The record-union., 1893-12-18
BENNBLENA'S PRATTLE.
She Thinks That Women OUGHT Not
to Smoke.
The Opinions of Some of Her Friends
on the Important
Question.

to and fro, enveloped in high Mackin-
toshes, aud sheltered by dripping UNI
brellas; altogether it was dreary pros
pect to gaze upon, so l turned from the
window with just little sigh of discon-
tent at the hateful weather to the more
cheerful and inviting prospect within.
A cheerful fire blazed and cracked mer-
rily in the CRATE, and before it stood my
favorite armchair, where [ can sit all
curled up and toast my little toes at my
leisure, while [ listen to the rain patter-
ing outside on the piazza, and feel sorry
that everyone can't feel so comfortable as
do at that particular moment.
But for this once l didn't feel happy.
Even my bird Jack, who opened his little
mouth and sang with such ardor that he
fell from his perch and landed in an as
tonisbed yellow heap at the bottom of his
cage, failed to amuse me. | didn't even
give my petted favorite, my dog jeff, the
usual attention lavished upon that
spoiled canine, and he retired in injured
dignity under the piano, where he sat
looking at me with sleepy reproachful
brown eyes.
The truth was | considered myself an
injured martyr that particular afternoon,
and ali because | wished to go out, and
The rain prevented me from doing so.
There are some women who will don a
waterproof coat and sally forth regard
less of all weather, but, unfortunately,
cannot do that, SO when old Sol abdicates
in favor of Jupiter Pluvius / must stay
indoors.
This particular afternoon I sat gazing
into the fire, and was fast developing into
veritable misanthrope, when l was
saved from that distressing state by a
timely knock on the door, and in re-
sponse to my invitation to enter, there
came in the strongminded girl, the girl
who wears the bloomer costume and be-
lieVes in WOman's rights.
"KneW I'd find you home" was her
greeting as she Invested herself Of her
boyish coat and cap. Wouldn't go out
myself such day as this, ii [ had to
drag about skirt"
Then she seated herself, and was Just
about to make another remark, when
there came another knock at the door, and
this time the quiet girl appeared. Pres
emily we were all seated around the
hearth, and finally l said 1 was glad to
have my friends stay with me to-day, be-
cause | wanted to ask their opinion about
an article l saw in paper the other day
as to whether women should smoke or
not. l had already made up my mind
hear what others bad to say before Yen-
turing my own opinion.
Miss BlOomer, we will hear from your
side OF the house, please" said /, turning
to the strong minded girl.
My opinion is she should smoke if she
wishes,'' replied Miss Bloomer promptly.
"If man gets such solid comfort ont of
cigar why shouldn't woman try to ex-
tract some of the same soothing qualities.
True | haven't tried smoking myself yet,
but Pm seriously thinking of it; nearly
all women OF foreign countries smoke,
and they are thought none the less of for
1t. The women OF our own country are
rapidly learning the habit; indeed, the
majority of women smoke cigarettes al
most daily while some few go in for the
milder sort of cigars. In my opinion the
smoking habit, if it continues at the rate
it is going on now, will ere long lose its
stigma with the few and become a ma
tional habit,' and Miss Bloomer stopped
and waited for the quiet girl to express
an opinion.
Il haven't thought much on the sub
ject," said the quiet girl, land so cannot
express more than my sentiments, which
are decidedly against women smoking,
and | do not think any amount of per-
suasive eloquence could persuade me to
put a cigar or even a cigarette in my
mouth" Here the quiet girl subsidies
suddenly, for she has just thought she
has been led into expressing herself
more forcibly than was her wont.
The strong minded girl contented her.
self with a sniff of disapproval, but 1
felt just like hugging the little quiet girl
who had expressed my sentiments ex-
actly.
Then the conversation drifted around
to other subjects, and the short winter
day was drawing to speedy close, ere
they left for their respective homes.
When they had taken their departure I
took little jeff upon my lap (he conde-
scended to make friends with me once
more, and in the darkening room, lit
only by the frelights ruddy glow, /
thought over what we had talked about.
That is an old trick of mine, after | have
heard anything particular, to sit before
the fire the instant l get chance and
think it all out. Then they go about with
such serious faces and tell to each other in
stage whispers that Bess has her think
ing cap on.
Presently the door opens, and in comes
the oldest member. jeff leaps off my
lap and gives him joyfully obstreper-
Gus welcome, while Jack, the canary,
who has recovered his equilibrium, sings
his loudest.
"Wen, Bess," he says, when he has
divested himself of his oyercoat and hat
he proceeds to luxuriously warm his cold
hands, "How have you spent the day?
In blissful solitude, thinking of my re-
turn?"
This last is wicked afterthought.
mo, indeed, l haven't been thinking
of you at all" [ reply, with dignity. 81
haven't bad time" and then, in answer
to his look of surprise, [ hasten to eX-
plain that L have had company, and then,
of course. tell him everything we talked
about, just as any other woman would
have done in my place.
Smoking for women, eh?" says he,
between the putfs of a fragrant Havana
"Well, do you want D1y valuable opinion
on the subjectY
So, in answer to my affirmatory nod, he
launches forth:
"a woman shouldn't smoke. because it
is not womanly. The good Lord when
He created us made distinctive differ
ence between man and woman. Man was
made to be the protector of woman. and
how can he protect her if she insists upon
being strong-minded and smoking
What man would want 70 kiss woman
whose breath smells of stale tobacco p,
This last very impressing.
"a woman's breath should be as sweet
and wholesome as healthy child's, not
redolent of tobacco smoke. Then. again.
it ruins woman's teeth by discoloring
them dull yellowish brown. l think if
this latter fact were more generally
known, the fair sex would not indulge in
the fragrant weed to such an unlimited
extent as they do to-day, neither would
they be such stanch advocates of per-
nicious habit. Those are my sentiments. ,,
he said as the last of his cigar died out.
and the little clock chimed out the hour
of P. NJ, and we began to think of dip
ner and the material things of life.
Put my opinion down in black and
white, and, if you wish, as coming from
a man who not only expresses his own
ideas on this subject, but also the ideas of
tho rl.st Of his Ga L cri1-o tl,1,.,, e.