Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-02-04
Why DO We
Smoke At AU9
Rr MARCEL PREVOsT.

why do we smoke? What mysterious
and irresistible attraction does this
strange pleasure axert2 1t is indeed a
strange pleasure. for you cannot In this
case. as you can in regard to other
human pleasures and the vices that re-
suit from excuses, point out that it re-
spends to a certain organic craving In
our nature, which has gradually become
excessive and tyrannical. In more or
less perfect forms all our modern enjoy
mcnts have been practiced at all times.
but this particular enjoyment was un-
known to the ancient civilizations and be-
came known in Europe only at the time
of Catherine OF Medicis.
Those of our senses which seem to
crave for It today are really not tickled
by II. II it were the smell we enjoyed,
we should really smoke through the nose.
while we do with our palate that Is
nearly unable to appreciate odors. II
has been proved that when you blind
fold a smoker and compress his nostrils
he Is unable to tell whether the cigar
he is smoking lie lighted or not. Every
thing in the act of smoking IL. therefore,
abnormal.
A smoker forces the mucous MEM
branes OF his mouth and throat to per-
form a work which they do not crave
for. and wanting to inhale an aroma he
inhales II through the mouth, which is
almost as strange as II you would put
a straw in your nostrils to appreciate
the flavor of a glass OF fine Bordeau.
Let us admit. however. that the sense
of smell comes into play in this strange
act There are aromatic doors that
please everybody, but the odor of tobacco
is distinctly dlsagreeable, and the proof
is that nobody likes to smell the smoke
of another. Every one tolerates only the
taste and the odor Of his own smoke.
To counterfeit the unpleasant sensation
produced by the smoking Of others we
men may at least smoke ourselves, but
what about our women, whom we force
to inhale these poisonous fumes without
permitting them to participate In the
enjoyment II a woman did not possess
a less developed sense of smell than
men, fact that has been proved, they
would surely have revolted long time
ago. Though only half sensitive to odors
as they are. they will not hesitate to
tell you what they think, II you insist
on knowing. After assuring you that
they just love the smell Of a good cigar
they will end by telling you that they
detest this fouling Of the air and that
they always admire a man who abstairs
from smoking. at lease in their presence.
admit" q smoker will say, that the
odor Of another mans tobacco smoke
is unpleasant. but you surely will not
deny that to a man who smokes choice
Havana, possesses an exquisite taste and
a delicious aroma"
Yes. my smoking friend, a choice Ha-
In
its smoke, or rather a subtle taste. which
may even be compared with the taste
of the best Bergundy. But 90 you always
smoke choice Havanas? And. II you do,
how many smokers are able to do the
same? Before the recent added tax was
put on tobacco in France connoisseurs
agreed that a good cigar could not be
bought here for less than 80 confines.
and IL you wanted to get really good
cigar you would have 70 pay franc and
50 confines. Then you may easily figure
OUT what you must pay today not to
smoke refuse.
Refuse is Just what cheap tobacco is in
France as we'll as other places. II Is
equivalent to fifth class meat, to wine
at two sous the liter. to the kind of
food you get in the poor houses. Remenn-
Der that the French government makes
800 per cent on a package Of tobacco ana
on other things almost the same pro-
portion. When you pay SOUS for cigar.
1t has not cost but a fraction Of sou to
produce. ttt
The result Is you smoke only refuse.
. and. IL you are quite honest, you will
admit that you know 1t. The taste OF
your cigar Is almost disagreeable to you.
II IL does not taste bad all the way
through It does So at least when you
have smoked half of It. II vitiates the air.
it Is bitter and nauseating. 1t is no more
tobacco than the workinmans ''potit
verre" is choice liquor.
Why do we smoke then? Not because
we love the taste Of tobacco. which It
is next to impossible to get pure and un-
adulterated in cigars or for the pipe.
Why do we smoke? Because smoking
is a pastime. because of the intoxieation
which the poison produces for the same
reason that makes the laborer gulp down
his glass OF execrably poisonous brandy.
1t is a series OF pleasant gestures to
walk into the bar room to treat and be
treated. to raise the glasses and bend
tho elbow and then follows ultimately
the temporary stupor which most people
like. Every human being loves sleep.
which Is the suspension OF animation, and
everyone tries when awake to enter into
states OF torpor that resemble the prec-
ious sleep. That is why people drink TO
feel their ideas and thoughts grow con-
fused, the sense Of reality disappear. In
the same way people smoke to feel their
brain grow heavy. to confuse their
thoughts. 10 localiEe all the activity OF
their head in the mucous membranes Of
nose and palate.
Tobacco. like alcohol, is nothing but
an occidental form OF opium. and that is
why the quality OF tobacco and alcohol.
after all. matter very little 70 the con-
sumner. who is only looking for the pleas
ure OF certain gestures and various
degrees of intoxication.