From: "Van B. Adams" <???????????????????>
Subject:       Submission for PD:  Try the Drugstore Brands!!!

If you are like me, you don't have memories of adults smoking 
Dunhills with fine English blends of Latikia, Virginias, and  
Orientals, spiced with Perique.  No,  I  recall all those guys 
in the barber shop with their Dr. Grabows , Medicos, and if they were 
really fancy, Kaywoodies,,, puffing away on Prince Albert, Velvet, Half 
and Half, Carter Hall, and Sir Walter Raleigh.  There were so many 
brands of pipe tobacco, most still being sold.  I still see Granger, 
Our Advertiser, Field and Stream, Revelation, Kentucky Club, and 
Middleton's Cherry Blend for sale in the supermarkets, along with 
other old "standards".   You can still find the boards of cheap 
laquered pipes, and here in Missouri the Missouri Meerschaum factory 
still churns out several million corn cobs each year.  Can all the 
people that use those cheap pipes and smoke that cheap tobacco know 
something we don't?

I know the "drugstore brands" lack sophistication and character.  I 
realize that the accomplished pipester would never smoke them in the 
company of folks who "know" about pipes.  But, just like a blond 
cheerleader and a Z-28 are a LOT of fun, although not at all classy, 
a corn cob and a bowl of Half and Half is a great smoke!!!

So, when no one is looking, I sneak some cheap tobacco in the cart at 
the supermarket.  I even have a few Medicos with the FILTERS hidden 
away from the pipes I show to my friends.  And sometimes, when no one 
is looking, I kick back with a cheap pipe and smoke the brands I used 
to see when I was a little boy in the barbershop.

It's a lot of fun, except Prince Albert doesn't come in a pocket tin 
anymore.  Imagine that, no more "Prince Albert in a can" jokes.  
Another piece of Americana gone.  But Velvet still comes in the can.

So go ahead, slum a little.  Nobody at the pipe shop needs to know.  

Van Adams

[ Indeed, Van!  Craig Tarler also related a story to me about a show he
attended, at which a group of "macho English smokers" bought up his stock
of Apricots and Cream.  And Prince Albert still does come in a can; I think
the 16-ounce size. Hasn't anyone let him out yet? :-) -S.]


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