Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-29
ABOUT CIGARS.
Common Mistake Corrected-SOme Fa-
vOrite Brands and Their NOmencla-
Yetc York Nelos.

Nelc YORK AelrS.
1t is rather noticeable among a nation
of intelligent smokers like ourselves how
little understood are the marks which in
dictate the several points of cigar. 1t is
not uncommon, for instance, to hear the
offer of a Concha or LOndres in tone
conveying the idea that something of a
very superior quality is offered. 1t is in
stead merely the tender of a cigar of a
certain shape or size, the quality of
which may be anything from prime
Havana to the poorest Connecticut. Or
Madura is presented, which is not made
by Mr.. Madura, but is simply ripe or
daTk-colored cigar.
A very slight knowledge of Spanish
would suffice to render Ineligible the
marks used by the trade.
The brand is, of course, SO called be-
cause it is usually burned on to the
box bv hot iron. 1t is either the name
of the individual proprietor, the manu-
featuring firm, or the special fancy name
given to the factory. In this latter way
the Cubans customarily designate their
retail shops as ''The Anchor" "The
Pearl'' or ala HonradeZ" honesty ], the
famous cigarette establishment of Susini.
Other well-knOwn brands are ''Cabanas
Carbajal" or "Figaro," LA Corona
Antonio Cabafgas, or "Elor del Fumar''
-Barruette's.
Next in order we have the indicators of
style. size and shape, and the terms used
are, as a rule, common to all manufac-
turers. These marks are ordinarily stem
ciled on the front of the box. The best
known and most familiar of these now are
among the Havana makers:
Imperiales-An extra large fancy size,
little used except for presents.
notwithstanding ''perqulslte," "pres-
ent" or ''gift."
Media Regalia-Half regalia, a smaller
cigar.
Regalia del Rey-King regalia-smaller.
Regalia de la Reina-Queen regalia-
smaller Stills
Londres-London, medium size: liked
in England.
Brevas-Short and stout; named from a
variety of the fig much priced in Spain.
Concha-A shell, but the size is named
after Captain General COncha.
There are also various compounded
names, Observation-Disclosures, CoEdres-
COrtes short and others. Among these
shape and size marks there are several
once familiar, but now seldom heard-the
TrabucO (Blunderbuss }, very short and
thick. and. its opposite, the Pamela
Sponge-cake), long and slim; apt to be
hard rolled and difficult to draw on.
Cilindrados and Prensados merely sIgni-
ties that the cigars are in cylindrical or
pressed punches. The indications of
shape, size and style are collectively
called the Vitola accent on second sylla-
ble).
Next in order come the marks of quality
or grade of tobacco. Flor Flower is
usual for the best, or what used to be
called Firsts; SegundO Second, or with
some makers. Superior, for the next; and
the third grade not marked except by a
few makers, who use BuenO Good for
that quality.
These marks are stenciled generally on
one end of the box, while on the other end
the color is named. This is, of course,
expressed by the proper Spanish word,
as
Claro-clear, /. e., light colOred.
ColoradO-literally, red-brown.
Maduro-ripe, mature-dark.
rO-obscure-yery dark.
These again are combined to tit inter-
mediate shade, Colorado-Clara, light
brown: Observation-Disclosures, dark brown.
These guides to color, however, are not
very accurate, as the light brown of one
box may open as dark as the simple brown
of another.
A still lighter color than Claro, but
seldom seen here, is Pajizo, or straw
color: a very mild grade Of the weed for
merly known, think, as Injuriado.
Fashion is tickle in cigars as in other
matters. and the brand or shape in vogue
to-day is out Of favor tomorrow. The
once popular NOrmas and NOrriegas have
disappeared, like the Trabucos, and the
little black Principle of Yara tobacco,
with its snow-white ash, is no longer
known as il was in those days when $50
the thousand was the top price for first
class Havana cigar.