Thinking that my experience in getting rid of the tobacco habit, which was somewhat unique, might be interesting and perhaps helpful to the thousands of men who are also its victims, I have much pleasure in relating it. I did not come to Christian Science for healing from this habit. To me, then, smoking was a very real, a very pleasant, and strongly-formed custom. By the exercise of great will-power I had on two or three occasions abstained entirely from its use for longer or shorter periods (once for about three years); but the desire for it was always there, and I returned to it with greater zest than ever. For a while after I began to investigate Christian Science I did not notice any difference in this habit, — indeed I was applying the truth to other problems and not concerning myself specially with it, — but gradually the truth began to make itself felt in this direction also. Without knowing why, I began to derive less satisfaction out of smoking. The cigars were not as enjoyable as they used to be; and to me this was a good deal of a puzzle, for they were the same brand as I had been accustomed to buy for some time, and I knew of no better. In my business (that of a journalist) I had abundant opportunities to smoke, and I continued to do so and to study Christian Science at the same time; for I had always been of a metaphysical turn of mind, and Christian Science appealed to me as the truth from the first time I heard of it. The result was curious. The tobacco became tasteless. I saw to my surprise that the habit was leaving me, and I didn't want it to. I changed the brands of my tobacco and cigars, and soon found that all tobacco — good or bad — was equally tasteless; but I kept on just the same, resolved to see the thing to the end. By this time I had begun to suspect what was at work: but, incredible as it may seem, I still felt attached to the habit, and with a pertinacity almost unparalleled, I continued to smoke. I now plainly foresaw what the end would be, and the expected happened. I was forced to stop, whether I wished to or not, and that was the end of the habit.
For the benefit of tobacco users generally, let me say that there was this great difference between the way in which Christian Science enabled me to stop smoking and the so-called cures or will-power method. Christian Science destroyed absolutely the taste for tobacco, so that I have never had the slightest desire to use it since; under other methods the desire is always present, as all smokers will bear me out in saying, and they go back to the habit in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred. My experience simply shows that, no matter how confirmed the habit, it can be cured through Christian Science, and my experience will be that of every other who endeavors, in his feeble way, to resist the working of the truth. I may add also, that although my general health was good at this time and I was not aware of any physical disability as a result of the smoking, nevertheless immediately after I gave up the habit my appetite and weight increased.
Toronto, Ont.
