty-five boy prisoners. Thirty-three of them were confirmed cigarette smokers. To-day, from a reliable source, I have made the grewsome discovery that two of the largest cigarette manufacturers soak their product in a weak solution of opium. The fact that out of thirty-five prisoners thirty-three smoked cigarettes might seem to indicate some direct connection between cigarettes and crime. And when it is announced on authority that most cigarettes are doped with opium, this connection is not hard to understand. Opium is like whisky,—it creates an increasing appetite that grows with what it feeds upon. A growing boy who lets tobacco and opium get a hold upon his senses is never long in coming under the domination of whisky, too. Tobacco is the boy's easiest and most direct road to whisky. When opium is added, the young man's chance of resisting the combined forces and escaping physical, mental, and moral harm is slim, indeed."

Another New York City magistrate says: "Yesterday, thirty-five boys came before me as prisoners. Thirty-three of them were habitual cigarette smokers. Today, I learned something horrifying from a reliable source. Two of the largest cigarette manufacturers soak their products in a weak opium solution. The fact that thirty-three of the thirty-five prisoners smoked cigarettes might suggest a direct connection between cigarettes and crime. And when an authoritative source says that most cigarettes are laced with opium, that connection is easy to understand. Opium is like whiskey. It creates a craving that grows the more it is fed. A growing boy who lets tobacco and opium take hold of his senses soon falls under the control of whiskey, too. Tobacco is a boy's easiest and most direct road to whiskey. When opium is added, the young man has little chance of resisting their combined forces and escaping physical, mental, and moral harm."

I think the above statement regarding the use of opium by manufacturers is exaggerated. Yet we know that young men of great natural ability, everywhere, some of them in high positions, are constantly losing their grip, deteriorating, dropping back, losing their ambition, their push, their stamina, and their energy, because of the cigarette's deadly hold upon them.

I think the statement above about manufacturers using opium is exaggerated. Yet we know that highly talented young men everywhere are constantly losing their grip, even some in high positions. They are declining and falling behind, losing their ambition, drive, stamina, and energy because of the deadly hold cigarettes have on them.

Did you ever watch the gradual deterioration of the cigarette smoker, the gradual withdrawal of manliness and character, the fading out of purpose, the decline of ambition; the substitution of the beastly for the manly, the decline of the divine and the ascendency of the brute?

Have you ever watched a cigarette smoker gradually deteriorate? Have you seen manliness and character fade, purpose disappear, and ambition decline? Have you seen the beastly replace the manly, the divine decline, and the brute take over?

A very interesting study this, to watch the gradual withdrawal from the face of all that was manly and clean, and all that makes for success. We can see where purity left him and was gradually replaced by vulgarity, and where he began to be cursed by commonness.

It is fascinating to watch everything manly and clean gradually disappear from his face, along with everything that leads to success. We can see where purity left him and was gradually replaced by vulgarity. We can also see where commonness began to curse him.

We can see the point at which he could begin to do a bad job or a poor day's work without feeling troubled about it.

We can see the point when he could begin doing poor work without feeling troubled about it.

We can tell when he began to lose his great pride in his personal appearance, when he began to leave his room in the morning and to go to his work without being perfectly groomed. Only a little while before he would have been greatly mortified to have been seen by his employers and associates with slovenly dress; but now baggy trousers, unblackened shoes, soiled linen, frayed neck-tie do not trouble him.

We can tell when he began to take less pride in his appearance. He began leaving his room for work in the morning without being perfectly groomed. Only a short time before, he would have been deeply embarrassed if his employers and coworkers had seen him dressed untidily. But now baggy trousers, unpolished shoes, soiled linen, and a frayed tie do not trouble him.

He is not quite as conscientious about his work as he used to be. He can leave a half-finished job, and cut his hours and rob his employer a little here and there without being troubled seriously. He can write a slipshod letter. He isn't particular about his spelling, punctuation, or handwriting, as formerly. He doesn't mind a little deceit.

