Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-30
CHAMPAGNE. WATERS.
Hsw They Make Fortunes On, Of a roo-css-
ndine Public.

tboston Giobc.l
"Do you see that fellow over thcref"
snid a.weiEknown resiaurant-keeper, point
ing across Washington street the other a.
ternoon. The speaker pointed to a yo1ng
man attired IN checked suit. kersc7 hat,
snc light hd gloves. "How should you
imagine he made livingyn
Wen, possibly that he had competen-
cy IN his own right, or that his parents
were wealthy"
Him! That man Is a waiter, and a
mighty sharp one, too. / hired him once,
but ne was too sharp to suit me, and let
nm 20. L 90 not believe he works more
thsn hall the time, aud the rest Of the time
he lives high and cuts swelI.v
"How does lie manage itf" anxlously
inquired the reporter.
"Well, he's what you may cali a proies.
.ionnl champogne-waltcr. He makes a
specially Of fancy balls, wine. houses, aud
bigh-toned summer resorts-in fact, PLACES
where large quantities OF wine are soll.
Why. Pye known OF his getting as high as
Sf.25 each Tor corks."
"What do you meant"
"Why, don't you know? Some wine
firms pay waters in that way for pushing
their wines. The foreign manufactures
and bottlers OF champagne have adopted
system OF branding the corks with their
names and the quality OF the wine in the
bottle, and II they are not bought for push
ing the wine they bring good price from
manufacturers Oh domestic cbampagnes.
who use them TO palm cif miserable stuff on
the unsuspectiBg public. Pm told tha,
Mumm's agent has recently indicted no less
than fourteen manufacturers OF domestic
chempagncs for this offence. But that isn't
the only way that fellow makes money. lie
hes other dedges."
"For examplel"
"Well, when he is waiting he invariably
carries q Jules Mumm cork in bis pockei.
A guest calls FOR bottle OF Mumm's dry
He runs TO the wine-cellar, gets a bottle OF
foreign or domestic wine which should not
cost more than 81. opens Il in the presence
OF the guest, and places il, together with
the extra Mumm cork, on the table. easily
concealing the cork that he has Just drawn.
a glance at the cork satisfies the guest that
Ii Is all right-there is a good deal OF i'm
agination about those things, you know
sud he pays $3.50 or 81 foI it. The waiter
turns over 81 TO the house, and pockets
the difference. But lie rea.s his Iichest
harvest at fancy balls, such as the ATiOn in
New York. Champagne flows there like
wa,er-litorally by thousands OF bottles.
Parties get into box and order VINE
none but the best, OF course. They get Il
at frst, but how much attention do you
suppose they pay 10 the brand they are
after they have had n few glasses
None whatever. The waiter supplies them
with bottle after bottle ut 81 esch-miseFable
domestic STUFF, which had COS, him at the bar
perhaps q quarter OF that sum, He makes
In another way, too. Few people re1liz,
how the curlY-haired. wire-drinking
: darlinPs Of society are bambooZled.
Two thirds over they pay as little atten-
ton TO the number Of bottles they have
ordered as they do 10 the brands. and it is
The easiest thing in the world for waiter
10 collect psy for Dozen or fifteen bottles
" hen only ten have been ordered. That
fellow pointed out is worker when he's |
ut IL, and bold one. / have not o doubt
hat be could clear at Liederkfanz or 40
Arion ball over s1C0. Do you wonder
hat he dresses welli"