Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-01
GROWTH OF CIGAR HABIT
A REVIVAL OF THE OLD-FASH.
TONED CHERooTS.
Women as Smokers-opposition to
the igarette-Hard to In
troduce New Brands.
From the London Tribune.

From the London Tribune.
According to the testimony of several
merchants, the last two years have wit
messed steady. if not sensational. re-
vival in the cigar trade. To account for
this would be difficult, because these fluc-
tuations in most trades are periodical.
and apparently work on the principle of
the political pendulum. swinging each
way in turn. However. there is no doubt
that the cigar has powerful advocate in
the medical profession. who in many in
stances are never tired of trying to per-
suade their patients to relinquish cigar
cites. In this way many people are turned
to cigars and once the practice is ac-
quired it becomes permanently.
A man who has settled down to par
ticular brand of cigar will obstinately re-
fuse TO admit any sense of deterioration
in its quality. In this way the promoters
of new brands have frequently difficulty
to establish market: a difficulty which,
allowing that their cigars are of first
rate quality, they should not experience.
The cigar smoker should remember that
in cigars, as In everything else under the
sun, the manufacturers are always learn
ing something.
Another revival in the cigar trade Is the
return of the old-fashioned, broad pointed
cheroot-slaped cigar into popularity. This
is "a good sign. There never has been
at least to the present writer's think
ing-a more ideal shape for the cigar. 1t
draws easily from the first Whit. and is
entirely satisfying. Thirty to forty years
ago this practically the only shape
known. 1t was almost unchallenged in
the market. The old prints and pictures
that depict the swell of the period" al
ways show him with broad-sha ped
cigar. George Leybourne sang most of
his comic songs with one stuck in the
corner of his mouth, and so did Vance
Louie Sherrington had at least one song
that dealt with the woes of a "dashing
young belle" who tried to smoke a cigar
Leybourne's vogue had practically ended
when the cigarette began to appear as "A
feature in music hall songs. For time
the cigar quite dropped out OF the caicu-
latons of our light lyric writer's. Now
however. 1t is returning to recognition
and popularity.
Snuff Taking.
At the same time, it is noticeable that
we cannot observe any considerable re-
vival in snuff taking-a fact, perhaps. not
to be regretted. In the west country. of
course. the habit still obtains to great
extent, and snuff boxes are as common
today in the. streets of Bristol as they
were forty years ago. But the habit is
a purely local one and shows no signs
of again spreading over the entire coun-
try.
1t may be doubted whether women
smoke quite so generally as was the Gus
tom decade ago. But those who do still
indulge in the cigarette do SO now from
taste and inclination. In the days when
the new woman as we used to call her
was indulging in every extravagance to
assert her title to be recognized as
free. independent and emancipated crea-
ture, many undoubtedly smoked simply
as a symbol or external manifestation of
their freedom. The woman who smokes
today does SO for the much simpler and
far more valid reason that she enjoys it.
In this connection 1t may be noted that
the quality of ladies' cigarettes has vast
ly improved. In the old days the manu-
facturer seemed to aim at nothing but
external delicacy and prettiness. The to-
bacco was frequently of a relatively poor
description, some very tasteless, some
very hot. At the present time one notices
a great change. Poor tobacco is not Of
garettes-witness the my Darling" va
riety-are daintier and prettier than ever.
We have not yet seen lady's cigar.
There were some rumOrs about five years
ago limiting that one was going to be
put on the market but the idea never
materialized
Manners of Smokers.
AS rule smokers show good manners.
but there are some fragrant exceptions
to this rule. The man who expectorates
on omnibuses and tramcars, who filings
his cigarette and cigar ends on to ladies'
dresses, and who calmly sits on the front