The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-01-20
GEN. SCOTS FAyoRITE FlNE-Cur.
Now Whim Lead to the Use of TfnfoiI
Wrappers for Tobacco.
". Y. Sun.

4
| John Anderson made his fortune mainly
from brand of fne-cut chewing tobacco
called Solace, which was first produced when
"plug" was the popular form of chewing
tobacco. Solace has made other fortunes
beside Mr.. Andersons. The millionare to-
bacconist was fond of recalling the history
Of this brand, and it made all interesting
tale.
| Thirty or more years ago he kept little
tobacco shop in Wall street, close to Broad
way. IL was so small that three men could
not move freely before the counter,'yet it was
haunted by the conspicuous men about town.
General Winfield Scott, Colonel Monroe, son
Of the President; Mr.. Williams, the trans
lator of Eugene Sues works; Park Benja-
min, of whom Mr.. Anderson used 10 say that
I" he was editor Of more papers than there
were streets in that ward )" &. Edwa ards Les
ter, who wrote The Glory and Shame of
England" aud many of the fops, the mer-
chant princes, aud the politicians of the me-
tropolis were among the frequent visitors
there. Snuff.taking was universal then, and
many of the young men felt privileged to go
| behind the counter and mix the snuff TO suit
themselves.
One day General Scott asked why IL was
not possible to obtain a special brand of
chewing tobacco better than that which was
| In general use, and of course at higher cost.
John Anderson replied that it was possible,
if they would pay to have the tobacco spe,
cixlly manufactured.
"How can 1t be done?" asked General
Scott show can you make tobacco better
than tobacco?"
"rll tell you how" Mr.. Anderson repliei,
aud then he addressed Colonel Monroe, add
ing: "And you, Colonel, will unders and
me, because you are familiar with tobacco.
You know that the top leaves Of the tobacco
plant are always the finest, just as the fruit
on the south side of = tree is always better
than that on the other side. Well, | would
use none but the top leaves, and those |
would treat with special care. You know
that the tobacco leaf Is always rid of the
central stem, woody, fbrons stock contain
in2 properties that do not exist elsewhere in
the leaf. iwould not only take out that
backbone, but would carefully cut out all
the smaller ribs leading from 1t. | would
brush each leaf to rid it of foreign PARTICLES;
aud all through The process Of preparation
would use the utmost care without sparing
expense"
The military men ordered this special
brand made, and it was not long before 1t
became the standard tobacco among the Off
GERS of the army, and thence il became
known to the public generally. 1t was
packed in big jars, which General Scott or
dered, and emptied rapidly, for he was an
inveterate chewer.
"As IL was mainly the fancy that they were
paying more than Others could afford that
General Scott and Colonel Monroe dwelt
upon," said Mr.. Anderson, last sum mer, :"
the fashion of chewing the new tobacco, by
charging handsome price,"
At this time chewing tobacco was put mp
in paper wrappers. This was bad for il. In
dry place IL crumbled into fine dust. In
= damp place Ii became musty. The M~xi-
can war broke out, and General Scott was
ordered to the command Of the troops in ac
tion. He was a very big man, very gorgeous
in dress and very imposing in his manners,
and Mr.. Anderson recalled the fact that all
these characteristics became immeasurably
aggravated when the big chieftan stopped at
the doorway of the little tobacco shop and
made his way In. What with his high cha
peau and higher plume, bis widespread epau-
let's and his ratting sword, be always seemed,
as wit Of the day put 1t, to be i'm the mys-
terious position of those ships that ingen-
ious trifers build in wine bottles to excite
curiosity as to how they go in or out.
"Anderson," said the General, al have
got to 90 to Mexico directly. You are an
ingenious and an inventive man. l want
you to suggest some way of packing chewing
tobacco so that it will keep. can't 60 lug
ging that forty thieves jar around Mexico
with me, and / must have some means of
packing small quantities of tobacco in my
saddle bags"
How would India rubber do?" queried
Mr.. Anderson.
at wouldn't do at ALL" the General re-
piled, - the smell of ii would get into the
tobacco"
"Bladders," suggested the tobacconist
show would bladders do?"
"No, d. the bladders," replied the Com
mander-in-chief; 81 see too much of blad-
ders in the army. Whisky is smuggled in to
the men IN bladders, which the women COLI
ceal about them. Bladders won't do"
Mr.. Anderson thought 1t over and tried
tinfoil. General Scott was delighted. He
took packing box full of the little oblong
packages. Down in Mexico the people in
the Commissary Department broke open the
box, and General Scott had only what he
had put in his saddle bags. He wrote .
characteristic note to Mr.. Anderson, saving
that he was thankful for plenty Of whisky,
but wretched for want of tobacco. lie or
derad three cases sent to as many Mexican
cities, so as to be sure Of tobacco wherever
he might be. While the war went on the
proprietors of the City Hotel sent word that
they wanted to put on sale some of the to-
baccn General Scott was using, and thus be-
gan the distribution of tinfoil parcels Of tine-
cut.
But Mr.. Anderson was troubled for name
to give to The new brand. One day Mr..
Williams, the English literateur who trans
lated Eugene Sues books, happened along,
and Mr.. Anderson coniided his trouble to
him. Williams laughed al Mr.. Anderson
for porting over the dictionary, and hastily
wrote down dozen worsis, the first of which |
was Solace." g That Is the. vord," said
the tobacconIst; adding, . won't look at
any other.'
Whsn General Scott returned to New
York, be found John Anderson In a big and