The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-02

at 10 cents apiece, but the amount of
true Havana tobacco in them will
be doubtful The Cuban smoker would
question the quality of a good deal of
this tobacco sold to-day. and he would
unhesitating pronounce IL as q libel
upon his favorite brand.
The fact Is. most of the tobacco sent
from Havana to the United States Is
called Havana. but the best tobacco
Havana known as Vuelto Abajo. This
is the genuine article. All the rest Is a
mere imitation of this in flavor and Is
not whit superior to the Florida or
Connecticut tobacco. Even in the Nuel-
to Abajo district the quality varies
greatly on the plantations. The Gu
bans are splendid judges of tobacco.
and they will pay as high prices as
any people for their special brand A
great deal of the finest Havana to-
bacco is consequently consumed right
at home. 1t Is not uncommon to see CT
gars marked at so cents and 81 apiece
and many Of them are packed sepa-
rately In glass tubes to preserve their
delicate odor. These same cigars sell
at 81 apiece in the United States, and
1t takes a millionaire ITO indulge in them
very often.
The Cubans are inveterate smokers
They smoke everywhere except in
church--in the streets. in the houses
and public halls, before ladies and at
the theater and opera. 1t is a rare
thing TO see one smoking a pipe. Cigars
and cigarettes are everywhere in the
mouth. The young lad of 10 is a vet
eran smoker. and his mother and sis
ters know the flavor of the best brands
OF cigarette tobacco. 1t seems quite
essential to happiness in this quiet.
warm, lazy island TO smoke and the
clouds of smoke roll UP into the hazy
air in all directions.
In testing tobacco a standard OF
taste must be established and the Gu
pan experts have an unwritten law
concerning this. In the first place. the
tobacco must have a peculiar odor. not
too strong nor too Indifferent. At lit
tie variation either way they will con-
denim the tobacco. The next thing Is to
taste the flavor. A cigarette is hastily
made out of II and the smoke inhaled.
Here. too the standard of quality is in
defnable. but nearly all experts agree
upon the same brand. The expert also
examines the ashes to see how firm
they are and how long the tobacco will
retain IRE. A cigar that goes out at
uhe slightest provocation or neglect is
not made of the best tobacco. A fine
III Havana cigar can be laid down for
nearly five minutes and be picked up
again hShteu ana ready Tor smoking.
A cheap cigar goes out quickly. and IL
spells any cigar to go out. II never
has the same flavor after being lighted
the second time.
In making tobacco into cigars in Ha-
vana the climate has great deal to do
with the retention OF the flavor. Be-
fore being shipped to the United States
1t must be resweated, owing to our diff
ferent climate. Good tobacco can be
kept longer in Cuba than anywhere
else In the world without losing any of
It's delicate flavor. Many American CT
garmakers understand their trade fully,
as well, IL not a little better. than the
Cubans, but the climate is Against
them, and no artificial aids can quite
overcome this.
Cigarettes are smoked by the women
In great numbers, and they are made
out or strong Cuban tobacco, untinc-
tured by any other weed They roll
them deftly with dainty fingers and
curl the clouds of smoke as COM
placently as man. The Cuban lady
smokes as well as the negro woman.
the latter, though, by preference. Sc
lecting the big, long, black cigars. while
the former confines herself to the
dainty cigarette and cheroots. The
negro woman smokes boldly in the
street. but the beautiful senorita does
her smoking behind closed blinds or in
her dainty hammock