The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-23
FRENCH AUTHORS ON SMOKING.
Various Opinions Concerning tho Effect Of
Tobacco on Mind and Body.

Various Opinions Concerning the Effect Of
Tobacco on Mind and Body.
The secretary Of the French Anti-To-
bscco league, which is trying very hard
lust now to 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
secrttarys letters harmonized with the
viewa of the league. Emile lola, how
ever, wrote:
"Teu years agoI 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
by smoking. Perfection is so stupid
that am often sorry ceased smoking.
Francois Coppee replied:
"You have the wrong man this time.
| have been a heavy smoker since my
eighteenth year. am now AZ. ! smoke
cigarettes all day. but throw each one
away after a few pulfs. Till proof to
the contrary is adduced, | shall regard
tobacco as an inc entive to working and
dreaming, which, for poet, are one and
the same thing"
Alexander Dumas, the younger, sent
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 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 II
strive to convert the wise"
II. Taine confesses thus:
"The fact is, ] smoke cigarettes. II Is
a pastime in moments of thOughtlessness
and intellectul waiting. Nevertheless
the habit is a slavery and danger, as
many examples show. Since you know
all about the evilsof smoking, you ought
to prepare a valuable monograph on the
abuses Of tobacco, especially If you can
collect data from Germany, America.
England. Austria and Holland, where
the people smoke much more than II
France"
Andre Thcniret wrote:
81 was never a member Of the league
for the simple reason that am passion
ately fond Of smoking. Two years age
your president asked me TO write a story
about the acute sufTerings of the young
smoker / did it, After publishing the
story | received silver medal from your
league. That is all l ever had to dowitl
the enemies Of tobacco"
Emile Angler replied CURLY:
Il am no doctor, All l can say is, thai
after smoking forty years | gave up the
soft opiate because it was hurrying me
to the brink Of the grave before my
time"
Octave Feuillet indicates the genera
drift of opinion among many other au
thors, who answered the secretary's let
ters. in these strong words, concerning
his own experience;
4 was once a great smoker and cure6
myself Of the use of tobacco with diff
Guilty. l was driven to the sacrifice, how
ever, by vertigo and dyspepsia. which
afflicted me as long as smoked. wa
long unwilling TO believe that nicotine
caused my illness, but l was compelled
finally to acknowledge it. According 4
my experience, tobacco is very injurious
10 nervous persons. 1t causes at first al
agreeable excitement, but eventually pro
duces a general relaxation. 1t weakeni
the capabilities of the mind. The etfor
necessary to rally from it wearies ane
consumes the will power. New YorA