He is not quite as careful about his work as he used to be. He can leave a job half finished, cut his hours, and steal a little from his employer here and there. None of this seriously troubles him. He can write a sloppy letter. He no longer cares as much about his spelling, punctuation, or handwriting. He doesn't mind a little deceit.

Vulgarity no longer shocks him. He does not blush at the unclean test. Womanhood is not as sacred to him as in his innocent days. He does not reverence women as formerly; and he finds himself laughing at the coarse jest and the common remarks about them among his associates, when once he would have resented and turned away in disgust.

Vulgarity no longer shocks him. He does not blush at the unclean test. Womanhood is not as sacred to him as it was in his innocent days. He no longer respects women as he once did. He finds himself laughing at the crude jokes and ordinary remarks about women among his companions. Once, he would have resented such remarks and turned away in disgust.

Dr. Lewis Bremer, late physician at St. Vincent's Institute for the Insane says, "Basing my opinion upon my experience gained in private sanitariums and hospitals, I will broadly state that the boy who smokes cigarettes at seven will drink whisky at fourteen, take morphine at twenty-five, and wind up at thirty with cocaine and the rest of the narcotics."

Dr. Lewis Bremer, a former physician at St. Vincent's Institute for the Insane, says: "My opinion is based on my experience in private sanitariums and hospitals. Broadly speaking, a boy who smokes cigarettes at seven will drink whiskey at fourteen. He will take morphine at twenty-five and end up using cocaine and other narcotics at thirty."

The saddest effects of cigarette smoking are mental. The physical signs of deterioration have their mental correspondencies. Sir William Hamilton said: "There is nothing great in matter but man; there is nothing great in man but mind." The cigarette smoker takes man's distinguishing faculty and uncrowns it. He "puts an enemy in his mouth to steal away his brains."

The saddest effects of cigarette smoking are mental. The physical signs of decline have mental counterparts. Sir William Hamilton said: "There is nothing great in the material world but man. There is nothing great in man but the mind." The cigarette smoker takes the ability that sets man apart and strips it of its power. He "puts an enemy in his mouth to steal away his brains."

Anything which impairs one's success capital, which cuts down his achievement and makes him a possible failure when he might have been a grand success, is a crime against him. Anything which benumbs the senses, deadens the sensibilities, dulls the mental faculties, and takes the edge off one's ability, is a deadly enemy, and there is nothing else which effects all this so quickly as the cigarette. It is said that within the past fifty years not a student at Harvard University who used tobacco has been graduated at the head of his class, although, on the average, five out of six use tobacco.

Anything that damages a person’s resources for success is a crime against that person. It reduces their achievements and may cause them to fail when they could have been a great success. Anything that numbs the senses, dulls the mind and feelings, and blunts a person’s abilities is a deadly enemy. Nothing does all this as quickly as the cigarette. It is said that in the past fifty years, no Harvard University student who used tobacco has graduated first in their class, although, on average, five out of six students use tobacco.

The symptoms of a cigarette victim resembles those of an opium eater. A gradual deadening, benumbing influence creeps all through the mental and moral faculties; the standards all drop to a lower level; the whole average of life is cut down, the victim loses that power of mental grasp, the grip of mind which he once had. In place of his former energy and vim and push, he is more and more inclined to take things easy and to slide along the line of the least resistance. He becomes less and less progressive. He dreams more and acts less. Hard work becomes more and more irksome and repulsive, until work seems drudgery to him.

The symptoms of a cigarette victim resemble those of an opium eater. A gradual numbing influence spreads through all his mental and moral faculties. His standards all fall, and the overall quality of his life declines. He loses the mental grasp he once had. Instead of showing his former energy and drive, he becomes more inclined to take things easy and follow the path of least resistance. He becomes less and less progressive. He dreams more and acts less. Hard work becomes increasingly unpleasant and repulsive to him, until it seems like drudgery.

