Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-02-14

CHARLES HEIDsIEcK.-T This gentleman the
well-known manufacturer of the favorite wine
which bears his name, is now in Washington
and is deservedly made much Of in all circles.
Mackenzie, Of the Philadelphia Press, gives the
following interesting description of Mr.. H., and
Of the champagne business:
Mr.. Heidsieck Is one of the very few French
men who is a sportsman in our or even in the
English sense Of the term, and after visiting the
Southern States intends to go West, with his
guns and dogs, and have some shooting and hunt
ing there. He Is active and intelligent pen-
tleman, aged about SO, and the only person named
Hsidseck who is at all concerned in wi ne king
His grand-uEcle founded the firm, which was
continued by his father and uncle. and now con.
sists of himself alone His visit is one of business
as well of pleasure He desires to see our Country
and also to visit Cuba, and is DESTROYS of check,
| ing. If possible, the home-manufacture and sale
Of fictitious champagne, which SO largely prevails
| here. Henceforth his brand will simply bear his
own name-Charles Heidsieck.
He sites some facts worthy Of notice First
though the consumption of Champagne In the
United States is estimated at 900 GOO baskets Der
| annum, the quantity actually made in France in
a comp aratively small district. is not more than
500 600 baskets. One million OF baskets are annu.
| ally sold in the United States while at the Gus.
tom. house at New York, where more than two
| thirds Of the whole importation is passed. cnly
| us G2S baskets were cleared in 1859 The actual
| supply of the genuine wine, b. all the Cham.
pagnr-makers in France is SCU,UGO baskets a wear
1 VI WHICH ahSs Nfeat Britain and
| her dependencies, l65 600; America 30 600
| rance, 1862 .OCt; and Germany 40, 600 lasket;
| every year Thus, only one-hfth of the wins
| sold in American as Champagne was made In
| France.
Four out Of evtry five bottles drank here have
been made here. Most Of the fluid populsrly
| C allied champagne. is mixture made from Jersey
| cider, or other liquors more hurtful, put into 4
| required degree Of etf.rveSence We recollect q
| trial at the court Of general sessions New York
| in October. 1854, whereby the wlrcle machiner,
of fraud Was exposed. wine deale, in Wal
| street was convicted of selling basket Of cham
payne of particular brand, the bottle-labels OF
| which were forged, - contrary 10 the statute "
| Evidence was g ven before Recorder Tilou who
trledtie case, how the modern Miracle of chanp no
| rioer into champagne was performed 1t wa,
| SHOWN how fabricator of labels Fad lthoorapbis
| stones To make limitations. and low he stamped
| Inc cGrks; how the Wine-,Lakers buv ND empty
| champagne bottles from the hotels, Put their own
| stun into them, and sell them again to hote
| keepers and others. In this case the convicted
| WINE merchant was very properly sent to prison
| where. though he offered to paws large sum b,
| Wiy OF fine If the ignomny Of confinement wer,
| spared him. he had to serve out the whole of hi.
| time.
| much more appropriate and severe punish
| ment thdA few weeks imprisonment would hav,
| b EN- fer the fraudulent wine maker of French
| champagne out OF Jersey cider to have been com
| p@lled to drink q basket If his own compound il
| the course of week. That would have been
| severe punishnent-perlaps fatal one. 1t would
| have extended the Eastern custom Of suitng tn
penalty to the crme-just as. in Constant inc pie
| when baker is detected in using light wei Tht
| he is put into his own oven with the next batch
| aud when the loaves are drawn. a baked baker 4
| drawn out also.