Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-11
THE BABY SMOKER,
He Dies OF Diphtheria-Four Years
Old and Used the Weed.

He Dies Of Diphtheria-Four Year,
Old and Used the Weed.
Windeld Scott Hancock Doran, who was
known all over the country - tho ''baby
smoker" died Saturday morning ~ Trenton,
NJ, Of diphtheria, after weeks illness
Winfield, who only celebrated his fourth
birthday last May, had used the weed for al
most four years before his death. He Was .
bright boy. with big black eyes and round
cheeks, in which the roses Of health bioomed
The boys mother, Mrs. VIM. T. Doran,
II . buxom, good-natured woman. Her
family are all large and the boy Vas
robust by Inheritance. The father Il .
small, thin man and not the healthisst at
all times. For many years he has been
An inveterate smoker. From the father the
boy had taste for tobacco and be began srnok-
ing before he was seven months old. The
keep boarders. Winfield was the pet Of the
household and the pride Of the bachelor
boarders, who devoted part Of each evening to
nursing him. While listening to the songs OF
the nursery the baby learned to smoke. The
men allowed him to puff on their pipes and
him sick.
SMOKED PIPE WHEN HfoHr MONTHS OLD.
When he was eight months old he smoked .
rank pipe full Of tobacco and never a. much a.
made face. At ten months he was an accom-
plished smoker Of the pipe. His appetite for
tobacco was found TO be q normal one. He had
every appearance Of thriving under it All Of
the neighbors were shocked, however, and
many Of them we're indignant Dr.. Elmer
Rogers was consulted, but he discovered no
traces Of nicotine poisoning and found that
the tobacco had . soothing effect on the child,
who was weaned early. He smoked pipe full
Of tobacco and was also able to enjoy from two
to five cigars daily.
Father and mother we're both proud Of their
precocious son, and never tired of reciting
"reminiscences Of their boys career a. q smoker.
During the last two years and half they have
encouraged him to smoke cigars In preference
to the pipe. This was q precautlon taken at
the request OF the family physician, who
thought that the nicotine deposits in old pipes
might eventually become hurtful. Winfield
evidently craved the effects Of the poison. a.
he would not smoke new clay or briar pipe,
liking best one well saturated with nicotine.
He preferred strong cigars and was fine judge
Of them.
WITH BABY COACH AND PIPE.
Winfield attracted much attention when he
was pushed about in baby coach with black
pipe in his mouth, smoking and putting like Q
veteran. In warmer weather he could be fire.
quently seen sitting on the steps Of his fathers
house smoking q cigar.
A number OF the small boys in the neighbor-
hood have tried to initiate the "baby smoker"
with dire results, some being laid abed for re-
pairs and others having their knicksrbockers
busted.
Winfield differed from the majority Of pro-
digious smokers inasmuch az he was never
known to smoke cigarette. The odor OF burn
ing paper was distastefui to him and he was
constantly instructed to avoid the cigarette a.
he would so much poison.
DR.. Rogers watched the boy almost daily
with q view Of discovering the first symptom Of
nicotine poisoning, but he never found any
The boys health was very good, anu he was
gradually growing heavier, when diphtheria
ended his brief but unique career.