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At a Friday evening lecture in New York City, Dr. Talmage spoke on the
evil habit of tobacco using, as follows:--
“There are a multitude of young men smoking themselves to death.
Nervous, cadaverous, narrow-chested, and fidgety, they are preparing
for early departure, or a half-and-half existence that will be of
little satisfaction to themselves, or of little use to others. Quit it,
my young brother. Before you get through this life, you will want stout
nerves and a broad chest and a brain unclouded with tobacco smoke.
“To get rid of the habit will require a struggle, as I know by bitter
experience. Cigars and midnight study nearly put an end to my existence
at twenty-five years of age. I got so I could do no kind of study
without a cigar in my mouth--as complete a slave as some of you are.
“At one time I was about to change pastorates from one city to another,
when a wholesale cigar dealer offered as an inducement to my going to
Philadelphia, that he would give me all my cigars, free of charge, all
the rest of my life. He was a splendid man, and I knew he would keep
his promise.
“Then I reasoned thus: If now, when my salary is small, and cigars are
high, I smoke up to my full endurance, what would become of my health
if I got all of my cigars for nothing? Well, I have never touched the
infernal weed since. From that time I was revolutionized in health and
mind,--emancipated by the grace of God.
“I implore young men to strike out for the liberation of their entire
nature from all kinds of evil habits. Even on our railroads they have
introduced a pig-pen on wheels,--the smoking-car--and it is being made
easier and easier all of the time to sacrifice physical strength and
health.
“All those who break down their health through indulgence, and go into
the grave sooner than they would otherwise have done, are suicides, and
the day of judgment will so reveal it.”
* * * * *
A prominent church man once said: “I used to use tobacco. When I gave
it up I had a hard time for ten weeks. I was unable to sleep at night,
would walk the floor, but God gave me the victory.”
Dr. Cole, a prominent Methodist physician, said: “I used to use the
weed, but I reached the time when I wanted to lead a better spiritual
life, and I felt that tobacco stood between my Maker and my soul.”