Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-01

Special Correspondence.
- ERLIN, Nov. 2i.--Does alcohol
inspire poets and authors? Ac-
cordins to the great ones Of Nv
ing literature in Germany Il does
not. According 20 blographers, In the
case OF many men, notably Edgar AL
len Poe ana Addison. the English es-
sayist. It does.
This interesting question has been
brought TO the front by DR.. van Nlou-
ten, editor OF Das Litcrarische Echo.
This is "A new periodical. The editor
sought some means OF advertising II,
OF attracting marked attention from
the literary world. to whom II APP
peals And so he sprung his ques-
tons on alcohol. The 100 leading
authors and poets Of Germany were
appealed to. OF these llb answered,
Rhapsodies In prose and poetry were
among the answers. which have at
tracted great attention, not alone
from those Interested In literature.
but from the medical world and scien-
fists az well.
The result Of the thorough poll OF
experts. IL that inspiration by alcohol
IL not worth the having, IL indeed
there Is such an Inspiration. And yet
the F0therland's poets sing moro olo-
quently OF beer and wine and the cup
that cheers and inebriates than tho
poets OF, perhaps, any other country.
OF the writers appealed TO, four are
total abstainers. 30 moderate drinkers,
los avoid alcohol before and during
work and only II are advocates Of
alcohol. But a majority OF these
81. s.,,l. Ia L.a Y4fu NJ
wine taken at table,
Here are the questions propounded
by DR. van Vleuten
do you regularly take alcohol
In some form before you begin work,
and what effects do you attribute to
IL?
eff you do not regularly take al
cohol before you begin work, but have
occasionally done so. has Il acted as
stlmulant or az hindrance to activ-
ity2
3--Will you give us your opinion,
based on observation. Of the effect OF
alcohol on poetic inspiration. ana your
views on the question OF alcohol in
general?
The opinion Of some of the men
who are among the most eminent
writer's Of poetry and prose IN Ger
many are here briefly given:
Kari HenchcE Il dare say a good
cognac has occasionally delivered me
from an attack of stomaCh-achc, but
IT has never yet carried my lyric ball
loon into more rarifed air. For habit
ual drunkards, total abstinence seems
the only cure, no matter whether the
uppler Is a grocer or a poet"
Victor Bluthgen, u should not
care to be guest at a feast under
the sign OF milk and lemonade.
A. Schmtthenner: Whenever
have occasionally been induced to take
alcohol during the day, the result has
work have Invariably vanished. ! take
no stimulants apart from bottle
Of light beer just before going to bed. -
Detlef Won Liliencorn: II never
take alcohol before or during work.
have observed that II interferes with
my working powers"
Fritz Lienhard: Il take next 70 no
alcohol. ] have no need and no desire
for It,"
George Reiche; alcohol may occa-
sionally inspire this or that idea, but
real work is only hindered by It, !
would not DO away entirely with al
| coholic drinks but the greatest modera-
| ton should be practised."
II. Avenarious: since | began SER
| ious work ! have never taken alcohol
either before or while ! am at work.
| 1t does not inspire the imagination and
| II does paralyze the critical faculty.
| Judging by personal experience and OBJ
servation, alcohol is the greatest stupe-
fer in existence"
DR.. Karl Busse: Il own with salts
faction that mine is a good German
throat which ! take care TO moIsten
every evening. ] object TO temperance
principles, because they seem to me to
go hand In hand with certain lack OF
temperament. 1t Is nonsense TO try
and force a man physically and moral
ly sound 10 adopt methods only re-
qulred for lnvalids and those morally
weak"
o. j. Bierbaum: Il have nothing to
say against people raising their spirits
by the consumption of a moderate
quantity OF alcohol? Should. do It
myself II the consequences were not
fatal to me. Unfortunately, alcohol
begotten hilarity does not make my