&MOKERS' STORIES. >ji 



BISMARCK'S LAST CIGAR. 



GRANT and Bismarck, the one 

 the European, and the other the 

 American "man of blood and 

 iron," were equally famous for their 

 devotion to a good cigar. No cari- 

 caturist who drew Grant without 

 a cigar in his mouth could hope to rise 

 in his profession. Bismarck once told 

 a group of visitors the following story : 

 44 The value of a good cigar," said he, 

 proceeding to light an excellent Havana, 

 "is best understood when it is the last 

 you possess, and there is no chance of 

 getting another. At Koniggratz I had 

 only one cigar left in my pocket, which I 

 carefully guarded daring the whole of the 

 battle, as a miser guards his treasure. I 

 did not feel justified 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 



