p. 103 | The Tobacco Slave by Neal Dow

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 12, 1885

The Tobacco Slave

By Neal Dow

Temperance.

The Tobacco Slave.

THERE is absolutely no gratification whatever coming from the use of tobacco, except this: it relieves the victim from the misery which attacks him from the lack of it. Many years ago I saw a lunatic who had become so much accustomed to a billet of wood that had been chained to one of his legs when he was troublesome and dangerous, that afterwards, when he was quiet and harmless, he could not be easy without that “clog,” and always carried it about with him on his shoulder, though the chain was no longer fastened to him.

The tobacco slave reminds me of that poor lunatic; he carries around with him his offensive burden, by which he often makes himself odious to the persons whom he annoys with the stench of his presence. The tobacco slave is like him; he cannot dispense with his “smoke” or his “chew” without suffering from the want of it. Why does he not remain at home, then, until his craving for tobacco should be satisfied for the time, so as not to annoy others with the stench of it? One reason is that he cannot afford to sacrifice so much time as this would require; and another reason is, the tobacco slave becomes indifferent to the comforts or the rights of others. He poisons the air that others must breathe, and, “if they don’t like it, let them move away!” The tobacco slave always comes to that; his moral sense is lost or dulled.—Neal Dow.