count_paragraphs

index.php:

$smarty = new Smarty;
$smarty->assign('articleTitle', 'War Dims Hope for Peace. Child's Death Ruins Couple's Holiday.');
$smarty->display('index.tpl');

index.tpl:

{$articleTitle}
{$articleTitle|count_paragraphs}

OUTPUT:

War Dims Hope for Peace. Child's Death Ruins Couple's Holiday. 

Man is Fatally Slain. Death Causes Loneliness, Feeling of Isolation.
2