The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-01
THE MARK OF THE STOGIE
An Inference That Awoke Suspicion in the
Minds of Two Men from Pittsburg.

An Inference That AwOke Suspicion In the
Minds of Two Men from Pittsburg.
Il cannot venture To pass on the merits Of the
stogy the tobie, for l never smoked either Of
these peculiar products Of the Ohio at its head
waters" said man who has made himself reason
ably familiar with tobacco in most Of its other
forms But the only time in my life that was
sized up for bunco stecrer was due TO my super
hca acquaintance with the ugly rolls.
Going up the East River one day in the early
summer when there was more than little interest
in the political affairs Of Pennsylvania, found
a seat on the smoking deck in the very bow Of
the boat Shortly after, two men gathered up
their camp stools and sat right behind me- 1t
was easy 10 sec that they were strangers in the
city. They seemed 10 be intelligent mechanics
When the boat was abreast Of Blackwell's Island
ono OF the travellers began 10 point out the vari
ouR buildings, identifying them for his companion
according TO some scheme Of his own. II seemed
unfortunate that 30 much misinformation should
be disseminated, and it was particularly hard
TO bear when the Almshouse was pointed out as
the Sing Sing Stale Prison. and its innocent laun-
dry picked out as the death chamber.
accordingly l set the travellers right
the work OF explanation by, indicating points
and one OF the travellers pulled out several stoges
and offered me a few. apoogized with the
aa ha' ss Esed IN that
81 II the traveller seemed TO think that did not
know what was missing and again offered ne
81 guess you don't know what these are he
said they're genuine tobiee,
AS had seen them bong ht in Pittsburg al the
rate Of dime for a handful was some hat amused
at the suggestion that there mig be tobes which
were not genuine. sui felt that must refuse,
cOmpa Mons what they thought OF Mr. Magee s
prospects .gp ., in the political c9mpicaton
claimed as one Then they seemed beWIIde,ed
and looked at one another with an expression
Of uncertainty. After that they lost their in
terest in the scenery and scarcely answered when
] pointed out some new object Of interest At
last one Of them could contain his emotions no
longer and asked blunt question.
Say, Mister were dead on 10 you and you
can't work any game US, but ' wish you'd
tell us how you done it That's wha, we'd like
W find out
did WHAT asked.
You know what well enough But we've
not farmers II We We're as innocent as You think,
you s,eer US up against some game and first
we'd win and then wed lose and hs, wcnd be
would like to know how you done it
S1 here mi,e made EoT ssIpGIHs no,
the things we're seeing on the banks Of this river
We had no, once mentioned the State Of Pennsyl.
hs P snS Sq IA,
Just like gawks BY this time you know what
our names are and all about us iguess OF course
you found out that We come from Pittsburg and
] don't mind saying that you are right But
how you found out is what gets me
Il did my best TO explain that any man who
smoked stogies and called them tobies must be Il
Pittsburgcr. But IL was no use The men moved
away from so dangerous companion Al inter
walls during the rest OF the trip could see them
casting fuItve glances at me as one would 'Ooli
at dangerous curiosity with which he had he
come familiar in hts reading. The intimate asso-
citation Of the stogy manifestation OF tobacco
with the solitary instance in which had convinced
my fellow man that | was confidence operator
would always spoil any pleasure mig hi get out
OF stogies even were they made Of the most fra,
grant leaf"