Cigars.
Cigars.
"It is perfectly safe to say that there is more money spent every day in New York for cigars than for bread," (doubted.) "From the fine gentlemen, who buy their cigars at Delmonico's, or get them direct from the importers, down to the little barefoot boys in the streets, who buy theirs from the Chinamen at the corners or pick up the stumps that are thrown away, all smoke. In some countries pipes and cigarettes are made to do duty by the poorer classes, but in New York cigars seem to be almost invariably preferred. Now, while there is nothing better, in the way of something to smoke, than a first-class Havana cigar, there is nothing nastier than some of the cheap abominations made in that shape in New York. To the truth of this last proposition, anyone will readily testify who has ever been so unfortunateas to have had to ride from Harlem to New York in a late smoking-car, with half a dozen roughs smoking cheap cigars on board."The cigars sold in this market may be divided into three classes—the imported, those made of imported tobacco, and those made of domestic tobacco. These may be again classified under many different heads, as there are many kinds and grades of each. The cheapest cigars in New York are dispensed by dilapidated Chinamen, who have little stands about the streets and markets. These are certainly the vilest cigars made anywhere in the world, and are sold from one to five cents each. Next in order come the common domestic cigars. They are sold at five cents each, or six for twenty-five cents, and are of the kind kept at the cheap refreshment stalls, lager beer saloons, and low groggeries. After these are the more pretentious home-made cigars, manufactured of selected domestic tobacco, which are sold all over the city, and in the making of which Havana 'fillers' are supposed to be used. A filler, be it known, in technical parlance means that portion of the tobacco of which the inside of the cigar is made. Price, ten to fifteen cents. Then comes the best class of cigars in which domestic tobacco is used, those which are made with clear Havana fillers and Connecticut wrappers. Fifteen cents is the price, and many are palmed off on the unwise for the real imported article. Cigars made wholly of imported Cuban tobacco come next on the list. Some of them are excellent, and compare favorably with many of the imported. They bring from fifteen to fifty cents each at the cigar stores. Last in line, but best of all, is the genuine, imported Havana cigar. Few and rare are they, and great is the price of the higher grades thereof."There are some places in New York where an imported cigar of a reasonable size may be bought for fifteen cents, but they are few and far between. Twenty or twenty-five cents is the price usually charged, and from that to a dollar. All the cigars made in the United States are invariably put up in imitation Havana boxes, with imitation Havana labels and brands. It is doubtful, however, whether this transparent device deceives anybody, for in accordance with the United States Internal Revenue laws, all boxes of cigars manufactured in the United States must not only bear the manufacturer's label, giving his full name and place of business, and the number of his manufactory, but they must also bear the United States inspector's brand. Before the present law was in force, and the duties on tobacco were low, this schememay have been profitable. But why the practice is still adhered to by the manufacturers is hard to imagine, for the boxes now used, being made of imported cedar, must be very costly, and must materially increase the price of cigars. Only those of the very poorest quality are packed in white wooden boxes.
"It is perfectly safe to say that there is more money spent every day in New York for cigars than for bread," (doubted.) "From the fine gentlemen, who buy their cigars at Delmonico's, or get them direct from the importers, down to the little barefoot boys in the streets, who buy theirs from the Chinamen at the corners or pick up the stumps that are thrown away, all smoke. In some countries pipes and cigarettes are made to do duty by the poorer classes, but in New York cigars seem to be almost invariably preferred. Now, while there is nothing better, in the way of something to smoke, than a first-class Havana cigar, there is nothing nastier than some of the cheap abominations made in that shape in New York. To the truth of this last proposition, anyone will readily testify who has ever been so unfortunateas to have had to ride from Harlem to New York in a late smoking-car, with half a dozen roughs smoking cheap cigars on board.
"The cigars sold in this market may be divided into three classes—the imported, those made of imported tobacco, and those made of domestic tobacco. These may be again classified under many different heads, as there are many kinds and grades of each. The cheapest cigars in New York are dispensed by dilapidated Chinamen, who have little stands about the streets and markets. These are certainly the vilest cigars made anywhere in the world, and are sold from one to five cents each. Next in order come the common domestic cigars. They are sold at five cents each, or six for twenty-five cents, and are of the kind kept at the cheap refreshment stalls, lager beer saloons, and low groggeries. After these are the more pretentious home-made cigars, manufactured of selected domestic tobacco, which are sold all over the city, and in the making of which Havana 'fillers' are supposed to be used. A filler, be it known, in technical parlance means that portion of the tobacco of which the inside of the cigar is made. Price, ten to fifteen cents. Then comes the best class of cigars in which domestic tobacco is used, those which are made with clear Havana fillers and Connecticut wrappers. Fifteen cents is the price, and many are palmed off on the unwise for the real imported article. Cigars made wholly of imported Cuban tobacco come next on the list. Some of them are excellent, and compare favorably with many of the imported. They bring from fifteen to fifty cents each at the cigar stores. Last in line, but best of all, is the genuine, imported Havana cigar. Few and rare are they, and great is the price of the higher grades thereof.
"There are some places in New York where an imported cigar of a reasonable size may be bought for fifteen cents, but they are few and far between. Twenty or twenty-five cents is the price usually charged, and from that to a dollar. All the cigars made in the United States are invariably put up in imitation Havana boxes, with imitation Havana labels and brands. It is doubtful, however, whether this transparent device deceives anybody, for in accordance with the United States Internal Revenue laws, all boxes of cigars manufactured in the United States must not only bear the manufacturer's label, giving his full name and place of business, and the number of his manufactory, but they must also bear the United States inspector's brand. Before the present law was in force, and the duties on tobacco were low, this schememay have been profitable. But why the practice is still adhered to by the manufacturers is hard to imagine, for the boxes now used, being made of imported cedar, must be very costly, and must materially increase the price of cigars. Only those of the very poorest quality are packed in white wooden boxes.
Cigar-holders.
Cigar-holders.
