The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-13
HOW A GENTLEMAN SHOTLD
SMOKE. 4

Mrs. Jefferson Davis. widow OF the
late President OF the Confederlcy. con-
tributes the following article to tbs. New
York journal:
The man who smokes is s much more
privileged person than he used to be.
Not 30 many years ago it was an I'M
pardonable breach OF etiquette for a
man to smoke in the presence OF a wo-
man. no matter what the circumstances.
II he did so he was stamped imme-
diately ill-bred.
Since then times have changed. So
ciety is more lenient to the smoker.
In these modern days a man may
smoke in a woman's presence and yet
still lay claims to the honorable title OF
gentleman.
In his own home he may alternate
slipping his after dinner coffee with a
pun at a good cigar and he may smoke
while reading his evening paper. even
IL he is in the presence of his wife and
daughters but always with their per-
mission. But no matter how inyeterate
smoker he may be. there are certain
rules Of etiquette which he must OBJ
serve even with his own family
The man who smokes at breakfast is
not to be tolerated. 1t is not only un-
| wholesome for him to do so, but impro-
per and impolite.
No man should be allowed TO smoke
| in a nursery or a bedroom. Neither
should he smoke in the drawing room,
not only for the the sake of protecting
| tie curtains and portieres, but because
1t is not the proper place for smoking
| In mis- own den he may smoke 10 his
hearts content, but never in the room
where guests are received.
No man in his own home should talk
| 70 any member OF the family with a
| cigar in his mouth, neither should he
| carelessly blow the smoke in their faces.
| SO much for the etiquette of smoking
| in ones own home.
( In public the man who smokes must
/ be more restricted if he aims to be
| proper and polite.
| A man should never walk with a wo-
man on the street while ~ )king. Meth
er should he bow to woman with
cigar in his mouth.
| It seems almost needless to say he
should never smoke in Il closed carriage
when taking a young woman and her
l ehaperOne TO a dance.
The question of q mans smoking after
coming out of the threatre when accom-
4
young man who smokes on the street
| when acting as escort to a young woman
and her chaperone may be quite conf
dent that he will never have an oppor-
tunity to act in that capacity again.
| On the other hand, i'll less formal So
eiety man may, with the permission of
the young woman, smoke when with
her on the street in the evening If they
happen TO be old and particularly good
| friends, but | think to grant the permits
sion is an error of judgment. and So
Getty would never sanction such an &C
ton. 1t is not only improper and i'm.
polite but decidedly rude for a man to
I come out OF the theatre with a young
woman and stop to light cigarette on
the way 10 the cab, while she stands I'M
protected until the cigarette is lighted.
| Many men do this and il is no wonder il
| 10 offensive TO women.
l In regard to man smoking with his
coffee at table dhote dinner when
accompanied by young woman, he may
| always do so after first asking her per
mission The fact that he il dining a.
lone at public restaurant with young
1 woman, however, is sufficient to prove
that neither belongs to the society where
the rules of etiquette are rigidly en-
I forced.
1t is improper and impolite for young
| woman TO dine with young man at q
I public restaurant without a chaperone
/ In calling upon young woman, no
man who knows the first principles OF
good behavior would think OF entering
the house with cigar in his mouth.
/ Men should never smoke in a drawing
room when calling upon women in for.
1 NAL society.
But when making an informal call or
when a man is spending the evening with
his sweetheart he may smoke with her
permission, and il she is an up.to-date
girl perhaps she may choose to join him
ny taxing pun or two at a cigarette
Of her own, but i question If tho man
will find bis admiration for her ncreaa.
cd by this act of good fellowship.
though in Europe the woman who
smokes lS considered good form. here in
America she is not as yet regarded IN