Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-12-11
9AisfellAneon6.
OF STUART, THE
PAINTER.

ANECDoTE OF STUART, THE
PAINTER.
AT another time he was dining with Cow
erneur Morris, after that gentleman's re-
turn from Portugal There was large par
ty Of handsome women and fashionable men,
who occupied high positions in Church or
State, and carried their honors bravely,
Theconyersation was chiefly about wines,
and especially port wine aud viutagesi their
host maintaining, as well he might, that in
this country we never saw any real port
wine; and, among other pleasant things, be
averred 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 cir
cumstances, even the ''old port" of Lon
don docks being, at BEST but decoction of
logwood and elder-berries or 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
nor soul. Nevertheless, he had managed
while in Portugal to make an arrangement
whereby he could obtain quarter pipe now
and then for himself or a friend as a special
favor, the Government itself being afraid to
allow the expectation 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, /
must beg of you to try glass of what l call
port wine, Tort Here George" Ito
waiter behind his chair, bring US up
let me see, and here he glanced up and
down she long table, as if counting noses
''brins up three bottles not more,-I can
not afford more, till my stock is repIenished
of the vintage have been telling you Of,
and give US clean glasses.
The waiter sooa appeared with just three
bottles, fat and chunky and covered with
dust and eobwebs. le clean glasses were
rather uudersized, il mast be Acknowledged
but they were filled, and held up to the lighs,
ana locked through aud then there was
dal Of talk about the aroma, the b0uquce
and what they called The BODY, as ifit
were condensed sunshine, flashing through
a live grapery. Stuart was just raising the
glass to his lips, when he caught a whif of
the aroma, and set it down, without tast-
ing it, and without being observed. The
talk went on. The ladies began to chirp
and chatter Ike sparrows on the house tops,
Il give Stuart's language, not my own,-
and the sparkle OF their eyes, and the un-
common freshness Of their lips, by the time
they had managed the second glass, only
served to strengthen his convictions.
At last, after collecting the sufrages,
which were not only unanimous but enthu-
siastic, the host turned to Stuart, and, see
ing full glass before him, asked what he
had to say for himself, and whether he had
ever met with such old port in his life be-
fore. NcverP said Stuart; and then the
host nodded and smiled and looked about
with q triumphant air, as much as TO say
What did / tell you2 "Never r' 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 Stuartr said he, none Of your
tricks upon travellers. We want your hon
est opinion, for we allknow you are the best
Judge of wines to be found on this side Of
the water; and therefore ! 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 ~
'Neuer," said Stuart, "neyerl" And
then there was dead silence, and the host
himself began to look uneasy, not knowing
how to understand what he believed to be