I visited the Fort and talked with Ranger Mike W. He told me the biggest trash problem was cigarette and cigar butts. We well know that some of these are left behind by vistors but no doubt some are left behind by us, especially the cigar butts. Though I personally dislike the habit I tend to look the other way.
So I wonder, knowing the obvious answer but why do folks smoke at these events when they know it is not period appropriate?
The smoking customs of the period were private and limited to special rooms or the home. Seldom was smoking seen in public except at the dock. I have read accounts from the 1760's of gentlemen complaining about dock workers smoking but not the fact that they were do so but that they were able to afford cigars. So one can assume that there was a certain social status in smoking. This is true.
The Civil War changed smoking customs simply because people became accustom to seeing men smoking in public. I am certain that this must of curtailed after the war but with the sudden popularity of the cigarette the old days of smoking in private were fast coming to close.
Can we be so hopeful that this problem will be curbed within our hobby? What is the big deal between lighting up a pipe or a cigar over a cigarette???? Anyone?????
Will
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Too quiet around here for you Will?
Boy Will, you must miss the old days when some people hunted you for your scalp around here. :)
As to your question, I feel relieved that it's not a habit I ever got into. I have smoked two cigars this year. And maybe ten in my life. Never a cigrette. Never even smoked a cigar at an event. So I can't answer your question. I don't think it pertains to me.
But with that said, I must say that it annoys me everytime I am riding down the road and see someone in a car in front of me flick a butt out the window. I don't think the filters are very biodegradable. Why do some of them feel it's okay to leave the butt they just stamped out on the ground with there toe? How come some of them put them in their ashtray of their car, only to dump their completely full ashtray into a pile in the middle of a parking lot instead of their garbage can at home? Why do some of them think it's okay to litter their butts but recycle their soda cans? Would a deposit on filters solve this?
To stay on topic of authenticity, why would you spend hundreds of dollars to look so authentic, then smoke modern cigarettes? Be meticulous about hiding your cooler but not your pack of smokes?
I know it's not every smoker out there. But it seems to be a big bunch of them. Anyway, I guess until it's taxed out of reach it wont change too much. Sad really...
--
Michael Johnson
Ciggies
Oddly enough I was of the decided opinion that Cigarettes were a total period no-no. BUT.... While I've been doing my research into the Mexican War thing, I found that troopers who went down there were surprised to find that lot's of the local people smoked these things. They were especially weirded out by the women they saw smoking them. Apparently they were SO taken with the new fangled smoking devices that they sent some home a souveniers. Now am I saying everyone should open up their pack of camels and go to town? No.. While Cigarettes indeed exsisted by this time and were known about by the troops. I still believe they were viewed as a curiosity and in fact looked down upon as things those "Lowly Mexicanos" did.
Major Eric R. Reeder
CSO, 1st Division ANV, Staff
Liberty Hill Signals
2nd Lt Eric R. Reeder United States Army Corps of Topographic Engineers "Hawks and Eagles fly like Doves"
Ahh but the cigarettees of
Ahh but the cigarettees of yesteryear are different than the cigarettees of today....its a roll your own world...and the habit of some to get the fix of nicotine, it would take toooooo long to roll a cigarette. and what the hell is up with my typing? I guess I am getting out of practice.
Seamus
"it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifing......nothing"
MacBeth
history
Basically Napoleon III is credited for making Cigarettes popular in Europe which spread to America. During the time most viewed as a femme habit.
The following gives a good timeline and information.
http://www.cheap-cigarettes.com/history_part1.asp
In 1614, in Spain, Seville is decreed the center of cigar making for spanish grown, New World tobacco. The poor, using left over tobacco from cigars, make the first cigarettes to be smoked in europe.
(I'll add date early 1800s.) French prostitutes are the first women seen smoking in public in France.
In 1820, first american women observed smoking in public in Santa Fe.
In 1847, Philip Morris is open for business in England. They sell hand rolled Turkish cigarettes.
In 1854, Philip Morris begins making its own cigarettes in London, on Bond Street.
In 1860, manufactured cigarettes make their debut
In 1860, manufactured cigarettes make their debut.
