19th century European traveler-journalists inevitably complained of American children’s voracious smoking habits. Ironic, to me, is the large number of turn-of-the-century (1900) European postcards featuring kids age 4 to 8, both girls and boys, with cigars or cigarettes.  Cartoons and jokes involving child smokers abounded during the 1800’s and early 1900’s, but both the frequency and approving tone of jokes and images changed by the 1960’s.

    An Exhibit devoted to children’s roles in the cigar industry

is scheduled for 2011. Meanwhile, you might like to see a

selection of images depicting children smoking cigars.