Of course, the partisans of the Government prophesy that the
movement will end in smoke, but at present the laugh is on the other
side.
March 10.
The Society for the Suppression of Smoking, who by the way send their
tracts to the reading-rooms here, of all places in the world, will regret
to learn that the Roman Anti-Tobacco Crusade is to expire on and after
Sunday next. The leaders of the liberal party have, I think, acted
wisely in contenting themselves with an exhibition of their union and
power and then withdrawing from the contest. The loss to the Government
by the discontinuance of smoking was only an indirect and eventual one;
on the other hand, the company, who farm the Tobacco monopoly, would have
been ruined by the progress of the movement, and had already been obliged
to dismiss a large proportion of their work-people. The tobacconists and
street-hawkers of cigars were deprived of their livelihood, and the
misery and consequent ill-will created amongst the poor of Rome by
keeping up the prohibition would have been serious. Then, too, perhaps
it was thought advisable not to impose too heavy a trial on patriotic
ardour. Smoke is meat and drink to a Roman, his first care in the
morning, his occupation by day, and his last thought at night. Yet you
may truly say, that during the time of its prohibition the whole city
willingly gave up smoking.
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