Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-01-17
CUBAN CIGAR MAKERS.
While They Work Novels and Newspa
pers Are Read to Them.

peTS Arc nCdO "
A Cuban cigar factory of the best
class Is by no means a stupid place to
work Not only does every cigar max
er have plenty Of light and air. leath-
er covered chair to sit on and the priv
ilege Of keeping on his hat while he
works, but he is entertained meanwhile
with novels and newspapers song and
discussion.
The factory reader sits at the rear
of the workroom enthroned upon an
elevated stand. He Is paid from the
private funds of the cigar makers, the
cost to each man ranging from 10 to Is
cents a week.
This covers the cost Of the books,
novels and newspapers, as we'll as
salary of $39 which is paid the presi-
dent Of the reading committee to make
up for the time he is supposed to lose
from his work while engaged in count
ing votes or making the weekly COL
lection.
According to the Cuba Review and
Bulletin, these readers earn from $40 to
$50 week, reading for a period OF
three or four hours a day. AS a rule
each factory has two readers and news
papers are taken up in the morning
and books or novels in the afternoon.
The selection of the book or novel
to be read is an interesting feature. 1t
takessthe character of political elec-
ton, Sach man voting for the book he
wants. The president of the reading
committee counts the votes and an
nounces the winning book, which is
forthwith bought and placed in its turn
to be read.
The cigar maker is very independ-
ing workman. He has no fixed hours,
but can go and come as he pleases. II
he remains away no more than a rea-
sonable time he can have his old place
back again.
All work is piece work, but wages
are according to the size and the kind
of cigar he can make. He is allowed
to talk and smoke while working, but
the reading keeps the men quiet and
Industrious.
Those who cannot read or write are
yet kept informed on public questions
and are able to discuss intelligently
problems of national and municipal in
terests. They seem to be we'll posted on
scientific discoveries and other matters.
1t Is common that the newspapers
have editorials or articles which arouse
the patriotic feeling Of the men. Then
the reading is stopped, voices are heard
commenting on the subject treated and
their knife or chaveta is struck vio-
lently on the fiat surface Of their work.
ing table.
This is their mode Of applauding.
Sometimes the national hymn and 9TH
er popular airs are entoned, but sing
ing Is reserved for important occasions,
such as the victory Of a Cuban in a
foreign country in some athletic con-
test. in hard game wrung from some
of the baseball teams which visit Ha-
vana each year.
The excitement, however, only lasts
for a few minutes, work is at once re-
sumed and the only voice heard in the
big room is that of the reader.
The wages earned by the cigar max
ers vary. Some make as much as $50
a week. while others who are not eX-
perts in making the selected sizes draw
a weekly salary Of SO to SIS a week.
Some cigar operatives need only to
make IA small number Of good cigars a
day to draw big wages, because the ci-
gar they make is an expensive one for
which they get Is or 25 cents.-New
York Sun.