Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-03-12
DRUG-TAKING AMONG AUTHORS
Destructive Habit Found fn
Their Writings.

One is astonished at the frequent and
addiction Of popular authors. Uncon-
sciously these writer's describe their
own condition In the characters they
Portray. and the theories and state
ments which the heroes and heroines
are made to express, are the Utmost
thoughts of the authors
A recent popular novel makes tho
hero most brilliant and sagacious
after using wine moderately. True
to life, the supposed brilliant state
ments are jumb}es of words and rhet-
ORIG which the author clearly wrote
while under the use of spirits. He also
1ustifies immoralities of conduct by
childish excuses, the personality Of
which reflects his own experience.
In another popular book, the author
Is clearly a drug-taker. The vague,
dreamy, illusionary style and manner
or thought and conduct of the charac-
ter described is clearly that of a NOR
phia or opium-taker. The uncertain
ties and the alternately confused and
dogmatic thoughts are marked charac-
teristics. The writer hoped by invest
ing his subjects in mysticism and lead
Ing them through an irregular, unusual
line of conduct to produce a book out
or the common order. In reality he
revealed his secret drug taking and his
own vague, uncertain mentality. Much
! or this work was written while under
the influence of drugs.
Probably the eocaine-taker stamps
habits vi IN !, ;e
than the alcoholic or other drug-takers.
several very popular books proved the
, cocainism of the authors. The easy
flow of words and ideas, like a quiet
stream of water. progresses noiselessly
without jar or change. One thought
suggests another and one situation is
followed by many others equally dra-
matte, and each is described without
purpose or plan. Through it all run
snatches OF poetry. rhetoric, figures Of
speech and sonorous adjectives. The
characters are moved up and down the
stage in hazy twilight of words with
out plan or purpose, and disappear to
make way for others equally mystical.
Other stories give evidence of having
been written in coffee or tea delirum.
, The assertiveness of the characters.
their brusque entrance and exit. their
promise OF great thin s which only
fade away into uncertainties, show this
condition.
In the drug and spirit-taker the
childish efforts of the authors to con-
ceal their personality and habits of life
make more prominent their condition.
In the tea and coffee drinkers there is
state OF mind at the time of the writ
ing. 1t is assumed that the mind is
perfect and intact. In some of the
books written by these persons, there
has been evident a well thought out
plan, the execution of which has been
sadly married by the attempt to force
the brain by tea or coffee a
No clear. consecutive brainwork can
ever be done under the influence of
spirits, drugs. tea or coffee. A tired.
wornout man or woman attempts to do
literary work under the influence of
/ these narcotics and fails. The critical
! student finds unmistakable evidence Of
| the failure in the abnormal state Of
the authors mind. The vagaries of lit
erature and the number of strange sto-
| ries and theories advocated are ex-
planned in many instances by the drug
| psychoses or disordered minds of the
authors.
This most interesting study will as
, tonish and surprise the reader as it I'M
wells the personality. habits of life
and thoughts of the authors in the pa
/ pers and books of the day.-T. ID. Gro
theirs. NJ. D.. In Union Signal.