A Dreadful Scourge to the Human Race.
THE discovery of the American continent was a wonderful event. A new world was opened to the millions of the old, who were glad to avail themselves of the advantages of adventure and change. But we are not now to speak of the national or commercial interests of the world, as connected with the discovery of Columbus, but wish to call the attention of Christians to a historical fact. After landing on the Island of Cuba in 1492, he sent a party of men into the interior, to make some discoveries among the native inhabitants, and among other things, the historian says, "They saw some of the natives with a fire-brand in one hand and some dried herbs rolled up in a leaf, and lighting it at one end, put the other to their mouth to inhale the smoke—this they called tobacco." This is the first knowledge of tobacco, and its use, by civilized man, and then it was used by savages. But for three centuries, it has been used as a luxury by most of the Christian world! The evils are indescribable, to the body and mind; and the expense amounts to hundreds of millions. Next to intoxicating drinks, it is the most blighting and dreadful scourge. Christian brethren and sisters, do you use it?