Professor William McKeever, of the Kansas Agricultural College, in the course of his findings after an exhaustive study of "The Cigarette Smoking Boy" presents facts which are as appalling as they are undeniable:

Professor William McKeever of Kansas Agricultural College conducted an exhaustive study of "The Cigarette Smoking Boy." His findings present facts that are as appalling as they are undeniable:

"For the past eight years I have been tracing out the cigarette boy's biography and I have found that in practically all cases the lad began his smoking habit clandestinely and with little thought of its seriousness while the fond parents perhaps believed that their boy was too good to engage in such practise.

"For the past eight years, I have been studying the lives of boys who smoke cigarettes. I have found that in practically all cases, the boy began smoking secretly, with little thought of how serious it was. Meanwhile, his loving parents may have believed he was too good to do such a thing.

"I have tabulated reports of the condition of nearly 2,500 cigarette-smoking schoolboys, and in describing them physically my informants have repeatedly resorted to the use of such epithets as 'sallow,' 'sore-eyed,' 'puny,' 'squeaky-voiced,' 'sickly,' 'short-winded,' and 'extremely nervous.' In my tabulated reports it is shown that, out of a group of twenty-five cases of young college students, smokers, whose average age of beginning was 13, according to their own admissions they had suffered as follows: Sore throat, four; weak eyes, ten; pain in chest, eight; 'short wind,' twenty-one; stomach trouble, ten; pain in heart, nine. Ten of them appeared to be very sickly. The younger the boy, the worse the smoking hurts him in every way, for these lads almost invariably inhale the fumes; and that is the most injurious part of the practise."

"I have compiled reports on the condition of nearly 2,500 schoolboys who smoked cigarettes. My sources repeatedly described their physical condition with words like 'sallow,' 'sore-eyed,' 'puny,' 'squeaky-voiced,' 'sickly,' 'short of breath,' and 'extremely nervous.' My reports include a group of twenty-five young college students who smoked. On average, they had started smoking at thirteen. By their own accounts, four had suffered from sore throats, ten from weak eyes, eight from chest pain, twenty-one from 'shortness of breath,' ten from stomach trouble, and nine from heart pain. Ten of them appeared to be very sickly. The younger the boy, the more smoking harms him in every way. These boys almost always inhale the smoke, and that is the most harmful part of the practice."

Professor McKeever made hundreds of sphygmograph records of boys addicted to the smoking habit. Discussing what the records showed, he says:

Professor McKeever made hundreds of sphygmograph recordings of boys addicted to smoking. Discussing what the recordings showed, he says:

"The injurious effects of smoking upon the boy's mental activities are very marked. Of the many hundreds of tabulated cases in my possession, several of the very youthful ones have been reduced almost to the condition of imbeciles. Out of 2,336 who were attending public school, only six were reported 'bright students.' A very few, perhaps ten, were 'average,' and all the remainder were 'poor' or 'worthless' as students. The average grades of fifty smokers and fifty non-smokers were computed from the records of one term's work done in the Kansas Agricultural college and the results favored the latter group with a difference of 17.5 per cent. The two groups represented the same class rank; that is, the same number of seniors, juniors, sophomores, and freshmen."

"Smoking has a very serious effect on boys' mental abilities. Among the many hundreds of cases I have recorded, several very young boys have been reduced almost to the condition of imbeciles. Of the 2,336 who attended public school, only six were reported as 'bright students.' Very few, perhaps ten, were 'average.' All the rest were 'poor' or 'worthless' as students. The average grades of fifty smokers and fifty non-smokers were calculated from one term's records at Kansas Agricultural college. The non-smokers' average was 17.5 percent higher. The two groups represented the same class ranks. Each had the same number of seniors, juniors, sophomores, and freshmen."

A thorough investigation of the effects of cigarette smoking on boys has been carried on in one of the San Francisco schools for many months. This investigation was ordered because a great many of the boys were inferior to the girls, both mentally and morally.

