The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-23
rTORENCE'S WEEK IN PARIS.
srrEEN HUNDRED BOTTLES or RdIiE
HIVE SAMPLED ~ SIN DAYS.

A., Iuaui.itiyc dcntiemnu from Russia.
"It's a miscOnccption TO suppose, | must
all vou said Mr. Florence. OF the Hon. Bard
.el slote renown on Saturday. that the posi-
,iop recently held as an expert Judge OF the
mas exhibited at tho Exposition in Paris was
An easy one.
No sat in his cosy pnrlor at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel and the expression upon his face as he
,stsrred TO his Paris experience was sober. not
10 say sud.
But every one thought. Mr.. Florence that
there could De nothing pleasanter than chance
n sample the choicest wines the earth pro-
duces.
"pd they really think so? Humph." with
ione.drawn sigh. Il tell you that IL was the
h,rdes, week work I ever did In my life. was
nnot. Mrs. Florence"
Mrs. Florence indicated with much decision
that was. why. do YOU know" she said.
that Billy had to leave very early in the morn
ING and stay down there all day?"
Now. how did all this happen. Mr.. Flor
ence y
Unjust tell you that II was a surprise TO me.
Mrs Florence and I-havc cigar. Let's smoke
,ver IT, We went to Europe last April TO get
ested. We'd done le grand tour. dreamed at
Como climbed at Switzerland imbibcd mineral
waters and heard the music at Vichy. caught
salmon In Scotland. and meditatcd at the Eng
lsh lakes We wanted rest. So we packed the
Hon. Bardwell slote and Mrs. Gilnory In our
trunks locked them up; took "A satchcl or two
and box Of choice cigars and went into Savoy.
There we stayed six weeks. l contemplated
and grew feshy. Don't you think l look stout
err Ned Sothern thought So. Well. we got
back to Paris There met DR.. Ruppcner. one
Of the Jurors for class rs. being wines, &C."
Said he. Billy you're just the man. and he
lugged me into cafe
Here Mr.. Florence smiled evidently Mt some
feeting thought but his face suddenly resumed
IL serious expression. and he crossed his legs
that were dressed in English checked trousers
Of the latest fashion. and held his cigar between
the first AMI middle finger OF his right hand.
DR.. Ruppener" he continued. said that he
had been looking for n man who would be- able
to pass upon wines as an expert. and he did me
The homer to say that was-that isl could
Mr. Florence was too modest to say Just how
the Doctor had complimented him.
He regard you Ms an eNperty
" That is about 1t" replied Mr.. Florence CRATE
DO you view yourself as one?"
Well. now. must tell YOU TINT never
thought OF H. but can. as matter Of fact Judge
OF sweetness. dryness,age, "ffcrvescen,s'. and
1her qualities OF wine the instant | taste IL.
Well wanted TO accommodate the Doctor: so
accepted. must tell you that never have had
so forcibly impressed upon me the utility there
would be II u man could SEQ ahead once in
Here Mr. Florence looked meditatively out "
the window upon Twenty third street. He
seemed ahstracted until Mrs. Florence spoke.
" Well. that was all there WITS to tp Oh, no.
Billy. you've only begun. Tell what YOU did"
Aiunny look stole over Mr.. Florence's face.
Will you promise not 10 print itr' he in
duired at length.
Well see after you've told me-"
Well there were besides myself ten other OK
perts. n Jolly Englishman. u dark Spiniard. n
quiet Portuguese. u moustached Russian. IA red
:. You wcro President OF the body p
SIMPLY BY accidental turn OF affairs" Mr.
Florence replied, blushing. " The body OF ok
yeris did do me the honor 10 elect me. but it was
gins with A. There was going TO be a good deal
o. red tape about preferences and all that sort
Of thing as there is ia all the countries over
there. Gentlemen. i said at the first meeting.
10 avoid entang ement, let this matter be set
tied AZ are the. alphabetical letters Of the coun:
that this would put me ut the end because
came from the United States tho letter L being
way down the list But. to my surprise. they
Sc, me down Nc from America; therefore |. in:
stead OF the Austrian gentleman. was elected
President"
as you upon the matter Of wines p
Il took care 10 protect the intelligence OF my
country. and. in my Official character. claimed
American, said Mr.. Florence. with'a touch Of
patriotic dignity.
But almost got me into a scrnpei", he con-
tnued. You won't print this II II WAS
so,hern wouldn't care but il he hears of it III
never hear the last OF it,"
=" We mus, know about that narrow escape.
Certainly: tell him, Billy" said Mrs. Flor
ence,. who was already laughing heartily,
Well the ilerce-looking Russian gentleman,
who was very learned. and who was also very
inqulsitiye. turned 10 me one daysuddenly.
Mr.. florence. he said. do you have the
"Ye gods and llrle fishes. Phyloxera! What
was II ltwoud crush me rs President not TO
know. Some new kind of wine or grape. sup
posed. Beg pardon. said. so as to get min ute
or TWO more TINE to think. and he, repeated M,
question. Oh. yes. rerta My ] replied; OF
course 70 some districts. All. indeed.
regret 10 hear It.. he repli,I. Regretted TO hear
i. What on earth had done | Immediately
had urgent business with thc Turkish gentle
man. and the matter passed. But the next day
were efaps Ice e" My ddn he ' say so F0' But
butonholed tho Russian gentleman and gave
a MN learned discourse, upon phyllo1era.
How much wine did you drink. Mr.. Flor
ence. in that week -
About coo bottles Of the CHI oicest."
Does not that account for your increas ed
weight instead Of the quiet OF Savoy %
Drank Is technical. Tasted is better We
MsIel with one exception. That exception
lab9rri under misconcepton II his duties
aud drank. Dignihed attendants brought US in
vine glasses OF such delicate fibre that a loud
word would crush them. We tasted. rolled our
tongues around, thought moment. and then
Hhqr private marx in our memorandum
looks"
y. The tasting operation lasted how long ?"
Dr.. FROM 70 every day"
% Tor SIX hours you mOistened your tongues
Win the choicest Of wines ?"
lhat Is what We did"
. And you say it is hard work 2"
vintage Of France"
ny ou Say there was one exception. Mr..
- there was-the Turkish gentleman in
80 - i"e anu scarlet slippers. with crimson bags
,Sr khee trousers. Turks never drink wine.
uw'ei''99rp ms opinion was 10 be specially Vn-
~ w. ne Iniseonc"ptiOn that he labored under
~ t.al Us matter Of court ,sy he should
cb nm Vie entire glassul. The first glass was "A
Tn.L plhhl 81 champagne. We tasted. but the
in A',a gentleman drank and smacked his
US op"ellly fine burgundy was given
Ill VS. tasted and the Turk drank. and his
f 'Hou osiAh 10 warm. Then there WIS a sherry,
rnni,1raD ny c.aret then champagne; then ]
eSnr,n nnoT what The Turkish gentleman was
trs.la a'ul ne oppressed himself frequently and
am IN H. na!. hHsty notes in his memoran-
Io,,i a'in Mhit'l ior the next specimen. Many
mar 49, opened and the Turkish gentle
hin Ih'%%nh iehgously everything set before
ami oo cul We second hour he grew serious
the trir1 1IhAlly forgot to make u note, After
censed lour III" CONGREGATION on his part
an %mseu' MS eye. seemed 10 be between a wink
IaHd urn and the red fez glided upon his
mise mis- ~ a., ah angie 81 95 degrees At o'clock we
tas,i Heu he Turkish gentleman. but we kept on
s'N~ ali marking and "a O'Clock when