The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-05-26
MURPHY BUYS A CIGAR
BY ALEX. SWEET.

Kosciusko Murphy is philosopher, He is always lnoralizing, even when engaged in making purchases. He sauntered into an Austin tobacco store. The lady in charge of the cigar department said:
 "You wish to purchase some ci- gars2"
 "Yes, mum, if you please"
 "Do you want an imported cigar?"
 "It is with cigars as it is with peo- pie. Have you never noticed how the imported article, no matter how inferior it may be, is preferred to the native article, no matter how good it may be? Just so with human nature. The wealthy American young lady has no use for the sturdy native. She prefers to wed some wretched Count De Vermecelli, or some other foreign adventurer. No imported cigar TOT me. l am a native born American, although I am often mistaken for an English lord in disguise"
 "Do you prefer light cigar?" she asked paying no attention to his rig marble, for she was thinking of busi- ness.
 "Ah, how little you dream of what tender recollections you call up within my bosom. My first love was a blonde-a Colorado Maduro sort of a girl, but more Colorado than Maduro. Some people said she had red hair. We loved with the pure, unselfish love -"
 "Did you say I looked like herr" she asked, somewhat interested.
 "No, but you reminded me of her when you spoke of light cigars. She was one of the light sort. She ran off with the clown of a circus. How much is true love like cigar. When once lit, it should be kept burning to the bitter end; but that is rarely the case except in Chicago. Neither true love nor good cigar should be al- lowed to go out. Lighting cigar a second time reminds me of second marriage, or boarding house hash warmed over. The genuine flavor is conspicuous by it's absence"
 ''Here is brand of cigars that is the best in the market. only show these to men who know and appreciate a good cigar," she said taking some more cigars out of the show case.
 "Thanks," he said, taking up one of the cigars and examining it critically. "You are quite right in showing these good cigars to people who know how to appreciate them. How frequently good men and good cigars get into the hands of men who do not comprehend the value of the jewel in their posses sion. These ignorant throw aside the man or the cigar of whom they are not worthy, and perhaps crush out with their heels the last spark of genius. have had that happen to me forty times, until I have got so that I rather relish being trampled under foot"
 "Perhaps you had better take box of these?" she said, rather impatiently, "for -"
 "Ah, once indeed there was time "a happy, halcyon period in my ex- istence-when bought my cigars by the box, but that day has fled, never to return. The philosopher has to take back seat in these modern days. You never hear of philosopher get ting salary of $5,0O0 a year, but that's what baseball pitchers get" and he sighed heavily.
 "1'd like to get you a cigar that suited you. How do you like this sor,2" she said, slamming another box down on the counter with considera- ble violence.
 "That cigar reminds me of many friends that were once proud to take me by the hand in the days of my prosperity. They have beautiful, genuine Havana wrapper outside, but inside they are filled with cabbage leaves, pieces of old leather, and other de6'Ts. How many men with pol ished manners are scoundrels at heart? How often -"
 "Do you wish a cheaper sort?" she asked, snapping her eyes.
 "If you please" he said, calmly.
 "How would dozen of these for 6 quarter dop"
 "Twelve is indeed mystic number. There are twelve months in the year. There were twelve peers of France, twelve apostles, but I am afraid of the number twelve. It is SO near thirteen, which is an unlucky number. One cigar will answer my needs at present." said Kosciusko.
 "One?"
 "Yes, one cigar"
 "Why didn't you say so before?"
 "Because I did not wish to act rashly. Man is a thinking animal. Wherein would we differ from the beast of the field if we did not think before we spoke?"
 He bit off the end of the cigar and, holding it between his teeth, began to