For many months, a San Francisco school has been thoroughly investigating the effects of cigarette smoking on boys. The investigation was ordered because many boys were inferior to the girls, both mentally and morally.

It was found that nearly three-fourths of the boys who smoked cigarettes had nervous disorders, while only one of those who did not smoke had any nervous symptoms. A great many of the cigarette smokers had defective hearing, while only one of those who did not smoke was so afflicted. A large percentage of the boys who smoked were defective in memory, while only one boy who did not smoke was so affected. A large portion of the boys who smoked were reported as low in deportment and morals, while only a very small percentage of those who did not smoke were similarly affected. It was found that the minds of many of the cigarette smokers could not comprehend or grasp ideas as quickly or firmly as those who did not smoke. Nearly all of the cigarette smokers were found to be untidy and unclean in their personal appearance, and a great many of them were truants; but among those who did not smoke not a single boy had been corrected for truancy. Most of the smokers ranked very low in their studies as compared with those who did not smoke. Seventy-nine per cent. of them failed of promotion, while the percentage of failure among those who did not smoke was exceedingly small.

Nearly three-fourths of the boys who smoked cigarettes were found to have nervous disorders. Among those who did not smoke, only one had any nervous symptoms. Many of the cigarette smokers had poor hearing, while only one nonsmoker did. A large percentage of the boys who smoked had poor memories, while only one nonsmoker did. A large portion of the smokers were reported to have poor behavior and morals. Only a very small percentage of nonsmokers were reported to have the same problems. Many cigarette smokers could not understand or grasp ideas as quickly or as firmly as nonsmokers. Nearly all the cigarette smokers were found to be untidy and unclean in their appearance. Many of them skipped school, but not a single nonsmoker had been disciplined for skipping school. Most smokers ranked very low in their studies compared with nonsmokers. Seventy-nine percent of the smokers failed to advance to the next grade. The percentage of nonsmokers who failed was extremely small.

Of twenty boy smokers who were under careful observation for several months, nineteen stood below the average of the class, while only two of those who did not smoke stood below. Seventeen out of the twenty were very poor workers and seemed absolutely incapable of close or continuous application to any of their studies.

Twenty boys who smoked were carefully observed for several months. Nineteen performed below the class average, while only two boys who did not smoke performed below average. Seventeen of the twenty smokers were very poor workers. They seemed completely unable to focus closely or steadily on any of their studies.

Professor Wilkinson, principal of a leading high school, says, "I will not try to educate a boy with the cigarette habit. It is wasted time. The mental faculties of the boy who smokes cigarettes are blunted."

Professor Wilkinson, principal of a leading high school, says, "I will not try to educate a boy who habitually smokes cigarettes. It is a waste of time. A boy who smokes cigarettes has dulled mental abilities."

Another high school principal says, "Boys who smoke cigarettes are always backward in their studies; they are filthy in their personal habits, and coarse in their manners, they are hard to manage and dull in appearance."

Another high school principal says, "Boys who smoke cigarettes always fall behind in their studies. They have filthy personal habits and coarse manners. They are hard to manage and dull in appearance."

It is apparent therefore that the cigarette habit disqualifies the student mentally, that it retards him in his studies, dwarfs his intellect, and leaves him far behind those of inferior mental equipment who do not indulge in the injurious use of tobacco in any form.

It is clear, therefore, that smoking cigarettes makes a student mentally unfit. It holds him back in his studies and stunts his intellect. It leaves him far behind those with less mental ability who do not use tobacco in any form. Tobacco use is harmful.

The mental, moral, and physical deterioration from the use of cigarettes, has been noted by corporations and employers of labor generally, until to-day the cigarette devotee finds himself barred from many positions that are open to those of inferior capabilities, who are not enslaved by the deadly habit.

Corporations and employers generally have noticed the mental, moral, and physical decline caused by smoking cigarettes. Today, cigarette smokers are barred from many jobs open to less capable people who are not enslaved by the deadly habit.

