CIGARS.

"It is perfectly safe to say that there is more money spent every day in New York for cigars than for bread,"
(doubted.) "From the fine gentlemen, who buy their cigars at Delmonico's, or get them direct from the
importers, down to the little barefoot boys in the streets, who buy theirs from the Chinamen at the corners or
pick up the stumps that are thrown away, all smoke. In some countries pipes and cigarettes are made to do
duty by the poorer classes, but in New York cigars seem to be almost invariably preferred. Now, while there is
nothing better, in the way of something to smoke, than a first-class Havana cigar, there is nothing nastier than
some of the cheap abominations made in that shape in New York. To the truth of this last proposition, anyone
will readily testify who has ever been so unfortunate as to have had to ride from Harlem to New York in a late
smoking-car, with half a dozen roughs smoking cheap cigars on board.
"The cigars sold in this market may be divided into three classes--the imported, those made of imported
tobacco, and those made of domestic tobacco. These may be again classified under many different heads, as
there are many kinds and grades of each. The cheapest cigars in New York are dispensed by dilapidated
Chinamen, who have little stands about the streets and markets. These are certainly the vilest cigars made
anywhere in the world, and are sold from one to five cents each. Next in order come the common domestic
cigars. They are sold at five cents each, or six for twenty-five cents, and are of the kind kept at the cheap
refreshment stalls, lager beer saloons, and low groggeries. After these are the more pretentious home-made
cigars, manufactured of selected domestic tobacco, which are sold all over the city, and in the making of which Havana 'fillers' are supposed to be used. A filler, be it known, in technical parlance means that portion
of the tobacco of which the inside of the cigar is made. Price, ten to fifteen cents. Then comes the best class of
cigars in which domestic tobacco is used, those which are made with clear Havana fillers and Connecticut
wrappers. Fifteen cents is the price, and many are palmed off on the unwise for the real imported article.
Cigars made wholly of imported Cuban tobacco come next on the list. Some of them are excellent, and
compare favorably with many of the imported. They bring from fifteen to fifty cents each at the cigar stores.
Last in line, but best of all, is the genuine, imported Havana cigar. Few and rare are they, and great is the price
of the higher grades thereof.
"There are some places in New York where an imported cigar of a reasonable size may be bought for fifteen
cents, but they are few and far between. Twenty or twenty-five cents is the price usually charged, and from
that to a dollar. All the cigars made in the United States are invariably put up in imitation Havana boxes, with
imitation Havana labels and brands. It is doubtful, however, whether this transparent device deceives
anybody, for in accordance with the United States Internal Revenue laws, all boxes of cigars manufactured in
the United States must not only bear the manufacturer's label, giving his full name and place of business, and
the number of his manufactory, but they must also bear the United States inspector's brand. Before the present
law was in force, and the duties on tobacco were low, this scheme may have been profitable. But why the
practice is still adhered to by the manufacturers is hard to imagine, for the boxes now used, being made of
imported cedar, must be very costly, and must materially increase the price of cigars. Only those of the very
poorest quality are packed in white wooden boxes.