Women of New York.

White Ribbon, Volume 9, Issue 97, 1 June 1903, Page 9

Women of New York.

Mrs Hussedl Sage has withdiawn from the New York Society of Mayflower Descendants liecause, despite earnest protests, men persisted in smok.ng at the annual dinner. During the recent banquet at Delmonico's, cigars were so fieely used all over the room, that several women iiecame ill and were forced to leave. “ I am hurt all the way through, said Mrs Sage. “ h seems strange that a woman as old as I am, who has tried to live up to the highest requirements of her position, should not lie respected in the decencies of life—should, in fact, lie smoked at.”

Quite apart from the question of any physical bad effects of tobacco is its un-

deniably deteriorating effect on good manners in the case of most of those who indulge in it. Tolstoi says men would not think of miking their neigh hours uncomfortable by turning on currents of hot and cold air, or in any other way, as they unscrupulously do with their tobacco smoke. Indeed, it isto l»e feared that many of them finally reach the point of the “dude’’ who calmly declared, “ I he nuisance is not the cigar, but the woman who objects to it.’*

The Women’s Municipal League of New York City has held its annual meeting. Though its membership is not large, it has every reason to l>e proud of its year s work. This includes eight drinking fountains put up, tw'o miles of trees planted along the Tremont Drive, the paving of four sidewalks in one district, the maintenance of 500 window lioxes in another, and the closing of shops in the Tremont neighbourhood at 10 p.lll, instead of 11.30. Small parks have been reclaimed, playgrounds secured for the children of the poor, vacant lots cb ared of rubbish, and city history clubs of school children formed. Miss Margaret Livingston Chanler was chosen president for the coming year.

The women of New York are earnestly woiking for car passengers’ rights. Representative clubwomen have united in a new association to fight against the crowding and other abuses, and they propose to discover some Jefinite means to alleviate car discomfort, and then, w ith the support of the women at large, to demand its adoption. Ihe question which is to l>e considered is highly practical. It is said that during the rush hours, w hen passengers are packed like sardines, shop-girls and others are subjected not only to inconvenience, but to positive insult, and are helpless to defend themselves.— Boston Wimam's Journal.