The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-11-18
From the Philadelphia Sun.
What we Drink as CIlampa-uc.

a recent trial in New York produced some
developments. The Times asks ii good wine
needs no bush, what does bad wine need ami
says, SIT is startling to think of the amount of
dclctcrious stuff which is sold as wine all
through the country-espccially champagne
There is consumed among us double the guam
tity actually made in France. Wine drinkers
may pretty safely calculate that every other
glass of what is thrust ON them as champa rne
la, nothing Of that iinid except the pretended
name, and proper degree of ctlcry cscence--
OF the alu,cratvd liquor. it is PECULIARLY be
lcved that great deal has Jersey CIDER for
its hasis-hut assEredly it is ont OF all proper
ton, to pay two dollars for bottle Ofcider.-
The public have lost great chance of know
ing how the fictitious champagne is made. The
secret very nearly popped ont. on Monday in
the Court of General Sessions. before the Recor-
der, on the trial Of a wine dealer in Wall street
for selling basket with a particular brand, The
bottle labels of which were forged, contrary to
the statutc.' Tho Indictment was for a INSIDE
mcanor. The verdict brought in the accused
rs guilty The Recorder deferred the sen
tcncc.
For our own part. VIC would humllv submit
to the learned Judge the proprcty of adapting
The sentence to the oi!encc-cvcn as it is some
times done in the East For instance, when a
baker at Con>.antinoble is detected in giving
light eight TO his customers he is put into his
own oven with the next batch. and when the
leaves are drawll-a baked baker is drawn out
also. There is something very suggestive in
this summary ard truly Oriental way of pun
slmcnt. In the same spirit, we suggest that
instead OF fine or Imprisonment. or both. Re-
cord"r Tal!Cu will decree that the Wall street
delinquent shall. as exemplary punishment.
drink basket of his own champagne, in the
compass of four and twenty hours. If MGt
would not be IA caution to himself and mel
anchoiy example to other, then We are mist;l-
ken.
Some OF tie witnesses were about stating how
The modern miracle of chan ring cider into
champagne was performed. but Mr. Talmalcc.
(who appeared for the defcnc,D strongly Oh
jccted to any such disclosure Of" the secrets OF
the prison house. The Recorder ruled thai
such disclosure did not legally bear on the.
charge OF forging labels. Enough was elected
to show what was done to wit. flat IA tabrcat
or oflabels has his own Autographs stones, and
stamps his own cnrhS that he has process Of
getting gas into the bottles that large qUamti-
ties OF the spurious wines are sold. tciirily in
Boston and Calit0rna) at about half the price
Of the genuine that the vine makers buy up
empty champagne bottles from the hotels put
their own manufacture III them, and sell ti.em
again to Eotcl-kccpcrs and others and that ia
short, the public are pretty extensively victim
their health from adulterated liquor.
We are not now going to discuss the ques
ton whether. even when genuine. wine is or is
not harmless beverage. but we ask those of
the public who indulge in I" the generous tuid.'
(as it is usual to call iD seriously to mediate
on the disclosures as to champagne making
and calculate the risk Of health and the loss of
money consequent upon tEc use Of such mock
liquids. We're it possible to ascertain the vast
sums expended among us in what is known as
champagne, the total amount would almost
:" fright the isle from its propriety." Could we
ascertain the per ccnta.c of genuine wine so
consumed. the statement would lie equally
startling and alarming. 10 doubt. The adu-
tcraton has long been suspected-has long
been spoken ot-but has not been so spccihcal
ly proved in legal form. as in the case refer
red to. The fashion for champagne is too pow
erful. we suspect. to be put down even by such
disclosures. Whatever the legal punishment
for forging bottle-labels the trial in question
is not likely to do serious injury to the convict
On the contrary, such of the public as wish to
learn where the spurious article eau be obtain
ed sat half the price Of the genuine. ;" have now
got the name and address of the vendor The
exposure is likely to improve his business.
There is only one method OF battling the whole
tribe of fictitious wine-makers. 1t is simply
land we offer it TO the public with strong as
Of its infallibilitv) by avoiding all
for the future. You will be certain |
Of not being robbed or poisoned by any imita. :
lions or impositione.