the use and need of the life of carrie a. nation-第54章
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WOULD QUIT SMOKING IN PUBLIC IF WOMEN DENOUNCED
IT AS MUCH。
I have heard some women say； 〃I like the smell of a good cigar。〃
I never smelled a good one。 It is not made。 They are like snakes； they
are all bad。 I never knew of but one good use that tobacco was put to；
and that was to kill lice on cows。 My father used it for that purpose on
his farm。 It does kill that kind of germs。
The evil has become so common that whenever you go abroad you
are compelled to breathe the contents of somebody else's month。 It
would be rude of me to take a piece of fruit out of my mouth and throw
it into somebody else's mouth； but anyone may throw his poisonous
breath and smoke into my mouth and I have no defense。 Spitting is
forbidden in the cars。 Smoking is a great deal worse； but the reason why
it is not denounced is that people can get a revenue from men's smoking；
while they have to clean up after spitters； and there is no money in that。
I can prevent a man spitting into my mouth； but I cannot avoid his
smoke。 A man seems to think that he is free to project his stinking
breath in my face on the street； in hotels； in sleeping cars； coachesindeed；
in every public place。 Now I would as soon smell a skunk。 There is
some excuse for a skunk； he can't help being one。 But men have become
so rank in their persons from this poisonous odor that they almost knock
me down as they pass me。 And when I say； 〃Man； don't throw that awful
stench in my face；〃 he answers； 〃You get away。〃 I reply； 〃If I smelled
as badly as you do； I would be the one to get away。〃
Oh； the vile cigarette！ What smell can be worse and more poisonous？
I feel outraged at being compelled to smell this poison on the street。
I have the right to take cigars and cigarettes from men's mouths in
self…defense；
and they ought not to be allowed to injure themselves。 〃Liberty
is the largest privilege to do that which is right； and the smallest to do
that which is wrong。〃 Governments are organized to take care of the
governed。 I believe it ought to be a crime to manufacture； barter； sell
or give away cigars； cigarettes and tobacco in any form。
Oh； for the success of the Prohibition Party that will bring in reforms
along these linesand this is the only party that will do it！ Tobacco
degenerates body and mind。 Physical and mental culture demand its
discontinuance。
Dr。 Jay W。 Seaver； associated physical director of Yale University；
says： 〃Among college students； the gain of growth； in general； is 12 per
cent。 greater among those who do not use tobacco than those who smoke。
It has also proven by tests in the laboratory that the nicotine in a fairly
mild cigar will reduce a man's muscular power from 25 to 40 per cent。〃
Were it not for the tobacco habit； we would need no smoking car。
Suppose women had a vice that required them a separate apartment from
the men when they travel。 Even in the cars where the women travel
there are rooms fixed up in luxuriant style while poor mothers with their
babies have to sit upright and smell this rank and poisonous odor。 But
of course women have no redress； or are made to think they have none。
Shame to you men； a decent dog will not bite a female； while men the
impulse of protecting their females they are lower than a decent beast。
While I was in New York City last week April the 2nd a Mr。 Thomas
McGuire； treasurer of the Fourteenth Ave。； Theatre had his tongue cut
out to prevent tobacco cancer from spreading。 This was from smoking
cigars。 General Grants' tongue rotted from the same cause。
This is one of the best poems on the vice I ever read。 Author
unknown。
HE SMOKES。
〃In the office； in the parlor；
On the sidewalk； on the street；
In the faces of the passers；
In the eyes of those he meets；
In the vestibule； the depot；
At the theatre or ball；
E'en at funerals and weddings；
And at christenings and all。
〃Signs may threaten； men may warn him；
Babies cry and women coax；
But he cares not one iota；
For he calmly smokes and smokes。
Oh； he cares not whom he strangles；
Vexes； puts to flight； provokes；
And although they squirm and fidget；
He just smokes and smokes and smokes。
〃Not a place is sacred to him；
Churchyards； where the flowers bloom；
Gardens； drives； in fact the world is
Just one mighty smoking room；
And when once he quits this mundane sphere；
And takes his outward flight；
From the world he made a hades；
Day he's turned to murky night。
〃When be reaches his destination；
Finds 'tis not a dream or hoax；
And the Judge deals out his sentence；
Then I'll wager that he smokes；
Oh； he'll care then whom he has vexed；
And their mercy he'll invoke；
But although he squirms and fidgets；
They'll just let him smoke and smoke and smoke。〃
CHAPTER XXI。
TRIP ON FALL RIVER STEAMBOAT； FROM BOSTON TO NEW YORKOFFICERS TRIED
TO LOCK ME IN MY STATE ROOMSEQUEL SATISFACTORY； MADE PLEASANT
TRIP AND MANY FRIENDS。
In the summer of 1903 I took a Fall River boat from Boston to New
York。 These boats are said to be the finest in the world。 There was
quite a commotion among the several hundred passengers when I went
aboard； and the door was blocked in the women's cabin to get a look at
the Crazy Smasher from Kansas。
Men were smoking pipes； cigars and cigarettes。 I said： 〃Men； get away
from the door with your smoke； you make me sick。〃 They paid no attention
to me。 I went to the clerk and complained of being compelled to
submit to the outrage of being subject to the poisonous fumes； in such
a manner as to attract the attention of all to the matter。 The Clerk told
me to be quiet and sit down。 I said； 〃I will； if I have a decent place to
stay； why do you not have these men get away from the door？〃 But
they were men； we were only women and children。 Oh； the outrage on
poor mothers in delicate condition； to be subject to such treatment by
selfish；
dirty men。 I believe every one who smokes' in a public place should
be fined。 If men will smoke or commit nuisance； let it be where others
are not injured。 I have no right to bring a skunk into any public place。
People should be taught that others have the right to object to anything
done that is wrong。
While I was still persisting in my request to the men to leave the
door； I was shown my state room； to which there were two doors； one
leading from the corridor and the other opening out next the water。 The
captain； accompanied by the First and Second mate appeared at the former；
saying。 〃Madam； you are to keep your room this evening。〃 I replied；
while eating a sandwich； 〃I do not feel like this； and neither will I。〃 Said
he； 〃I will see that you do〃 at the same time telling the officers to lock
the doors。 I said： 〃You can lock the doors to restrain me of my liberty；
but having paid my fare for the service of this company； I will tie up
this boat； when we reach New York； and you will learn that I can turn
a lock as well as yourself。 I saw his countenance change。 Mr。 Furlong；
my manager； who was on the boat； and almost shaking with fear； began
to make excuse for me； etc； etc； but I said； 〃Never mind； Mr。 Furlong；
I can attend to this little captain and myself too； he said no more。 The
three men walked out of the corridor； shutting the door after them； but
did not lock it； in a few moments； they returned and opened both doors
for fear I would think they were locked。 This was about supper time。
When I finished my lunch； and； having put on a clean tie and fixed my
hair； I took from my valise a lot of little hatchets and put them in a little
leather case I carry by a strap over my shoulder。 Thus equipped I entered
the ladies cabin； where there were perhaps fifty people sitting。 When
I went in； they began to look at one another； some smiled； I knew they
had heard of the captain trying to prevent my coming out。 Taking my
seat on a sofa in the middle of the room； I was listening to the lovely
string band when some one came up and opened a conversation with me。
After a while I was quite surrounded and the cabin soon becoming crowded
so
