The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1868-12-19
ANECDOTE OF STUART, THE PAINTER.

At another time he was dining will
Gouvcrneur Morris, after that gentle
mans return from Portugal. There
was large party of handsome womer
and fashionable men, who occupied higf
positions in Church ar State, and car
ried their honors bravely. The con
vcrsation was chiefly about wines, ant
especially port wine and vintages theil
host maintaining, as well he might
that in this country we never saw any
real port wine; and, among other pleas
ant things, he averred that more port
wine, or what was 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 fol
love or money, except under peculiar
circumstances the sold port 20
the London docks, at best, was decOc
ton of log-wood and elder-bcrries OF
grape-cuttings and that, in fact, the
real Simon Pure was so utterly unlike
what passes for port wine here and
elsewhere, that our best judges would
call it insipid, having neither body mol
soul. Nevertheless, he had managed
while in Portugal to make an arrange
ment whereby he could obtain a quar-
ter-pipe now and then for himself or a
friend as special favor, the govern
ment itself being afraid to allow the ex.
portation of unadulterated wines, lest
they should injure the sale of the rest.
"And now" said he, "to show you
all how YOU have been abused in this
matter, l must beg of you to try glass
of what l call port wine,-old port
Here George" Ito waiter behind his
chair, "bring us up,-let me see,"-
and here he glanced up and down the
long table as if counting noses" bring
me up three bottles, not more-I can
not afford more, till my stock is replen-
ishcd,- of the vintage l have been tell
ing you of,-and give us clean glass
es."
The waiter soon appeared with just
three bottles, fat and chunky, and Gov.
cred with dust and cobwebs. The
clean glasses were rather understood, it
must be acknowledged but they were
filled, and held up to the light, and
looked through, and then there was a
deal of talk about the aroma,-the bou-
quet, what they called the body,
as if it were condensed sunshine, fash
ing through a live grapery. Stuart
was just raising the glass to his lips,
when he caught Whit of the aroma,
and set it down without tasting it, and
without being observed. The ladies
began to chirp and chatter like sparrows
on the house-tops,-I give Stuart's Ian
guage, not my own,-and the sparkle
of their eyes, and the uncommon fresh
ness of their lips, by the time they had
managed the second glass, only served
to strengthen his convictions.
At last, after collecting the suffrages,
which were not only unanimous but
enthusiastic, the host turned to Stuart,
and seeing full glass before him, ask
cd what he had to say for himself, and
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 tri-
umphant air, as much as to say, What
did l tell you? "Nevcr!7 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 on this side of the water
and therefore 1 ask you once more, in
all seriousness, if you ever drank such
old port in all your life, either at home
or abroad, pom your honor, now?"
"Nevcr," said Stuart" "
And then there was dead silence, and
the host himself began to look uneasy,
not knowing how to understand what
he believed to be one of Stuart's jokes A.:
and then Stuart added in his own pecu.
liafway "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
wine at ALL"
"Not wine at ALL" exclaimed Nor
ris, almost jumping out of his chair
"why, what the-plague-is it then"
AZ should call it,-excuse me, >
taking sniff, as he passed it back and
forth before his nose,-"I should call it
CHERRY BoUNCEw
For a moment the host appeared
thunder-struck, well-nigh speeches.
with amazement; but then, as if sud
denly recollecting himself, his counter
ancc underwent change, and calling
the waiter, he said, George, you scoun
drel y in a sort of stage whisper, that
could be heard all over the room,-
George, tell me where you found these
bottles" The poor fellow trembled
and shook; but after a few words OF
explanation, Morris threw himself back
in his chair, and laughed and laughed
until it seemed as if he would never
stop; and it turned out that this port
wine, so carefully selected by him in
Oporto, and sent home years before, as
he thought, was indeed nothing but
cherry bounce, which had been put VI
and set aside for family use on specia
occasions long before he went abroad
till it was entirely forgotten.
Atlantis Monthly for December.
BIG AND PECULIAR FISH.
The great lake called Khiuha, il