In 1862, first federal tax on cigarettes. Thought to be imposed to help pay for civil war.
In 1864, first federal excise tax on cigarettes.
(Rest is for interest and introspect of the popular views of the times)
In 1873, Philip Morris dies.
In 1875, $75,000 offered for first practical cigarette rolling machine.
In 1893, the state of Washington bans the use and sale of cigarettes. Later overturned on restraint of free trade argument.
In 1898, a total ban on cigarettes is upheld in the Tennessee supreme court.
In 1909, 15 states have prohibited the sale of cigarettes.
A good summary:
"At first, tobacco was produced mainly for pipe-smoking, chewing, and snuff. Cigars didn't become popular until the early 1800s. Cigarettes, which had been around in crude form since the early 1600s, didn't become widely popular in the United States until after the Civil War, with the spread of "Bright" tobacco, a uniquely cured yellow leaf grown in Virginia and North Carolina. Cigarette sales surged again with the introduction of the "White Burley" tobacco leaf and the invention of the first practical cigarette-making machine, sponsored by tobacco baron James Buchanan "Buck" Duke, in the late 1880s."
http://inventors.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.cnn.co...
It would have been useful to have known when filter cigarettes came in use but I am certain there will be those who will say the "Civil War".
Will
I don't partake myself, but
I don't partake myself, but here are some blurbs.
http://www.lazyjacks.org.uk/smoking.htm
I would think that Filters
I would think that Filters are a mid 20th century invention, camels and lucky strikes are unfiltered and were issued to pilots and soldier as smoking made them alert. to have a filter suggests you think there is something to be filtered. and about when did they start screaming about the health risks of smoking?
by the way those of you wo do smoke are about to get hit with an extra dollar a pack....and non smokers dont laugh too hard, you know guiness will be next!
Seamus
"it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifing......nothing"
MacBeth
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph....
.... please don't take me Guinness away!
Major Eric R. Reeder
CSO, 1st Division ANV, Staff
Liberty Hill Signals
2nd Lt Eric R. Reeder United States Army Corps of Topographic Engineers "Hawks and Eagles fly like Doves"
Although the machine rolled
Although the machine rolled cigarrette was still forthcomeing Post Bellum, Cigarrette smoking was considered a Ladies custom in Europe, France in particular hence the name "Little Cigar" Far more men were in habit of either chewing or inhaling tobbaco during the war due to the difficulty of finding a reliable (read that as cheap) source of ignition. Especially for the Confederates who seemed to have an abundance of the devil weed. was easier to bite a plug off of a twist than light up.
Pvt. Steve Henry
Co. A, 3rd Maine Volunteer Infantry
"Bath City Greys
I'm not sure if..
.. it was true of American Zouave units, but Cigarettes were like a prop in most photos of French Zouaves from the Franco/Prussian era.
But why smoke crappy Cigarettes when you can enjoy a fine cigar and a glass of warmed Cognac.
Of course I won't be smoking many Cigars until my lungs fully recover from that Nasty Pnuemonia/bronchial infection thingy I'm just getting over. I'm gonna TRY to show up at Norlans whis weekend depending upon the weather. Not sure what I'll wear color wise. My two son's will be tagging along so my attention will be on making sure the youngest doesn't fall into a thresher.
Major Eric R. Reeder
CSO, 1st Division ANV, Staff
Liberty Hill Signals
2nd Lt Eric R. Reeder United States Army Corps of Topographic Engineers "Hawks and Eagles fly like Doves"
Threshers dont kill people
Threshers dont kill people people kill people...I would be more worried about man eating hogs, and skittish cows...having myself been kicked in the head several times by the flying hoves of fury, my daughter in 3rd grade is studying the 1850s and she might be there videotaping stuff....Norlands is in my backyard...so to speak and they frown on ciggarettesssssssss.
Seamus(still on topic!,sort of)
"it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifing......nothing"
MacBeth
Really...
...looking forward to seeing all of you guys.
Major Eric R. Reeder
CSO, 1st Division ANV, Staff
Liberty Hill Signals
2nd Lt Eric R. Reeder United States Army Corps of Topographic Engineers "Hawks and Eagles fly like Doves"