The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-03-03

Bibulous began to comprehend the Cap |
tain's meaning, and gradually fell into the |
snare, and finally sgreed TO be a conspirator
'ganst any of the wine-biObers whom the
Captain might "rope in )" and that the Cap |
;un could carry out his intentions to the let
ter was certain, since he was popular among |
the boarders, and hiS taste in everything was
considered al tai:. should mention here
that the boarders at the hotel were principal
ly small wholesale dealers, and the time !
write of, was their busy season, when money
flowed in like the. ebbing Of the tide. =
And now progressed finely the affairs
which were to develope themselves eventu.
ally for the benefit of Captain Fitsimmons.
Had any of the guests or boarders Of the no.
tel accidentally found their way into the
back cellar of Bibulous' establishment for O
day or two, they might have seen the Cap.
tain seated amid pile of bottles, demijohns,
corks, tin foil, effervescing drugs, tunnels
and measures performing miraces--that 10
to say, bottling champagne drawn from New.
ark cider barrels.
In few days the Captain re-appeared at
the hotel, causing the impression to 60
abroad that he had been away transactng
business. On the evening of the day OF his
arrival, having had his room duly arranged
for the eception of company, he invited
therein about twenty of the merchants.---
Once assembled. and doubtless all more or
less anxious to know the import of this small
Par'yj the CaFtah opened out upon them as
follows:
"GentIemen, you have for some time pas
been patronizing the chain paghe. .ains of
this house, but ] never h ave, although am
fond of the article. The reason why have
bought nOne is the fact that Bibulous is no
judge of the article; and he is just as likely
10 have Jersey cider fosted upon him as
champagne wine. A dag or two ago, while
in New York, fell in with an importer, and
in order that Bibulous might keep up the
reputation Of his house, ordered for him
twelve baskets of the real genuine Anchor
brand champagne. Gentlemen, | shall or
der dozen, to establish my reputation ts a
Judge"
The Captain rang the bell and gave the
order, which wGs obe5ed with the most as
consisting alnCrity. In trice the bottles
and glasses were upon the table. The wire
od one Of tAe bottles was cut, and with n
tremendous "pop' the cork struck the CELL
ing, while the sparkling, foatning cider,
made its way through the long neck of the
bottle. Another was openeI, ana another
ond The glasses were filled. Each man held
h S glass up to admire the "besd" which rose
to the surface.
"Capital ~ said one, SIN qckng his lips.
THE very Anchor itself !" said another.
"Glorious - said third.
Cigars, conversation and cards, for amnse.
ment followed; and before the company
parted that night, the entire dozen bottles
were decnpitated
SO far, so good-the trap was set, and the
Captain now trusted to "the chances" for
the thing to work.
Next night Filkins extended to the Cop.
tain an invitation TO be present at select
party in room No. 9. Flkins had mude 0
margin that day on tickings and domestict,
and he was "in" for spree.
Well, the ball opened by Fitkin5 calling
for dt zen Of the new Anchor brand, which
YVES disposed of the same as the night previ
Gus, and it did not fail to elicit the warmesI
encohiums from all!
The night following, old Rosfn, having
made margin on naval stores, put the party
through on doseh.
Without pursuing the disappearance o
, each individual dozen, may say that it al
went off in similar manner. The Captain
reputation as a connoisscur was established
BY the time the wine was oil gone, and dis
appointed were those who called for it at tn
table when informed of this fact.
A dePutation of the boarders waited upol
the Captain, and the Captain in turn, waite
upon Bibulous, and nude settlement and
> dividend at the same time. The margin wa
large, and both were delighted. Bbulou
slapped Fitzimmons on the back and declaI
n ed that he was trump, and thut he mus
forthwith order another invoice Of the cele
brated Anchor brand.
Ag in the Captain betook himself 10 tn
cellar, and in due time emerged, and tn
baskets were rnloaded one evening from
dray. Again happiness reigned, and n
, other wine was drank in the hotel but tn
Anchor brand. 1t soon attained popular
- ty which drew the attention of ptofesse
judges to the place to taste. Still it mair
ID tanned its sway. Sometimes Bibulous tren
bled for fear that some bona .fde judge shou
come along and pose the cheat; but the ca
tain's equunimty could not be disturbed, M
did he ever fail to descant upon the superit
,f merits of the wine.
Among the boardeFs, there was an oil
r. French importer, who was born and raise
n in one of the wine. growing provinces Of
,o belle France. He never would praise it, al
when he drank it, he merely shrugged b
N shoulders.
J. The fact is, the Frenchmsn smelt Il