The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1908-01-10
SMOKE and The man
WHO SMOKES.
Tobacco as An Index to Char
acter and Rules For Detect
lug Same.

1t is truism that man largely pro-
claims his character in his habits and
in nothing is this dictum more clearly
exemplified than in the habit of smok-
ing. Smoking provides us with thou
sand opportunities for expressing, or
limiting at our individual traits, virtues
and frailites. We smoke as we live,or
as we desire to live. Incidence, extrava-
GRANGE frugality, penuriousness, stol-
idity ,nervuos tension, and innumerable
other attributes can be reveald to an
observant locker on by simply smoking
a pipe, a cigar or cigarette. Choice
of tobacco, methods of smoking, pipe
cleaing and lighting, the treatment
of cigar ash, and the use of cigarette
ends are all straw that point which
way the wind of disposition blows.
1t is of course, difficult and at best
always a thankless task to set up arbi
trary definitions, but if one must gen.
eralize it is fairly safe to assert, says
the London Tribune, that as a rule
pipe smokers differ largely from the
votaries of the cigarette in method
and persistence. There are, however,
exceptions, and at the present moment
two of the most brilliant men of our
day combine an inveterate habit of
pipe smoking with extream volatile
aid excitement. 1t is note
worthy in judging character by smoke
that both these men employ a cmmon
method. They light their pipes ever
other second. An. entire box of mat
ches is used regular to finish one full
pipe of tobacco and the studies of
both men, who are personally I'M
known to one another, are literally
strewn from end to end with burnt
and wasted match sticks.
Smoking with these men is simply
a nervous habit. They do not trouble
to keep their pipes alight, but when
ever they pause in thought or speech
they strike a match. Two puffs at the
pipe and the tobacco is out again.
II it remained gurning,and there was
no occasion to strike a match when
the next halt in their thoughst or
speech occurred, these two smokers
would experience the utmost mental
Some cigarette smokers are of a waste
full and extravagant nature, and fling
their cigarettes away when they are
to the extent of a third
of their length. Those people also are
most be constantly doing something
taking out or shutting up their pocket
cases, fumbling for matches, lighting
a cigarette, or throwing one away.
Fanciful and freak smokers are often
indolent. The man who can squat for
hours blowing smoke rings, emitting
the smoke from his nose, or inhaling
the smoke for an extraordinary dura-
ton of time, has generally lack Of
vital energy and purpose. He answers
This,of course, is very obvious con-
in certain theatrical circles
as bar performers e., persons who
are not clever or persevering in their
but whose self-appointed
in life is to perform tricks
in saloon bars, refreshment rooms and
railway waiting rooms for the diver
sion of their companions.
Cigar smokers have frequently been
characterized as men of expensive tast
This, ofcourse, is a very obvious con-
but is really hard to establish
Many cigar smokers show them selves
to be persons of taste and dissrimina-
ton. You can generally tell by facial
expression whether they are genuine
cigar lovers. There is a stock broker
among the acquaintance of the pres
ent writer who looks absolutely a po
ct when he is enjoying the full bouqu-
ct of a certain brand of most excell-
ent cigars. His whole being becomes
sublimated, his mood .mellows, and his
thoughts assume an imaginative color.
That this mans being is capable of
sublimation under these circumstances
clearly shows that somewhere hidden
beneath his hard business acumen and