GIRL SMOKERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1921, Page 6

GIRL SMOKERS.

NUMBEBS IN WELLINGTON. j “A- SOURCE OF REVENUE.” The average girl—and woman—in Wellington, in addition to smoking in the privacy of the home, is now not in the least afraid to enter a tobacconist’s shop and calmly order what species of cigarette she requires. At least, that is what several tobacconists stated when questioned on the subject, says a Wellington paper. One tobacconist said he served nearly as many women as men in his establishment. He was much struck by the manner of girls between the ages of 16 and 26 who came into his shop and called for cigarettes, asking for their particular fancies by the colloquialisms used by men smokers.” “It has all happened since the war,” he told the reporter. “Before the war we very seldom saw young girls in our shops. The only persons who came in them, in addition to the men, were elderly ladies who had been sent probably by husband or sons to purchase cigarettes, cigars, or tobacco for them. There was always preliminary stuttering and stumbling over the brand names, and we. would always have to help the prospective customers out of a difficulty. They were quite brave as long as there weren’t any men in the shop; but once they perceived any of the opposite sex their courage would fail, and they would leave the place with probably the opposite brand to that which their male relatives had ordered. “Of course, at Christmas time they would come in large numbers, to inflict weird cigars and pipes upon long-suffer-ing relatives'. I often lAugh as I think of the antics of affectionate wives as they picked out the Christmas cigars. . .. As long as the cigar band was - pretty and matched the paper on the sitting room wall they thought that the cigars were all right. I can assure you 4hat there is no nervousness now. The only persons who are the least afraid of a tobacconist’s are those who do not smoke themselves—they are few —who have been sent out to buy stuff for theirsons or husbands. Smartly-dressed girls are in my shop throughout the day, buying their particular fancy. I often look at their fingers, if they have no gloves on, and I can assure you that they are well stained. The modern girl is a source of revenue to us, and we don’t regard the habit with any disfavor.”