The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-01-20
Women Who Smoke.

To see woman with a cigarette IN her
mouth few years ago was to stamp ner
at once as ''hors du monde Today II Is
tout a fait convenable, and the women
who smoke cigarettes are rapidly ap-
preaching a majority ard becoming alto
gether and entirely respectable says the
New York Herald
The custom is distinctly 1orelsn one
imported from the other side, ana we on
ly copy the example OF the RUSSIAN
French and English women who come 10
ms when we place the seductive weed
between our lips
In some instances the growth OF the
habit can be traced TO the medical profess
sion. who recommend a moderate use OF
tobacco. TO quiet and soothe the overex-
cited nerves of jaded society belle, ana
as it is a sedative habit, 1t grows upon
the patient.
We read every now and then of some
Turkish smoking pariors, where women
repair for sociable chat and afternoon
smoke At first il seemed hardly creolole
that such thing could exist and tnat re-
spectacle women patronized those places
The fact is that these places 90 exist
that they are well patronized. and that
the habit of cigarette smoking has taken
sl1ch a hold on women that manufactur-
ers and importers have realized the impor-
lance of providing the necessary appurte-
nances and lay OUT for the accommoda-
lions of those who use the cigarette
The sale Of cigarette cases made ex-
pressly for women is very large. ne"
design in cigarette cases, imported Tor
both men and women. is made OF cork,
with gold or silver corners, and IN some
cases heavily incrusted with precious
stones. These cork cases are as nsht as
a feather, are made very thin ana one
side is concave, so as to fit comfortably
against the body when carried IN an In
side pocket
One of the SWEETEST silversmiths said TO
me: Yes, it is a fact that we import and
sell a large number of cigarette cases for
women. One year ago women were Obliged
TO content themselves with mems cases,
made of gold or silver. These were found
too cumbersome and heavy for women,
and about three months ago we received
| three or four very handsome, small cases
| made of cork especially designed Tor Wo-
mems use. We showed these to a rev Ia
| vored customers, and they were so mucn
| taken with them that We soon had three
| or four dozen special orders for Christ
mas. We imported a number OF Others
| and they sold just as soon as they were
| put in the showcases
Some have merely the corners Ippcu
! with gold or silver; others are studded
| with Jewels, and many have the owner S
| monogram jewel studded on them Those
| which are designed for birthday presents
| are usually ornamented with the birth
| stone of the recipient, which is certainly
| a very pretty idea.
| THE fad, if you want to call 1t so, has
grown, and one out of every ten women
J smoke cigarettes today. 1 do not exactly
! approve of the idea, and 1 think you will
| find as a rule that very few men like
! the looks of the thing; but then you know
| what women are, and if they will they
| will. and you must make the best OF
| it,"
| At another shop I was told: Within
the past year we have been obliged to
keen ladies' cigarette cases in order to
| meet the great demand for this special ar
| ticIe. The cases are in gold, silver and
gun metal The latter is the more fash
| ionable today, and we have them PLAIN
| or studded with rubies, enleralds, pearls
or rhinestones Those for ladies are a
! trif1e smaller than those for men They
| are very thin, concave on one side, sc
| as to fit properly in the pocket, and the
| ladies' cases have a little spring which
when touched, pushes up the cigarette.
'.They come high-very high-out then
| the dear girls who smoke must have them
at 70 matter what price, and, of course
| we must keep up with the times. You
| would be surprised to know how many
| vomen's cases we sold this Christmas
| They seem 10 have been the fad for pres
| entS."