Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-08
LTC0RTCE IN TOBACCO.
who Discovered the Secret and How II Was

1
|
Done.
Our contemporaries and correspond
ents have been agitating this old ques-
ton again, and for the benefit Of all
concerned the following story, which
may be relied on, is published. 1t is
kindly loaned from the scrap-book Of
an esteemed friend, and appeared
originally in the Baltimore Ecening
| News. II was afterwards copied into
the Danyille News, from which the clip
ping was made. Here is the story:
In an excerpt from the Reidsville
| IN. CO. Times, published in the Ne~s
Of yesterday, the question was asked,
"Who was the first manufacturer of
sweet tobacco?" In reply it was
stated that Jesse Hare, Of Lynchburg,
first used licoriee. Such, according to
an old tobacconist of this city, turns
out to be incorrect--a Baltimorean,
Mr.. William Abbott, having prior
claim of the invention, and from whom,
indirectly, Mr.. Hare obtained his in
formation. The story may not be
without interest to the masticators Of
the weed.
Nearly half century ago William
Abbott kept tobacco-store on south
Broadway between Lancaster and Alice
anna streets. lie did a very successful
business in q small way and had good
run Of custom. For years he expert
mented to produce manufactured to-
bacco which would become popular and
palatable, and at length succeeded in
making the desirable article. His brand
became favorably known, and there was
a great demand for it, but he was one
Of the old, slow-but-sure-going persons
who was content to move along in the
ordinary groove and supply his favorite
friends with the sweet morsel.
Mr.. Jesse Hare was then sending his
tobacco from Lynchburg, Va. lie had
seen some of Abbott's manufactured to-
bacco and longed to get possession Of
the secret, as he knew there was money
in it. Through William Head, q COM
mission merchant, to whom Hare con-
signed his shipments, negotiations were
opened to start company with Alb
bolt, Mr.. Head offering to furnish
enough money to put up hundred
presses. Abbott had but two.
The negotiations fell through, Abbott
being satisfied to keep his secret and
small monopoly to himself.
One day when Hare was in Baltimore
he was seated in Walter Monkeys to-
bacco-store, which was on the other
side of Broadway, nearly opposite that
Of Abbott's. Monkey" said Hare,
" l wonder what the old man [mean-
ing Abbott puts in his tobacco"
IL don't KNOW" replied Monkey.
alt sells like -" said Hare.
"GOes like blazes,' returned Mox-
ley.
"How can we find it outs"
Analyze it," suggested Monkey.
Good idea Here, boy, 60 over to
AbbOtt's and get half pound of his
sweet tobacco"
The boy was given levy-tobacco
was worth but twenty-five cents a
pound in those days--and. in a few min
utes returned with long, fiat piece Of
manufactured tobacco.
Mr.. Hare placed the cake on his
knee and with sharp knife cut it
leDgthwise and crosswise like a check
er-bOard. Then bending it so as to get
at the interior of the plug, he began
picking at it with the point Of the knife,
which he carried to his mouth to taste.
Mr.. Aoxley watched the operation,
and presently detected black speck
about the size of grain of wheat.
What's thaty" he exclaimed.
Down went the knife /; back again to
the mouth. Hare let his tongue beat
tattoo for moment on the roof of his
mouth as he tasted the particle of the
black speck, when he cried out " I've
got it, by -"
With that the speck was removed
and laid on the counter. The knife cut
it in halves, Hare taking one part and
Monkey the other. "Licorice !" came
simultaneously from the pair.
YES" said Hare, "and the old man
forgot to strain the water"
Monkey became no gamer by the dis
coyery, but Hare went to his home, be-
gan his operations, and in a few months
his sweetened tobasco found its way
over nearly all Of the United States.
Hare grew prosperous rapidly, and in
ftw vCars amas,ed fortuna.
Walter Mexley is the only one Of tho
persons mentioned now living. lie still
carries on his trade at the corner Of
Broadway and lancaster streets, few
doors from the old store whore the
secret Of making sweet tobacco was
given TO he worl. o. Do,srsne y ~.
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