The morning call., 1893-05-07
HIGHLY HONORED.
A Philadeiphian Chosen to Preside
Over the Kaiser Wine Cellar,

OfSI thC hdtoCt WI SCtidIs
Jim Weigand. native Of Philadelphia.
has the honor OF having been appointed KEEL
lermeister. or chief butler, of William II of
Germany on the day the latter ascended the
throne. How he became acquainted with his
imperial employer is not stated. but it is said
that Jim is great connoisseur Of whisky, q
tavorite beverage of the Kaiser, who, with
Bismarck. divides the reputation OF pos
sessng one of the ''best pitched" stomachs
in the fatherland, qualification of no mean
import. Jim recently submitted to an
interview with a Philadelphia Bulletin
man. by which the reporter gathered
some interesting details about the i'm
perial wine cellar at the old castle
in Berlin. The buffers Office at its en-
trance is filled with long rows of cupboards,
in which, behind the glass doors, the sam
pies OF all kinds OF glasses and cups used in
the imperial castles, villas and hunting
lodges are kept. Voluminous records, dat
ing back 10 the times OF Frederick the
Great, describe brand, vintage, firm. and
price of all wines and liquors stored in the
caves, as well as the names of ell individu-
ais and corporations that furnished liquor
donations to the Emperor and his ancestors
On all sides extend long and low corri-
dors and galleries, well ventilated and
ilghted by numerous gas jets, which are To-
Gated at the distance of ten feet. The first
section of the cellar contains the costIiest
and rarest wines and liquors. Each brand
has its separate. incl0sure fixed in the
walls several feet deep and shut off
by iron ratings to which tablets are at
tached that give name, age, price and
Il lumber of bottles stocked there. There are
wines from all parts of the globe, some of
inestimable value. There is found, for in
stance. "Steinberger Cabinet" whose
every bottle originally cost $40 One sa-
credly guarded crypt incluses 5000 bottles of
Schloss JohaGnis berg; another, mOldy
layers of "Lebfrauenmlch, sufficient
to keep regiment of the guards
Tor whole month ID eXuberance OF
spirit. There are Italian, Spanish ana
Portuguese wines stored away in ample
inches, among the latter 200 bottles 'pre-
Sented by John Y of Portugal to King
Frederick William l in A. d. 1876" Per-
sian wines III immense glass jugs with short
necks are standing in n rotunda unopened
a present from the Shah to William IL.
Catawba and red California wines near by
came as birthday presents from Americans.
Jerusalem burgundy" an anomalous de-
nomination 1t would seem, occupies the
adjoining cave.
A special corridor is reserved for tuns of
Rhine and Mosel wines. Among them three
large barrels, marked respectively 10000
marks" 80, 900 marks" and $4,000 marks"
contain the choicest liquids of the father
land. Asked as to the truth of the report that
the present Emperor would never drink or
have served French champagne at the table,
jim replied: Nonsense! These 5000 bot
ties are surely not for mere show. They
begin with German champagne and oys-
tiers. but never serve 1t as dessert"
American whisky is well represented
and tue Emperor is said to prefer
it to any genuine American liquor.
though "kirschwasser" is his special
favorite. Jamaica rum of the years Fred
erick the Great would now and then indulge
in is extant in long rows Of big jugs and
TASKS. Present etiquette prescrlbes that no
bottles be placed on the imperial tables.
The wine is brought up in the original
bottles, wrapped in napkins and poured in
glasses for the guests in the order of the
menu, The lackeys seldom knowing what
they are serving. Only Jim of Philadelphia
knows number. brand and beverage