New-York tribune., 1910-12-25

ultra-conventionsI have been drawn 10 ouI
dining rooms out of curiosity. / would
rather the pest people should come be
cause they believed they should find the
environment, food, wines and service that
would best please them. Those are the i'm
portant things Cigarette smoking among
the women? Why. that is trivial, Incl
dental. AS I have said. We are content to
let the American woman who patronizes us
do as she wishes-you understand, as she
wishes"
Diametricaily opposite are the views OF
the manager of the Hotel Breslin, Walter
z. Hildreth-
In regard to women smoking cigarettes
in hotel restaurants said he, sit is hard
TO express an opinion, unless surroundings
and conditions be considered On the
whole, I may say however, that the time
may come when it will be considered fit
ting and proper for women TO smoke in
public, but think that it has hardly come
to that point at the present time. 1t seems
to me that such women have acquired
the habit of using tobacco after their meals
had better continue the practice in private
rather than break down an established
custom and offend the sensibihties of
those who desire to abstain
so far as women having the privilege Of
smoking In the dining rooms OF my hotel
is concerned, am compelled to admit that
I am sufficiently oId-fashioned to regret to
have such a demand forced upon me. One
of the principal arguments In favor Of the
Introduction Of the practice is that Ameri-
can women who go abroad thinking they
are the most privileged of their sex are
shocked to find that women in Europe are
permitted to smoke anywhere and every
where in public without calling down on
their heads the wrath of convention The
truth is that only q limited number of
European women smoke in public, IL at all.
and the greater part Of them belong TO
classes to which the conventions mean
nothing whatsoever.
"A little close observation OF women
travelling in the cafes and hotels, will
convince any one but a fanatic that very
small number OF women care TO smoke
The number is small that they attract
attention. Also IL must be remembered
that the women one sees in public do not
represent, in America the true body OF
the wonlanhood of the particular country
I'm which they are observed. The real rep
resentative women are not often seen by
the American tourists, and from reliable
Information / am able to say that few of
the women who are really worth the while
smoke either in public private.
Speaking for the Waldorf, Assistant
Manager Barse said:
III has been my observation that the
hotel rnen-I mean the men who are TO
decide this thing-refect very faithfully
the conventional attitude OF the American
public Those who did not would soon
be baukrupts. To show what I mean, sup
pose one stands behind the desk in big
hotel and watches a staff of well trained
hotel men receiving a varied assortment OF
incoming guests When Mrs. Woodward
Avenue of Detroit. accompanied by her
two daughters. arrives. the discerning eye
Of the man behind the desk perceives IN
stsntly the certain respectabiiity. the GER
tain social standing. etc, of the party,
and there is in his manner an acknowledge
uect of the same. II they are followed
nv let lis say. actress of some notoriety,
BY her maid. there Is
change in his manner, subtle, but there
The actress is the more
ryoftable guest. perhaps; she may bring
IN. house more publicity. but he prefers
,sorle of the stamp Of Mrs. Woodward