River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-03-22
Judge MIXERS Madeira Story.
From : washington I,etter.

Speaking of wines and dinners, | am
reminded what / shall have 10 call the
"Old Madeira DODGE There is no rea-
son Philadelphians should know any
thing about Il, for.there is no pretense 4
Philadelphia. The yeneerings do not
live there. You must know, Mr.. Editor.
that the judges of the supreme court are
the highest of the high in social life.
There are only nine of them. They are
in for life and get ten thousand dollars a
year apiece. They, OF course, are invited
every generally in body, a prac-
tice which they hate like famine. You
can easily see the reason. Each has
his stock of Jokes and stories, his illus
trations, his history, his reeollections
and his big cases. Each one has told
these over and over again, and they in
diyidnally have heard the same thing
from their brothers of the bench for so
many years that the thing affects them
like their thirtieth quail. But this is
MADEIRA story. remember hearing Mr..
Justice Miller recount his experience
with the old Madeira fiend He said
that one of the first things he noticed in
social life in Washington was the exist
ance of large amount of fine, rich old
Madeira in this city. He would 90 with
his associates to the house of leading
lawyer. Before the dinner would be
over the host wond say he had some
MADEIRA he would like to have his guests
nothing like il in the country
only a few bottles left, the present a
great occasion, and one bottle quite
enough 10 go around. Next the court
IV0f1id dina xp1th a nnhinnk "a
same old story-gentlemen let me
beg you to try this old Ma
deria nothing like it in the world An
old invoice of my grandfather's-n
got a glass full like it in your life, won
derful, gentlemen, wonderful beg
you to try it. The Court goes next to
a Senator's house. The dinner, gentle
men, has not been worthy of the occa-
sion, but | have something that will
make you feel glad you came 1t is
glass OF old Madeira, four hundred thou
sand years old. I'll tell you how got
hold of it. Some years ago | obtained
for young man an appointment in the
navy. He felt very grateful, and wanted
to know what he could do for me.
told him Just as he was going to sail to
get me some Madeira. Gentlemen, lie
was ten years getting this wine. He had
to pay 5000 bottle for it, and even at
this price was only able to get few
bottles. You'll find it worth drinking,
gentlemen. This sort ofthing lasted for
year or two. Every house into which
the Judge went had some celebrated old
Madeira. ] don't know how it was with
the other judges, but Miller. who never
pretends to anything, and is noted for
his level-headed common sense, and as
great a hater of shams as | ever saw, be-
came very tired of the old Madeira bus
mess, and only wanted for an o opportunity
to proclaim his idea. 1t came in time.
Andy Johnson was President and O.
of the Interior. Browning was fussy
old fellow, with ruffled shirts and
dignified manners. He lived very nicely
and very quietly on Georgetown Heights.
He asked the Judge to dinner. They
came. Good dinner. At the proper
time old Browning demanded the at
tention of his guests. He said that he
did not often comment on the things set
before his guests. He thought it vulgar
but he had something so rare that he
thought he might be excused, Then
Miller knew that Madeira was com
ing,l In fact he wanted to call the
attention ofhis friendsto some old Ma
deira he had-smooth as oil and fit for
Tic kOQHs liz Lfhu OUttlHcu III lTOHl SOillG
bankrupt king or prince and there was
nothing like it in the world. "Gentle-
men," sal he, ''let us taste it." AS
have said, nobody in the world hates
sham more than Miller, and he could
not stand the Madeira business any
longer, SO he said: Browning. look
here. We have too much of this ID
Madeira business. We have not been in
house in Washington for the last three
years that the finest glass of finest old
Madeira in the world has not been set
before us, and the thing is getting little
tiresome. Now, Browning you're from
Quincy, Illinois, and I'm from Keokuk,
Iowa. Neither of us know id thing
about Madeira and both of us had rather
have poor whisky without comment, than
the finest of Madeira with such fulsome
commentator. Put your Madeira aside
and let's have a glass of whisky" That
little speech was noised abroad, and,
strange to say, it very properly stopped
hosts from reminding guests what great
attention was being shown them, especi-
ally as to Madeira.