The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-08-19
COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS AND WINE
A Custom That Is Slowly Dying oat,
hut Mot Rnfnra IL NNaa Tinaa

A Custom That Is Slowly Dying Dat,
but Not Before II was Time.
To be or not to be? That is the question.
Strenuous efforts, ! am told, are being
made to uphold the fast dying out prsc-
tice Of ''wine dinners" The west of
England towns are fighting hardest; but
the best men on the road have made up
their minds upon the matter, and are
fully determined to make every table in
England free table. No longer, say
the young and go ahead men, will we
submit to the coercion Of hotel pro-
prietors. Only few of these now re-
main; but they must go, as the others
went, before the edict OF healthy opin-
ion. If we must drink it will be nt our
own option, and there will be rumpus
one of these days when an attempt is
made to saddle nondrinkers with the
wine guiped down by the old crusted
port men.
This is the feeling with at least three
fourths of the 1000 men on the road,
and nothing will Withstand a majority
like this. Here and there may be found
few weak men who have not the oour-
age Of their convictions and who bow
to the wish of the quarter Of a century
ambassador. This condition of things,
however, cannot last long. Men are
becoming displeased at the number of
hats which have been sent round for the
widows and orphans of the men who, to
be plain. have simply spent upon them
selves what they were morally bound to
put away for their wives and families.
Wine dinners belonged to that quiet,
dull period Of fifty years ago.
The last quarter of century's progress
has, however, driven them well out of
the way. In the rush and hurry Of the
commercial life of today, no matter how
much bottle of wine might be enjoyed,
it is questionable whether one out Of
half dozen houses can honestly afford
the expense, and the most careful tray
elers will tell you that the soothing eff
fects are antagonistic to after dinner
business exertion. This needs no fur.
ther argument; it is the unanimous
opinion of every honest ambassador.
My remarks upon wine dinners are in,
spired by q somewhat recent circum.
stance which TRANSFERRED in a well known
west of England town. Some twenty.
three gentlemen sat down to dinner at u
particular table which has long been
notorious for its collection of corks.
Close to the vice president there sat Q
youth. He was invited by the presiden:
to join him, but he thanked him politely
and said he preferred not to. The
refusal drew out from that worthy gen
tleman the remark that houses were
sending out poor class of men nova.
days. Nettled somewhat by the rejoin
der, the novice replied that he placed
very little value on the presidents opin
ion. Then said the president, "If yoI
refuse to join the table you had better
withdraw" but this he stoutly declined
to do. Next to the youth sat gra,
haired ambassador, to whom the presi
dent addressed himself; ~ presume
sir, you will join me-"
We'll" said the veteran, 81 have
never before refused, but in the present
instance must decline. and because Of
your objectionable bad taste"
Gentleman after gentleman refused
upon the same ground, and, to make {
long story short, the vice was elected
president and the services of the orig
inal president dispensed with that day
Six weeks passed away, and not few
of the same men sat around the same
table, but things were changed. On the
mantelpieco stood a subscription lis
headed, subscriptions are invited fol
tho widow and children of Mr.. -, who
for upward of thirty years was one Of
the best known men on the west o.
England ground" Mr.. was tn,
president referred to above.--Draper'
Record.