"Some people seem to smoke not because they like it, but only to be in the fashion. Some days ago the writer of this article happened to be in a cigar-store, when two well-dressed young men came in and asked for some ten cent cigars. The clerk handed out the box, and after a critical inspection the purchaser asked: "Are these medium?' 'Yes, sir,' said the clerk. 'Then I'll take a dollar's worth.' After they had gone the writer asked the clerk what they meant by 'medium.' He said he didn't exactly know, but supposed they wanted to know whether the cigars were between strong and mild. 'I told them they were,' said he, 'because I thought they would buy if I said so, but they are all alike.' And in this connection it is very singular that although the Island of Cuba is so near to the United States and so many cigars are imported into this city, so little is known about the different sizes and brands of cigars, excepting, of course, by those in the business. It is a common thing here to see a man ask in a cigar store for aFlor del Fumar, aFigaro, or anEspanola. By this he means a cigar of a certain size, and does not seem to know that these are not the names which designate the size, but are the names of the manufactories. In Havana, were a man to ask for aFlor del Fumar, the dealer would ask him what size he wanted."Every box of cigars packed in Havana has, at least, six distinctive works on it. First is the brand, which is burned in the upper side of the lid of the box, with an iron made for the purpose; second the label, this bears the name and address of the manufactory; third, the mark designating the size and shape of the cigars, this is usually put on with a stencil; there are not so very many regular sizes, orvitolas, made in Havana as might be imagined, a list of them may prove interesting. These are: Damos, Entre Actos, Opera, Concha, Regalia de Concha, Londres, Londres de Corte, Regalia de Londres, Regalia Britanica, Regalia del Rey, Regalia de la Reina, Reina Victoria, Panetelos, Trabucos, Embajadores, Especiales, Imperiales, Brevos, Prensados, Cilindrados, Millar Vegueros. TheDamos(Dames) as their name indicates, are meant for the ladies, and are the smallest made. TheCozadores(huntsmen) are the longest, and theTrabucos(blunderbusses) the fattest. ThePrensados(pressed) are flat, andCilindrados(cylindrical) are so called because, when green, they are put in bundles of twenty-five, and tightly rolled in strong tissue paper, which is twisted at each end of the roll. When the cigars are dry the paper is taken off, and the bunch retains the cylindrical shape given it. TheBrevos(figs) are also tied up while green, and and tightly pressed. This makes them stick together something like figs, hence their name. TheVegueros(plantation) take their name from the fact that they are supposed to be made like those made on the plantations, but they are not made in the same way."In theVegos(plantations) theveguero, or planter, makes his cigar of a single leaf of tobacco, which he carries ready moistened for the purpose, by rolling it on his knee. Besides the above, some fancy sizes have been adopted of late years, but they are made by only a few of the larger manufacturers in Havana. Fourth is the color mark, which is also put on in stencil. Fifth, the class mark. All the round cigars made in Havana are separated into three classes:Primera, or first;Segunda, or second; andTercera, or third. Some manufacturers never mark any of their cigars as of the third class, not because they do not make them, but because they think they sell better without the mark. They make the first classFlor, the secondPrimera, and the thirdSegunda. Others mark all their cigars as of the first class, and indicate the classes by the color of the labels, and in this way none but the wholesale purchaser knows the secret. Sixth, thelast, is the mark denoting the number of cigars in the box. This is stenciled on the side in Arabic numerals."A theory has obtained that cigars made in Havana, by reason of some inexplicable climatic influence, are better than those made in New York, even should they be made of tobacco from the same plantation. This may be so, but it is doubtful whether this was ever fairly tested, or, indeed, whether it was ever tested at all. The truth is that all the best tobacco grown in the island of Cuba is bought up by the heavy manufacturers in Havana. The crops of the best plantations are contracted for in advance, and the old-established firms buy from the samevegosyear after year. Hence it is why their cigars are so uniform in quality. All Cuban tobacco is not good, by any means. The tobacco from the Vuelta de Arriba is not so good as that from the Vuelta de Abajo, and yet there is but little difference in their geographical position. And in the Vuelta de Abajo, a short distance makes a difference in the quality of the tobacco. Somevegosare celebrated for their good crops, while others, perhaps not a hundred yards away, do not produce good crops at all. There are many poor cigars made in Cuba, as all who have ever been there know, and all over the island the Havana cigar is deemed the best. In Havana, and, indeed, in all parts of the island, green or freshly-made cigars are preferred, and the most esteemed cigar-cases are made of carefully prepared bladders, in which the cigars are rolled to prevent the evaporation of the moisture."When a Cuban gentleman gives a cigar to a friend, he does not, as we do, open his case, and offer it to him to choose from but he examines its contents carefully and critically, selects the one he thinks the best and offers it. And there is a great deal more in the choice of a cigar, by selecting it on account of its outside appearance, than one not accustomed to it would suppose. A wrapper which has that which the Cubans callcalidadmakes the cigar much stronger than one which does not possess it. That is to say, that the wrapper which hascalidadcontains more essential oil, is denoted by an abundance of small pustules on the surface of the leaf, and by a general rich, oily appearance. As a proof of the foregoing proposition, it is only necessary to know how cigars are made. A lot of tobacco is worked up into say 50,000. After they are all made, they are turned over to be assorted, according to color and class, and are packed and marked. The fillers are all alike, it is thewrappers that make the difference. To assort the colors a very, correct eye is required, and those who do this part of the work make better wages than those who make the cigars."The value of cigars does not increase in direct ratio with their size, for owing to the difficulty in getting good wrappers for the larger kinds, the expense of their manufacture is much increased. Upon one occasion, in Havana, a manufacturer received an order for a thousand cigars intended for the Queen of Spain's husband, Don Francisco de Asis, which he agreed to make for $1,000. They were delivered in due time, and packed in a richly-mounted cedar chest, were sent to the royal recipient. They were magnificent cigars, of the cazadores size, all of the same color, and so smoothly made as to look as if they had been turned out of hard wood instead of rolled tobacco. They were placed on exhibition for a few days before they were sent to Spain, and a gentleman who saw them, wishing to make a present to some dignitary, asked the manufacturer to make him a like number at the same price. To his surprise, the order was refused. The manufacturer said he could not do it for the money. His explanation was that it was not the actual cost of the tobacco and labor of making them, but it was on account of the trouble and expense met with in selecting the wrappers. He said he had to pick over thousands of bales before he could secure a sufficient number of the proper length, color, and fineness."Some two years ago there was a story of a Cuban cigar-dealer in Broadway, who selected cigars for his more favored customers by ear. It was said that he put the cigar to his ear, and listened intently for a moment, and by the cracking of the tobacco was enabled to judge of its quality. This was a good advertising dodge, but in practice it was all nonsense. None but that wily Cuban ever heard of such a mode of trying a cigar. In the Island of Cuba that which we call a cigar is called atabaco(a tobacco) and when it is required to discriminate between the manufactured and unmanufactured article it is calledtabaco torcido, or rolled tobacco. This, however, is only necessary when used in the plural. In Mexico a cigar is called apuro, and in Peru[62]and some of the other Spanish American countries it is called acigarro puro, in contradistinction to thecigarro de papel, or cigarette.Cigarettes in Cuba are calledcigarros, and their consumption is enormous. Strange as it may appear, there are some confirmed smokers in Cuba who never use cigars at all, but confine themselves to cigarettes. To the New Yorker it looks curious to see a great, bearded man smoking a tiny cigarette; and, indeed were he to smoke his cigarette as the New Yorker would smoke his cigar, it would be labor lost, so far as getting any effect of the tobacco was concerned. But the cigarette smoker inhales the greater part of the smoke, it goes directly into his lungs, and into contact with a large surface of mucous membrane, and, indeed, with the blood itself. Were the New York cigar-makers to smoke a cigarette in the same way it would make him so giddy that he would be compelled to give it up long before it was consumed. That the smoke does go into the lungs is proved by the fact that a cigarette smoker can inhale the smoke and exhale it again after drinking a glass of water."
