1900 Harry Johnsons Bartenders Manual (Mixellany)

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It is not wise to buy too large a quantity of cigars, at one time, for different reasons. In the first place, you can secure goods, on very short notice, in a fresh condition. When you have too much stock on hand, the cigars are liable to become dry, and lose their flavor. With the cigars under the eyes or management of the bartender, he must see that the entire stock in the case is kept properly in the summer as well as in the winter. In warm weather, there is less trouble in keeping cigars, because the natural heat produces a moisture in the case, and this keeps the goods in about the condition required by customers. During the winter, however, when the rooms are artificially heated, the cigars are apt to become dry very readily; and this dryness is very detrimental to the entire stock, causing the wrappers to break easily by con- stant handling, when, of course, the customers will be dissatisfied with them. Therefore, every cigar-case or cigar-stand should be made with all the latest im- provements, including air-tight compartments or closets. Underneath the closet, as well as underneath the cigar-case, little drawers should be made, contain- ing little metal boxes of the same width as that of the closet. In these cases a metal pan should be placed, filled partly with water, and with a very fine perforat- ed cover to the pans to allow the evaporation of the water from the pan into the cigar-case or closets, in order to keep the cigars in a properly moist condition. It is not only correct to handle the best of cigars, but, also, to handle the latest brands, for the fashion changes in cigars, as in almost everything else, and, if not careful, the proprietor will be left with old, unsalable stock on hand. In a place where there is a large sale of imported goods, it is advisable to have an extra closet built which should be lined with zinc, and made perfectly