The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-02-18
Half a Million Is Spent Annual
ly by Them on the
"Coffin Nails"
AN ASTOUNDING INCREASE
DRESSMAkERS ARE SELLING c.
GARETTE CASES WITH GOWNS
NOW AND THE FAD HAS PROVED
POPULAR ONE.

New York, Feb. 1S.-New York wo-
men burned 100000 last year. From
today's indications in the business
world they. will burn even more-in
fact, a great deal more-in the year
1910.
Furthermore, the word burn" is us
ed literally. because these fair New
Workers actually held the fuel between
thumb and forefinger and set a match
to it. Not that the money is in the
form of bills from the United States
treasury. Nay, it is in the form Of
cigarettes.
1t Is a Snug Sum.
Half million is a snug sum for wo-
men to send up in smoke. The figures
are furnished by dealers, and conserv-
ative dealers at that. Three of them
cater particularly to women. One of
them seeks no other trade. To this
half million add money spent by wO-
men cigarette faddists for smart access
series and one has fair idea of what
the cigarette habit costs New York
women today
Come from Central park down Fifth
avenue for spin and see. First,
smuggled among the conservative
brownstone mansions which once ech-
oed the gentle laughter of the old
knickerbocker aristocracy, one comes
upon the atelier of a one-time social
figure now an importer modiste. Early
New Workers would have called at a
dressmaker's shop. Now it is an at
elier, and its patrons always are ad-
dressed as madame
Today madame is being fitted with
wonderful frock of smoldering gray
ish rose silk, with amethyst lights.
From cabinet in the corner a tactful
saleswOman brings a slender chain of
beaten silver, from which depends a
quaint case. all studded with anne
thysts. "Madame' seizes it with eager
hands. Dull silver and gems blend
perfectly with the oddly tinted gown.
And She Buys 1t.
How much: A hundred: Why the
gown is only $71j. Yes, I know-it
simply makes the costume perfect. But
I've half a dozen cigarette cases al
ready. Yes, that little place for the
matches is dear. Yes, I'll take it."
Ask any gown importer whose aielier
can boast cabinet of odd jewelry and
trinkets where lies the best profits, and
she will answer:
I'm the fads of the cigarette smok.
err"
'Tinon haf CT oil cold CT
cigarette case attached to a matching
chatelaine sufficed for even the most
constant cigarette smoker, but today
the gold case is considered loud and
the correct thing is d case of dull carv-
ed or filigree metal inlaid, or rather in
crusted with gems to match the gown.
Some times they come in pairs. these
cases: one for cigarettes and one for
matches, and especially smart is new
design just over from Berlin showing
the head of the kaiser's own proud ca
gle sharp beak and cleaning eye,
opening at the top to display tiny COM
partments for small cigarettes and
smaller matches.
What is the reason for the astonish-
ing increase of the smoking habit
among New York women? Simply
this: They took it up because it looks
smart" in much the same way that a
small boy takes his first smoke. In
much the same way. too. it has grown
on them, until now they are wrecHing
their nerves with nicotine to say moth
ing of squandering great sums of mon
ey. 1t is no longer a fad with women
this smoking-a woman must have her
after breakfast pull just as much as she
must have her breakfast. Sometimes
she can get along without the food
much more easily than without her
cigarette.