Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 January 1912 — Easy Task [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Easy Task

Labor of Cuban Cigar Maker Lessened

By EDWIN TARRISSE

ORK in a Cuban cigar factory of the best class is agreeably XXT spiced with entertainment and instruction. In such a factory not only does every cigar maker have plenty of light and air, a leather covered chair to sit on and the privilege of keeping JfJL'l’ on J 3 * 8 he works, but he is entertained meanwhile with hovels and newspapers, song and discussion. gpjjrc The factory reader sits at the rear of the workroom, enthroned upon an elevated stand. He is paid from the private pkohS funds of the cigar makers, the cost to each man ranging from ten to fifteen cents a week? This c<svers the cost of the boolca, novels and newspapers, as well as a salary of $39, which is paid to the president of the reading .committee to make up for the time' he is supposed to lose from his work while engaged in counting votes or making the weekly collection. . ‘ Y Ihe readers earn from S4O to SGO a week, reading for a period of three or four hoiirs a day. As a rule each factory has two readers, and newspapers are taken up in the morning and books or novels in the afternoon. » . fe Ihe selection of the book or novel to be read is an interesting feature. It takes the character of a political election, each man voting for the book he wants. The president of the reading committee 4 counts the votes and announces the .nning book, which is forthwith bought and placed in its turn to- be read. - - 1 hose who cannot read or write are yet kept informed in this way upon public’ questions, and are able to discuss intelligently problems of national and municipal interest. They seem to be well informed on scientific and other matters. tl is frequently the case that the newspapers have editorials or articles which arouse the patriotic feelings of the men. Then the reading

is stopped, voices are heard commenting on the subject treated, and their knife, or chaveta, is struck violently on the flat surface of their working table. This is their mode of applaufilng. Sometimes the national hymn and other popular air! are intoned, but is reserved for important occasions, such as the victory of a Cuban in a foreign country in some athletic contest, in a hard game wrung from some of tue baseball teams which visit Havana each year. The excitement lasts, however, only a few minutes, work is at once resumed, and the only voice heard in the big room is that of the reader.