"Some people seem to smoke not because they like it, but only to be in the fashion. Some days ago the writer of this article happened to be in a cigar-store, when two well-dressed young men came in and asked for some ten cent cigars. The clerk handed out the box, and after a critical inspection the purchaser asked: "Are these medium?' 'Yes, sir,' said the clerk. 'Then I'll take a dollar's worth.' After they had gone the writer asked the clerk what they meant by 'medium.' He said he didn't exactly know, but supposed they wanted to know whether the cigars were between strong and mild. 'I told them they were,' said he, 'because I thought they would buy if I said so, but they are all alike.' And in this connection it is very singular that although the Island of Cuba is so near to the United States and so many cigars are imported into this city, so little is known about the different sizes and brands of cigars, excepting, of course, by those in the business. It is a common thing here to see a man ask in a cigar store for aFlor del Fumar, aFigaro, or anEspanola. By this he means a cigar of a certain size, and does not seem to know that these are not the names which designate the size, but are the names of the manufactories. In Havana, were a man to ask for aFlor del Fumar, the dealer would ask him what size he wanted.
"Every box of cigars packed in Havana has, at least, six distinctive works on it. First is the brand, which is burned in the upper side of the lid of the box, with an iron made for the purpose; second the label, this bears the name and address of the manufactory; third, the mark designating the size and shape of the cigars, this is usually put on with a stencil; there are not so very many regular sizes, orvitolas, made in Havana as might be imagined, a list of them may prove interesting. These are: Damos, Entre Actos, Opera, Concha, Regalia de Concha, Londres, Londres de Corte, Regalia de Londres, Regalia Britanica, Regalia del Rey, Regalia de la Reina, Reina Victoria, Panetelos, Trabucos, Embajadores, Especiales, Imperiales, Brevos, Prensados, Cilindrados, Millar Vegueros. TheDamos(Dames) as their name indicates, are meant for the ladies, and are the smallest made. TheCozadores(huntsmen) are the longest, and theTrabucos(blunderbusses) the fattest. ThePrensados(pressed) are flat, andCilindrados(cylindrical) are so called because, when green, they are put in bundles of twenty-five, and tightly rolled in strong tissue paper, which is twisted at each end of the roll. When the cigars are dry the paper is taken off, and the bunch retains the cylindrical shape given it. TheBrevos(figs) are also tied up while green, and and tightly pressed. This makes them stick together something like figs, hence their name. TheVegueros(plantation) take their name from the fact that they are supposed to be made like those made on the plantations, but they are not made in the same way.
"In theVegos(plantations) theveguero, or planter, makes his cigar of a single leaf of tobacco, which he carries ready moistened for the purpose, by rolling it on his knee. Besides the above, some fancy sizes have been adopted of late years, but they are made by only a few of the larger manufacturers in Havana. Fourth is the color mark, which is also put on in stencil. Fifth, the class mark. All the round cigars made in Havana are separated into three classes:Primera, or first;Segunda, or second; andTercera, or third. Some manufacturers never mark any of their cigars as of the third class, not because they do not make them, but because they think they sell better without the mark. They make the first classFlor, the secondPrimera, and the thirdSegunda. Others mark all their cigars as of the first class, and indicate the classes by the color of the labels, and in this way none but the wholesale purchaser knows the secret. Sixth, thelast, is the mark denoting the number of cigars in the box. This is stenciled on the side in Arabic numerals.
"A theory has obtained that cigars made in Havana, by reason of some inexplicable climatic influence, are better than those made in New York, even should they be made of tobacco from the same plantation. This may be so, but it is doubtful whether this was ever fairly tested, or, indeed, whether it was ever tested at all. The truth is that all the best tobacco grown in the island of Cuba is bought up by the heavy manufacturers in Havana. The crops of the best plantations are contracted for in advance, and the old-established firms buy from the samevegosyear after year. Hence it is why their cigars are so uniform in quality. All Cuban tobacco is not good, by any means. The tobacco from the Vuelta de Arriba is not so good as that from the Vuelta de Abajo, and yet there is but little difference in their geographical position. And in the Vuelta de Abajo, a short distance makes a difference in the quality of the tobacco. Somevegosare celebrated for their good crops, while others, perhaps not a hundred yards away, do not produce good crops at all. There are many poor cigars made in Cuba, as all who have ever been there know, and all over the island the Havana cigar is deemed the best. In Havana, and, indeed, in all parts of the island, green or freshly-made cigars are preferred, and the most esteemed cigar-cases are made of carefully prepared bladders, in which the cigars are rolled to prevent the evaporation of the moisture.
"When a Cuban gentleman gives a cigar to a friend, he does not, as we do, open his case, and offer it to him to choose from but he examines its contents carefully and critically, selects the one he thinks the best and offers it. And there is a great deal more in the choice of a cigar, by selecting it on account of its outside appearance, than one not accustomed to it would suppose. A wrapper which has that which the Cubans callcalidadmakes the cigar much stronger than one which does not possess it. That is to say, that the wrapper which hascalidadcontains more essential oil, is denoted by an abundance of small pustules on the surface of the leaf, and by a general rich, oily appearance. As a proof of the foregoing proposition, it is only necessary to know how cigars are made. A lot of tobacco is worked up into say 50,000. After they are all made, they are turned over to be assorted, according to color and class, and are packed and marked. The fillers are all alike, it is thewrappers that make the difference. To assort the colors a very, correct eye is required, and those who do this part of the work make better wages than those who make the cigars.
"The value of cigars does not increase in direct ratio with their size, for owing to the difficulty in getting good wrappers for the larger kinds, the expense of their manufacture is much increased. Upon one occasion, in Havana, a manufacturer received an order for a thousand cigars intended for the Queen of Spain's husband, Don Francisco de Asis, which he agreed to make for $1,000. They were delivered in due time, and packed in a richly-mounted cedar chest, were sent to the royal recipient. They were magnificent cigars, of the cazadores size, all of the same color, and so smoothly made as to look as if they had been turned out of hard wood instead of rolled tobacco. They were placed on exhibition for a few days before they were sent to Spain, and a gentleman who saw them, wishing to make a present to some dignitary, asked the manufacturer to make him a like number at the same price. To his surprise, the order was refused. The manufacturer said he could not do it for the money. His explanation was that it was not the actual cost of the tobacco and labor of making them, but it was on account of the trouble and expense met with in selecting the wrappers. He said he had to pick over thousands of bales before he could secure a sufficient number of the proper length, color, and fineness.
