Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-08-10
METIIEGLIN.
4 beverage That Onco Knocked Out Sam
Ward.

IN amusing aaecdote OF the famous
Judge of eatables and drinks, Sam
Ward. is thus, related by Halston in
the New York Times:
Talking of good judges of liquor,
said gossipy friend the other day,
'.poor Ssm Ward, that's gone, had rs
keen a palate as the best Of them. Sam
was proud of his sagacity in detecting
authorizations in good old brandics, liq-
tors, and cordials, although / have
Heard him boast but once or twice
about his skill in that line. One sum-
mort was early in the seyenties-I
happened to meet him at Lenox. and
was with him in a small party of cou-
viyial spirits who took long drive one
day. We had dinner at a back coun-
try hotcl-eyen in the backwoods you
don't find inns nowadays-and it was
very ordinary feast. The wine was
worse, and Sam Ward fell into ironi-
caliy extolling its virtues. From sar-
casm the talk became earnest, and fl
nally we were discussing famous
brands. Sam, of course, was the soul
of thc party, and, warming up on the
subject, went so far as to boast that he
could detect any kind of liquor with
ease. We were all inierested no obody
was ever bored by Sam Ward-and it
was late when we started on our home
ward drive. We missed the main road
and were caught in a shower, that de-
veloped into a steady pour, so that we
were glad to stop at the first conven-
lent farmhouse. The proprietor SEEM
cd to be triiie suspicious at first, but
Sam soon won him over completely;
the old man brought out some home
made wine, and Sam told good story.
The farmer produced more wine and
Sam had moro stories. Down the cell
lar stairs went the old fellow again,
and this time he came up with his stone
pitcher half full of thick. oily fluid.
Mr.. Ward, who always got the best.
was honored with a big goblet that
held nearly pint. Our host filed it
60 the brim, while the rest of us had to
be satisfied with smaller allotmcnts.
We all slipped and slipped again. 1t
was avery warming drink.
".What do you call this, my friendp
asked Sam. The old boy chucklcd,
and told US to guess. Instead of guess
ing we drank some more, and emptied
our glasses before we rose. Again tic
cups were filled and again they were
drained. ! felt happy, and the others
seemed quito rs merry. just then the
hired man came into the kitchen with
tho announcement that he had got the
cows. The farmer hated to 90, he
said, but milking was milking, and
prepared to go out. Up rose Sam also
<sf - etk
but wc did not want it thought that
we felt the thimbleful of the stuff we d
swallowed. Sam insisted on milking d
cow, and we all went out 70 q leaky
old sized. under which stood four peace
ful boyincs. The route was more or
less indirect perhaps the ground was
slppery with the rain. In vain the
old man protested. Sam would milk,
and the party Of admirers huddled
arounti ii an applauding circle to sec
the performance Ward gravely took
the stool. placed it under the animal s
nose, and then 1urched 10 the ground
directly back Of her, thrust the pail for
ward under her hind legs, and bravely
began his task. 1t was meditatiye
COW, and she couldn' stand everything.
No milk came down, but something
else did. and that was Sam Ward. who.
rolling head over heels into a puddle.
lar sprawling before us. Somebody
helped him up. Sam Ward looked first
on that COW and then On the stool: LIS
picked up the stool, SAT down on Il.
and went 90 sleep. The next morning
! remember getting out Of 4 feather
bed and crawling down to breakfast
with t3n skstvanr4f hn.d ,...~ ,.s.-..a 49,