The Baltimore County union., 1883-05-05

An Old Dodge Which Member OF the
Supreme Court Broke Up.

reminded oil what ] snail have To call
the "Old Madeira dodge" There is
no reason why Philadelphia should
know anything about it, for there is no
prctense in Philadelphia. The Veneer
ings do not live there. You must know,
Mr.. Editor, that the Judges Of the SUI
preme Court are the highest OF the high
in social life. There are only nine of
them. They are in for life, and get
SIC, 900 a year apiece. They, Of course,
are invited cverywhere-generally in a
body-a 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 big 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 Madeira story: ! remember
hearing Mr.. Justice Miller recount his
experience with the old Madeira fend.
He said that one OF the first things he
noticed in social life in Washington was
the existence of large amount OF fine,
rich old Madeira in this city. lie
would go with his associates TO the house
OF 4 leading lawyer. Before the dinner
was over the host would say that he had
some Madeira he would like to have his
guests ta5ie-nothing like it in the
country-only 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-Genilemen, let me
beg you TO try this old Madcira-noth-
ing like i; in the world--an old invoice
Of my grandfathcr's-ncver 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's
house. The dinner, gentlemen, has not
been worthy of the occasion, but have
something that will make you feel glad
you came. IL is 4 glass of old Madeira
800, 900 years old. tell you how got
hold OF it. Some years ago | obtained
for 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 was going to sail,
TO get me some good Madeira. Gentle
men, he WAS ten years getting me this
wine. He had to pay Ssoo bottle for
it, and even at this price was only able
TO get few bottles. You'll find il
worth drinking. gentlemen. This sort
OF things lasted for a year or two
Every house into which the Judge went
had some celebrated old Madeira. |
don't know how il was with the other
Judges, but Miller, who never pretends
TO anything. and is noted for his level
headed common sense, and is rs great
hater Of shams Is ever saw, became
very tired of the old Madeira business,
and only wanted for an opportunity to
proclaim his ideas. II came in time.
Andy Johnson was President, and o.
II. Browning, OF Illinois, was Secretary
of the Interior. Browning was fussy
old fellow with ruffled shirts and digni-
fed manners. He lived very nicely
and very quietly on Georgetown Heights.
He asked the Judges to dinner. They
came. Good dinner. II the proper
time old Browning demanded the atten-
tion Of his guests. He said that he did
no; often comment on the things he set
before his guests. He thought it vul-
gar, but he had something so rare that
he thought hemighi be excused. Then
Miller knew that Madeira was coming.
In fact. he wanted to call the attention
OF his friends to some rare old Madeira
he had-smooth rs oil. and ft for the
gods. He had obtained il from some
blnkup; king or prince, and there was
nothing like il in the world. Gentle
men. said he. let Us taste il. As have
said, nobody in the world hates a sham
more than Miller, and he could not
stand the Madeira business any longer.
so he said: snow, Browning, look
here. We have had too much OF this
id Madeira business. We have
not been in house in Washington for
the las; 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 tiTcsomc. Now, Brown
ing, you are from Quincy, ILL.,, and
am from Keokuk, Iowa. Neither Of us
know 4 id thing about Madeira,
and both of Us would rather have poor
whisky without comment than the finest
of Madeira with such fulsome COM
mendation. Put your Madeira aside,
and let's have 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, espe-
cially As TO Madeira.
sD-A Chicago hotel clerk went last