MY LADY NICOTINE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 246, 17 October 1925, Page 11

MY LADY NICOTINE.

WOMEN AND SMOKING.

A POPULAR HABIT.

They stand on the kerb every morning awaiting the arrival of the tram car that will bear them to business. There is perhaps nothing in the fact that three young ladies should do "that, but there may be something in the fact that these members of the fair sex are always to be seen smoking cigarettes and reading the morning paper. Residents of the suburb in Auckland who have seen them for so long have become used to the thing, but a stranger or a visitor is liable to be rather surprised at such actions. However, whatever might be the feelings or otherwise of the public generally, the young women continue to enjoy the "weed." That brings to mind the fact that smoking among women has greatly increased during the last few years. Wher e it was once considered out of place, and even vulgar for a woman to indulge in smoking it is now considered just the thing by most people. There were days when a young woman would enter a tobacconist's and mildly ask for a packet of cigarettes for her "father." A change has taken place, and now that self-same young woman will boldly enter a tobacconist's and demand a packet or maybe several packets of cigarettes.

It is averred by leading tobacconists that women do not smoke the cheap, or dainty cigarette, rather do they prefer a "man's"' smoke. There was once a brand of cigarette on the market that was supposed to be a "lady's" smoke, but with the rapid advance of the fair sex that brand soon lost favour.

Where women may be seen smoking mostly is at dance halls, hotel lounges, ferry boats, motor cars, and other places which offer a certain medium of safety from the prying eyes of the public. Except for the ease quoted there is practically no smoking among women on the streets, in daylight anyhow.

Tt maybe that the course of time will find women indulging in tho "weed" quite onenly on the streets, but at present they confine their attentions to Mv Lady Nicotine under cover.