The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1893-08-03
WOMEN AND CHEWING GUM.
A Habit That Is Destructive of Their Bea,
ty Growing Upon the Fair Ones.

A Habit That Is Destructive of Their Beau
ty Growing Upon the Fair Ones.
A philosopher has explained in
The Sun the buying of chewing gum
by men on the theory that they get
It tor girls AS a rule, that may be
SO, since most of those addicted to
chewing gum seem to be women.
But undoubtedly it is to some extent
masculine habit also. Several men
prominent in public affairs are re-
ported as gum chewers.
AS practiced by women, we regret
to say, it shows no signs of decline.
even if it has not actually become
more prevalent. A very large part
of the penny-in-the-slot machine,
still turn out chewing gum, and q!
servers in the street cars, on the e.e
waited roads and even at the thea
tiers tell us that of late they have
discovered indications that it's use by
women is extending at an alarming
rate. After having fallen off from
its first prevalence apparently, they
report, it now seems to be reviving
and to be more frequent than ever
The habit, they say, is not confined
to girls, but has obtained a strong
hold on matrons also, and many of
them women well beyond the period
of youth.
This is very remarkable, consider
ing how careful women are of appear,
ances and especially to make the
most of their own good looks, since
nothing detracts more from beauty
than the continual movement of the
jaws in chewing gum. 1t takes
away the charm from the prettieet
girl, yet she will go on with her pub
lie gum chewing without the slight
est apparent consciousness that she
is distorting her features. At any
rate she is careless as to the matter
The practice seems to breed in her a
| curious Indifference to masculine
favor. AS she chews she seems to
be absorbed IN the chewing to such
an extent that the natural feminine
instinct of pleasing is stifed in her.
Sheappears to have reached the pass
| where, it she have the solace OF
chewing gum, she can get along
without mems admiration for the
time being, and that time is nearly'
continuous, since she chews almos;
necessarily, we are told, in her mo.
ments of activity and in her inter.
walls of leisure.
1t is observed, too, that men, hay,
ing no other resource, are humbly
accommodating themselves to this
dlstractlng gum chewing habit Of
women. Instances are reported to
us where men have actually been
seen making love to girls who We're
chewing gum. Poor fellows, they
| had to be content with the share Of
the maiden's interest which was left
over from the gum chewing. I'm
doubtedly, too, in order to win IA
vor, they even supply the gum to
the girls, though it is for them SO
distressing a rival and SO great an
obstacle to the concentration of
thought requisite for lovemaking.
According to recent and very in
telligent estimates, as many as one
tenth of the human family indulge
in chewing the betel nut of the
east. This betel nut, however, seems
to have some intrinsic potency as i
stimulative of the digestive orgaa
or so it is surmised. But is there any
thing pleasurable or useful in chew
ing gum beyond the mere exercise OF
the jaws? What, then, is the philos
ophy of this recent American habit,
for in its prevalence it is new, and
why should it have SO pernicious 8
fascination for women especially
though itmars their beauty and thus
violates the dictates of the universal
instinct of women to enhance their
charms for the captivation of mascu-
line New York Sun.
Tho Grace WAS Too