WOMEN WHO SMOKE

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13333, 23 March 1911, Page 6

WOMEN WHO SMOKE

AND GAMBLE AT BRIDGE. Cl 11:1STC'HTJRCH, March. 21. In an address lo the Presbyterian Clmrch Association to-night, Mr XL G. 1-111, M.P., referred to the gambling that was, he said, at present indulged in by women in this country at bridge parties. Ho had it on the authority of a lady, not in Christchurch, who occupied a good position in life, and who moved in the best society circles, that it had not been safe for her to make afternoon calls for years. She could walk into many friends’ houses, and, with the exception of half a dozen, find ladies playing bridge and smoking. He also had it on the authority of a leading dentist that the greater part.' of his business was the whitening of women’s teeth blackened through smoking, no doubt when playing bridge. He (Mr Ell) 'knew bn laid himself open to ridicule, in; making the allegations he had, but -he believe dil lo be his duty lo publicly draw .attention lo the evil that undoubtedly existed. One evening recently a gentleman friend of his, going home in a tramqar, had met a lady friend, and asked her why she looked so worried, and she had retort'cd, “And so, would you if you had lost your month’s allowance playing bridge.” A gentleman in a high position in life in New Zealand had told him that: lady friends of his were wont to assemble of a forenoon, pull down the blinds of the house, switch on the electric light, and gamble at bridge all. the morning. Were he (Mr Ell) not absolutely sure of, his facts he would not tell them. He had heard statements in regard to Christchurch, but instances in other places served to emphasise the point just as well,' and it was .no good- stirring up bad blood; here.