The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-05-16
WOMAN AND CIGARS.
BY VICTOR A. HERMANN.


porium sighted her steelgray paddock
in the doorway they all edged away
from the counter and appeared to be
suddenly interested in the oriental
Autographs that came with the Egyp.
tian cigarettes
| Il would like to look at some eli.
CARS, she announced, as she placed
her shopping bag on the glass case.
4 want TO make little present to my
husband"
Yes, ma'am.' responded the young
clerk with a low bow. "What-er--is
his favorite smoker"
How is that?'
Il mean does your husband prefer a
mild, medium or strong clgar?"
Il think he likes strong ones Some
Of those he smokes after supper are
SO strong that the neighbors ask If we
are burning leaves in the back yard :"
III m They must be strong. How
would these suit him"
The clerk drew u box from the show
case and displayed a row or handsome
cigars, each bundle embellshed with
4 yellow ribbon
Il like the pretty ribbon" said the
Fair customer, slowly examining the
cigars with her gloved finger but
tont like the color of the tobacco. Be
sides, there are horrid yellow spec1s
on them
The clerk repressed a smile
Nv I,l
you know that those little spots are
just what connoisseurs look for?"
No never heard of such a thing |
believe the cigars have been damaged
Show me another box
The obigng clerk reached for an.
other brand and opened the box on
the showcase
Here is something fine he began
But the prospective purchaser shook
her head
1T is no use to show me those
don't like the picture on the inside OF
the cover"
The clerk smiled and reached for
another box.
Well how about this make? Sure
ly the picture pIeases you this time.
1t represents an old Cuban fort by
You can take it off with warm
water and use it to decorate a screen,
There was a remote possibility that
the fastidious customer may have de |
cided on the old Cuban fort" brand |
had she not glanced at the end of the |
BOX. But she did glance and all the |
'uave cigar clerks in town could not |
have made her purchase those cigars
1T is no use she said firmly 4 |
see it with my own eyes"
See what, ma ann asked the mys.
flied clerk.
why, the word Colorado You |
lnow that Havana cigars should not |
De made in Colorado / suppose you |
hink women are green at buying |
'igars."
But madam"
ut is no use of trying to convince
ne that those cigars were not made
n Colorado Why, isn't there the
lamp on the box? Why don't you try
o sell me some that were packed up
n Connecticut and then claim that
hey are imported from Porto Rico?"
The clerk sighed He collected the
pen boxes and placed them back in
he glass case.
Il am sorry" he said in pepperish
ones. that we don't seem TO have
NY cigars suitable for your husband
1 f.n ton |
moker."
The overpartcular patron did not
eply to this hidden thrust, She
wept up and down in front of the
1ng glass cases and minutely exam
ned every box display Suddenly shf
ointed her slender finger toward
)ne box with an expression of tri
mph.
There Is what want" she cX
laimed Those real long ciga~s. ]
now they are just the kind thai
Ienry smokes He will be tickled &c |
cath IL | present him with hex Of
hose"
The clerk followed the direction OF
err finger and then laughed so louo
hat the yellow cat, asleep on The
nuff Jar. awoke with a start.
What is so laugEable?' demanded
he woman in the gray coat rather
harply.
Nothing particular, madam, has
aned the clerk II was jlst thinkins
{ a good joke I heard al the theateI
he other night about woman Sc.
scting cigars for her husband. DC
on really want those
Il certainly do Don't think that
ont know good cigars when | sec
hem. know Henry will compli
tent my judgment as soon as h
mokes the FIRST one. Wrap them mp
lease"
One dollar nine-nine. ma am" he
aid. That's right. Thank you"
She gave him a two-dollar note an
e returned her a copper in change.
And now you admit that | know
about selecting cigars?' she
aid. with a winning little smila.
Il DO. indeed. maa'am. assured the
crk. Very few would have selected
he brand OF smokes that you did