EDISON'S "FAKE" CIGARS.
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?"