Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-19

seem to have taken deep hold on the affec-
tons. and sometimes, alas. on the lungs Of the
rising generation. There exists notion that
any kind of tobacco is good enough to
make cigarettes with. and that on the
principle said to be adopted in some
sausage-making establishments, any thing
that comes near the machine. pork. cat
or dog. is sucked in and makes a good enough
sausage. This is quite an erroneous idea, so
Tar at least as the factory of La HOnfadeZ is
concerned. as the greatest pains are taken in
the selection aud assortment of the tobacco
which they use. They appear themselves to be
modestly conscious Of their merits if we Judge
by some of the notices on their wrappers, such
as. in Spanish, ''MshechOs. mi justificaran," or
My worth shall justify me-, and 'sTodOs mi
eliogian." "Al shall praise me-" with various
other complimentary suggestions as to the fine
qualities OF their wares. There is, of course
great difference of opinion among cigarette
smokers, but it seems to be conceded by con-
noisseurs that the first quality Of the Russian
cigarette made at st. Petersburg or Moscow is
the best in the word. 1t is extremely
difficult to procure it even for money,
which Is supposed to get every
thing. because Of the almost impossibilty of
getting at the highest quality OF Latakia to-
baccO of which it is made.
This quality is very scarce and is rarely sold
any OF it leaving the country being generally in
the shape of presents made by the Emir to the
Emperor or to some of the higher Russian no
bility or diplomats Madame CatacaZy the
beautiful wife OF the Russian Minister at Wash
ingtOn. some years ago was great smoker, and
was possessed of large quantity Of these
famous cigarettes. of which she was extremely
liberal to her friends. The writer had the
pleasure of meeting her very often at dinner at
Washington, when she always smoked cigar
cite between each course, and esteemed herself
very fortunate in the gift of box of these cigar
cites from her, which friend subsequently en-
deavored to duplicate by telegraphc order to
the manufacturer at st. Petersburg. but in vain
There does not appear at first sight to be any
immediate relation between literature and to-
baccO: and yet some of the most famous authors
from Newton down, have been great consumers
of the weed.
The late Sir Lytton Bulwer, afterward Lord
LvttOn, was at one time and while he was writ
ing his famous novels, almost a slave to the
habit OF smoking. His weakness at that time
was Turkish chbOuk. and it was told of him
probably by Lady Bulwer-after their quar-
rel and separatiOn-that on their mar
riage night, and after they had retired to the
nuptiai chamber, Sir Edward rang for his chi
bouk, when she sarcasticaly observed that
this was the first time she had ever heard of
the torch of Hymen being used to light pipe"
which remark, it is supposed. she intended he
should put in his pipe and smoke it."
Religious Insanity.
From the N. Y. Tribune.
whether Guteau'S VagarieS are real or simu-
lated is one question whether, if real, they
call for sending him to the asylum instead of the
gallOws, is another. There is a strange uncer-
tainty of opinion on the latter point; whether
the law of the land can safely excuse self-sup-
posed Abraham from punishment for killing his
lsaac-which, by the way. the real Abraham in
the account did not do. The original Abraham
heard cautiOnary voice just in time, and killed
a ram instead of his son. Hence the inquiry
recurs, shall not whoever sets up the example
of Abraham in support of an imaginary inspira-
ton toward homicide be required to show that
ne followed the scripture narrative consistently
throughout, changed the course of his weapon,
allowed his first selected human victim to 90
unhurt and slaughtered some unfortunate brute
instead! Had Guiteau, when standing in the
depot. heard a second heavenly voice and had
he obediently thereto merely shot dog across
the street, We should make no objection to ac-
quittal on the ground of in-anity.
The whole subject Of religious insanity has
had little instructive. authoritative discussion.
We recall but two works protesting to make
it their chief topic Bingham's Observations on
the Religious Decisions Of Insane Persons, Lon
don, 1871, and Cheyne's Essays on Partial De-
in Supposed Connection with Reli-
glOn. Dublin. 1S43. Both were written in the
very infancy OF modern knowledge of mental
disease Cheyne even puts forward the theOrem
ted with mental disease, as a new position.
Both volumes are small and diffuse, largely
filled with matters which a reader at the present
day would skip as elementary or disregard as
behind the times. They throw no light on the
question OF responsibility. But there are,
sanity, instances Of these religious decisions
abundantly sufficient to show that brain
disease sometimes produces them. and that
they may urge the subject onward
to perpetrate almost any act of
violence. Hackett. in Queen Elizabeth's time.
and Venner. in the reign OF Charles H.. raised
each acting under the delusiOn that
he was dlvinely commissioned to assume the
crown. The poet COwper wounded himself
somewhat severely with pen-knire in attempt
inc to obey supposed command from Heaven
that he should kill himself. An Engiishman.
without apparent motive struck cab horse in
the street with an axe; on his trial it was found
that he believed himself to be Jesus Christ and did
the act in the desire to attract attention to his
mission. An EnglishwOman drowned
tour OF her children. acting under the sugges-
ton of a ''black. shadOwy figure" that if they
were in Heaven they would be out of danger,
and that she could easily put them into the cis-
tern and thus secure their eternal safety.
Martin, the incendiary. who set fire to York
Cathedral admitted that he knew the act to be
illegal, but said that he had the command of
God to do it. This case is remarkable for
the indications of sane methods accompanying
an insane act. There was no doubt of his in
sanity; he had been already twice confined in
an asylum. But it was shown that after
afternoon service he remained in the church
and. as soon as alone. went up into the belfry,
where he cut off some eighty feet OF the prayer
bell rope. in which he tied knots, forming a sort
OF ladder by which he climbed over the iron
gates of the choir. Having thus gained access
to the choir he struck light with a flint and
his razor. lighted a candle which he had brought,
and thus set fire to paper obtained by tearing
up prayer-bOOks, and which he piled close to
the carved work at the archbishOps throne. He
then made his escape by equally ingenious and
methOdical efforts. A young Irshman dug out
his eye and cut off his hand, imagining he
was Obeying the commando If thy right eve
offend thee. etc. In France, years ago, a whole
family, Dutartres by name, fancied that they
alone possessed knowledge of the true
God. and under imaginary Inspiration perpe-
trated murders and other crimes. A French
vine-dresser thought himself commissioned to
procure the eternal salvation of his family by
killing them. and did kill two of his children
For this he was put in perpetual confinement as
a lunatic; where. wears afterward. he conceived
the project of Offering an expiatory sacrifice. in
pursuance OF which idea he cut the Threats of
two fellOw-lunatics and wounded his keeper A
WAS once sent n tha Ricet rat RI Of