FEMININE FUMES

The elements of comfort are sufficiently few that the world can not afford to despise any of them. Aside from the pleasures of perspiration, and the more exuberant of evening joys, not many diversions are at hand. Vitally necessary it is therefore to conserve the placid comforts of a smoking jacket. In spite of the anti-tobacco league, the weed remains the constant solace of a harried soul. Since the time of Walter Raleigh, men have profited by the genial warmth of a mouthy fireplace.

And women also appear to be in a fair way toward adopting this most satisfactory vice, if vice it may be called. True, certain feminine institutions of a conservative character still shudder in a manner somewhat artificial at the name of nicotine. The recent Radcliffe decision, for example, blew away any possible curl of smoke which might mingle with a collegiate curl of hair. All the democratic paraphernalia of committee and student votes were employed to extinguish some few pitiful cigarettes.

In spite of this overwhelming setback, one cannot but have faith in the smoke-wreathed banners of nicotine. Even now, if some chic, Parisian expert were to devise a feminine form of pipe to replace the grandmotherly corncob, one might safely wager that it would find universal favor with the gentler sex. And a charming smoking jacket should clinch the victory. If pioneer wives were willing to smoke corncobs an the chimney, surely their descend-ants can not be averse to a more civilized form of fumigation. Since the cigarette unsupported is achieving womanly progress, one can expect an artistic pipe to make the conquest heartily complete.