Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-09-14
CIGARETTES.
THERE is NO OPIUM PUT IN THEM
II is the Fumes of the Burning Paper That Hurt the
User-Spanish and Brazilian Girls Expert
in Making and Smoking Them.

The origin of the cigarette is unknown
rs far as | can learn, and the two ear
lest. as well as the most primitive
records of it are found among the Sa-
moan Islanders, who when first known
rolled a few twigs of dried tobacco leaf
in green leaf from tree, lit 1t and
smoked it for Il few whitfS and then
threw it away to roll another; the other
instance is the inhabitants OF Cuba, VINO
when discovered were found TO be
smoking tobacco rolled in dried maize
leaf. The name cigarette was not
evolved until comparatively recent
years, and is derived from cigarros,
which in turn is derived from cigarah,
which name was given by the early
smokers to the practice of smoking, ow-
ing to it generally taking place In a
garden, under the waving trees, and
among the chirping of the graSShopers'
At least so say the CubanS, and they
should know.
The first starting point for the cigar
cite, or small roll of tobacco, Is SAID TO
be in the Pacific islands, where Samoa Is
situated, and that from there it was
transmitted through the Cornean Dykes
and Malays TO Singapore, and thence
through IIindoOStan TO Russia. In Hin
dooStan at the present time the roll OF
Tunkah leaf is still seen in the mouth
of every adult, and in Burmah everyone
smokes them. A maiden presents her
lover with cigarettes and helps MN
smoke them, and every woman Will be
found to have a large or small hole IN
the lobe of her right ear into which she
slips the cigarette or cigar she Is smok-
ing when she wants to use both hands.
1t is no uncommon thing for lovers TO
trade smokes that are half consumed,
and in the bazaar one frequently sees a
girl making purchases remove her cigar
cite from her mouth and hand it to her
escort to keep alight until she Is ready
to receive il again.
In Siam every baby smokes, ana II
one cries while the mother nurses II she
will put the cigarette she is smoking
into its mouth TO quiet it. The child
zen run about naked and so have no
pockets. and il is no uncommon thing
TO see one with a cigarette stuck be-
hind each ear and another in its mouth
as il runs along the street.
1t is strange that the mention of Il
cigarette should naturally be linked
with the thought of Turkey, and that
Turkish cigarettes should be synonym
in the trade, when Turkey manufac-
lures but very few and very poor
cigarettes. and smokes still less. 1t is,
however, beyond doubt wonderful
country for the peculiar grade of leaf
required for the European taste. Aus
tria troubles little about cigarettes, and
although the German is more addicted
to pipes Of volumnouS size and
length, and cigars that are calculated to
lower the rents of property adjacent to
the confirmed smoker Il tremendous
quantity of cigarettes are made, from
the finest down.
The cigarettes of France are night
mare. Words cannot describe them,
although many Americans, eminently
gifted, have done their best. The only
excuse for the nation smoking them is
they cannot get anything better, there
being but two places in Paris where
American cigarettes are sold, and these
are sold at just double their price here.
a Spanish factory is picture, one at
Seville has 25OO girls employed, sitting
i'm rows of twenty each. The room Is
low and a blaze of color. for every girl
has handkerchief round her neck and
a bright flower behind her ear. All
along the walls hang the rich colored
out door dresses, and babel of tongues
run never firing. a married woman is
allowed to bring her baby, and the aiSles
are crowded with cradles which are
rocked with one foot while the two
hands of the mother are busy rolling
cigarettes.
In the very hot weather a bell is rung
before visitors are admitted, and enter
ing one sees twinkling of white arms
and shoulders as matillsS are hastily
thrown ON to hide the great diShabellc
rendered necessary TO secure comfort in
working. They smoke if they wish.
and although they earn only about >
pcsctaS or 80 cents day, they are
merry lot.
The SpaniardS are the most expert
smokers in the world. | have seen a
Spaniard take a heavy pull at his cigar
cite, inhale it, take up "a wine skin, or
wine bottle, pour a half pint down his
throat. holding the vessel foot from
his mouth and not'Spill drop. and then
with sigh of satisfaction close his
ewes. and eXhalc the smoke from nose
and mouth i'm clouds They will also
inhale the smoke, converse for few
in natural manner, and then
blow out the smoke.
In Yucatan, women add children
smoke. and hundredr of girls are en-
ploved In making cigarettes. The bet
ter class of people make their own, and
town, village and city the ladies may be
seen sitting behind the prSon-like graf
ingS of the windows of the houses deft-
ly rolling up tobacco in small piece of
maize huSk and smoking these cigar
cites necessarily, claiming that the
toasting of the maize huSk as it burns
givee a delicate flavor TO the cigarette,
far surprising that of tobacco leaf or
paper. So adept do these people be-
come in the manipulation of the fra
grant roll that it is not unusual to see
a lady fan herself with one hand, and
with the other tear Oil piece of maize
huSk. gather up a portion Of tobacco
and with hand roll it up with a deft,
quick motion and convey it TO their
mouth.
1t is almost impossible to describe
this achievement. The tobacco is gath
cred in a pinch in the palm of the hand,
the huSk being held in the fingers, Il
jerk of the wrist turning the hand under
drops it on the huSk, and the two first
fingers and thumb roll it up. They can
not do the trick at all if they try to do
it slowly. In Brazil the cigarette is also
wrapped in maize huSk and is omni-
present, and a traveller newly landed
and taking ride on a surface car, re-
ceiveS a severe shock when a richly
dressed young lady on a seat in front of
him turns around and asks the loan of
his cigar to light the cigarette she has
rollrd with one hand in the recesSes of
her pocket.
Previous to 1867 we had only the en-
ban make to supply our then very linn
tied wants, but i'm the midwinter Of 1867