ABOUT CIGARS

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 December 1934, Page 9

ABOUT CIGARS

HINTS ON HOW TO ENJOY. It is recorded that Blucher, throughout the Battle of Waterloo, carefully treasured a cigar in his pocket, thinking to enjoy it the more in the calm hour of victory. But as he was carefully snipping off the end he observed a soldier who had lost both his arms; deliberately he ignited it and placed it between the sorely-wounded man’s lips. The thankful smile of gratitude, Blucher declared, made that cigar, which he never smoked, the most' enjoyable of his life (writes “An expert” in the “Daily Express.”). Only the fortunate few attain the hour of calm and poise which lies in every good cigar. Most men, completely unaware that for some moments; and some only, the cigar is the one supreme smoke, smoke them as they would cigarettes or a pipe. A deplorable amount of ignorance is current regarding the choice of cigars. Men press them with the fingers close to the ear to teli» if they crackle —Heaven knows why; nothing whatever can be learn that w/iy. The judge them to be mild if they are light in colour, not knowing that the outside leaf is chosen merely for reasons of salesmanship by the wily maker. The ultra-cunning smoker cuts up a sample cigar to see the colour of the interior; while the planter has often gene one better by cutting the tobacco from the plant before it is ripe in order to obtain a lighter shade —and tobacco, like fruit, is at its best when just ripe and not before. From an inspection of a cigar one can find out. only if it is mouldy or if there are present the tiny, exactly round holes—like pinholes—made by the Gorgojo worm, which attacks all tobacco stored too long in the Tropics. Nothing else can be learnt by examination. It remains, therefore, to buy a sample from the box' and smoke it; and it is in this matter of smoking that the most skilful judgment is needed —judgment of time, place, company, and the state of the emotions. Select an hour, which you can honestly call your own. and give your cigar the full attention it deserves. Smoke it indoors, with your feet up, the window nearly shut. Presently you will find yourself regarding life from the tolerant angle of the onlooker. Serenity and perspective will come; personal problems will assume their■ proper proportions. That is the true worth of a cigar; its hour of balanced judgment may save one from much folly. He is > the solid, substantial citizen who smokes cigars.

If the cigar goes out, or if the ash falls, then the interior will be composed of a series of narrow rolls without join, instead of being all of one piece. The latter gives 1 a smoother smoke and is much to be preferred. If it “smokes hot,” it is loosely or irregularly packed; on cutting off the end near the ash you will find an air space. If it is hard to draw, it is too tightly packed-and rolling it between your hands v/ill further bind up the interior and make matters worse. And if you feel ill. it is more’ probable that the cigar is a bad one than that it is too strong. A mouldy or poor quality cigar is a crime against humanity and will make the most hardened smoker ill, whereas a good one, even if strong, is a -pure, and clean, and altogether enjoyable smoke.