The Washington herald., 1911-11-19
By JAMES FRANK LYMAN.

ISTERS, let US light our cigar
- arettes and smoke everywhere
~ while the smoking is good. Let
us smoke in restaurants, in stores, and
along the broad highway of Pennsyl-
vania avenue. And if a brute of po-
liceman should happen by and make
Grass remarks, let us refer him to Cor
poration Counsel Thomas who has de-
cided that there is no law in the Dis
trict which prohibits the use of baccy
by fair femininity.
They got all worked up over the ques-
ton in the District Building yesterday
when word arrived from New York
that the board of aldermen had been
summarily sat upon when they tried to
prohibit women from smoking in public.
Mai. Sylvester, as is his won't, sought
action.
AN OFF-HAND OPINION.
Women can smoke wherever they want
to smoker" the major repeated with in
creduIous emphasis; well I should say
not"
Forthwith the major started to look for
regulations. Now, the police regulations
are the most comprehensive in the whole
world. They can get you for almost any
thing in those regulations. If you don't
tag your dog, or fail to spit right, or for
get where to walk, or drive on the wrong
side of the street. they can get you. II
you sleep In a barn, or don't work regu-
larly they can get you.
But the major discovered that in all this
wilderness of don't" there was not a
phrase-not even a word-that might be
construed as relating to tobacco smok-
ing by females" as the New York alder
men put 1t.
This is not pretty nor nice nor neat. II
Is not pleasant nor cute nor sweet. And
I'll send that habit to dire defeat" sang
the major as he trotted upstairs to talk
the matter over with the corporation
counsel
Mr.. Thomas met the major with
smile-that fine smile indicating a deter
mination to arrange whatever is to be
arranged for.
Can a woman smoke in public?" asked
the major.
No" replied the corporation counsel
promptly. ''no-er-that isl should
should think"
Search the Statutes.
Like little pals together, the corpora
tion counsel and the major and superin-
tendent Of police began to search for an
anti-female smoking law. They waded
through automobiles, down gasoline to
sidewalks. and sewers. but nary a law
could they find. The corporation counsel
did discover somewhere a law providing
that all persons shall be entitled to equal
accommodations in inns, restaurants,
hotels, &C, &c, and this virtually gave
to the girls their unalienable right of
cigarettes.
Il guess they can" said Mr.. Thomas.
gloomily, as he and the major finished
the investigation.
Don't say that" protested the major.
Think how a cigarette spoils a face.
Think of the shame and sad disgrace
that will come to the Capital"
I'm sorry" said the corporation
The matter afterward was put up to
Judge Jimmie Pugh, of the Police Court,
who, with Judge Alexander Mullowny,
gave it deep judicial thought. Yet neither
could decide why woman would or
would not, could or could not smoke It
was like the perennial problem of the
chicken and the road crossing.
Il don't see why a woman can't smoke"
said Judge Pugh. Not that 1 approve It.
1 don't like tobacco in any form-for
That is the butt that will light the
cigarettes. There is no law.
IF We had some provision in the blue
laws" said Judge Mullowny, 1T might
be possible to take this up. But cannot
SEE
And there you are. The greatest lights
in the District are frankly stunned
like a Decent cigar that has