I visited the great cigar factories and imagined how my friends,
lay and clerical, would envy me the privilege. But I could not be
in the atmosphere of the factory ten minutes without experiencing a
feeling akin to vertigo, which made me retreat to the open air. By
going out and in several times I succeeded in gratifying my curiosity.
The gentlemanly foreman begged me to take some of his products as
specimens. I told him I could not appreciate them. He said if I would
allow him to give me only one he was sure that he could overcome my
repugnance. He went to a private drawer and drew out one on which he
duly expatiated, then wrapped it in a paper and gave it to me. It is
now in my drawer at home, two years old, well seasoned; waiting for my
decision whether it will be safe to give it to some clerical friend
who will promise that he will leave off smoking if I will treat his
resolution with this very choicest Manila. Or would the gift have a
powerful effect in an opposite direction?