General Booth on Tobacco Smoking

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 82, 9 January 1892, Page 4

General Booth on Tobacco Smoking

■^ It has been observed that ''there is a good deal of human nature in nian- ; kind," and even a Salvation lass or > lieutenant retains a perceptible share. Apparently, General Booth recognises this fact, for I notice that las stated, in conversation with an Auckland pressman, that among the attractions of his^settlement or settlements would be " opportunities for gossiping." George Eliot says in c Daniel Deronda ' that " gossip' is a sort of smoke XheA . comes from ;the dirty tobacco-pipes of those who diffuse it ; it proves nothing but the bad taste of the smoker," Of course this is not thie kind of gossip . upon which General Booth is prepared to confer his .benediction, or at least his toleration. There is gossip and gossip.; and it , is possible to 'Vhae a : crack "or a. " cackle " without slandering one's neighbour or his . wife; Indeed, it is difficult to imaginehow even so potent an autocrat as General Booth couldbanish " opportunities for gossip," unless, he distributed, his proteges, Alexander Selkirkwise, on. desert islands; and. for that purpose the supply of islands would probably run short. But, talking; of : tobacco pipes, I notice also that the General: has some thing to say in a not altogether intolerantspirit -the ." plaht • divine oi rarest ; virtue." 'Speaking x>i the wants of his prospective settler he slyly remarks : "He may want tobacco, and; even if he does, it might be supplied." No doubt there is a certain reluctance about v this observation ; the "may," the "even," and the " might " indicate that the pipe lover will not be : the absolutely ideal settler or fullblown^ whole animal Salvationist ; he will rather be the neophyte who must be gradually and tenderly weaned from the frivolous delights of his past. Still, , I confess, .. there is a touch of. genial condescension to the weaknesses of mankind in that tobacco reference of the General's which impress 3s me very favorably. It is the more welcome own ascetic Sir Robert has r preversely' joined the anti-tobaccona-lian .crusade, and actually goes the length ojaclvising the Colonial Treasurer to " stop tobacco." Flat burglary .a3 ever was committed. What says * Sir Robert's friend, the working man 1 — Puhedin Star. •