WOMEN WHO SMOKE.

Grey River Argus, 14 January 1928, Page 2 (Supplement)

WOMEN WHO SMOKE.

CAMPAIGN AGAINST HABIT. VERY SEVERE DENUNCIATION In reading a marvellous handbook that has been isued by the National Society of Non-Smokers, one is reminded of the words of a famous song in “The Belle of New York”:—“Of course, you can never be like us, but be as like, us as you’re able to be.” The “campaign of moral endeavour” in this case is against smoking by women. Among the patrons of the society are: Sir Alexander Cardew, K.C.S.I. (vice-president). Colonel R. E. Crompton, C. 8.. Sir John Martin Harvey, Dr A. Salter,' M.P., and Dr Marie Stopes. Here are some of the astonishing demands contained in the handbook. — All pictures, plays and demonstrations where exhibition of women smoking is made should be censored and disallowed by Government authority; all advertisements depicting women smoking should be made illegal; laws should be enacted prohibiting girls and women smoking in public places; women school teachers addicted to smoking should bo censured. Dismissal should follow fin cases where persistence in the prac-| tice continues.

It is stated: —“The chivalry of cu turn, in which it was deemed an ir suit and vulgar abuse to offer a gii or a woman a cigarette, must be rc stored. Youths and men Avho commi the offence should be regarded as tra tors, immoral plagues, and persons t he avoided. It should be considers bad form, and a lowering of moral ton and woman’s dignity to smoke.

The handbook also indicates the tac tics of “frightfulness” that the props gandists should use in trying to pei suade women to give up “the weed.’ It is stated: —“The small pipes nor in the initial stages of use by womei point to a time to come when middle aged matrons and grey-haired grand mol hers, slaves of the filthy tobacci habit, will, like Indian squaws and ol< hags, be confirmed pipe smokers. Wo men smokers are detrimental to tin tranquillity of and happiness of indi viduals, homes and communities. “Alienation among friends"has takei place —husbands have been separate', from wives, courtships have ended, eu gagements have been broken off, be cause the modern Eve has smoked tin forbidden leaf of tobacco. The depravet atmosphere created by the presence o women smokers makes it unpleasan for women and men of moral refine meat to enter many modern cafes.”