Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-21
Smokers and Smoked.
montgomery Adyertiser.\

OIitSCiIieEy aOEeEtlSer.}
IN ano1her place we copy from the
Richmond Dispatch some comments on
the recent action Of Mrs. Russell Sage
in withdrawing from the Mayflorer So
ciety because the male members persisted
In smoking during the meetings. The
comments OF the Dispatch are ali right
enough. but we must be permitted to ex-
press our surprise that the conduct OF
tho men who attend the meetings of the
society should have made the withdrawal
OF Mrs. Sage necessary. In an assem- blage
OF that Kind which is supposed to be pat
rocized only by ladies and gentlemen is
it customary for the latter to smoke? It
occurs to US that an apology from the
male Mavdowerers is due not only to Mrs.
Sage. but to all the other women who at
tend the meetings.
AS the Dispatch observes. there are
many women who can hardly endure to-
bacco smoke at all. and who are often
forced to endure 1t because they are I'M
able to escape the proximity of the male
smokers. IN many cases. too. the male
members OF their own families are con-
firrned smokers and the women have nc
choice but to put up with It. No doubt
there are many who become fully accus-
toned to it and do not mind 1t. How
ever this may be there can be no justi-
acation for the men who smoke in q
mixed assanblage where women who are
narseated by tobacco fumes have no al
Tentative but to endure It or leave
company which they would otherwise en-
jov If all the male members Of the May
flower Society who smoke during the
meetings were requested or required to
resign, it would serve them right.
It is really singular what a hold to-
bacco has on tho American people. It
was one of the designations that the white
man learned from the Indian, and the
pupil has long since distanced his teach
er. Why men should take such delight
in smoking and chewing that they become
slaves to the habit and are unable TO quiz
ii is one OF the strange things about hui
man nature but II IS a fact. all the same.
And that the habit should have spread
over the inhabitable globe is another
stra nge but true circumstance. Smoking
and drinking are two habits which are
almost universal. and from which the
victim finds it exceedingly hard to get
free
The Dispatch is IN error in Its belief
that the practice of smoking by women
has gone out. It is practically confined
to the country and to the elderly women,
but there are yet many OF them to whom
the pipe is as great solace as is the
cigar or pipe TO the men. Is II injurious
to them? We doubt it very capitally. II
may not be looked on as 8 nice habit
and 1t may not be pleasant TO others, but
that it Injuries the smokers Is not an es-
tablished fact. And We may add that
these good old women would not smoke
in church. or in q crowded assembly
where they might nauseate others. IN
this respect they are better than the men
OF the Mayflower Society who drove Mrs.
Sage from among them because they
didn't have enough regard for the COM
fort and enjoyment Of others to refrain
from smoking till they left the public hall.
And it all resolves itself into this: that
man has a right to smoke II he chooses.
but he has no right to annoy others by
smoking in any hall or assembly room
or other place where women are gathered.