FIVE DOLLARS A MONTH by D. A. Robinson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 9, 1879

FIVE DOLLARS A MONTH.

By D. A. Robinson

For what? To liquidate the monthly tobacco bill of a young man only seventeen years of age. Not long since, as I was riding in a stage coach, a young man stepped aboard, who was well dressed, and looked and acted like a gentleman, only that he had in his mouth that intolerable nuisance—a cigar. He looked around, and seeing that there were no ladies aboard, went on with great satisfaction to enjoy his luxury. The wind for a time blew the smoke from me, so of course I made no complaint; but after riding a mile or two, our coach turned its course sufficiently to bring the cloud of poison squarely into my face. I dodged it as I would a bullet, and put my head outside the coach, thinking that the young man would take the hint and refrain. But no, not he. At last I became desperate, and finally remarked to him that one of three things would have to transpire immediately. He looked at me in astonishment, and asked what they were. “Well,” said I, “I shall become very sick, or I shall get out of this coach, or you will stop that smoking.” “Oh, excuse me, sir,” said he. “When I got in I saw there were no ladies, and I supposed a man coming from the town of ——— would of course be a smoker.” “Just a few puffs more,” said I, “and you will have a very sick man on your hands.” “I wish it would use me so,” was his reply, as he tossed his half-consumed idol out of the door.

After some further conversation on the filthiness and expensiveness of such a habit, I asked him what his tobacco cost him a year. “Well,” said he, “let us see,—four, twenty-eight, hundred and twelve,—well, about $5.50 a month, not over that. I don’t use half as much as some men I know.”

I began to reflect. Over $60.00 a year burned up by a youth who at the same time is trying to get an education. Let us see. There are about three million souls in the States included in this Conference. Allowing that one in every 500 is a tobacco devotee, and granting them just one-half as much as the above young man used, and we have $180,000.

It is distressing to hear some poor souls who profess to be S. D. Adventists try to belittle the temperance move that has been inaugurated among us. We should blush for shame when we find ourselves indifferent over this matter. Brethren and sisters, we may make our influence felt on this question of temperance if we will, and through it open a door for the last message of mercy. Oh, for eye-salve to see when good comes. May God help us to understand the nature of this great work.

D. A. ROBINSON.