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I really don’t believe that 81% stat.

I sold cigarettes in the Hyatt Regency sundry shop in downtown Chicago. The number sounds pretty close, at least in the early '80s. The black men opted for Kools (pronounced Kə-oo). The black women tended to go for Newports or More. The mainstreamers went for Marlboro, Winston, Camels or Benson & Hedges. The white women for Virginia Slim. An occasional southern would opt for Lark. The Japanese liked Kent more than the rest of the world. The hardcore got Chesterfield King size (unfiltered). And anyone who wanted a Tareyton had a French accent.

I remember one Frenchman who didn't care for my English. He wanted to buy "stehmps". I asked him what stehmps were. "What? You don't know stehmps?"

Oh! You mean stamps! (I said emphasizing the short "a" sound that he was incapable of making). He was annoyed with me.