Part 82 (1/2)
Near a stand upon a public street of this city, sandwiched by the thick flying dust on the one hand, and the warning, ”Dust thou art,” on the other, my attention was attracted to a little ragged urchin, who stood holding under his left arm a few dirty copies of a daily paper, while the right hand wandered furtively about in his trousers pocket, and his eyes looked longingly upon the tempting confectionery spread upon the dusty board and boxes before him. Indecision dwelt upon his pale, thin countenance, and drawing nearer, I awaited this conflict of mind and matter with a feeling of no little curiosity.
Finally, he seemed to have decided upon a purchase of some variegated candy, and making a desperate dive with the hand deeper into the pocket, he drew forth some pennies, which were quickly exchanged for the coveted painted poison,--none the more poisonous for having been sold upon a street stand, however.
His sharp, bluish-pale face lighted up with an unnatural glow of delight as he seized the tempting prize; and as he turned away, I said, kindly,--
”Have you been selling papers, sonny?”
”Yes, sir; buy one?” he replied, with an eye yet to business.
”Yes; and have you any more pennies?”
”No, sir.” And he dropped his head in confusion.
”How much have you made to-day?” I next inquired.
”Seventeen cents, sir.”
”And expended it all for candy, I suppose.”
Receiving an affirmative reply, I next kindly questioned him respecting his family. His mother was a widow, very poor, and I asked him,--
”What will she say when you return with no money to show for your day's work?”
The tears started from his blue eyes, and I knew that I had made a ”point.” After some further conversation, I persuaded him to show me where he lived. Up the usual ”three flight, back,” in a low attic room, I beheld a picture of abject misery. The mother was sick, and lay uncomfortably upon an old sofa, which, with two rickety chairs and a large box, which served the double purpose of table and cupboard, were the only furniture of the apartment. She was totally dependent upon her little son's earnings for a sustenance. She had nothing in the house to eat; no money with which to obtain anything. Her boy's earnings had fallen off unaccountably, and for two days they had not tasted food. When she learned that he had brought in no money (for it was now near nightfall), she fell to weeping and upbraiding ”the lazy, idle wretch for not bringing home something to eat.” The boy began to cry bitterly, and acknowledged his error in spending his earnings for confectionery. I then exacted a solemn promise from him that he never would buy another penny's worth of the poison, gave him some change to purchase a bountiful meal, and left with a determination to ventilate street candy stands.
[Ill.u.s.tration: THE NEWSBOY'S MOTHER.]
XXV.
ALL ABOUT TOBACCO.
”The doctors admit snuff's a hurtful thing, And troubles the brain and sight, But it helps their trade; so they do not say Quite as much as they otherwise might.”--L. H. S.
”HOW MUCH?”--AMOUNT IN THE WORLD.--”SIAMESE TWINS.”--A MIGHTY ARMY.--ITS NAME AND NATIVITY.--A DONKEY RIDE.--LITTLE BREECHES.--WHIPPING SCHOOL GIRLS AND BOYS TO MAKE THEM SMOKE.--TOM'S LETTER.--”PURE SOCIETY.”--HOW A YOUNG MAN WAS ”TOOK IN.”--DELICIOUS MORSELS.--THE STREET NUISANCE.--A SQUIRTER.--ANOTHER.--IT BEGETS LAZINESS.--NATIONAL RUIN.--BLACK EYES.--DISEASE AND INSANITY.--USES OF THE WEED.--GETS RID OF SUPERFLUOUS POPULATION.--TOBACCO WORSE THAN RUM.--THE OLD FARMER'S DOG AND THE WOODCHUCK.--”WHAT KILLED HIM.”
HOW MUCH?
Do you know how much money is being squandered to-day, in the United States, in the filthy, health-destroying use of tobacco?
No.
Only $410,958! That's all.
In Commissioner Wells's report, it is shown that in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1868, the amount received from the tax on chewing and smoking tobacco was, in round numbers, fifteen million dollars. Add to this the cost of production, and dealers' profits, which are five times more than the revenue tax, amounting to seventy-five million dollars. The number of cigars taxed was six hundred millions. It is calculated as many more are used through smuggling, making a grand total yearly expenditure in the United States of one hundred and fifty millions of dollars for tobacco alone!
[Ill.u.s.tration: THE IDOL OF TOBACCO USERS.]
Give me $410,958 a day, and I will go into the pauper houses of these United States, and bring forth every pauper child; I will go down into the dark, damp cellars, and away into the cobweb-hung attics, and bring forth every ragged child of crime and poverty. I will take all these little bread-and-gospel-starved children, feed, clothe, and send them to school and Sabbath school, the year round, with $410,958 a day.