282 



CIGAR LIGHTERS. 



" t The value of a good cigar,' said Bismarck, as he pro- 

 ceeded to light an excellent Havana, 'is best understood 

 when it is the last you possess, and there is no chance of get- 

 ting another. At Koniggratz I had only one cigar left in 

 my pocket, which I carefully guarded during the whole of 

 the battle as a miser does his treasure. I did not feel justi- 

 fied in using it. I painted in glowing colors in my mind the 

 happy hour when I should enjoy it after the victory. But I 

 had miscalculated my chances!' < And what was the cause of 

 your miscalculation ? ' 'A poor dragoon. He lay helpless, 

 with both arms crushed, murmuring for something to refresh 

 him. I felt in my pockets and found I had only gold, and 

 that would be of no use to him. But, stay, I had still my 

 treasured cigar ! I lighted this for him, and placed it be- 

 tween his teeth. You should have seen the poor fellow's 

 grateful smile ! I never enjoyed a cigar so much as that one 

 which I did not smoke.' " 



In European cities juveniles offer the smoker, at every 

 street corner, a "pipe" or a " cigar light." The following 

 description, entitled " Light, Sir," is from an English journal, 



and contains much in- 

 teresting information 

 on the various modes 

 of lighting pipes and 

 cigars. 



""Ere y'are, sir 

 pipe-light, cigar-light, 

 on'y 'ap'ny a box 

 'ave a light, sir.' Ev- 

 ery smoker of the 

 larger cities knows 

 the cry. Every ten- 

 der-hearted smoker is 

 familiar with the ap- 

 peal, by day and by 

 night, and remembers 

 pangs of regret he has 

 felt when the want 

 of ha' pence or the re- 

 pletion of his match-box has prevented his much-besought 

 response. There is no need now to enlarge upon the suffer- 

 ings, the adventures, the dangers of these peripatetic juvenile 

 trades folk, sparse of clothes and food, and full of the 



LIGHT, SIR.' 



