Evening star., 1925-12-05

When we consider the ShriekS of
press and pulpit" few collegiate
genera tons ago at an announcement
that smoking was officially accepted
as one of the recreations of the sweet
girl undergra duate. the comment Of
editorial writer's today seems mild in
deed. There are plenty OF editors Will
ing to venture the opinion that Bryn
Mawr's new smoking room will make
for a temperate use of the weed
rather than encouraging II.
The Bryn Mawr action is consid-
cred by the Omaha World Herald as
one phase of "A general development
The fact that Bryn Mawr, accord
ing to the Omaha paper. has recog-
niZed the prevalence Of feminine
smoking by setting aside smoking
rooms in its dormitories ought to be
sufficient to indicate to what extent
the practice has grown. Feminine
smoking is just one phase OF that
great and growing movement Tor
greater freedom. especially freedom
from following a moral standard es-
tablished for her by the male. AS a
matter of fact in the judgment of the
Manchester Leader. there is nothing
immoral about smoking. although
there may be something unhygienic,
and there certainly is something un-
esthetic." The Leader continues:
whatever seems out of keeping with
the old conception of womanhood de-
stroys the real reverance men nave
had for women and constitutes loss
to the world
THE cigarette is plainly gaining.
the New York Herald-Tribune believes
and it advises that the open-minded
Rrvn Mawr decision" should be ac-
cepted as "a wholesome example In Ia
vor of letting college girls smoke when,
where and if they want to- The Her
a ald-Tribune adds that wherever WON.
en- want to smoke they should smoke,
and the candid comments OF the bryn
Mawr authorities confirm the impres,
sion of parents and others that they
will. anyhow" While admitting, how
ever, that the habit docs not add to
feminine charm" and lis not one to be
en- the F,lmira Advertiser says that
moderately used. tobacco may not be
in furious to health" although it must
he admitted that it is seldom moder-
ately used.
The college action is interpreted AS
''pra ctical institution of course In
cigarette smoking" in comment by
the Charlotte Observer. which sta ties
further, "If the authorities expected to
set an example for emulation, they
have found that they made false
move. Bryn Mawr is destined TO get
considerable advertising out of the
departure made there, but il is evident
that the Bryn Mawr faculty will get
some disappointment out of the nature
of the advertising" Still. 1t Is up to
the parents as viewed by the Spokane
Spokesman Review. "As Bryn Mawr,
it suggests, lis privately endowed in.
stitution, not supported by public
taxes. these are matters to be deter
mined by the authorities of the insti-
tuition, the student body and the par.
ents of the students. Parents who do
not approve unrestricted smoking by
young girls at Bryn Mawr or other col
leges of like practice can refuse to
send their daughters there, or with.
draw them from such institutions if
they are already enrolled
* y X X
Whether women should smoke" in
the opinion of the India ma polls News.
lis a question for them to decide. The
real issue, it seems, Is the effect such
ruling will have on a college like
Bryn Mawr. Such institutions frown
upon smoking and realize that much
of it is done. Bryn Mawr seems to
have cut a strong tie that bound it
with the past" But the Evansville
Courier points out that the college
authorities believe it Is better to have