The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-04-08

! = ~
~ annsne fkem I should - awmo - =
hase qussSionsa many ycung ladiss - -
~ Rfrls whom dry know uho smoke and
vOs,ne gentlemen a1so. and the aimsoat in
vsriaAae reply hes be<n. know no grin
vho sncka. This TAX ct American girls
smoking II sensational noussnse Amesi-
can e5ris do nut smoke
Miss Elsta Proctor Otis b wealthy and
accom- pIished sociesy leader in Aew York.
ana one al her latest whims - The editing
and PUBLISHING Of society journal, known
q ne N<w YORK Sat.nkag kssscsr. Miss
Ofss Is also IN amateur actress. with .
brilliant record, and she HIS repeatedly
taken nah in the performances given By
ths Anarsush Sociesy, Of Brooklyn What
she ms 70 say on the question viii Be cf
interest.
aGreaf injustice il done TO New York
and BROOKLYN society women" said Miss
Otis. ..in the absurd statements Published
from time 10 time % the eject that many
Of them are not averse TO smoking, thst il
il fashion which Is growing In favor.
While il may not be crime for woman
10 smoke, ret the best people consider II
exceedingly vulgar and in very bad TASTE
II some society women have fallen into
the habit. il u only 10 follow fashion
in Enxiand or France. In the
case OF Nine. Modjsska. for I'M
stance. the habit Of smoking is one
10 Be forgiven on account Of her national.
ity and the customs of her country. She
takes her cigarette a. American women
take their coffee, and finds it stimulating.
While / don't approve OF It. am quite
ready 10 overlook the habit in women OF
Southern chimes. In this country, how
ever, the climate Is not conducive % Orien-
tai habits. II is hardly necessary TO contra
dict the statement that tipping IS common
among society women in New York
and Brooklyn. Indeed. it is very
unjust thing 10 say about us.
II few women are inclined
that way from hereditary habits
don't see Why the sex generally should
be judged for the weakness Of these few.
The wome of what is known . the gay
SET who aim ct fads and eccentricities
sometimes smoke after luncheon for the
bravado OF the thing and just to shock
their friends: but as for its being habit
with them, that is not 50. / have nothing
70 say about these habits among the dissi-
pated and immoral class Of women. As
have said before, do not approve Of the
habit among society woman; yet. If they
choose TO smoke, it Is really none OF my
business"
us Cigarette smoking in young ladies'
boarding schools as common practice a.
some persons would have rs believe" the
writer asked lady Of experience and can
dor.
AYES and no." she answered. "Now l
have been to three different boarding
schools, and while there was very little in
the way of mischief which the girls did not
at least make trial Of. still smoking was
thing which / never knew one OF them to
evolve out of her inner consciousness.
On two occasions. however. young ladies
appeared among rs who had experimental
under the guidance Of brothers. cousins orr
brothers' friends. and viii say this much,
that IL never needed more than suggestion
to start the whole school. Within twenty
four hours every girl except the few model
pupils would have package OF cigarettes
hidden away somewhere. The assumed
wickedness Of the oct Was practically its
only alluFing feature, for none OF US ever
really enjoyed II, and some could never get
along without unpleasant consequences;
and then the tell-tals smoke always occar
stoned detection within day or two after
the craze had developed. Punishments
became in order, and the hitherto admired
instigator received the cold shoulder, while
the rest Of US sought solace In the more
reliable caramel"
VERY few people really know how COM
mon practice smoking Is among ladies'
who have passed their boarding school
days." said . young society man to the
writer. II can imagine the surprise with
which most Of my friends would receive
the statement that certain acquaintance
OF theirs-a lady widely and favorably
known In Brooklyn Heights circles-never
retires without lamp, the latest novel.
and package Of cigarettes being placed on
the table by her bedside. After IN hours
enjoyment of fiction and smoke the lamp is
put out and the sleeping god takes his In
ming. know Of one lady who smokes ci-
CARS, but % this is state prison offense.
and a. you are writing for the newspapers.
I must not say another word on the sub
jeck"