Cigarette smoking is no longer simply a moral question. The great business world has taken it up as a deadly enemy of advancement, of achievement. Leading business firms all over the country have put the cigarette on the prohibited list. In Detroit alone, sixty-nine merchants have agreed not to employ the cigarette user. In Chicago, Montgomery Ward and Company, Hibbard, Spencer and Bartlett, and some of the other large concerns have prohibited cigarette smoking among all employees under eighteen years of age. Marshall Field and Company, and the Morgan and Wright Tire Company have this rule: "No cigarettes can be smoked by our employees." One of the questions on the application blanks at Wanamaker's reads: "Do you use tobacco or cigarettes?"

Cigarette smoking is no longer just a moral question. The business world has taken it up as a deadly enemy of advancement and achievement. Leading businesses across the country have banned cigarettes. In Detroit alone, sixty-nine merchants have agreed not to employ cigarette smokers. In Chicago, Montgomery Ward and Company, Hibbard, Spencer and Bartlett, and some other large firms have banned cigarette smoking among employees under eighteen. Marshall Field and Company and the Morgan and Wright Tire Company have this rule: "No cigarettes can be smoked by our employees." One question on the job application at Wanamaker's reads: "Do you use tobacco or cigarettes?"

The superintendent of the Linden Street Railway, of St. Louis, says: "Under no circumstances will I hire a man who smokes cigarettes. He is as dangerous on the front of a motor as a man who drinks. In fact, he is more dangerous; his nerves are apt to give way at any moment. If I find a car running badly, I immediately begin to investigate to find if the man smokes cigarettes. Nine times out of ten he does, and then he goes, for good."

The superintendent of the Linden Street Railway in St. Louis says: "I will never hire a man who smokes cigarettes. He is as dangerous at the controls of a streetcar as a man who drinks. In fact, he is more dangerous. His nerves could give way at any moment. If I find a streetcar running badly, I immediately check whether the operator smokes cigarettes. Nine times out of ten he does, and then he is fired for good."

The late E. H. Harriman, head of the Union Pacific Railroad system, used to say that they "might as well go to a lunatic asylum for their employees as to hire cigarette smokers." The Union Pacific Railroad prohibits cigarette smoking among its employees.

E. H. Harriman, the late head of the Union Pacific Railroad system, used to say they "might as well get their employees from a mental hospital as hire cigarette smokers." The Union Pacific Railroad bans its employees from smoking cigarettes.

The New York, New Haven, and Hartford, the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific, the Lehigh Valley, the Burlington, and many others of the leading railroad companies of this country have issued orders positively forbidding the use of cigarettes by employees while on duty.

The New York, New Haven, and Hartford, the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific, the Lehigh Valley, and the Burlington are among many leading American railroad companies that have issued strict orders. These orders forbid employees from smoking cigarettes while on duty.

Some time ago, twenty-five laborers working on a bridge were discharged by the roadmasters of the West Superior, Wisconsin Railroad because of cigarette smoking. The Pittsburg and Western Railroad which is part of the Baltimore and Ohio system, gave orders forbidding the use of cigarettes by its employees on passenger trains and also notified passengers that they must not smoke cigarettes in their coaches.

Some time ago, railroad supervisors in West Superior, Wisconsin, fired 25 laborers working on a bridge for smoking cigarettes. The Pittsburg and Western Railroad is part of the Baltimore and Ohio system. It ordered employees not to smoke cigarettes on passenger trains. It also told passengers they could not smoke cigarettes in the passenger cars.

In the call issued for the competitive examination for messenger service in the Chicago Post-office, sometime since, seven hundred applicants were informed that only the best equipped boys were wanted for this service, and that under no circumstances would boys who smoked cigarettes be employed. Other post-offices have taken a similar stand.

Some time ago, the Chicago Post-office announced a competitive examination for messenger jobs. The announcement told 700 applicants that only the best-qualified boys were wanted. Under no circumstances would boys who smoked cigarettes be hired. Other post offices have taken a similar stand.