"Some two years ago there was a story of a Cuban cigar-dealer in Broadway, who selected cigars for his more favored customers by ear. It was said that he put the cigar to his ear, and listened intently for a moment, and by the cracking of the tobacco was enabled to judge of its quality. This was a good advertising dodge, but in practice it was all nonsense. None but that wily Cuban ever heard of such a mode of trying a cigar. In the Island of Cuba that which we call a cigar is called atabaco(a tobacco) and when it is required to discriminate between the manufactured and unmanufactured article it is calledtabaco torcido, or rolled tobacco. This, however, is only necessary when used in the plural. In Mexico a cigar is called apuro, and in Peru[62]and some of the other Spanish American countries it is called acigarro puro, in contradistinction to thecigarro de papel, or cigarette.Cigarettes in Cuba are calledcigarros, and their consumption is enormous. Strange as it may appear, there are some confirmed smokers in Cuba who never use cigars at all, but confine themselves to cigarettes. To the New Yorker it looks curious to see a great, bearded man smoking a tiny cigarette; and, indeed were he to smoke his cigarette as the New Yorker would smoke his cigar, it would be labor lost, so far as getting any effect of the tobacco was concerned. But the cigarette smoker inhales the greater part of the smoke, it goes directly into his lungs, and into contact with a large surface of mucous membrane, and, indeed, with the blood itself. Were the New York cigar-makers to smoke a cigarette in the same way it would make him so giddy that he would be compelled to give it up long before it was consumed. That the smoke does go into the lungs is proved by the fact that a cigarette smoker can inhale the smoke and exhale it again after drinking a glass of water."
Life in Mexico.
Life in Mexico.
All tobacco grown upon the island of Cuba is not of the finest quality; the majority of it is far inferior to the best Mexican coast tobacco. The value of the tobacco lands of this last mentioned country has not been fully developed.The variety of soil, exposure, climate, and atmospheric influences are greater than can possibly be in Cuba, and when the best is discovered, combining all the requisites, which undoubtedly will be the case with an increased culture of the plant, it will be found to be equal to the Vuelta Abogo of Cuba, and much more extensive. The subject of tobacco lands, evidently, is not well understood in Mexico, as it must be, from great experience, in Cuba. All of these varieties of lands and circumstances exist in Mexico, and it is safe to predict that, at some day, this country will stand pre-eminent over all others in this industry.
We extract the following from theTobacco Leafin regard to cigar-making in Cuba:—
"The rule is that a cigar-maker devotes all his ingenuity and diligence to one class of goods. For example, one workman makes onlyLondres; another onlyRegalias; another onlyMilores Communes; and so on. In the Cuban's factory the operatives are allowed to smoke as many cigars as they like when at work; and to take home with them, when they leave work in the evening, five cigars each. The immigration of Chinese laborers into Cuba has modified, and must further modify, the labor market there. In the cigarette factories at Havana, Chinese workmen are almost exclusively employed. Though objectionable for many of their moral habits, these workmen are nevertheless docile, ingenious, laborious, and contented."
A writer, alluding to the manufacture of cigars, says:—
"The colors or strengths areAmarillo Claro, bright yellow;Amarillo Obscuro, dark yellow;Claro, bright;Colorado Claro, bright red;Colorado, red;Colorado Obscuro, dark red;Colorado Maduro, red-ripe or mellow;Maduro, ripe or mellow;Maduro Obscuro, dark ripe or mellow;Pajizo Claro, bright straw-colored;Pajizo, straw-colored;Pajizo Obscuro, dark straw-colored;Fuerte, strong or heavy;Entre Fuerte, rather strong or heavy;Flajo, light. Then there are the indications of the qualities:—Superfine;Firo, not quite so fine;Flor, finest or firsts;Superior, next, or seconds;Buenos, next, or thirds. The cigar has a notable history. First has to be determined the part of the plant from which it is taken; then the part of the leaf from which it is taken, the tobacco being best which is furthest away from theroot or middle of the leaf. One elaborate process follows another for the perfection of a work of art—for as such we must regard a cigar."
Hazard, in his admirable work on Cuba, devotes considerable space to cigars, their manufacture, varieties, and use, in which he speaks of the various brands as follows:—
"The brands known as 'Yara Mayau,' and the 'Guisa,' are perhaps the most celebrated made upon the Island. Of the 'Yara,' which has some considerable reputation, particularly in the London market, I confess I cannot speak favorably. Cigars that I smoked made from this leaf, and which are much smoked in the vicinity of Santiago de Cuba, I found had a peculiar saline taste which was very unpleasant, as also a slight degree of bitterness; many smokers, however, become very fond of this flavor. When I state that in Havana alone there are over one hundred and twenty-five manufacturers of cigars, it will readily be understood there must be a great many inferior cigars made even in Cuba. Havana may be called the 'City of cigars,' from its reputation and the immense number of factories there are in it for the manufacture of cigars, from the smallest shop opening on the street, employing three or four hands to the immensefabricoserected expressly for this purpose, and employing five or six hundred.
Cuban Cigar Shop.
Cuban Cigar Shop.
"Let not any one imagine, then, that because he is in Havana he will get no poor cigars, for a greater mistake can not be made, for just as vile trash can there be purchased as any where; and it appeared to me that in buying, from time to time in differentfabricos, a few cigars it was rarely I found a really good one. It behooves, then, every lover of a good cigar to make himself familiar with the best makers and brands, and to purchasethose, and those only, that suit his taste. To the traveler in Havana, this is easy enough, as he can there buy sample boxes from any of the factories and of any of the brands. There are, in addition to these hundreds of other cigar factories, some of which, such asCabargos,Figaros,Luetanos,Victorias, etc., are first-class, three or four at least in whose cigars every smoker may have perfect confidence, the brands of which are known all over the world. These are:Cabaños,UppmannandPartagas; for whose brands, perhaps, one pays something more, but has always the satisfaction of finding them good. To the kindness of the gentlemen connected with some of these factories I am indebted for most of the information in this article, and particularly to Señor Don Avulmo G. del Valle, the present proprietor of the Cabaños Factory, who was good enough to show me through his establishment, carefully explaining to me its peculiarities. As the process of manufacture and description of grades and qualities are the same with all the best makers, I give here a detailed history of this factory and its products."The factory for Cabaños cigars has been established seventy-two years the founder of it being Don Francisco Cabaños, his son, Don de P. Cabaños, succeeding him, to whom has succeeded his son-in-law, Señor del Valle, the present proprietor and director of the factory. When it was founded, the cigars were sold to the public in bundles of twenty, only amounting to a total number per year, of four or five hundred thousand cigars, the sales of which kept constantly increasing until 1826, when there were sold two millions. At this period the demand for exportation commenced, increasing each year until 1848, when the number sold amounted to three and a half millions. At this time, the present director came in charge, and increased the sale to eight millions per year, until, in 1866, the total sales by this one house only, amounted to the enormous number of sixteen million cigars, which went to different parts of the world. The tobacco manipulated in this factory is, with some few exceptions, that grown upon plantations in the Vuelta Abojo, with the proprietors of which Señor del Valle has a special contract for their product. The most noted of these places are known as 'La Lena,' 'San Juan aj Martin,' 'Los Pilotos,' 'Rio Hondo.' The firm also own threevegas, as do also Partagas, Uppmann, and others, in a greater or less degree. The amount raised upon thesevegasin connection with the Cabaños Factory, amounts to five thousandbales, of from first to eighth quality, leaving the most inferior qualities, which amount to about one thousand bales, for exportation, the factory not using such common grades. It is a custom of the manufacturers to keep a supply of the best qualities always on hand from year to year, in order that, should the tobacco crop, in any one year, be bad, the reputation of the house can be maintained by using the good tobacco in the store. The factory is a large stone building, opposite the Canipo de Moste, in which all the operations connected with cigar making are carried on (excepting the manufacture of boxes) by over five hundred operatives, all males. The following is the process of manufacture:"Arrived at the factory, the tobacco bales, carefully packed and wrapped in palm leaves, are kept in a cool, dark, place on the first floor, being divided off into classes according to quality and value, which latter varies from twenty to four hundred dollars per bale of two hundred pounds. When wanted, the bales are opened, themanojasandgabillosare separated, and the latter carried in their dry state to the moistening room. Here are a number of men whose business it is to place the leaves, for the purpose of moistening and softening them, into large barrels in which is a solution of saltpetre in water; this done, the water is poured off, and other workmen spread out the leaves with their hands upon the edges of the barrels, ridding them as much as possible, of any surplus water; after which, the leaves, from being moistened, unfold very easily, and, with care, without tearing. The stem is then taken out, the process being known asdisbalillar. These stems, with the refuse of other tobacco, are sometime used as filling for the commonest kind of cigars. The filling is known astripa, the very best being selected, like the leaf, for the best cigars. Now comes the maker, and supplying himself with a handful of leaf (copa) for wrappers, and a lot of thetripafor filling or really making the body of the cigar itself he carries it to a little table, and spreading the wrapper upon the table, cuts with a short knife the different portions of the leaf. This is a very nice operation, requiring skill, knowledge, and experience; for it is in this operation that the different qualities of tobacco are separated, the outside of the leaf being generally the best; next that, another quality; and that portion adjoining the stem the worst.
