National Affairs: In Cigaret State

At the Ashville, N.C., City College last fortnight Dean Henry Dexter Learned gave students, including girls, permission to smoke in the college building between classes. An outraged Board of Education planned to meet and oust Dr. Learned. A committee of parents and students planned to keep him in. The Dean calmly explained: “If nobody smoked cigarets what would happen to the public school system of North Carolina? This is the biggest cigaret producing state in the Union.”

The pedagogs did not heed this economic plea. After parents and students were put out of the room, the Board voted to dismiss the Dean, elected one David Wilson from Hampden Sidney College, Va. At most colleges the problem of cigaret smoking between classes is solved without economic and moral issues, without even any action by the college. Signs warn: “NO SMOKING IN THIS BUILDING—Border of the board of underwriters.”