If some one should present you with a most delicately adjusted chronometer,—one which would not vary a second in a year—do you think it would pay you to trifle with it, to open the case in the dust, to leave it out in the rain overnight, or to put in a drop of glue or a chemical which would ruin the delicacy of its adjustment so that it would no longer keep good time? Would you think it wise to take such chances?

Suppose someone gave you a very precisely adjusted watch, one that would not lose or gain a second in a year. Do you think it would be worth treating it carelessly? Would you open its case in the dust or leave it out in the rain overnight? Would you put in a drop of glue or a chemical that would ruin its precise adjustment? Then it would no longer keep good time. Would you think it wise to take such chances?

But the Creator has given you a matchless machine, so delicately and wondrously made that it takes a quarter of a century to bring it to perfection, to complete growth, and yet you presume to trifle with it, to do all sorts of things which are infinitely worse than leaving your watch open out of doors overnight, or even in water.

But the Creator has given you a matchless machine, so delicate and wonderful that it takes 25 years to reach full growth and perfection. Yet you dare to treat it carelessly. You do all sorts of things that are infinitely worse than leaving your watch open outdoors overnight, or even in water.

The great object of the watch is to keep time. The supreme purpose of this marvelous piece of human machinery is power. The watch means nothing except time. If the human machinery does not produce power, it is of no use.

The main purpose of a watch is to keep time. The highest purpose of this marvelous human machine is to produce power. A watch means nothing except time. If the human machine does not produce power, it is of no use.

The merest trifle will prevent the watch from keeping time; but you think that you can put anything into your human machinery, that you can do all sorts of irrational things with it, and yet you expect it to produce power—to keep perfect time. It is important that the human machine shall be kept as responsive to the slightest impression or influence as possible, and the brain should be kept clear so that the thought may be sharp, biting, gripping, so that the whole mentality will act with efficiency. And yet you do not hesitate to saturate the delicate brain-cells with vile drinks, to poison them with nicotine, to harden them with smoke from the vilest of weeds. You expect the man to turn out as exquisite work, to do the most delicate things to retain his exquisite sense of ability notwithstanding the hardening, the benumbing influence of cigarette poisoning.

The slightest thing can keep a watch from keeping time. But you think you can put anything into your human machinery and do all sorts of irrational things to it. Yet you expect it to produce power and keep perfect time. The human machine must be kept as responsive as possible to the slightest impression or influence. The brain must stay clear so that thought can be sharp, biting, and gripping, and the whole mind can work efficiently. Yet you do not hesitate to soak delicate brain cells in vile drinks, poison them with nicotine, and harden them with smoke from the vilest of weeds. Despite the hardening, numbing effects of cigarette poisoning, you expect a man to produce work of exquisite quality. You expect him to perform the most delicate tasks and retain his keen sense of his own ability.

Let the boy or youth who is tempted to indulge in the first cigarette ask himself—Can I afford to take this enormous risk? Can I jeopardize my health, my strength, my future, my all, by indulging in a practise which has ruined tens of thousands of promising lives?

A boy or young man tempted to try his first cigarette should ask himself: Can I afford to take this enormous risk? Can I risk my health, my strength, my future, my all, by smoking? Smoking has ruined tens of thousands of promising lives.

Let the youth who is tempted say, "No! I will wait until mind and body are developed, until I have reached man's estate before I will begin to use tobacco." Experience proves that those who reach a robust manhood are rarely willing to sacrifice health and happiness to the cigarette habit.

Let a young person who is tempted say, "No! I will wait until my mind and body are developed. I will not use tobacco until I am a man." Experience shows that those who reach adulthood in robust health are rarely willing to sacrifice their health and happiness to the cigarette habit.

