The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-12

,rced women will be permitted TO
~, cigarettes has revived the discus
iau "a 10 whether 1t Is really true that
.o,ar;can women are becoming more and
.are addicted TO the habits Of smoking and
aSnkine. An odd contribution has been
.,.ds 10 the discussion by clergyman who
asrIsred that the drinking habit among
"oD,en was ON the increase and that he
-.rld make public the names OF some OF
,hs nrominent women who socially drank
socL,ais and wines with their luncheons
"a teas at the popular restaurants.
The naughty tea rooms Of Bond street
,.va long been famous In London. but Il Ia
b.rdy probable that similar places could
srst in New York Several experiments
u the way Of opening rooms where men
NIGHT smoke in company with women
sIends have been made before this with
rule or no success. As to the drinking
and smoking habits Of American women
here are the observations OF the proprietor
n one of New York's best known hotels.
Who certainly has had opportunity to form
correct opinions on the subject:
while it is quite true that . number Of
women smoke both in society and out Of
IT, he said, there lie little probability that
thew will frequent q public room started
FOR the purpose. Society women will not
40 there and other women Of late are Affect
ing an imposing air Of propriety. They
are not the women who drink In public. for
ANY afternoon you can see numbers OF them
sitting about the dining room Of q fashion
able French restaurant drinking tea and
eating bread and butter sandwiches at
o'clock.
The cigarette has lost It's air Of naughti-
ness to women who have travelled. and
once a vice, no matter how mild 1t may be,
loses its wickedness 1t Is no longer danger.
We have been appealed to many times TO
arrange for a room where women might
smoke TN after dinner cigarette with their
escorts, but wo have not done 50, for the
reason that a strong prejudice exists against
the habit and many OF our conservative
patrons would probably object.
We serve private dinner parties In pri-
vate rooms where cigarettes are smoked
by the women guests. but we are supposed
TO know nothing OF this and II ahost and
hostess desire to entertain their friends In
this fashion In a private apartment 1t, Is,
Of course. their own affair.
In regard TO the frequent attacks made
on the habit OF public drinking among
women in America, 1t Is only necessary to
state that women, the world over, drink
moro than they used to.
THE type Of femininity has changed
completely. and despite the fears OF alarm
lists 1t cannot be said to have changed for
the worse. Women have got rid Of great
many bad habits such as tight lacing, high
heels, fainting and hysteria and the habit
Of III health, and II they have formed some
other bad habit, IL was only TO be expected.
As a rule the women who 60 about
great deal in New York, putting In appear
ances at dinners, luncheons and theatres.
and. naturally, drinking more than the
woman who stays at home, are far livelier
and better looking than the domestic type
Of woman. Of say twenty years ago. who
lost her interest In everything but home
life after she had reached the age OF 80.
1t is impossible for any one, man or
woman to 60 abou. in New York without
drinking considerably. There Ia, however.
little or no drunkenness. people having
seemingly become used to the new con-
dtions.
.Luncheons, as a rule. begin the day with
the woman Of fashion who Is in town, and
there are very few luncheons at which wine
restaurants We lose sight Of the women Of
leisure until tea time.
Many women take tea In restaurants
nowadays and many OF them will order
cordial or a drink Of some sort before going
home
Dinner is growing later and later in
New York, and a dinner served without
preliminary cocktail. bottle OF wine or
perhaps Scotch and soda, is the exception.
But there is nothing at all startling about
the amount that is consumed and nothing
evil TO be apprehended
-0ne thing that clergymen often forget
10 state is that since women have begun to
drink with their dinners and luncheons
they are seen more frequently dining In
public with their husbands.
Within the last ten years women have
become more companionable to their hus-
bands, Joining them in outdoor sports,
coaching trips. golf and tennis, and In
ike manner they join them often In a cigar
cite after dinner at home.
But the assertion that society Us sodden
through drink is ridiculous. On the con-
trary, there is quite an alarming condition
Of nervousness among the people who
keep so constantly on the co. but with all
that they are brighter and apparently hap
pier than the persons who choose more seri-
Gus pursuits and sleep eight hours faith
fully each night
Drinking and cigarette smoking have, to
great extent, killed the vice OF drug taking
among women. There are fewer morphine
bends and fewer men and women taking
opsies among the class that makes the
greatest show Of drinking in restaurants,
which are the places where they are most on
view
A few years ago the restaurants were
bot so popular for dinner parties. and drink
ing was done more quietly At home In
public dining room where every table bears
m glasses and bottles the sight may seem
IN appalling one to those who do not know
That In large hotel like this not one dinner
party Of men and women 10 ever known
TO offend by any loud laughter or I'm
pleasant evidence OF too much wine.
Americans, men and women. were bound
% learn TO drink more as they grew more
epicurean in their tastes and they have
karned a great deal in he eastronomic
line aimee the days when handful OF bon
mdn's who have all since died as Q result
OF over indulgence. were the only Ameri'