"Let not any one imagine, then, that because he is in Havana he will get no poor cigars, for a greater mistake can not be made, for just as vile trash can there be purchased as any where; and it appeared to me that in buying, from time to time in differentfabricos, a few cigars it was rarely I found a really good one. It behooves, then, every lover of a good cigar to make himself familiar with the best makers and brands, and to purchasethose, and those only, that suit his taste. To the traveler in Havana, this is easy enough, as he can there buy sample boxes from any of the factories and of any of the brands. There are, in addition to these hundreds of other cigar factories, some of which, such asCabargos,Figaros,Luetanos,Victorias, etc., are first-class, three or four at least in whose cigars every smoker may have perfect confidence, the brands of which are known all over the world. These are:Cabaños,UppmannandPartagas; for whose brands, perhaps, one pays something more, but has always the satisfaction of finding them good. To the kindness of the gentlemen connected with some of these factories I am indebted for most of the information in this article, and particularly to Señor Don Avulmo G. del Valle, the present proprietor of the Cabaños Factory, who was good enough to show me through his establishment, carefully explaining to me its peculiarities. As the process of manufacture and description of grades and qualities are the same with all the best makers, I give here a detailed history of this factory and its products.
"The factory for Cabaños cigars has been established seventy-two years the founder of it being Don Francisco Cabaños, his son, Don de P. Cabaños, succeeding him, to whom has succeeded his son-in-law, Señor del Valle, the present proprietor and director of the factory. When it was founded, the cigars were sold to the public in bundles of twenty, only amounting to a total number per year, of four or five hundred thousand cigars, the sales of which kept constantly increasing until 1826, when there were sold two millions. At this period the demand for exportation commenced, increasing each year until 1848, when the number sold amounted to three and a half millions. At this time, the present director came in charge, and increased the sale to eight millions per year, until, in 1866, the total sales by this one house only, amounted to the enormous number of sixteen million cigars, which went to different parts of the world. The tobacco manipulated in this factory is, with some few exceptions, that grown upon plantations in the Vuelta Abojo, with the proprietors of which Señor del Valle has a special contract for their product. The most noted of these places are known as 'La Lena,' 'San Juan aj Martin,' 'Los Pilotos,' 'Rio Hondo.' The firm also own threevegas, as do also Partagas, Uppmann, and others, in a greater or less degree. The amount raised upon thesevegasin connection with the Cabaños Factory, amounts to five thousandbales, of from first to eighth quality, leaving the most inferior qualities, which amount to about one thousand bales, for exportation, the factory not using such common grades. It is a custom of the manufacturers to keep a supply of the best qualities always on hand from year to year, in order that, should the tobacco crop, in any one year, be bad, the reputation of the house can be maintained by using the good tobacco in the store. The factory is a large stone building, opposite the Canipo de Moste, in which all the operations connected with cigar making are carried on (excepting the manufacture of boxes) by over five hundred operatives, all males. The following is the process of manufacture:
"Arrived at the factory, the tobacco bales, carefully packed and wrapped in palm leaves, are kept in a cool, dark, place on the first floor, being divided off into classes according to quality and value, which latter varies from twenty to four hundred dollars per bale of two hundred pounds. When wanted, the bales are opened, themanojasandgabillosare separated, and the latter carried in their dry state to the moistening room. Here are a number of men whose business it is to place the leaves, for the purpose of moistening and softening them, into large barrels in which is a solution of saltpetre in water; this done, the water is poured off, and other workmen spread out the leaves with their hands upon the edges of the barrels, ridding them as much as possible, of any surplus water; after which, the leaves, from being moistened, unfold very easily, and, with care, without tearing. The stem is then taken out, the process being known asdisbalillar. These stems, with the refuse of other tobacco, are sometime used as filling for the commonest kind of cigars. The filling is known astripa, the very best being selected, like the leaf, for the best cigars. Now comes the maker, and supplying himself with a handful of leaf (copa) for wrappers, and a lot of thetripafor filling or really making the body of the cigar itself he carries it to a little table, and spreading the wrapper upon the table, cuts with a short knife the different portions of the leaf. This is a very nice operation, requiring skill, knowledge, and experience; for it is in this operation that the different qualities of tobacco are separated, the outside of the leaf being generally the best; next that, another quality; and that portion adjoining the stem the worst.
Tobacco Leaf.
Tobacco Leaf.
