The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-08-04
FRENCH AUTHORS on SMOKING.
Various Opinions Concerning the Enect of
Tobacco ON Mind and Body.


The secretary Of the French AntiTo-
bscco league, which is trying very hard
lust now Ia induce the smokers Of France
to cease smoking. recently asked the
most famous French authors TO send
him by letter their opinions concerning
tho effects Of smoking upon the mind
and the body. Most of the replies TO the
sccrttary's letters harmonized with tho
yiewa Of the league. Emile Zola, how
ever. wrote:
Ten years ago gave up tobacco at
the instance of my doctor. | do not be
lieve, however. that the intelligence and
the creative strength Of man are injured
by smoking. Perfection is SO stupid
that am often sorry ceased smoking. "
Francois Coppeo replied:
"NOu have the wrong man this time.
I have been heavy smoker since my
eighteenth year am now f.. smoke
cigarettes all day, but throw each one
away after a fey puifs. Till proof To-
the contrary is adduccd, shall regard
tobacco rs an incentive 10 working and
dreaming, which, for a poet, are one and
the same thing"
Alexander Dumts the younger, sent 81
reply after the s,cretary's own heart.
He said:
Tobacco, which gave up years ago,
is, next to alcohol. the most dangerous
enemy Of intelligence. Nothing can
abolish it, use, however, for the fools
are in tho great majority. and they have
nothing 10 lose by using IL. Since your
society IS not after the fools, may il
strive to convert tho wise
II. Taine confesses thus:
The fact is, smoke cigarettes II is
pastime in moments of thoughtlcssness
and intellectul waiting Nevertheless,
the habit is a slavery and a danger, as
many examples show. Since YOU know
all about the evils of smoking. YOU ought
to prepare a 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 moro than in
France"
Andre Thcniret wrote:
Il was never member Of the league,
for the simple reason that am passion
ately fond Of smoking. Two wears ago
your president asked me TO write a story
about the acute suiferings Of the young
smoker. | did il. After publishing the
story received asilyer medal from your
league. That is all ever had to do with
the enemies of tobacco"
Emile Augier replied curtly:
IL am no doctor All can say is, that
after smoking forty years | gave up the
soft opiate because it was hurrying me
TO tho brink Of tho grave before my
time"
Octave Feuillct indicates the general
drift of opinion among many other au-
thors, who answered the secretary's let
ters, in these strong words, concerning
his own experience:
II was once a great smoker and cured
myself Of the use of tobacco with diff
Guilty. | was driven TO In sacrifice, how
ever, by vertigo and dyspepsia. which
afflicted mo as long as / smoked. was
long unwilling 10 believe that nicotine
caused my illness but WAS compelled
finally to acknov ledge IT, According 10 7
my experience, tobacco Is very injurious
To nervous persons 1t cau.cs at first an
agreeable excitement, but eventually pro-
duccs a general relaxation. IL Weakcns
tho capabilities, of the mind. The effort
necessary 10 rally from it wcafies and
consumes the viii power. New York .
sun