The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-07-13

little plaza in the Gale de Cuba. 1t is
here that the best cigarettes, popularly
known as Honradez, are manufactured
The exterior of the building, with its
marble columns reminding one of q Geno-
ese palace, is worthy Of attention. At
the grand entrace il the Honradez figure
Of Justice, bearing the famous motto !;
Los hechos me justi6caran-my deeds
will Justify me. But there is much to
be seen within; and az a party Of half 9
dozen ladies and gentlemen are about to
enter, | join them and unite with them
in begging permission Of the proprietor TO
inspect the works One Of the firm soon
appears, and, after polite greeting, kind
ly appoints an assistant to show us over
the manufactory. We are told that every
thing in connection with cigarette making
except the actual growing Of the tobacco,
takes place within these extensive premis-
es and are forewarned that long after
noon is necessary to see everything to our
satisfaction.
Before we begin we are politely request
ed to affx our signature in a ledger provfd-
ed for visitors to the establishment and,
having obeyed copies Of our autOgraphsare
made on slips Of paper, and, by a mechani-
cal contrivance in the wall, these are dis
patched for some mysterious purpose to the
regions above. At the suggestion Of the
cicerone, we follow our names not by the
same means, however, but by q winding
stair case and intricate passages. Before
starting we peep into the engine room to
glance at the steam power which works the
machinery required in the different depart
ments. The first ascent brings us to spa
ciOus store-rooms where loose cigarettes and
those already packed in bundles, are kept.
The walls are literally papered with cigar
cites III wheels, which look like complicated
fireworks. As we move from one wheel to
another we are invited TO help ourselves to.
and test, the different qualities, which some
Of us do in wine-tasting fashion taking
couple Of whiffs from each sample and fling
ing the rest in the dust Further on we
come to a small apartment where the opera
ton Of sorting the labels forenveloping each
packet Of twenty six cigarettes takes place
The labels are fresh from the printers a
workman is standing before a movable ta-
bic, and as this revolves, drops them into
little boxes belonging to their respective
patterns. Each liable is stamped with the
Honrades figure Of Justice, accompanied
ny a NIidIdQcs NCESCyd DlcCC vi uftllCc
music on small scale, an illuminated coat
Of arms, or a monogram pattern for Berlin
woodwork Some are adorned with artistic
designs of a superior order, such as colored
landscapes, groups Of figures, OF photographs
OF eminent person.
Another ascent and we are IN the station
cry department 1t seems odd to examine
large sheets and thick reams Of paper which
we have been accustomed to see only in the
form Of cigarette books or tubes Of small
dimensions A wonderful variety of rice
and other paper is before us. There are
two or three qualities of white and brown
and yellow. Some are lightly tinted as the
complexion Of a half-caste others are
quadroon-hued or Of a yellow brown mu-
lattO color. We ar shown medicated and
scented papers. The first Of these, called
pectoral paper, is recommended by the fac
ulty to persons with weak chests the last
when ign.ted, gives out an agreeable per
fume.
Yes another floor, and we are introduced
into a long chamber with rows Of long
tables, at which hundred Chinese work
men are engaged in counting the already
twisted cigarettes into bundles Of twenty
SIX, and enveloping them in their ornament
al labels OF covers. To accomplish this op-
Grafton with necessary speed, much prac-
tice and dexterity in the handling is requir
ed. The Coolies thousand Of whom are
employed on the establishment-are, how
ever, great adopts at the art. and patient
and plodding as beasts Of burden.
But among the celestials there is one
master hand who distinguishes himself
above all the others by his superior skill
Piles of loose cigarettes and gummed labels
are before him. Into the former he digs
his dexterous fingers, and he knows by the
feel alone, whether he has the prescribed
twentysi within his grasp. By a peculiar
shake he humors the handful into its tubu-
lar form, and with another movement wraps
it lightly in paper cover which he leaves
open at one end and neatly tucks in at the
other. He is so rapid in his work that we
can scarcely follow him with our eyes, and
the whole performance from beginning to
end looks like cOnjuring trick. Our guide
tells us how many thousands Of packets per
day are in this way completed by these use
full coolies.
Arriba Another flight leads TO the pi-
cadura department. where tobacco leaves
aIv prepared for cigarette making The
aspect on all sides reminds us of room in
a Manchester factory. We wade carefully
through maze of busy machinery. There
are huge contrivances for pressing tobacco
into solid cakes hard as brickbats ingeni-
Gus apparatus for chopping said cakes into
various sized grains Of picadura or tobacco
cuttings horizontal and verticle tram
ways for forwarding the latter to their re-
spective compartments. Near us il a win
moving chamber for separating particles Of
dust from the newly cut picrdura. We en-
ter by a spring door, which closes after us
with bang, and everybody is Immediately
seized with a violent hit Of sneezing. Par
ticles Of escaping tobacco dust floats in the
air and tickles our olfactories. We are ac-
tually standing within a huge snuff box
After inhaiing a wholesale pinch Of this
powder, which leaves US sneezing for the
next quarter Of an hour, We Chamber to the
heights of the establishment, and find our
selves IN the printing and paper-cutting de-
partments. Here artists are engaged in
preparing photographic stones and wood
blocks, with various picturesque designs
for cigarette labels. Gildsrs are illuminat-
ing labels, and cutters are shaping paper
| ulCO tHcH Cteo @uu LdDcl SLICES. EuE-
ther on is the printing office where all the
letter-press and lithography required in this
establishment are accomplished. This Is far
from an insignificant item in the manufac-
tory, for, besides the pictorial and letter
press cover belongings, there are the Hon
rsdez advertisement to print circulars,
pamphlets, together with dedicatory dance
music, and an occasional local newspaper
We linger lovingly about this interesting
department, and before we leave, the fore
man Of the printing Office presents each
lady member Of our party with a piece of
Cuban dance music, upon the cover Of which
il printed few words Of dedication, accom-
panied by the lady's own name in full.
Whilst wondering at the magic by which
this mark Of attention has been quietly &C
complished, we descend to the ground floor
and are again met by the courteous propri-