"The general sorting of the tobacco is done by hands of great experience and judgment, who are the highest inconsideration in the factories, some of them receiving large pay; thus for instance, the officialescojedor, or chooser, gets from five to seven dollars (gold) per day, and thetorcedores, or twisters, from two to four, the workmen being paid so much per thousand cigars, generally from two to four dollars. To show how very careful the maker must be in cutting out the leaf to make the most of it: Mr. del Valle was explaining to me the process of manufacture, and directed the maker to cut the leaf. This the man did drawing his knife in the manner denoted by the dotted lines in the engraving. This it appears was not making the most of the fine part of the leaf, for Mr. del Valle, annoyed, took the knife himself, and after rating the maker soundly for his carelessness, showed him how to cut it properly, as defined by the black line, the difference being, as far as I could judge, a slight inequality of color between the two parts. The manufacture of the cigar is very simple. The cigar maker, being seated before a low work table, which has raised ledges on every side except that nearest him, takes a leaf of tobacco, spreads it out smoothly before him, and cuts it as in the drawing. He then lays a few fragments of tobacco (tripa) in the centre or a leaf strip and rolls the whole into the shape of a cigar, and taking then a wrapper, rolls it spirally around the cigar. If the workman is skillful, he makes it of just the right length and size, without any trimming of the knife. The cigars are assorted, counted, and done up in bundles of generally twenty-five each, and then packed in the boxes, ready for market, under their different names ofLondres,Regalias, etc. These names are generally understood to have the same meaning throughout the trade, the 'Vegueros,' for instance, being the plantation cigars, made at theregas, and much esteemed by smokers, though they are rarely to be met with for sale, or, if so, at an exhorbitant price. The 'Regalia Imperial,' the finest and best, is nearly seven inches long, the price varying from one hundred and fifty to three hundred dollars per thousand (gold). The 'Regalia' is not so large but fine, the 'Trabuco,' short and thick; the 'Londres,' the most convenient in shape, and most smoked in this country and England; the 'Dama' the small sized one used by ladies(?) or by men between acts of the opera (entr'operas). There are also other names which each factory has for some particular kinds. Artificial flavors are given to cigars, when some particular taste is to be satisfied, by the use of flavoring extracts. Each of the above names has different qualities, as:Londres'superfine' the very best of that size (delicious)."'fino,' not quite so fine."'flor,' finest, or firsts."'superior,' next, or seconds."'buenos,' next, or thirds.Again, these different qualities have different colors, known as: 'maduro,' strongest; 'oscuro,' strong (dark); 'colorado,' medium; 'claro,' mild; 'Brevors,' means pressed. Thus, supposing one wanted a good cigar to suit his taste, he would perhaps order: 'Partagas' (maker), 'londres' (size), 'flor' (quality), 'Colorado' or 'oscuro' (strength), and he would get a good cigar, nice size, best quality, not too strong, or too mild."I must confess to a weakness for the Uppmann cigars, which I have found, without exception, to be good, and which have a fine reputation throughout the West Indies. A millionaire need not want a better cigar to smoke than their 'Londres superfine,' at sixty dollars (gold) per thousand, in Havana, or their 'Cazadores,' at fifty dollars. Partagas cigars of course, every one knows are good; and he keeps generally pretty well sold up, but fills orders as they come in. For a new experience, one of his 'Regalio Reyno flor,' is something to try, even if they do cost out there eighty-five dollars, gold."In all the factories they make about the following rates: For every order of ten thousand, costing fifty dollars per thousand, five per cent. discount is allowed. Less than five thousand will pay five dollars extra. I should, perhaps, mention that no distinction is made to dealers, the only advantage they have over the private buyer is, that they are enabled to get the discount for large lots. The absurd notion so prevalent with us, that the Cubans only smoke their cigars green, is an error, since the leaf is entirely dried in the sun before being touched by the manufacturer. The Cubans are very particular indeed to preserve the aroma and fragrance of the cigars, by keeping them in wrappers of oiled and soft silks; it is, in fact, quite a sight to see with what ceremony some of these are produced at gentlemen's tables, with much unction, like the ushering in of old wine.My chapter on cigars would be incomplete did I fail to note the beautiful and courteous way in which all Cubans no matter of what position, whether the exquisite at the club, or theporteroat the door, ask you for a light. 'Do me the favor Señor?' and you present your cigar, the lighted end towards the speaker. He takes the cigar delicately between his thumb and fore-finger, lights his own, and then, with a quick, graceful motion, turns yours in his fingers, presenting you, with another wave, the mouth end, makes you a hand salute, utters hisgracios, and leaves you studying out the 'motions' and thinking what a charming thing is national politeness."
"The general sorting of the tobacco is done by hands of great experience and judgment, who are the highest inconsideration in the factories, some of them receiving large pay; thus for instance, the officialescojedor, or chooser, gets from five to seven dollars (gold) per day, and thetorcedores, or twisters, from two to four, the workmen being paid so much per thousand cigars, generally from two to four dollars. To show how very careful the maker must be in cutting out the leaf to make the most of it: Mr. del Valle was explaining to me the process of manufacture, and directed the maker to cut the leaf. This the man did drawing his knife in the manner denoted by the dotted lines in the engraving. This it appears was not making the most of the fine part of the leaf, for Mr. del Valle, annoyed, took the knife himself, and after rating the maker soundly for his carelessness, showed him how to cut it properly, as defined by the black line, the difference being, as far as I could judge, a slight inequality of color between the two parts. The manufacture of the cigar is very simple. The cigar maker, being seated before a low work table, which has raised ledges on every side except that nearest him, takes a leaf of tobacco, spreads it out smoothly before him, and cuts it as in the drawing. He then lays a few fragments of tobacco (tripa) in the centre or a leaf strip and rolls the whole into the shape of a cigar, and taking then a wrapper, rolls it spirally around the cigar. If the workman is skillful, he makes it of just the right length and size, without any trimming of the knife. The cigars are assorted, counted, and done up in bundles of generally twenty-five each, and then packed in the boxes, ready for market, under their different names ofLondres,Regalias, etc. These names are generally understood to have the same meaning throughout the trade, the 'Vegueros,' for instance, being the plantation cigars, made at theregas, and much esteemed by smokers, though they are rarely to be met with for sale, or, if so, at an exhorbitant price. The 'Regalia Imperial,' the finest and best, is nearly seven inches long, the price varying from one hundred and fifty to three hundred dollars per thousand (gold). The 'Regalia' is not so large but fine, the 'Trabuco,' short and thick; the 'Londres,' the most convenient in shape, and most smoked in this country and England; the 'Dama' the small sized one used by ladies(?) or by men between acts of the opera (entr'operas). There are also other names which each factory has for some particular kinds. Artificial flavors are given to cigars, when some particular taste is to be satisfied, by the use of flavoring extracts. Each of the above names has different qualities, as:
Again, these different qualities have different colors, known as: 'maduro,' strongest; 'oscuro,' strong (dark); 'colorado,' medium; 'claro,' mild; 'Brevors,' means pressed. Thus, supposing one wanted a good cigar to suit his taste, he would perhaps order: 'Partagas' (maker), 'londres' (size), 'flor' (quality), 'Colorado' or 'oscuro' (strength), and he would get a good cigar, nice size, best quality, not too strong, or too mild.
