Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-12-17

[SHNH&HlEA

Agitation against the habit OF smok-
ing American women are said to be
acquiring reached a court-of-law eli
max in Kansas City. A resident of
that city sought divorce on the ground
that his wife smoked to excess. He
declared that she had upon one occa-
sion set the bedclothes af1re as the re-
suit of her desire for a "night-cap'
smoke.
The decision of the judge who heard
the case is OF peculiar Interest and
significance just now, when crusaders
are warning against the habit. He re-
fused to grant the divorce.
But that is not sufficient cause for
divorce" the Judge ruled; mot so long
as she smoked In the house and not
in public"
Here is a distinction which Ameri-
cans can understand more readily than
Europeans. II he Is of subtle mind the
Missourlan may his wife to
indulge herself with an after-dinner
smoke in a restaurant.
Evidently a worlds record, under GER
tain circumstances, has commercial
value. 1t would BIZ extremely presump-
tuous to assume that officials of the
Cunard Line are animated by vanity
alone when they encourage captains of
their mammoth ships In attempts to
lessen tho time Of passage between
Liverpool and New York.
A record breaking transatlantic trip
Is a demonstration in efficiency; an adj
vertisement which automatically proves
its contentious, a challenge to compet-
ing lines. 1t is a hard business PROPOSE
ton. Railroads understand the value
of such demonstrations, as witness the
eighteen and twenty-hour New York t
Chicago trains.
Just now Cunard officials are endeav-
oring to set a now round-trip record for
the Europe to America and return jour-
ney, with the Mauritania. So earnest
are they that the big liners time in
port will be cut short.
DR.. Albert Ludekum, an authority on
municipal affairs in Germany, is not
satisfied with city government In this
country. During a recent address In
New York he took occasion to remark:
Government OF the people, by. the
people, for the people, does not exist
in your cities"
A realization Of the imperfection Of
city government in the United States is
general enough to cause the criticisms
of an expert to be welcomed.
This is DR.. Ludekum's fdea of an ideal
city:
1T is a city which supports every one
of its members from the cradle to the
grave. The ideal city exists, but it is
not yet coherent. not yet combined. It's
essential elements are scattered all over
the world"
To realize this ideal then we have but
to recognize the essential features, here,
there n everywhere, and get them
together.
Apparently we had not known what
winter was until yesterday. Our fears
were lulled to a delicious sense of we'll
being by an invigorating spell of
weather which was just too chilly to
be called autumn"
Another of the weather mans one
sided jokes. We had begun to feel that
me- 1tl4fN 1890 .-Ia1Ah-- IL zx~.
came, when the imitation winter was
~ruthlessly thrust to n side at the
point of a 75-mile-an-hour gale and the
genuine article with ali it's disagree
able attributes oiled, balanced and in
fine working order stood revealed be-
fore us.
Naturally there is nothing to do but
chirk up, bundle up, stoke up grin
and bear it, not forgetting. of course,
those who are unfortunate enough not
to nave the accessories at hand to meet
the new and hard conditions.
The red ball is up at last. Youthful
Newark responded to It's summons with
a zest that indicated it had been
awaited with some impatience.
All OF the pent-up energy, WHICH mas
found but Indifferent outlet in the in
door games Is being devoted to the
greatest of the winter sports in this
Misunderstanding.
Newark offers exceptional opportu-
mites for skaters with the park lakes,
and they are made the most of. Usually
park officials show a commendable
spirit in endeavoring to make available
all the skating there is.
There were times last winter, how
ever. when acres of glorious ice of q
thinkness sufficient to support a hero
of elephants was permitted to lie fol
days under a blanket of snow. True
reasons were regularly assigned fol
the apparent neglect, but often, to thu
skaters, at least, they did not sount
reasonable.