The Rock Island Argus., 1883-08-16
JUDGE MILLER's STORY.
An Old Dodge Which a Member of the
Supreme Court Broke Up.
From a Washington Letter.

from Washington Letter.
speaking of wines and dinners, am
reminded of what | shall have TO call
the ''Old Madeira dodge There is no
reason why Philadelphia should know
anything about it, for there is no pre-
tense in Philadelphia. The Veneerinos
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
SlO,0U0 year apiece. They, of course,
are invited everywhere generally in a
body practice which they hate like
famine. You can easily see the reason.
Each has his stock of Jokes and stories,
his illustrations, his history, his recol-
lections and his bio cases Each one
has told these over and over again, and
they individually 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 a Madeira story: | remember hearing
MIR. Justice Miller recount his expert
ence with the old Madeira fiend. He
said that one of the first things he no.
ticed in social life in Washington was
the existence of large amount of fine,
rich old Madeira in this city. Hewould
go with his associates to the house of a
leading lawyer. Before the dinner was
over the host would say that he had
some Madeira he would like to have his
guests taste-nothing like it in the
country-Only a few bottles left. the
present great occasion, and one bottle
quite enough to go round. Next, the
Court would dine with Cabinet officer
same old story-Gentleme let me
beg You to try this old Madeira moth
ing like it in the world-an old invoice
of my grandfather s-never got a glass
full like it in your life, wonderful, gen
tlemen, wonderful beg YOU to try it.
The Court goes next to a Senator 5
house. The dinner, gentlemen, has not
been worthy of the occasion, but have
something that will make you feel glad
you came. 1t is a glass of old Madeira
100000 years old. tell you how | got
hold of ii. Some years ago | obtained
for a young man an appointment in the
navy. He felt very grateful, and want
| ed to know what he could do for me.
| told him, just as he going to sail,
to get me some good Madeira. Gentle
men, he was ten years getting me this
! wine. He had to pay $500 a bottle foI
it, and even at this price was only able
4 to get few bottles, You'll find il
worth drinking, gentlemen This sort
of thing lasted for a yearor two. Every
| oh Ho9 4
some celebrated old Madeira. | don't
| know how it was with the other Judges
but Miller, who never prctends to any
thing, and is noted for his level-headet
common sense, and is as great hatel
OF shams rs | ever saw, Became very
| tired of the old Madeira business, anC
only wanted for an. opportunity to pro
| claim his ideas 1t came in time.
Andy johnson was President, anC
o. H. Browning. of Illinois, was Secrc
| tarY of the Interior Browning was &
fussy old fellow with ruffied shirts anC
dignified manners. He lived very nice
| ly and very quietly on Georgetown
Heights. He asked the Judges to din
ner They came. Good dinner. A
the proper time old Browning demand
ed the attention of his guests. He sait
that he did not often comment on The
things he set before his guests He
thought it vulgar, but he had somethin!
So rare that he thought he might be cX
cused. [Thcn Miller knew that Madeir
was coming. In fact, he wanted L
call the attention of Lis friends 10 som
rare old Madeira he had-smooth as oil