The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-02-11
MY FRIENDLY CIGAR"

Cigar and cigarette smoking is very
common in Cuba and the Central Ameri-
can States, where the pipe is only used
by the poorer classes. Stephens says !;
81 am sorry to say that, generally,
the ladies of Central America, not
excepting Guatemala, smoke-married
ladies, puros, or all tobacco; and unmar-
ried, cigars; or tobacco wrapped in pa
per Or straw. Every gentleman carries
in his pocket a silver case, with long
string of cotton, steel and flint, and one
of the Offices of gallantry is to strike
light; by doing it well he may kindle
flame in a lady's heart; at all events, to
do it bunglingly would be ill-bred. [
will not express my sentiments on smok-
ing as a custom for the sex. / have re-
collections of beauteous lips profaned.
Nevertheless, even in this, I have seen
lady show her prettiness and refinement,
barely touching the straw with her lips,
as it were; kissing it gently and taking
it away When gentleman asks lady
for light, she always removes the cigar
from her lips" The 'spuros," mention
ed in the above, is, as its name implies,
a cigar entirely formed Of tobacco. The
papelotos is wrapped in paper, and
sometimes in the thin, dry leaf of maize.
The Spaniards have proverb to this eff
feet; ga paper cigarette, glass OF
fresh water, and the kiss of of pretty
girl, will sustain man for a day with
out eating" When first manufactured
in this country, the filters were of Hav-
ana leaf, while the wrapper was either
Kentucky or Maryland leaf. After
wards, when Connecticut seed leaf be-
gan to be cultivated, Havana filters were
used, while the wrapper was of Americ-
an tobacco, as the Connecticut seed leaf
was then called. At this time the
tobacco was not cured, and was, there
fore, made up without sweating. The
first discovery of the benefit of sweat
leaf is thus described by an old cigar
manufacturer of Connecticut: "Having
a lot of leaf to work up, we put it III one
heap, where most of it remained during
the winter, and late in the spring; on re-
moving the lower part, we noticed that
the leaf had peculiar odor, and no
darker in color than when put in the
heap. When smoked, this leaf had
better flavor, and was less bitter and
rank CT flavor than the other. The idea
occurred that the leaf had undergone
some change by remaining in bulk, and
we thought that it must have heated
which induced us to try the experiment
by boxing it another season. At this
time the finest cigars were imported, but
only small quantity were used when
compared with the vast trade at present
in manufactured and imported cigars.
I England cigars were formerly CLASH
fed INTO white Tobacco Blano) made
from the Havana and Virginia leaf; and
black (Tobaca Negro, made from
Brazilian tobacco. Havana cigars are,
without doubt, the finest made. In
flavor they are unrivaled, while their
general good burning quality makes
them the general favorite of all lovers of
fine cigars. The Havana cigar is well
suited to all tastes, as all havors may be
had from the milder to the strongest.
The leaf burns freely and purely, and
leaves a fine, white, firm ash-one of the
best signs of good cigar. Fairholt
says: ''Havana cigars have been Justly
famed as the finest made. The best
tobacco leaves for their fabrication grow
in the Island of Cuba and the primest
were formerly reserved for the King of
Spain, who used them as presents for
his officials. The finest leaves are care
which are rolled the smaller or torn
leaves. The expectation of leaves IN
manufactured was once forbidden, nor
could the planter manufacture for him
self; he was compelled to give up his
growth to the Government commission
er, who allowed him its value and manu-
featured them in the royal warehouse.
The Havana cigars vary in size and
thickness. One particularly large and
fine kind is to be obtained from the
priests-such being made from the pick
ed leaves which are presented to the
church, and manufactured by the monks
themselves. A smaller kind of excellent
cigars is made for the use of ladies; they
are termed Queens. Straw cigars are
also made here for ladies' use, the straw
being inserted as mouth-piece. A few
years ago they were the only ones smok-
ed In London. but are now seldom seen.
Spanish cigars are those which are
made in the Kings factory at Seville lei
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