Southern Ladies and their Tobacco Habits

[blue_zouave]

I didn't know that particular great-grandmother personally. I have, however, seen a picture of her with her pipe!

Zou

[Borderruffian]

Originally Posted by samgrant

I'm curious, and ask the last 4 posters, did you actually witness those ladies in the act, or were these passed down stories? Did they continue to do it in their old age or was it a just a youthful indulgence (as snorting cocaine will be to the future grandmothers of America).

Saw her do it. She used to sit on the porch with a jelly glass and her Rose Tube.

[Susan Sweet]

The great aunt that dipped snuff use to walk around with her mouth in a funny position . My mom always said it was because of the snuff under her lip. When I was a kid the aunt was old . She died in the early 1970's . I am sure I saw her dipping it but it is a vague memory . She lived in Arizona in a shack that orginally was a TB shack for those with TB . She had no indoor toilet or running water. Her son lived next door in another shack but his he had built on and made into a house.
Aunt Addie was born and raised in Arkansas , Her grandfather was a confederate soldier. To me as a child with that funny screwed up face and her wild white hair she was one of the scariest people I knew. When I was older she presented me with a set of the most beautiful crochet doillies I have ever seen . She said they were for my hope chest . She wasn't as scary then .

I am guess she dipped her whole life.

[Rad2duhbone53]

I find this thread quite interesting. I have this vision of Granny from the Beverly Hillbilleis chewing a huge wad .

Now as a Northerner, I have no recollect of Nanna neither smoking nor chewing nor dipping any snuff.
If some of you remember a commercial on TV that said "Is it polite to offer a lady a Tipparello?" well my Mom probably never saw it. She and my Dad would light up and puff away on the front steps of our house and I would have this question mark above my head trying to figure out what was so great about this.

[gary]

Tobacco products are harmful to your health.

[HOUSTON] TRI-WEEKLY TELEGRAPH, October 10, 1862, p. 2, c. 2
A Heart Rending Casualty.—About one year since, a young professional man, in northwestern Texas, married a beautiful lady, and in a few days afterwards started for the seat of war. He there exhibited great bravery and won the praises of all by his gallant exploits. Having obtained a furlough, he returned home a short time since. On his arrival his young and beautiful wife did not perceive his approach. Softly he entered his house, and going up slyly behind his busy wife, clasped her by the shoulders. She gave a shriek, and turned to see who the intruder was. As she did so, the husband leaned forward to give her a surprise kiss, when the point of stick which she held in her mouth entered his eye and let its contents out! The concussion forced the other end of the stick into the lady's throat, together with a spoonful of snuff. This so strangled her that she burst a blood vessel and died before relief could be found. Her sudden death, together with the loss of his eye, brought on inflammation of the brain, and in a few hours, he, too, died, and was laid by her side. They were both buried in the same grave. The stick was buried with them; and all those "up to snuff" witnessed the final ceremonies.

[gary]

More from the Houston Tri-Weekly Telegraph

[HOUSTON] TRI-WEEKLY TELEGRAPH, October 17, 1862, p. 1, c. 5
Editor of Houston Telegraph.—Sir:--Two letters of your "Local" have within the past few weeks appeared in your paper ridiculing and execrating the habit of "dipping snuff." I do not pretend to excuse or defend a practice which is of no earthly benefit to the ladies who indulge in it, although it is said that it preserves and purifies the teeth. But I should desire to know what caused the virtuous indignation of "High Private" or "Local" to vent itself of a sudden on "snuff dipping." "Local" can see the motes in the ladies' eye, whilst he is not aware of the beams in those of the gentlemen. Before preaching to the ladies, Mr. Local, you ought to reform the gentlemen first; but chewing tobacco is, undoubtedly, in Mr. Local's opinion, a necessity of life, whilst "dipping snuff" is a nasty, filthy habit. You are aware, Mr. Editor, that smokers find solace and comfort whilst smoking, and ladies ease their mind in the same manner by dipping snuff; it is very hard not to allow them one bad habit, whilst gentlemen have so many. They are denied the privilege of going on little sprees and then excuse themselves on coming home late at night to their husbands that they have been to the lodge. I, therefore, would suggest that all the ladies who wish to indulge in "snuff dipping" be permitted to do so peaceably and without any interference from the male population, and I am backed up by the opinion of a married friend of mine, who says the only time his wife doesn't quarrel with him, is when she has got her tooth-brush between her teeth.
Mustachios.