The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-07
WHAT THE NATIONS SMOKE.
Tastes of Leading European Peo
pies in the WAY of Tobacco.

We frequently hear circumstances against
the smoking public Of England Only a
short time ago a vigorous protest WAS en-
tered by Eon-smOkers against those who
wished to enjoy an after-dinner cigar.
Let the anji-tobaCcOniSt congratulate
himself that he lives in England, for. if
he follows this article he will see that
among tine important nations of Europe
Great Britain is one OF the smallest con-
To our taste the tobacco Of the Continent
Is vile Our sympathies are entirely with
the Russians. who consume less Of this vii
famous preparation than the people of any
other European nation.
he People OF Russia number roughly,
l"},%p.H. and they only consume about
isu.'"+Jsc pounds OF the fragrant Tor noX-
ious, ~eeI per annum which amounts to
twenty--isht ounces per individual.
Germany, however, has always had the
reputation of being the HON. Of smokers,
ana yet it comes third in the list of smok-
ing countries. The population of the Ger
man Empire at the last census was re-
turned at 52.2St.00v. gnti in the year they
consumed 49, tons Of tobacco. This
amounts to about fifty-three ounces per in
hapitanr.
Austria boasts of $4,000 people as its
population. and between them they manage
pounds OF tobacco year. Each Austrian.
therefore. would he able to have two
pounds ten ounces Of tobacco 10 last him d
year ii all the inhabitants smoked.
In France however. where the consump-
ton Of tobacco is mostly in the form OF very
bad cigarettes. each inhabitant could smoke
Judging from the quality of the French to-
bacco, We wonder how they can smoke even
that amount. Taking the population OF
France at 3S.5ls.eb. the amount of the VII
famous weed consumed in the wear can
easily be deduced
With greater inducements in the shape Of
better and ct eaper tobacco. the nhahitanIs
Of England smoke more tobacco per man
than their near neighboTS. the French. II
We take the last census We find that the
people OF England number about IS COS cyp
row certainly number good many more.
II all of these smoked. the amount of to-
bacco dcled out To each on the LIST of jan
Iary To last for the year would only amount
to one pound FIVE ounces. This Is about
what n heavy smoker would consume in a
month. Taking. however. the approximate
number OF adult males III the kingdom at
9.t5'.t9. We get AN average of IA ounces per
man, which is about what the average
smoker gets through. Yet we are not Il ma
ton much addicted to tobacco.
For really colossal smokers YOU must go
to Belgium and Holland The population
OF Belgium IL Il little larger than the pop
ulation OF London. being about $4,000
One would think from the returns that the
Belgium infants were reared on tobacco.
If We consider every soul In Belgium as 4
smoker. We get the astounding average of
s. ounces per soul each year. When. how
ever. We reduce the population 10 the prob
able census Of males of an age 10 smoke.
We get an average amount of 22ls pounds
a year per man, or weekly consumption
of Ii2 ounces.
Foiiand. with its 5O75.0n inhabitants.
comes second In the smoking world. There
Is, however, some excuse for the Dutch
smoking SO much, for their tobacco is
very mild and of a pleasant flavor Never
theless. a yearly average of 20 ounces
per man must be considered abnormal. and
the English enti-tobacconist has every rea-
son 10 rejoice that he does not live under
Queen Wihelmina-
Why do all these people smoke? Well.
putting it roughly. the consumption of to-
bacco in France is chiefly i'll the shape of
cigarettes AMI cigars In Russia the cigar
cite is also, unfortunately. too popular. No
one in Holland or Belgium would thank
you for the paper-covered cartridges which
the British soldier desigratsS two
in Germany, Holland and Belgium. Aus
tria and England are impartial. The Gig
arctic appeals to some. the cigar TO the
wealthy. and the pipe maintains its popu-
iarity. During the past six years the con-
sumption of cigarettes has almost doubled.
and this is not good for the nation at
large though II may be for the revenue
and the tobaoconists-London Express.