Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-01

cles The Ouch
| ess is we'll known as devotee of the weed.
In fact her fondness for tobacco has led her
into being the first American lady to pos
sess smoking jacket. The Duchess took
less pains than formerly to conceal her
liking for the cigarette. She explained this
by saving: <
"Why, so many New York ladies smoke
now that l. no longer appear singular In
that respect; but there was time when So
ciety ladies expressed surprise and even re-
sentiment on learning that smoked. The
increase in the number of those ladies who
smoke has been very marked during my
| last absence abroad. I should not be sur
prised if smoking became the rule and not
the exception. among the society ladies"
The Duchess open advocacy of feminine
smoking has precipitated lively discus
sion in the ranks of the Four Hundred as
| to whether lady can smoke and still be a
lady.
Recognized Society Fad.
The Marquise Clara LAMA, one of the
| most beautiful women and talent d littera-
teurs in New York's exclusive circle, said:
| 81 do not smoke, simply because I do not
| care to. do not think any less OF a woman
because she smokes, unless it is done TO r
mere bravado: then think. the offense dis
| gusting. A few years ago it was not the
| custom for American women to smoke. To-
| day it is recognized fad in society, and a
| woman is not considered any less lady be-
| cause she indulges. The politeness of this
generation was the vulgarity Of the last.
| ''Of course, cigarette smoking is on the
increase in society. Everywhere you go
nowadays you meet comparatively young
girls who wear delicately chased silver or
| gold pouches at their belts. AS they greet
their lady acquaintances, down 60 their
from its little case. Now, do try one of
these-they are somthing new, and, of
course, always do try one, to be polite. I
smoke only when courtesy demands it, just
| as laugh at joke had often heard be-
| fore. In Washington nearly every society
| woman smokes cigarettes. My tather, DIR.
William A. II hammond, is extremely con-
| servative, and, have no doubt, would OBJ
| ject to my smoking in crowded parlor,
| but scarcely think he would object to my
smoking at home with him when he smokes
| his cigars Mrs Frederick Nelson, Fred
die Gebhardt's sister, smokes cigars, am
told, and see no harm in it and would do
the same, regardless Of criticism, If 1
thought would enjoy it.
Tho Mannish " oman Is the Smoker.
Mrs. Frank I-eslie-Wilde has visited
every part of, the world, and is well ac-
| quainted with all sorts and conditions of
men and women. She was glad of an op-
portunity to voice her disapproval of cigar
ette smoking among ladies. 81 know
many eminently refined ladies who do
smoke" she said, "and I do not believe
that few whiffs should debar a woman
| from the society of ladies, but I am sure
| the men do not respect the woman who
smokes as much as they do her stronger
sister who resists the temptation. The
woman who smokes is usually of the man.
nish type. She wears stiff collars and a
large open shirt front.
mo man would think of offering his
mother or sister cigarette, although 1 am
not sure that many women have not smoked
their first cigarette to keep their husbands
company, and 1 think in the quiet of the
home they rather like the little sacrifice
made by the women they adore to keep
them from the clubs, which have so rapidly
become the bane of many homes. In So
ciety 1 have often noticed gentlemen offer
ladies cigarettes, and watched the ill-con-
| cealed smile of contempt that overspread
| their features as the nauseous weed was ac-
cepted. 49,,
| L
| than one cigarette, and therefore know what
l am talking about when 1 denounce smok-
ing among women as disgusting habit
| The first time ever smoked was at the Vic
toria Hotel Twas entertaining the wife of
the Governor General of Cuba, and she in
sisted on me trying cigarette. l admit
| that was curious and yielded without a
struggle. 'Itook few puffs, and soon my head
began to reel and ache, and had to open a
window tor air. An American gentleman
| who came in took my cigarette from my
fingers and took puff: 'Opiump he ex-
claimed and threw it away.
| Mrs. Wilde Couldn't if She Would.
"I have smoked once or twice since then,
| but the only impression left was a bitter,
| disagreeable taste in my mouth. 1 hard y
| think smoking unhealthy My objection to
| tobacco is based on the fact that it is pecu-
liarly mans vice and should be stunned
by all refined women, as it discolors the
teeth and gives bold, don't-care air to the
smoker. Women who have small. delicate
hands are most addicted to the habit. Moth
ing shows off the beauty of a woman's hand
SO we'll as the graceful manipulation OF a
lighted cigarette.
'In Spain and the tropical countries the
| Young women are not allowed to smoke.
Such a thing would be considered the height
of improperly, and is unheard OF. Even
| Young married women disdain the use OF
| tobacco, save in few cases where it is done
| sub rosa But, as rule, no woman smokes
until she has passed the age of 40, which is
as it should be"
Frances Willard Hits Hard.
Frances E. Willard said: 'T was aston
ished when learned that the upper circles
are honeycombed with the vice OF smoking.
and am told that if it be not speedily
checked by some concerted action by women,
cigarette smoking will be as common as it
now is among men. 1t is my emphatic
opinion that lady cannot smoke and be q
lady. 1t is bad enough that men smoke,
and I am confident the time will come
when no gentleman will do that which is SC
harmful to him. to his posterity and to the
society in which he lives
1.-The great barrier against the deteriora-
tion oil humanity by this nicotine abomina-
tion has been the cleanliness and purity n
women from the accursed habit; but il
they are to follow suit, then we may say
goodby to progress for an indefinite period.
1t Is, however, my confident belief that
women as class will never lower them
selves to the acceptance OF any such stand
ard. Within 80 years smoking will be as
little practiced by well-conditioned men as
the use Of snuff is now"
Mrs. Henry Ward Beecher said: ri do
not think any lady should smoke I think
it must be confined to the most fashionable
set, for in the society in which move
know of no lady who uses tobacco, and ]
certainly would not associate with one who
did. 1t is disgraceful habit, and would
be ashamed of any of my sex who indulged
in it. When they do, however, do moi
think it is so much the result of idleness as
of the beauA They no doubt suggest it .te