Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1922-03-01
Women Smoking.
Jennie N. Standifer.

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In recent issues of many of our
leading city d%ailies, round table dis,
cussions of women smokers have ap-
peared. Men and women of intelli-
gence and high social standing have
freely expressed their opinions as to
whether the practice is right or
wrong; injurious, or a harmless pleas
ure.
Many think it is merely a fad with
women and girls who want to appear
smart, and in time it will die out.
However, retail tobacco dealers re-
port a rapid increase within the last
two years in the sale of cigars and
cigarettes to women. The habit Is IN
doubtedly spreading.
A number OF prominent mel VINO
have been asked TO express their
opinions on the subject, maintain an
attitude of neutrality, although none
commend the habit or profess admir-
alton for female smokers.
The question was raised: "When is
a girl old enough to smoker" Some
men answered "Never." Others said:
t'In the next world"
In this discussion many opposed
women smoking because it is not
Clearly, and is distinctly unladylike.
Yet they were forced to admit that
women of culture and refinement are
smokers.
A prominent club woman said:
Smoking by women is foolish, but
I don't see why a woman should not
smoke as we'll as a man. On the other
hand I see no reason why ei5her sex
should waste time, health and money
on the habit"
These are certainly excellent rea-
sons for abstaining from the use OF
tobacco; for, weakened lungs, ner-
vous diseases, the tobacco heart"
and weakened will power are poor re
turns for the pleasure of indulging in
smokes. Besides among the working
people the waste of time and money
by both men and women of a family
on smoking, would be a grave menace
to efficient labor, thrift and prosperl-
ty.
But the most serious objection to
women smokers was omitted in this
discussion: That is the injurious eff
feet the use of tobacco in any form
has upon unborn children. Future
generations will be physically, men
tally and morally weakened and han
dicapped by such a practice, should it
become general. 1t is true that there
have been, and are still, women in ru-
raj districts who have smoked cob
pipes and dipped snuff but none OF
them has ever been known to rise
above her environments by her w
exertions or to help others in the for
ward march of progress except IN
humble household duties, where no
brain work was required. There are
doubtless good, pure women among
these old-time fore-runners of the
up-to-date smoking woman, but with
breath reeking with the odor of to-
bacco, and blood poisoned by nicotine,
could they possibly be wholesome
mothers of tender babes? Can they
supply the wholesome n~ourishment
Nature intended to their infants, and
later, with weakened wills, control
and rear the kind of men and women
needed in the world today? Will the
cigarette fend be an improvement on
these primitive smokers? Can the SELF
indulgent mother restrain her boys
and girls from using tobacco during
the tender years of childhood and for
native period of adolescence if, she
is addicted to the habit? Another de-
plorable feature of the practice of
women smoking is the lowering OF
the high ideals of American woman
hood. Our men have reverenced our
women as queens of the home. Can
they still hold these high ideals when
women have descended to the level OF
cigarette smokers.
1t has been said that a nations
morals rise no higher than its
women's standard of morality. What
will be the moral and spiritual con-
dition of our land after a few genera