THE VINE AND CIVILISATION. 29 
carried away, the use of tea with the upper classes, and likely f 
that of beer with the populace. ‘Abyssus, abyssum invocat.’ 
These hypochondriacal drinks still restrained the consumption 
of wine. It is from this epoch that dates this pale and melan- 
cholic literature, whose lakes, Gothic cathedrals, grand stone 
saints, form the delight of pensive and ridiculous youths. 
‘* In 1830 the use of tobacco became general. In imitation 
of the young Orleans princes, the French adopted the cigar as 
a necessary appendage to their countenances. Public resorts 
were infested by tobacco smoke; the clubs, the coffee-houses, 
the provincial towns, soon resembled vast caldrons from which 
rose up an incense of bad odour. This universalized narcotism 
soon showed itself in social events—laziness overcame intel- 
lect, the natural sprightliness of youth to a skeptical thought- 
lessness; the mind, too weak to change resolutions into acts, 
brought on grave mistakes in the affairs of life, and wants 
remained without the necessary activity to satisfy them. 
‘* Socialism, the grand proof of individual feebleness, came 
forth, armed at all points by sophisms of tobacco smoke. The 
idle naturally seek to disembarrass themselves of foresight for 
the future in favour of the State, that is—of the care of pro- 
curing employment, and of an assured remuneration. To 
attain this end they have created a new law, that is — the 
right of labour. 
‘* This right of labour, proclaimed by the idle, would have 
had no signification if it had not proclaimed another right, 
that is—the right of assistance. Socialism was thus claiming 
the right of taking the public funds, and being supported at 
other’s expense. 
‘* Let Frenchmen disembarrass themselves of this bad habit, 
with the same facility as contracted, as soon as they may 
know the dangers of the use of tobacco to the body politic; 
