The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-05-13
news FOR SMOKERS,
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT CIGARS THE
DIFFERENT VARIETIES AND PRICES.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT CIGARS-THE
DIFFERENT VARIETIES AND PRICES
1t is strange, among nations of smokers
other than the Cubans or Spaniards, how
little understood are the distinctive marks
by which man ltacturers indicate the
make, shape, size, color, and quality of
cigars. One may frequently hear gentle
men offer Concha, Regalia or Londre,
under the impression that they convey
the idea of some superior brand of espec-
tally fine quality, Instead of this they
only offer cigar ofa certain shape or size,
the quality of which nay be anything
from the finest "Upman" or Carbarga "
to the poorest Connecticut" 0ryou are
offered good Maduro, which is not made
by Mr.. Maduro, but it is simply a cigar
ofa ripe or dark color But to any one
with scant smattering of Spanish, the
various marks used by the trade on cigar
boxes are readily eXplainable. First and
most important of these is, of course, the
brand. so called from being burned on
the box by a hot iron, This is either the
name of the proprietor, manufacturing
firm, or the special fancy name given to
the factory, in accordance with a Cuban
custom which so designates their retail
shops, as, "The Pear" "The Rose of Sc
viile," &c, or as though Ball, Black &
Co.'S establishment were here known as
the Golden Eagle" instead of by their
name.
The brands, then, are either such as
Upman & Co., Carbanay Carbajal, Car
banga q Co., or the well known Figaro"
"Flor del Fuma," (the flower of smoking)
&c, These are the special trade marks
Of the factories indicated.
Next in order comes the indication of
style, I. e., size and shape, and the terms
used are as rule, common to all manu-
faCturers, very few making any designa-
ted size or shape exclusively This mark
is stenciled, usually, on the front of the
box, The best known, the most familiar
to our ears now, are: "Regalia"
the same as our word present org gift-the
largest ordinary size. Media Regalia-a
smaller cigar, dc. Londres, a medium
size for length and thickness, 50 called as
being favOritc size in England Brevas
-named from luscious variety of the
fig grown in Spain. Concha-meaning
a shelf, but really named after the late
Captain General Concha Napoleones
and Imperiales are extra large fancy
sizes, but little used, except for snowy
pre- ents.
Among shape and size marks there are
two, now seldom heard, but no doubt IA
miiar to many readers-the Trabucho
(blunderbus) a short, thick, dumply ci-
gar; and its direct opposite, the Pantela,
Sponge cake) long, slim article, npt to
be hard rolled and difficult to smoke, evil
IDENTIFY the sort referred to by DR.. Holmes
in his "Latter-Day Warnings
when Cuba's weeds have quite forgot
The power ofsuction to resist"
Another indicatoroftae style of cigar,
or, more properly, its style of packing, is
found in two Cilindrados and
Prensados-which may be applied to any
size and shape. The first merely signi- |
ties that they are in cylindrical punches.
rolled in paper OR tied with ribbon; the
second that they are pressed while moist
so as to present two flat surfaces. Next |
in order come the indices of quality, or
grade of )ac Flor flower is now tie |
most usual mark for the best, or what used |
to be called ''frsts;" Segundo Second |
or, with some makers, Superior, for the |
next. Lower grades, known as Thirds |
are not generally: y:narked, although some
use Bueno ("Good') for the quail
ity. These marks are stenciled usually
on one end of the box, while on the other
is the indication of color expressed by |
the proper Spanish word.
These again are combined to fit inter-
mediate shades-as Colorado Clara Clight |
brown Colorado Maduro dark brown |
These guides to color are, however, not
very accurate, as the eight brown of one
box may open as dark as the sample
brown" ofanother.
With these explanations, then, it will
be readily understood that if a friend Of
fers "Regalia del Rey, Carbarga, Colo
RADIO Flor" he tenders a King Regalia,
Brown. First quality, and it is hard to
beat.
Fashion is tickle in cigars as in other
matters, and the brand or shape in vogue
to-day is out of shape tomorrow. The
once popular Normas and Noriegas have
disappeared, like the Trabucos and Pam
telas; and that old favorite the black little
Principe, of fine Yara tobacco, with It's
snow-white ash, is no more seen Of men.
In those days, too, a first class cigar could
be had for thiriy-fve dollars the thou
sand-the good old timesw Eheu fuga-
ces How have the smoky risenl