"I must confess to a weakness for the Uppmann cigars, which I have found, without exception, to be good, and which have a fine reputation throughout the West Indies. A millionaire need not want a better cigar to smoke than their 'Londres superfine,' at sixty dollars (gold) per thousand, in Havana, or their 'Cazadores,' at fifty dollars. Partagas cigars of course, every one knows are good; and he keeps generally pretty well sold up, but fills orders as they come in. For a new experience, one of his 'Regalio Reyno flor,' is something to try, even if they do cost out there eighty-five dollars, gold.
"In all the factories they make about the following rates: For every order of ten thousand, costing fifty dollars per thousand, five per cent. discount is allowed. Less than five thousand will pay five dollars extra. I should, perhaps, mention that no distinction is made to dealers, the only advantage they have over the private buyer is, that they are enabled to get the discount for large lots. The absurd notion so prevalent with us, that the Cubans only smoke their cigars green, is an error, since the leaf is entirely dried in the sun before being touched by the manufacturer. The Cubans are very particular indeed to preserve the aroma and fragrance of the cigars, by keeping them in wrappers of oiled and soft silks; it is, in fact, quite a sight to see with what ceremony some of these are produced at gentlemen's tables, with much unction, like the ushering in of old wine.My chapter on cigars would be incomplete did I fail to note the beautiful and courteous way in which all Cubans no matter of what position, whether the exquisite at the club, or theporteroat the door, ask you for a light. 'Do me the favor Señor?' and you present your cigar, the lighted end towards the speaker. He takes the cigar delicately between his thumb and fore-finger, lights his own, and then, with a quick, graceful motion, turns yours in his fingers, presenting you, with another wave, the mouth end, makes you a hand salute, utters hisgracios, and leaves you studying out the 'motions' and thinking what a charming thing is national politeness."
In the selection of leaves for the manufacture of cigars in the factories only the large fine ones are used forRegalias,Imperiales, orMedios Regalias; and also forCazadores,Panetelos,Imperiales,Caballeros, and so on; the smaller fine leaves forPanetelosandLondres; the dark inferior leaves forCanones. The commonest tobacco goes to form theMilores Communes; the worst is converted into cigars which are generally pressed flat, and known asPrinsados. For the smallest kind ofLondresand forDamos, a proportionally small leaf is employed.
In Cuba and Luzon, one of the Philippine Islands, is found one of the largest factories for cigars in the world. In Manilla there are three factories where 7,000 families and 1,200 males are employed: one in Cavite, in which 5,000 operatives, mostly females, are engaged; and one in Malabar, which gives employment to about 2,000 more, also females. The tobacco is worked into both cigars and cheroots both of which have a variety of shapes. In both Manilla and Havana the custom of smoking is universal and one rarely meets with any of the male sex without a cigar between his lips.
A writer speaking of the universality of the custom says:
"In Havana, the custom of smoking is a universal one. There, young and old indulge freely in the use of the weed, dividing their attention pretty equally between the cigar and the cigarette. Even the ladies of the better class in many instances indulge; though not to so great an extent as is commonly reported.""Smoking in Cuba" says an American writer, "is like thehabit of making shoes in Lynn, Massachusetts, everybody smokes!—in the house, and by the way; in the cars, and on horseback; everywhere, and at all times. You meet whole regiments of youngsters, from six to eight years of age, with black beaver hats, tail-coats, and canes, each with a cigar, nearly his own size, in his mouth. You feel like putting the miniature dandies into the water of the next fountain basin, which shallow as it is, would fully, suffice to drown the largest of them."
"In Havana, the custom of smoking is a universal one. There, young and old indulge freely in the use of the weed, dividing their attention pretty equally between the cigar and the cigarette. Even the ladies of the better class in many instances indulge; though not to so great an extent as is commonly reported."
"Smoking in Cuba" says an American writer, "is like thehabit of making shoes in Lynn, Massachusetts, everybody smokes!—in the house, and by the way; in the cars, and on horseback; everywhere, and at all times. You meet whole regiments of youngsters, from six to eight years of age, with black beaver hats, tail-coats, and canes, each with a cigar, nearly his own size, in his mouth. You feel like putting the miniature dandies into the water of the next fountain basin, which shallow as it is, would fully, suffice to drown the largest of them."
Wenches Smoking.
Wenches Smoking.
You have a right to accost any one smoking in the street, however much may be his superiority or inferiority to yourself, and to ask a light for your cigar; even negroes hatless and shirtless, thus address well-dickied gentlemen, andvice versa. Refuse to take a cigar with a Cuban, and you refuse his friendship. The negroes cannot work at all without their quota of cigars; "and looking out of the windows of a room in that magnificent hotel 'El Telegrafo,' the writer remembers to have caught a glimpse more than once of the negro women at work in the laundry, every one of whom held a long cigar in her mouth, and puffed incessantly as the clothes were manipulated upon the washboards." In Havana, as throughout Cuba, there is a cigar etiquette, to infringe any of the rules of which is construed as an insult. It is, for instance considered a breach of etiquette when you are asked for a light to hand your cigar without first knocking off the ashes. A greater breach, however, is to pass the cigar handed for you to obtain a light from, to a third party for a similar purpose; the rule is to hand back the cigar with as graceful a wave asyou can command, and then if necessary, pass your own cigar to the third party.
A Moonlight Reverie in Havana.
A Moonlight Reverie in Havana.
The insult direct in cigar etiquette is for the party to whom you apply for a light, to pass on and leave you with the remains of his cigar, or to intimate to you, by word or action, that he has no further use for it, and that you can throw it away. In Cuba, where cigars are plentiful, the usual custom is, when you ask for a light, even if the party be a stranger, to pull out your case and offer him a cigar, by way of recognizing the civility in stopping to accommodate you. The Spaniards are naturally a polite people, and the stranger stepping into the Louvre and other public places of resort in Havana, is struck at once with the marked contrast in this respect to familiar gatherings elsewhere. In no place is a cigar more enjoyable than in Havana. Seated upon the roof of one of the large hotels in that city in a bright moonlight night, within hearing of the dreamy roll on the beach: the regular throb of the sea, lulling one into quietness; the sigh of the summer breeze a lullaby to the senses; while a high-flavored prime cigar, as it wastes and floats awayin air, is the fairy wand which opens the enchanted gates of Reverie and Imagination.
