youllbehealed:

Ladies do not drink, nor do they smoke in circles that I have ever moved in, in St. Louis. It may prevail in homes that I do not know of, but I am sure that the rule is quite different. I certainly would not like to revisit a home where cocktails or liquors of any kind were served to ladies, or where the hostess would permit such customs.

I should no more think of going to an entertainment where such things were permitted than I would go to the house where they permitted bridge whist to be played for money.

—Mrs. Ashley D. Scott of 3515 Morgan St., St. Louis. She’s quoted in “The Cocktail Habit Among Ladies: Are the Titillating Stimulators Before Dinner and the Varicolored Liqueur After, Desirable Aids to Feminine Sociability?”, The St. Louis Republic, 1903. Spread pictured above.

posted by seoulbrother

Posted at 2:17pm.