WHAT I HAVE SEEN by D. A. Robinson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 28, 1878

WHAT I HAVE SEEN.

By D. A. Robinson

I do not mean to speak of all that I have ever seen, that might not be profitable; but one thing I have seen, or, perhaps more properly speaking, have heard, is this: I have heard poor men curse and swear about the hard times, say they did not know what they were going to do to get a living, support their families, educate their children, &c.

Hearing a man not long since talking in this strain, cursing the times, lamenting his “hard luck,” and denouncing Providence, my curiosity was aroused to learn the cost of one useless habit this man had acquired; for I discovered he was a tobacco devotee. He was apparently a man over whose head sixty winters had passed, having naturally a good mind and a strong constitution; the latter, however, had become impaired by wrong habits, and the former had not been benefited by them. After this discussion had subsided, while we stood near the window of the ticket office, I noticed at our right a large show-case containing fruit, confectionary, and all the choice (?) brands of cigars. As my eyes rested on the last-named article, I regarded it the moment to obtain the desired information. “What is the probable cost of those ten-cent cigars?” said I to the above-named gentleman. “Less than half their retail value,” was the answer. “What is the probable cost of tobacco to the common user?” said I. “I do not know, sir, as to that; but I know that mine does not cost me over twenty cents per day.”

In a moment the train was off, and we separated. “Twenty cents a day,” thought I, as I took my seat in the cars. Let us see: Seven days to the week, seven times twenty make one hundred and forty; $1.40 a week. Fifty-two times $1.40 give the snug little sum of $72.80, which this gentleman spends annually for the vile weed, at the same time crying, Hard times. What shall we say? $72.80 thrown away? No, that does not express the truth. If the person who uses this amount for tobacco annually would at the end of each year roll up the above sum in greenbacks, then on the first day of each new year use this roll in kindling his fire, the results to himself and family would not be a tithe as disastrous as they are when he smokes it up. He would, by putting it into the stove, lose no time and would get a little benefit from it, but by using it in the manner he has, seventy-two dollars’ worth of poison has come in contact with his system, beclouding his mind, shattering his nerves, and poisoning the system generally. Then the time that a “hard smoker” loses in consequence of this habit is no small item.

Any man convicted of robbing his family yearly of such a sum and willfully destroying it, if he were not immediately sent to the insane asylum would have a “guardian” placed over him, to say the least; yet that would not be as bad, either physically, mentally, or morally. Shall we call tobacco-using a sin? Yes! unless it is right to poison the system, to rob our families, to render impure the pure air of heaven, to squander upon our lusts means over which God has made us stewards.

What a handsome present the above sum would have been for that gentleman to give his family! or had he invested it in flour, nine barrels might have been purchased. No wonder the statement has been made that England pays more for tobacco than she does for bread. “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Cor. 7:1.

D. A. ROBINSON.