Many years ago an eminent physician and specialist in nervous diseases put himself on record as holding the firm belief that the evil effects of the use of tobacco were more lasting and far reaching than the injurious consequences that follow the excessive use of alcohol. Apart from affections of the throat and cancerous diseases of lips and tongue which frequently affect smokers there is a physical taint which is transmitted to offspring which handicaps the unfortunate infant "from its earliest breath."

Many years ago, a distinguished physician who specialized in nervous diseases stated a firm belief about tobacco. He believed its harmful effects were more lasting and far-reaching than those of excessive alcohol use. Smokers frequently suffer from throat diseases and cancers of the lips and tongue. Apart from these, a physical defect is passed on to offspring, which handicaps the unfortunate infant "from its earliest breath."

The only salvation of the race, said this physician, lay in the fact that women did not smoke. If they too acquired the tobacco habit future generations would be stamped by the degeneracy and depravity which follow the use of tobacco as surely as they follow the use of alcohol.

The physician said that the only hope for the human race was that women did not smoke. If women took up smoking too, future generations would be marked by degeneracy and depravity. These follow tobacco use just as surely as they follow alcohol use.

In view of these facts the increase of cigarette smoking among women may well alarm those who have at heart the wellbeing of the rising generation. So rapidly has this habit spread that fashionable hotels and cafes are providing rooms for the especial use of those women who like to indulge in an after-dinner cigarette. A noted restaurant in New York recently added an annex to which ladies with their escorts might retire and smoke. We often see women smoking in New York hotels and restaurants.

Given these facts, the rise in cigarette smoking among women may well alarm those concerned about the next generation’s well-being. The habit has spread so quickly that fashionable hotels and cafes now provide rooms for women who enjoy smoking after dinner. A well-known New York restaurant recently added a separate room where women and their escorts could go to smoke. We often see women smoking in New York hotels and restaurants.

Not long ago the writer was a guest at a dinner and to his surprise several ladies at the table lighted their cigarettes with as much composure as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Not long ago, I was a guest at a dinner. To my surprise, several women at the table lit cigarettes as calmly as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

At a reception recently, I saw the granddaughter of one of America's greatest authors smoking cigarettes.

At a recent reception, I saw the granddaughter of one of America's greatest authors smoking cigarettes.

What a spectacle, to see a descendant so nearly removed from one of Nature's grandest noblemen, a princely gentleman, smoking! And I said to myself, "What would her grandfather think if he could see this?"

What a sight, to see the granddaughter of one of nature's greatest noblemen, a truly noble gentleman, smoking! I said to myself, "What would her grandfather think if he could see this?"

On a train running between London and Liverpool, a compartment especially reserved for women smokers has been provided. It is said that three American women were the cause of this innovation. The superintendent of one of our largest American railways says that he would not be surprised if the American roads were compelled to follow the lead of their English brethren.

A train running between London and Liverpool now has a compartment reserved for women who smoke. Three American women are said to have prompted this change. The superintendent of one of the largest American railways says he would not be surprised if American railways had to follow the English example.

It is not unreasonable to suppose that this addiction to the use of tobacco is in many cases inherited. A friend told me of a very charming young woman who was passionately devoted to tobacco. At a time when it was not usual for women to smoke in public her craving for a cigarette was so strong that she could not deny herself the indulgence. She said her father, a deacon in the church, had been an inveterate smoker, and her love of tobacco dated back to her earliest remembrance. Every woman should use the uttermost of her influence to discourage the use of the cigarette and enlist the girls as well as boys in her fight against the evil and injurious practise of cigarette smoking.

It is reasonable to suppose that a tendency to use tobacco is inherited in many cases. A friend told me about a very charming young woman who was passionately devoted to tobacco. At the time, women did not usually smoke in public. But her craving for cigarettes was so strong that she could not deny herself. She said her father, a church deacon, had been a habitual smoker. Her love of tobacco went back as far as she could remember. Every woman should use all her influence to discourage cigarette smoking. She should enlist girls as well as boys in her fight against this evil and harmful practice.