A friend of the inventor says that Thomas A. Edison is very fond of
smoking, but that sometimes he becomes so absorbed in work that he even
forgets that he has a cigar in his mouth.
Mr. Edison once complained to a man in the tobacco business that he, the
inventor, could not account for the rapidity with which the cigars
disappeared from a box that he always kept in his office. The "Wizard" was
not inclined to think that he smoked them all himself. Finally, he asked
the tobacco man what might be done to remedy the situation.
The latter suggested that he make up some cigars--"fake" them, in other
words--with a well-known label on the outside. "I'll fill 'em with
horsehair and hard rubber," said he. "Then you'll find that there will not
be so many missing."
"All right," said Mr. Edison, and he forgot all about the matter.
Several weeks later, when the tobacco man was again calling on the
inventor, the latter suddenly said:
"Look here! I thought you were going to fix me up some fake cigars!"
"Why, I did!" exclaimed the other, in hurt surprise.
"When?"
"Don't you remember the flat box with a green label--cigars in bundle
form, tied with yellow ribbon?"
Edison smiled reflectively. "Do you know," he finally said, in abashed
tones, "I smoked every one of those cigars myself!"--_Saturday Evening
Post._