LIVES SAVED BY CIGARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 697, 22 August 1914, Page 3

LIVES SAVED BY CIGARS.

. Guizot, the well-known French historian, whilst out walking in one of the public gardens of Paris noticed that he was being followed by a disreputable-looking and badlydressed individual. M. Guizot was puzzled by the man's behaviour,'but instead of showing alarm.he calmly sat down whin he had arrived at his favourite seat. The ruffian, without any hesitation, came and sat down beside him and gave the historian so fierce a look as to have disconcerted a less timid man. But with a delightful nonchalance M. Guizot tooK out his cigar case, abstracted a cigar, end slowly lit it.

The effect of this action upon his companion was remarkable. .With a snarl and a scowl the man suddenly rose and, muttering to himself; "'The man I want to kill never smokes," walked rapidly away. A week or so later the historian read in the newspapers that this same individual had been arrested, for a violent attack upon a well-known public official who bore a strong likeness to M. Guizot himself. The famous writer, went home and smoked a. big cigar 'in honor of his escape. J There was no lover of the weed than the late King Humbert. One day, in his youth, he was driving through the streets of Rome when he chanced to let fall a cigar which he had just lighted. A melan-choly-looking individual who was standing near made a rush for the Royal cigar, and some time after the Prince, as he then was, received a letter from an. anonymous correspondent stating that the writer had formed the idea of committing suicide', owing to Ms many troubles, when! chance and the cigar came along. The unexpected smoke had the result of calming his nerves ; he began to take a more cheerful view of life, and, facing his troubles in that spirit, his luck had changed and he had now become prosperous.

Bismarck had once cause to thank the cigar' for saving, if not his life, at least a manifestation of hostility. After the German troops had entered Paris the Chancellor noticed that a group of French -workmen were looking at h'im with enmity, natural, of course, in the circumstances, but forboding an unpleasant time should there be any attempt at a demonstration against him. Bismarck was a wise man. Without a moment's hesitation he rode up to. the group and, taking a cigar from his case, asked one of the workmen if he could oblige him with a light. Had he asked the men each to have a cigar with him the offer would have been scornfully refused, and therein the -Chancellor exhibited that characteristic quality of his which seryed h'im so well. ' But to ask for a light was a different matter ; he was given it ungrudgingly, and he rode away, not to the accompaniment of derisive cheers, but in silence. .It is the custom nowadays, in many picture-theatres, to supply free afternoon teas to the patrons at the matinee performances. It has been suggested that the provision of free dinners and suppers to the visitors to the ordinary theatres would lead to increased business, and lessen the criticism of the audience. So far, however, our theatrical managers have not provided their patrons with free cigars, as once did Edwin Booth, himself one of the heaviest cigarsmokers on record. The great actor was playing in a small town in the United States when he received word! that a section of the audience intended to mob him upon his appearance, the suggestion being due to one of his rivals. Just before the curtain rose Booth sent a couple of boxes of really good cigars to the malcontents, with the hope that if his acting did not give satisfaction at least bis' cigars would. The. device was successful, and he had a great reception."Tit Bits."