chewing. A very few
smokers give up the habit because they fear its results, but too often
the man who can see the evil results would rather give up almost
anything else. The one motive that most frequently stops inveterate
smoking--fear--is the least effective motive in dissuading those who
have not yet acquired the habit; every young man, unless already
suffering from known heart trouble, thinks he will smoke moderately and
without harm. Unfortunately, every boy who begins to smoke succeeds in
picturing to himself the adult who shows no surface sign of injury from
tobacco, rather than some other boy who has been stunted physically,
mentally, and morally by cigarettes.

For adult and child, therefore, it behooves us to find some other
weapons against tobacco evils in addition to fear of physiological
injuries. Among these weapons are:

1. Enforcement of existing laws that make it an offense against society
for dealer, parent, or other person to furnish children under sixteen
with tobacco in any form; and raising the age limit to twenty-one, or
at least to eighteen.

2. Enforcement of restrictions as to place and time when smoking is
permitted.

3. Agitation against tobacco as a private and public nuisance.

4. Explanation of commercial advantages of abstinence.

Because the childish body quickly shows the injurious effects of what
in adults would be called moderate smoking, the proper physical
examination of school children will reveal injuries which in turn will
show where and to what extent the cigarette evil exists among the
children of a community. Even the scientists who claim that "in some
cases tobacco aids digestion," or that "tobacco may be used without bad
effects when used moderately by people who are in condition to use it,"
declare emphatically that tobacco "must not be used in any form by
growing children or youths." Prohibitive laws can be rigidly enforced
if a small amount of attention is given to organizing the strong
public sentiment that exists against demoralizing children by tobacco.
Thus children and youths will not need to make a decision regarding
their own use of tobacco until after other arguments than physiological
fear have been used for many years by parent, teacher, and society.

One effective weapon is the sign on a ferryboat or street car: "No
smoking allowed on this side," or "Smoking allowed on three rear seats
only." Public halls and vehicles in increasing numbers either prohi