A Smoke of Manila by Rudyard Kipling
A man from Manila, characterized by his lean and pale appearance, passionately promotes the superiority of Manila cigars, despite their poor reception among others. He recounts a story to a young gentleman traveling for pleasure, illustrating how a cigar inadvertently led to the capture of a burglar. The man explains that while walking through his firm's godowns, he detected the smell of good tobacco smoke, which prompted him to investigate. He discovered a burglar hiding among the bales of goods, preparing to steal. After alerting the local police, they apprehended the burglar, who confessed to being part of a gang planning to steal goods from the godowns. The police devised a plan to catch the gang in the act. When the gang arrived to collect the stolen goods, they were met with a trap set by the police, leading to their arrest. The story concludes with the young gentleman remarking on the unusual utility of a Manila cigar, while the man from Manila dismisses the conversation and retreats to his bath, reinforcing the notion that cigars are integral to his identity and culture.
By Rudyard Kipling · First published 1890 · Genre: Short Story, Humor, Adventure · 1,646 words
First lines
The man from Manila held the floor. "Much care had made him very lean and pale and hollow-eyed. " Added to which he smoked the cigars of his own country, and they were bad for the constitution. He foisted his Stinkadores Magnificosas and his Cuspidores Imperiallissimos upon all who would accept them, and wondered that the recipients of his bounty turned away and were sad. "There is nothing," said he, "like a Manila cigar. " And the pink pyjamas and blue pyjamas and the spotted green pyjamas, all fluttering gracefully in the morning breeze, vowed that there was not and never would be.[4]
What this Textopian page supports
A Smoke of Manila is listed on Textopian as a short story by Rudyard Kipling, dated 1890 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Rudyard Kipling
- Date: 1890 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Story, Humor, Adventure, Social Commentary, Literary Fiction
- Length: 1,646 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Genres
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative focusing on a specific incident involving characters and dialogue.
- Humor — The story employs wit and irony, particularly in the interactions between the characters and the absurdity of the situation.
- Adventure — The plot involves elements of intrigue and a minor criminal scheme, typical of adventure narratives.
- Social Commentary — The story critiques societal norms and behaviors, particularly regarding smoking and law enforcement in Manila.
Tags
colonialism · adventure · travel · Manila · Philippines · cultural exchange · narrative · exploration · historical fiction · British literature · empire · identity