The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-11-27
Aneedo,. OF Stuart. the Painter.
From the Atlantic Monthly for Dssembsrl

lFrom the Atlantic Monthly for December ~
AT another time he was dining with Gouverneur
Morris, after that gentle return from Portu-
gal. There was a large party OF handsome women
and fasu1onaDle men, who occupied high positions
In Church or State, and carried their honors
bravely. The conversation was chiefly about
wines. and especially port wine and vintages !;
their host maintaining, as well he might. that in
this country we never saw any real port wine !;
and, among other pleasant things, be svered
that more port wine. or what passed for port
wine, was drank in London than was ever made
in Portugal; that even there the genuine article
was never TO be had for love or money. except
under peculiar circumstances--e the "old
port of the London docks being, at best, hut o
decoction of logwood and elder berries or grape
cuttings; and, In fact, the real Simon Pure was
so utterly unlike what passes for port wine here
and elsewhere. that our best judges would call 1t
insipid, having neither body nor soul. Neverths-
less, he had managed while in Portugal to make
an arrangement whereby he could obtain quarter
pipe now and then for himself or q friend as
special favor. the government itself being afraid
to allow the exploration of unadulterated wines,
lest they should injure the sale of the rest.
And now" said he, g to show you all how you
you to try glass of what call port wine-old
port Here George" Ito q waiter behind his
chsir), bring MS up--let me see,'-and here he
glanced up and down the long table, as If count
ing Loses-" bring US up three bottles. not more
cannot afford more, till my stock Is repenished-
OF the vintage have been telling you of-and
give us clean glasses" e... ID. =. ..., =.
The waiter soon appeared with Just three bot
ties, fat and chunky, and covered with dust aud
cobwebs. The clean glasses were rather under
sized, it must be acknowledged; but they were
filed, and held up TO the light, and looked
through, and then there was great deal of talk
about the aroma-the bouqaet-and what they
called the body. as If it were condensed sunshine,
flashing through live grapery. Stuart was just
raising the glass TO bis lips, when he caught .
Whit of the aroma. and set it down. without last
ing it, and without being observed. The talk
went on. The ladies began TO chirp and chatter
like sparrows on the house-tops-I give Stuarts
language. not my own-and the sparkle OF their
eyes and the uncommon freshness Of their lips,
by the time they had managed the second glsss,
only served to strengthen his convictions.
At last, after collecting the SURFACES, which
were not only unanimous but enthusiastic, the
host turned to Stuart, and, seeing full glass be-
fore him, asked what he had to say for himself,
sDd whether he had ever met with such old port
in his life before. Never" said Stuart; and
then the host nodded and smiled, and looked
about with q triumphant air, as much as to say.
'wbat did tell you!" Never" but still there
was something In the look or tone Of his guest
which puzzled Mr.. Morris, and seemed to call for
explanation. Come, come, Stuart" said he.
none Of your tricks upon travellers. We want
your honest opinion, for we all know you are the
best Judge Of wines TO be found this side Of the
water; and therefore ] ask you once more, 10 all
seriousness II you ever drank such old port in alI
| your life, either at home or abroad, pom yc1r
honor, now!r r,ar. ~
| Never" said Stuart, "never!n ,Aad then
there was dead silence, and the sSss himself be-
n gun 10 look uneasy, not ksSwing now 70 UNDER
| stand what he bsD~ved to be one Of 6tHart's
| Jokes and fssn Stuart added In his own peculiar
way s"You must excuse me, my friend, and you
ladies' and gentlemen; but assure you that what
you have all been taking for old port wine is not
mot wine at ALL" exclaimed Morris. almost
jumping ont Of his chair-"wby, what the-plague
lis it then ~
81 should call it-excuse mer-takine A sni6
% be passed it back and forth before his nose
~ should call II cherry bounce ~
For Q moment the host appeared thunder
struck. well nigh SPECIFICS with smazement
but then, as il suddenly recollecting himself, bis
eountenance underwent Q change. and, calling
the waiter, he said, George. you scoundreI ~
in sort of stage whisper. that could be heard
all over the room-"George, telllme where you
found these bottles.r The poor fellow trembIed
and shook; but after q fov words of expIans-
ton, Morris threw himself back in his chair.
and laughed. and laughed, until 1t seemed A. II
he would never stop and il turned out tbet
this port wine, % carefully selected BY hin In
Oporto, and sent homo years before, - he
thought, was indeed nothing but cherry bounce.
which had been put up and set aside foe family
use on special occasions long before be went
sbroad, TIL II was entirely forgotten. =.