The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-03-21
fFor the Sunday Bulletin.l
The MAGIC POWER OF THE
BOTTLE.
FREE INVITATION or EEcKMAs- CHATHAM.

In 1916, towards the end Of autumn, De
2ided to make pilgrimage to JyhanniSberg
Mounted on a poor, angular jade, and SUI
piled with twD wine II asks, | started on uy
Httle Journey What an admirable thing L
5he country in the vintage season. One Q
my TASKS was always empty, the other Away:
tuii; when | left one vineyard | always hlc
another in view. The only cause OF regre
was that | had no keen appreciator OF good
vine TO share my pleasures with me.
one evening, as the sun went down, leaving
q few last lingering rays struggling among
.he vines with the fast approaching shades ot
evening, heard the step OF horse behind
me. | drew to tile left OF the road to allow
Lim to pass when, to my great surprise, ] re
eogniled in his rider my friend HIppel, who
uttered an exclamation Of JOY on perceiying
NE.
You know Hippel with his large nose, his
mouth shaped Tor tasting wine, and his great
double chm lie resembled S.lenus travel
ing in quest OF Bacchus. We embraced with
unfeiened pleasure Hippel journeyed with
the same Obi ect Ill view as myself, and we
continued on together He directed our way
through the vineyards Of the Rhine; be was
an excellent companion, with an exuberancy
OF humor. Frequently we halted To consult
our tasks, and to listen, SO to speak, to the
intense silence which prevailed everywhere.
The night was well advanced when We ar
lived before little inn sitting in the shadow
Of 2 vine-clad bill. Hippel peeped in 4
little window, almost on a level with the
ground. On table burned lamp by the
side Of the lamp her head resting on her
hands, slept an Old woman.
Hello, there y exclaimed my comrde,
open the door,
The old woman moved, rubbed her eyes,
and approaching the window, pressed her
snriveied face against the glass, looking like
one Of those old Flemish pictures in which il
is difficult to determine whether ochre or
bistre preponderates.
When the old sibyl had surveyed us for
some minutes, she made grimace which
might pass for smile, and opened the door.
: Come in. gentlemen come in and b. wei
come. | will go and eau my son
IS peck of oats for our horses and good
supper for US, shouted Hppel.
'.4ll right, sir, said the old woman, as she
passed out of the door, ant we could hear
her ascending the steps, which were sleeper
than Jacobs ladder.
We remained several minutes in low,
snoke-stained hall. Hlppel ran to the
kitchen and returned 70 tell me that hc dis
covered four quarter Of bacon hanging OF the
chimney side.
eve win sup" lie said, rubbing his storn
ach, "we will sup."
The blanks above our heads creaked and a
few moments later a large. vigorous peasant,
!ressed in simple pair OF pantaloons, his
chest bare, his hair IN disorder, opened the
door, made several steps towards the table and
went out again without saying a word.
The old woman lit the fire and the butter
began to simmer in the frying pan.
Supper was served. She placed rasher of
bacon on the table, fanked by two bottles
one Of red, the other OF white wine.
which will yon drink n asked the hostess.
.'We viii see replied Hippe, presenting
his glass, which the old woman filled with red
wine She filled mine also. We tasted it; il
.gs acrid and strong, It had, know not
what kind of flavor and perfume Of cypress,
and lsmon vine. / tasted it several times and
D profound sadness entered my soul. Hippel,
on Tie contrary, seemed pleased with it, and
lie became most animated and talkatiye.
"FamoUs" said he, famous Where did
sou get it, good woman:
From neighborlng place" said the old
woman with q strange smile.
Famous" exclaimed dippel drinking a
81 ;or6 bumper.
It seemed to me that he was driuking
blood.
ssWhat the devil are you making faces at,
Ludwig?" he said to me. rs anything the
matter with yop
"No," / replied, but don't like the red
vine"
There is no disputing about tastes, he
said, emptying the bottle and striking on the
table. THE same" lie shouted always
the same, and be careful, old lady no: to mix
Il, for | will know it. Morbleu. that wine
inyigorates me; it is generous wine
Hlppel threw himself back in his chair.
His face seemed to decompose. In a single
lraught finished The bottle Of white wine,
and 10y returned TO my heart. The preference
Of my friend for the red vine seemed 70 me
ridiculous, but excusible.
We continued TO drink until o'clock he
gt red wine and Of white
One o'clock in the morning the hour of
sphantasies, when the caprices of the imngina-
.ion clcthe themselves in their transparent /
robes, bordered with azure ana crystal like
.he wings OF the fly and the beetle. It IS |
shen that celestial music tickles the ear Of the
dreamer and breathes ia his soul the harmony |
,cf invisible spheres. Then the bat appears,
and the owl spreads his downy wings and
passes silently above our heads.
at is o'clock" / said to my companion. |
- We must retire, if we wish to 50 on In the
morning"
Hippel staggered to his feet. The old
woman conducted Us TO room with two
beds, and wished lis good night
We undressed; renamed up to extinguish !
inc light. | had hardly reached my bed |
when Hippel slept sopndly. His respiration
was like the breath of the tempest. | could
not close my eyes; thousand strange figures
danced about my head gnomes and devils,
The copiurations Of Walpurgis, executed
fantastic dance on the ceiling above me.
: strange effect Of white wine
] arose, liz my lamp and drawn by an in
s7incible curiosity. approached Hippels bed
side. His face was red his mouth open, his
temples thr6bbed violently, his lips moved as
] { be wished to speak. For some tinle I re-
NAMED motionless al his side. trying to divine
what TRANSFERRED within his soul; but sleep is
m impenetrahle mys.ery Like death, il
guards its secrets.
At times Hippels countenance expressed
terror, then sadness, then melancholy: then
his features would contract rs if Ne WAITED to
Keep That face, made for laughter, had