Poor Jacko | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 8, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 18.

Poor Jacko.

SOME time ago a gentleman, who had been very kind to an Italian emigrant, received from him the present of a fine monkey. Pleased with his present, the gentleman spent much of his time teaching Jacko (the monkey) various tricks, so that in a little while he could very successfully imitate his master in most things. Desirous of exhibiting his favorite, the gentleman resolved to invite some of his male friends to a dinner party; and that Jacko might play the gentleman to advantage there was but one thing lacking—Jacko as yet had not learned to smoke. To remedy this, his master one day lit a cigar, an example which Jacko soon followed. But, alas! it fared badly with him. Many a wry face did he show, but, encouraged by his master, he continued to puff, puff away. At last, overcome by the pernicious fumes, his eyes rolled in their sockets, his limbs gave way, and down he fell as drunk as a toper; and all that his master could do was of no avail, poor Jacko died! No wonder, for tobacco is a poison, and hundreds of men and boys have been killed by it.

A college of physicians has said that not less than 20,000 persons in our land die every year by the use of this poison. Three young men formed a smoking club, and they all died within two years. The doctor was asked what they died of. He said "they were smoked to death."

—Temperance Banner.