The sun., 1889-11-10
OUGHT WOMEN TO SMOKE? i?
a GREAT POPULAR DISCUSSION OF
RECENT DATE

wossn Say They shopia Smoke u Mer
Do-smokIhE 10 tsonsstlraes - Good Medi
cIne-Tho Opponents or the Fraetics
.c View II With Horror-Whnt EIlen Terry
ana Mrs. REosa Caird 6ay-Ths DOotOrs
The habit which the English people have oi
writing letters for publication 10 the big news-
papers OF their country has long been noted Rs a
characteristic trait 1t may be laid down as q
general truth that II an EnRlishman has any
thing on his mind which he thinks will at all
affect other people besides himself he at once
Tushes into the newspapers with it, II an
Tngllshman feels that an extortion has been
practlsed upon him while he is travelling ho
will Immediately write to tho Times about it.
even from the uttermost end Of the earth.
An American would say In the same instance
e'Tlmes lost in writing letters"
The latest discussion is over the ques-
tion, Ought women to smoke tobacco or
not For weeks past the Telegraph has printed
from ono TO two columns a. day ofletters from the
people on this subject The discussion appears
TO have been started by an article on Women
and Tobacco" by Mrs. J. d. Hunting. which
appeared In the National Repie,o. Mrs. Hunt
ing experienced great alarm over the growing
prevalence OF the habit among women. and de-
manded to know how woman could be pre-
vented from smoking In public or In private
how shall she be prevented from poisoning her
system, paralyizinR her vitality, and deaden-
ing her nerve forces for the transitory gratif-
cation OF the senses p She claimed that
women who smoked incidentally" as they
alleged ought only TO do 80 on regular pre-
scription for each smoke made by members Of
the medical profession. Mrs. Hunting said:
with the smokers for pleasure plead claiming my
tight do 80 by virtue OF the unpreudiced thought
have given to the subject would put the before
raaRonAby. their they show
selves to DO proof against cheap and spurious sent
enL These lady okers 10 be frightened out
of n dear habit by conjured image Of Venus with
pipe. because they have not yet known painter or
sculptor bold enough depict Apollo with cigarette.
Nor does the knowledge that do not like II Affect
Sem in tho least Some of them maintain quite Justly,
that pretty woman will smoke prettily just as
coarse would smoke coSrsely, though they can.
not add that the practice will mako pretty woman
prettior a coarse woman less coarse.
Then the letters began to flow In. The
sentiment OF women, so far as disclosed by the
letters, at least. seemed to be largely in favor
of women smoking. All sorts of arguments for
and against the practice were advanced Those
who denounced the practice did so mostly on
account OF its "vulgarity" and "unwomanli-
ness" but the defenders-and these were nu-
mercally the strongest-rallied bravey and
reJoined that, logically, 1t was no moro vulgar
for women to smoke than men; and that the
habit was deemed "unwomanly" simply be-
cause IL was not customary.
The Home NeLcs, commencing this position.
says:
The question which will have to be settled in the
nsar future. Why should women not smoke, There is
only reason-they should not because they do not
The idea OF seeing lady she walks along the
pulling her cigarette and lighting up shocks
ones conventional sentiments. But did 1t not
equally strange when men first took to the weed Did
not schoolbooks tell IN that Raleigh oven got
duckng for his temerity: Let put the question
uhnIl A q aha ou1d
do husbands objections are selfish. lie smok o.
for hours together. Smoking may easily become
woman's right without becoming also mans wrong.
4 "Middle-aGed Husband and Father"
writes:
Tobacco smoking either is or lnurouS II 1t is
harmful 1t is harmful for and women alike. and
man should cease to smoke as well as woman II it is
not injurlous the question whether not shall bo
used by both resolves itself into of
pure fashion; and what the mode may bo which will
ultimately obtain IL were rash to predict Umbrellas
and NUTS common property when first ntr oduced
both ridicued for using them. The
. former established its dual position whls the
| latter was forbidden TO tile Sternsr sex by the
opinion of society" Grant that the immod
crate use of tobacco is niurious-so is the
inmoderate OF wine, spirits tea coffee. and
hundred and OF the luxuries which minister our
daily comfort Iimagine far moro people Of exemplary
aud decorous lives killed by eating than fall
victims TO smoking We're to listen to the old women
that societies life would not be worth living. and while
certainly regard tobacco one of tho luxureA and
not of the necessareS OF life, hold 1t to be lux
which does infinitely less harm than of those
which pass unGhallenged.
The. defenders of the custom are ingenious
in their arguments. One girl writes:
Ladies are very much tempted to indulge in the Tor
bldden weed both by their brothers and their men
friends who invite them to have companIonabe Whit
with them not that approve OF this by any means
the tobacco that men smoke is not good enough. What
ladies require is the very best the finest and the
delicate and believe there is nothing delicious
or more agreeable to tired girl than a couple OF
cigarettes with an afternoon cup Of tea. Only tho
cigarettes be good The cheap editions do moth.
ing more than nip the tongue or make the lips
smart And aid TO digestion the Lancet ad
mi;s that 1t is beneficial Indeed, there is nothing
quite so enjoyable as ono weo cigarette after dinner
Again on the score OF health, there have been Ion
evenings on the river whom the mist gathers among
the trees and rises from the and certainly 1t is
more injurious to inhale the daap mist than tho
warmth of dainty cigarette. Yes by all means lot
ladies smoke those who want to- 1t is the Of
thing that is hurtfu. but the abuse,
Then comes grave married woman. She
says:
am ia moderate smoker. and must say that
often, when my household duties are finished for the
day thoroughly enjoy my cigarette or pipe, After
husband has finished his evening meal 1t is to tho
5oyment OF both over quiet game OF cards to smoke
our real EGyptianL" Why. as many of your CORE
spondeuts seem to think should a woman neglect tho
training and OF her children she indulges
In smoke any more than those who play cards, ten
mis- dauce or take any part In any other
The iiea is ridculouA
. Ridiculous or not, q woman signing herself
Amy" ridicules 1t. She writes:
really must take pity on those simple gentlemen
who have so kindly taken upon themselves, as they
think to side with the weaker this question.
Fancy" they how nice II would be, after tho
husband has come homo tired from the oice aud has
had his dnnnsr-how nice to sit with ana
smoke cigarettes together over cup of coffee" How
nice, indeed DO they think that when girls
have learned TO smoke shall walt iii husbands
como homo to smoke with themI No; most likely we
ahal do as they do-smoke all day long Then the
homes will DO In ine condition. at least gather
from what see Of the consequences OF smoking
among my male friends would like 20 press this
aspect OF the upon the attention OF these we'll
meaning gentlemen and ask them whether they are
prepared for our smoking on these terms Possibly
am showing my sex in bad light but still the truth
must out