Giovanni Martinelli was once asked by a reporter about his smoking habits. "Tobacco, cigarettes, bah!" he replied with disgust. "I would not think of it."

The reporter, rather confused, reminded Martinelli of a popular ad in which he had declared that a particular brand of cigarettes did not irritate his throat.

"Yes, yes, I gave that endorsement," Martinelli testily replied. "How could they irritate my throat? I've never smoked!"