Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-08-25
FRENCH AUTHORS ON SMOKING.
Opinions Ooncerning the Effects OF
Tobacco ON mind and Body.

Tobacco ON mind and Body.
The Secretary of the French Anti.
Tobacco League, which is trying hard
lust now to induce the smokers of France
to cease smoking, recently asked the
mot famous French authors to send him
by letter their opinions concerning the
effects of smoking upon the MIND anG
body. Most of the replies to the Secre.
tary's letters harmonized with the views
of the league. Emile Zols, however,
wrote
"Ten years ago I gave up tobacco at
the instance of my doctor. do not be-
lieye, however, that the intelligence and
the creative strength of man are injured
bv smoking. Perfection is so stupid
. that am often sorry l ceased smoking"
Francois Coppes replied:
"Ycu have the wrong man this time.
have been heavy smoker since my
eighteenth year. | am now AZ. smoke
cigsrettes all day, but throw each one
away after few puffs. Till proof to the
contrary is adduced, l shallregard tobac-
co as an incentive to working and dream
ing, which, for poet, are one and the
same thing"
Alexander Dumas, the younger, sent a
reply after the Secretary's own heart
He said
Tobacco, which gave up years ago,
is, next to alcohol, the most dangerous
enemy of intelligence. Nothing can
abolish its use, however, for the fools
are in the great majority, and they have
nothing to lose by using it. Since your
society is not after the fools, may it strive
to convert the WISE"
H. Taine confesses thus:
"The fact is, l smoke cigarettes. 1t If
q pastime in moments of thoughtless'
ness and intelle ctual waiting. Neverthe'
less the habit is slavery and danger,
as many examples show. Since you
know all about the evils of smoking you
ought to prepare valuable monograph
on the abuses OF tobacco, especially Il
you can collect data from Germany
America, England, Austria and Holland
where the people smoke much more thar
in Frarce."
Andre Theniret wrote:
81 was never member Of the league
for the simple reason that l am passion
ately fond of smoking. Two years ag'
your President asked me to write stor.
about the acute suffering of the younl
smoker. l did it. After publishing tn
story received silver medal from you
ledRu6. 4uht lS bll L over udu w w WAti
the enemies of tobacco"
Emile Augier replied curtly;
81 am no doctor. All can say is,tha
after smoking forty years, l gave up th'
soft opiste because it WAS hurrying mt
to the brink OF the grave before my
time.
Octave Feuillet indicates the genera
drift of opinion among many othe
authors, who answered the Secretary
letter in these strong words concerning
his own experience:
81 was once great smoker ant
cured myself of the use of to
bacco with difficulty. l was driver
to the sacrifice, however, by yer
tigo and dyspepsia, which afflicted me a
long as 1 smoked. ] was long unwilling
to believe that nicotine caused my i'll
ness, but l WAS compelled finally t.
acknowledge it. According to my ex
perience, tobacco is injurious to nervous
persons. 1t causes at first an agreeabl,
excitement, but eventually produces ,
general relaxation. 1t weakens the capa
bilities of the mind. The effort neces
sary to rally from it weaIies and con
sumes the will power.