Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-05
LOADED WITH DEADLY DRUGS.
All Sorts OF Poisons for Cigars To Suit
The Smoker.

"Tm sorry. sir" said the tobacco dealer. "but
haven't got another cigar Of the brand you've
been buying lately in stock. Sold the last one
this morning. and don't expect to have any
more in until the first Of next week."
Good gad!" exclaimed the customer; "you
don't say sol"
"Fact, sir; but here's something equally good
In an Havana filler, at the same price,"
81 don't want anything else; I've sort O. got
used to the old kind and no other cigar seems
to fill the bill any more. The last box of them I
bought here went to smoke inside of a week
and must have some more of the same brand
today or bust. I'll try elsewhere"
The shop keeper looked after the man as he
went out with grin, and then. turning to q
STAR reporter, who had come in for q pack
age OF cigarettes. said: That's another of emu
Another Of what?" inquired the newspaper
man, llstlessly striking q match beneath the
edge OF the counter.
''DRUGGED TOBACCO FIENps."
"New to me. What are they?"
"I'll tell you contidentially," said the dealer.
ats a solemn fact that about half the domestic
cigars sold nowadays are dragged with one
thing or another. Morphine, choral and all
sorts OF 'nerve-soothing' stuff are used for the
purpose, but most Of all valerian. These pol
sons. in combination with the tobacco produce
q very agreeable effect; but of course they create
a necessity for more, and pretty soon the
smoker, say, Of valerlan-loaded brand finds
that no other cigar suits him. So he goes ahead
taking the poison in this way, without knowing
it. until he is a slave to the valerlan vice. OF
course you know what an awful hold that par
ticular drug soon gets upon man and what an
"valerian. you say. is used more than any
other kind of pOison?"
"Yes 1t is the favorite drug for cigars. II
acts very pleasantly upon the nerves. and the
man who has to work hard with his brain finds
that it rests him. Besides, It has an effect Pc
cularly its own as an antldote for alcoholic
poisoning. The tippler who has been spreeing
over night finds that nothing sobers hi N up so
quickly as q cigar indicated with it."
"And how is the drug put into the cigars,
prayi"
HOW CIGARS ARE LOADED.
'That is very simple. solution il made OF IL
of the proper strength, and the workman, be-
fore rolling the cigar. sprinkles few drops of
it over the tobacco leaves. The latter are rolled
into shape, and YOUR weed is ready loaded"
care not these drugs expensives"
"Rather; but very little Is required for each
cigar. and the Investment pays. In this way,
you see, each manufacturer retains his custom.
ers by creating a special vice which his own
goods alone eau satisfactorily supply. That man
WHO lelt Tue SuOp JUST alteI you came In rs one
of the hends. he has been smoking brand Of
cigar which, think, is loaded with muriate of
cocaine. That IL the latest ingredient. Won
know. And now he finds that nothing else sat-
isles the craving. Bad, isn't it, Bot I've got
to sell all these brands Of cigars that are on the
market or else 60 out Of the business. can't
AFFORD to have my customers go to the place
across the street because they don't nnd what
they want here. Poisoned cigars are what the
people wish TO buy, and must supply the de-
mand or 60 bankrupt"
lis this cocaine that you speak Of particularly
dangerOus?"
Physicians say Il 10. I've heard that Il comes
In the shape Of leaves from Peru, where such
leaves are chewed BY the natives for the won
derful powers Of endurance that the Juice gives.
About six years ago, I've understood, 1t vas dis
covered that this juice. applied TO any portion
OF the body, would render that portion inseu-
sible TO pain. Il used to be worth dollar q
drop then; but now it's comparatively cheap.
Cocaine has al sorts Of surprising usss; bat its
. dreadful habit to acquire A little OF u In .
cigar braces the amoksr up asteaishinglG V