| In the 1950's every adult we knew smoked (hey - even we did when we could get away with it). Our Dad Terry and Uncle Ned smoked as well. Our Dad smoked Camels and Uncle Ned smoked Chesterfields. One thing that always puzzled us even as young kids was why they never seemed to have anything on them to light their cigarettes with! Most people who smoke have matches or a lighter in thier pocket, but they always seemed to be looking for "a light". When they were out working in the fields on a tractor, they had a really neat and innovative way to light their cigarettes! They would take out a cigarette and put it in their mouth, and after fumbling around for the usual missing match, they would get off the tractor (with the engine idling) and take out their handkerchief, (they always had one). They would then remove the gas cap from the tractor gas tank and dip the corner of the handkerchief into the gas. After replacing the cap, they would then remove a spark plug wire just enough to get an electrical arc between the spark plug and the metal connector. They would then stick the gas-soaked corner of the handkerchief through the arc and it would burst into flame! It was always comical to see them quickly light their cigarette, then throw the flaming handkerchief on the ground and quickly stomp out the fire! We could never understand why they didn't save themselves all the trouble and just remember to carry matches or a lighter! We sometimes wonder what my mother and grandmother thought when they did the wash and saw the burned off corners of their handkerchiefs! |
