The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1897-11-05
FACTS ABOUT CIGARS.

Information as to Size and Shape
Given by the Name.
81 am often astonished and some
times amused at the ignorance dis
played by the average smoker in regard
to the meaning of the various names
applied to CIGARS" said large dealer
to a Star reporter. For instance,
frequently hear men laud Perfectos to
the skies, as though the word perfectos
were name signifying quality. Only
the other day customer told me that
a Perfecto which 1 had sold him was
not genuine because it was altogether
different in flavor from one he bought
of me week or two ago. How alb
surd such statement was will be plain
to you if you understand the real sig
niication' of cigar names.
1.-The word perfectos is used in the
trade to designate the peculiar shape
of such cigars. Workmen get more
for making them than for forming
others, as it requires a skillfuI hand
to roll the material into the perfecto
shape. For this reason a perfecto
necessarily costs more to manufacture
than a cigar of the same tobacco, but
less difficult to make. But as far as the
word goes it is used in trade only to,
indicate the shape of the cigar, which
is fairly long, biglbellied and usually
dark in color
Besides words used to designate the
shape, we have words which refer to
size. Such words as fnas, grandes. Of
the terms applied to shapes, 1 may cite
Trabucos, Londres, Conchas, Reina Vic
torias, egalias-these words being
plurals. The language, you see, is
Spanish, and the names were first ap-
piled by the Cubans. Words which in
dictate size and shape are Infantes and
Coquitas, applied to tiny cigars, Prin-
cesses and Elegantes. Figaro is Shape
between Coquita and Concha Irwin,
chile is, perhaps, the largest cigar of all.
though perfectos are made that have az
much tobacco in them as the Irwin
chile.
"The panatella is about two-thirds as
long as an ordinary lead pencil, with
almost the same diameter throughout.
Combinations of size and shape are in.
dicated by such names as Corchas,
Finas, Concnas Specials. Londres
Grandes, so that in two words you have
the shape and size of the cigar.
''In choosing cigars the majority OF
smokers know very little about am
particular brand beyond the one they
are in the habit of smoking. This Sc
lection is usually made from expert.
ence. Outside of this the choice is
purely haphazard, and by the looks of
the cigar, limited by price. Half the
time a dealer offers such a customer
what experience has taught him his
patron will like. For instance. a man
comes into my store and looks help
lessly in a showcase, saying: 4 want
medium cigar, imported, about two
for quarter. or Is cents straight He
may add fresh or Seasoned but he
usually takes what is offered him.
"This indecision enables the unscru-
pulous dealer to sell such Gus
toner a cigar costing half a cent or a
cent less than another cigar which is
retailed at the same price. There are
really but about 20 brands of imported
cigars in demand, and half as many
domestic. The long glass cases full of
open boxes which one sees in big cigar
stores are merely for show. The CT
gars commonly called for are displayed
in a four-foot case. Consequently the
counters and cases running dowA tho
entire length of some cigar stores only
serve to confuse the purchaser. The
cigars in such display are merely rep
etitions. Stands. of course. differ ac-
cording to the nature of the AVERAGE
customer, but case that will hold half
a dozen brands will reasonably cover
the demand of any retailer" -Washing
ton Star
a Sure Indication