Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-03-01
OIaARs AND sMOxBRg IN CUBA.
ZION washInaton RvenInr star.

l ohuukluN III CuufCu. lbS ABOUT the
only place where he does not smoke.
He smokes IN the street cars, ne
smokes at the public dining table,
he smokes everywhere. The presence
OF women is not considered at ALL.
When coffee is brought on the table
the Spanlard or Cuban lights his cigar
or cigarette and begins to send up
clouds Of smoke. He never even thinks
OF saying to the ladies: "By your
leave" for the custom Of the country
is to smoke everywhere. On the rail-
way trains there is no smoking COM
partment, for a man is privileged,
and, in fact, expected to smoke every
where. II he is not smoking, his
neighbor will offer him a cigarette.
The driver of your coach will smoke
and very lllielYOlTer you a cheroot. At
the opera the men will walk and smoke
between the acts in the spaces behind
the boxes and balconies. You will see
fnely-dressed, seemingly swell-dressed
men, with ladies in full evening toilet,
entering the theatre and smoking as
they 60. You never see a pipe in
Cuba. 1t is the country OF the cigar
and cigarette. One OF the odd sights
to stfanger is that afforded By the
negro women, who smoke big, long
and black cigars in the street. 1t was
here that the smoking habit, which
has spread around the world, had its
start, and the Cubans are still more
devoted TO their cigars than any other
people The cigar industry aud the
tobacco trade give employment to a
large portion OF the population Of
Havana. In every quarter one will
run across small establishments where
from two to ten men are employed
making cigars, and some children and
women engaged in stripping tobacco.
There are many large factories, em-
ploying, some of them, several hun
dred men and women. Some OF
these factories make cigarettes as
well Us cigars, The cigarettes are
made out of strong Cuban tobacco,
but have the negative virtue of being
pure, untlnctured tobacco. In every
house or office building the porter,
who sits in the en- ,resol, is engaged all
day long in rolling cigarettes. lie has
a little table in front of him, where
the tobacco and paper are spread out,
and be is constantly at work. In this
way the porter adds to his income. A
vast Quantity of cigarettes are smoked
here, as we'll as cigars When the
Cuban is not smoking cigars he is
smoking cigarettes.
1t is not to be supposed that all the
cigars made or smoked in Havana are
fine cigars. The best tobacco comes
from one district near Havana known
as Vuelto AbajO, and the quality Of
that often varies on different planta-
lions and in different seasons. Much
tobacco is raised in other districts
which is not of a superior kind, and
has not the rich flavor that makes
fine Havana cigars sought after 10 all
parts Of the world. a good deal,
probably most Of the very highest
grade tobacco, is secured for the
makers Of famous brands Of cigars in
Havana.
Some Of the owners Of big cigar fac
tories have plantations Of their own
and options on the product of other
plantations famed for the quality of
their leaf. But many of the cigars
sold here at low price are just as
rank as any ever produced in the
United States, and worse, because
they are stronger. One cannot get a
very pleasant impression from a visit
to cigar factory. In the large fac
tories the plumbing and sanitary ar
rangements are unusually bad, and
the buildings are filled with bad odors,
which, mingling with that Of the to-
bacco, have anything but a pleasing
effect. Two or three hundred men
will be at work 10 poorly ventilated
room that does not afford proper
breathing space for more than hum
dred. Neatness and cleanliness are
not conspicuous characteristics, either
OF the men at work rolling cigars or of
the hundreds Of girls and children en-
gagged in stripping tobacco. II one
wants to thoroughly enjoy fine Ha-
vana cigar, if he has ever visited one
OF the factories he will have TO obliter-
ate the memory Of the visit from his
mind.
The 6ne grade Of cigars sell at re.
tail in Havana for less than half the
price enc would have to pay In the
United States. That is, one will buy
Bnoklen's Arniea saIve.
The best salye in the world for cuts,