What need of a friend under such soothing circumstances? What need of the jollycamaradeof former days to sigh back sigh for sigh, puff for puff, and wander in gentle reminiscences over the Lesbian labyrinth of the past, when Julia was most kind, or Cynthia, darling girl, delighted in the perfume of a capital havana? Here, in this quaint old city by the sea, is the place for dreams and reveries and the utter rendering of one's self up—to a good cigar. Is it not a place for reverie? Has not one with this most respectable weed, this primehavana, the concomitants of a thousand reveries? Will not one puff of that narcotic breath drowse deep all watching dragons, and make for him the sleeping beauties of his will? And,presto, there they are! and, oh! ye houris of the South, with what a smile and glance between the azure puffs! Well let me not forget myself. With a sterner morality he sees how the bending Bedouin fashions his pipe in the moistened ground; he sees the slender Indian reed with the flat bowls of Lahore and Oude, the pipe of the Anglo-eyed celestial, the red clay of Bengal, and the glittering gilded cups in which the dark-skinned races of Siam, the Malacca Isles, and the Philippines, love to enshrine their dreamy opium-haunted spirits of the weed. He sees how in the squatter's hut the old squaw sits by her hunter lord, and puffs at the corn-cob sweetness, and how by lonely ways the traveler rests and thinks of home, and in the blue smoke greets once more the faces of the loved, perhaps forever gone. He sees how the Esquimaux, with his hollow Walrus-tooth, makes bearable the stifling squalor of his den; or, sterner and graver still, some item of historic lore mingles rudely with his dreams, and elbows sharply the airy spirits of his smoke-engendered thoughts. Softly tremble in the delicate blue mist and the azure spirals from his old Virginia clay—the domes of a sea-bathed city. Loftily pierce the tall white minarets into the quivering heavens, while the solemn cypress throws its shade below. Before him, silent-paced as in a dream, files theweird array of Arab camels, bowing their long necks tufted with crimson braids, and measuring the brown sands of the desert with ghost-like tread. 'Tis the moon of Egypt and the waters of the Nile; 'tis the palm-bough waves for him; and women, free-limbed, with flashing eyes, and antique water-vases on their heads, move past him from the low-rimmed shadowy wells. And he sees them there and smiles.
By the Sea.
By the Sea.
He sees on beach by the sea the summer idler sitting beneath the jutting rock, gazing far out upon the sea, yet ignoring the white sails that pass up and down before him, as well as the open volume upon his knee, while his thoughts float outward and upward with the graceful wreaths of smoke that encircle his head; and if of a practical turn, he listlessly wonders why, if his own delightful land furnishes sometwentieth of the whole Tobacco produce of the world, and does honor to her native weed by being its mightiest consumer, why, in the name of all disasters, the product is so dear—ay, doubly dear? And thus as his pipe burns low, a hundred other statistics; then, knocking out his whitened ashes on the floor, he reads sedately (his pipe being out) that the "Tobacco plant furnishes ashes to the amount of one-fourth of its bulk, being a much greater proportion than that of any other vegetable product," and, moreover, that "Tobacco exhausts the soil at the ratio of fourteen tons of wheat to one of Tobacco!" Oh, base insinuation! But, as he relights his pipe, and the graceful vapor circles in fresh buoyancy and grace before him, he only, in his contented mind, retains that one supreme expression—"One ton of Tobacco!" Ah,
"Think of it, picture itNow, if you can!"
From "A Paper of Tobacco,"[63]we extract the following humorous description of Yankee cigar smokers, which to a certain extent is true to life, but like most of the articles descriptive of American life by English Authors, who travel in America and writea bookafterwards, it is exaggerated or overdrawn:
An American Smoker.
An American Smoker.
"The Americans, who pride themselves on being the fastest-going people on the 'versal globe'—who build steamers that can out-paddle the sea-serpent and breed horses that can trot faster than an ostrich can run—are, undoubtedly, entitled to take precedence of all nations as consumers of the weed. The sedentary Turk, who smokes from morn to night, does not, on an average, get through so much tobacco per annum, as a right slick, active, go-ahead Yankee, who thinks nothing, 'upon his own relation,' of felling a wagon-load of timber before breakfast, or of cutting down a couple of acres corn before dinner. The Americans, it is to be observed, generally smoke cigars; and tobacco in this form burns very fast away in the open air, more especially when the consumer is rapidly locomotive, whether upon his own legs, the back of a horse, the top of a coach, the deck of a steamboat, or in an open railway carriage. The habit of chewing tobacco is alsoprevalent in 'the States,' nor is it, as in Great Britain and Ireland, almost entirely confined to the poorer classes. Members of the House of Representatives and of the Senate, doctors, judges, barristers, and attorneys chew tobacco almost as generally as the laboring classes in the old country. Even in a court of justice, more especially in the Western States, it is no unusual thing to see judge, jury, and the gentlemen of the bar, all chewing and spitting as liberally as the crew of a homeward-bound West Indiaman. It must indeed be confessed that Brother Jonathan loves tobacco 'not wisely but too well,' and that the habits which are induced by his manner of using it are far from 'elegant.' The truth is, he neither smokes nor chews like a gentleman; he lives in a land of liberty, and takes his tobacco when and where he pleases. He spits as freely as he smokes and chews—upon the carpet or in the fire-place—for he is not particular as to where he squirts his copious saliva, and does not think with the late Dr. Samuel Parr, that a spitting-box is a necessary article of household furniture. The free-born citizen of the States laughs at the aristocratic restrictions imposed on smoking in England, where, on board of the numerous steamboats thatply on the Thames, conveying the pride of the city to Gravesend and Margate, no smoking is allowed abaft the funnel, and where, in public-houses ashore, no gentleman is permitted to smoke in the parlor before two o'clock in the afternoon. A pipe of tobacco, or a cigar, after a day's hard exercise, whether mental or bodily, and after the cravings of hunger and thirst are appeased, may be fairly ranked amongst the most delightful and most harmless of all earthly luxuries. It fills the mind with pleasing visions, and the heart with kindly feelings. A hard-working laborer, smoking by the side of his hearth at night, presents a perfect picture of quiet enjoyment. I see him now in my mind's eye. He is seated in an old high-backed, cushionless arm-chair, but an easy one, nevertheless, to him, who from dawn till sunset, has been engaged in ploughing, thrashing, ditching, or mowing. With one leg thrown over the other, he quietly reclines backward, and with an expression of perfect mental composure, he gazes on the smoke that ascends from his pipe. There is a sentiment-exciting power[64]in the smoke of tobacco when perceived by the eye, as well as a pleasing sedative effect when inhaled; and those smokers who have any doubt of the fact should take a pipe with their eyes closed. A person who smokes with his eyes shut cannot very well tell whether his cigar is lighted or not. How soothing is a pipe or a cigar to a wearied sportsman, on his return to his inn from the moors! As he sits quietly smoking, he thinks of the absent friends whom he will gratify with presents of grouse; and, in a state of perfect contentment with himself and all the world, he determines to give all his game away. Full of such kindly feelings, he retires to bed; but, alas, with day-light, when the effect of the tobacco has subsided, the old leaven of selfishness prevails, and his good intentions are abandoned. 'Mary,' said an old Cumberland farmer to his daughter, when she was once asking him to buy her a new beaver, 'why dost thou always tease me about such things when I'm quietly smoking my pipe?' 'Because ye are always best-tempered then, feyther,' was the reply. 'I believe, lass, thou's reet,' rejoined the farmer; 'for when I was a lad, I remember that my poor feyther was just the same; after he had smoked a pipe or twee he wad ha' gi'en his head away if it had been loose.'"
The following ode to a Cigar is no doubt familiar to many, yet will pay a re-perusal: