The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-18
EMPVIES MS WINE CELLAR.
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last nigh, ~ ilendes~n tas'is. ths ha6d.
asn,e hn,us N 90 Arnatog IoFn y IfeHdara
80. Tirmwntlne Sixteenth stfa~t snd ovsr.
lpok,na the city Tho verv gutter outside
ne splendhi Ananaion ran fsiolsnt with
Tho choie~a, JUICES ~ the sfsp" There
va wins. vine every wh~fe, hut nv, =
drop 10 drinh mt one aahls' ~ tha sur
was u--i Ia Stake The thirst ~ ih- com.
pany, numbering more than rms h,ndrei
p~rspna, Who sew the SPARKLING beverages
EuraiinR alone the pavemsnt Into he open
tewer II was such . scsns 80 woud have
nlade Omar Khayyam weep and any hihu-
lnus man cry out with sorrow.
Mr. and Mrs. Henderson. who soine time
ago became members II the independent
Order Of R~echabltes, were Supplying their
spacious vine collar. stocked With every
drinkable that the palate could wish for.
They were breaking the bottles aud the
jugs and allowing their contents TO run
into tho streets and find their way into the
murky waters Of the Potomac.
For years Henderson Castle. the gor-
Eeotis brownstone residence Of the former
Senator from Missouri. has been known
a. the most h%ospitable home In Washing
ton. II has been the scene Of many recep-
ions and many bountiful repasts. whore
gathered the distinguished OF political and
social life Of Washington. Always on these
occasions the choicest product Of the vins-
yard was served, and glasses clicked mer-
rily az the guests drank TO the health OF
the genial host and his wife.
Mr.. Henderson came to Washington as
one Of Missouri's Senators during the period
following the civil war. He was the asst
Republican Senator from that State prior
10 the election Of Senate Warner. one of
Missouri's present Senators. He was
wealthy, and after his term Of Office ex-
pired concluded TO make his nome in Wash
ington, and erected one Of the handsomest
residences In the city. Mr.. and Mrs, Hem
derson nave entertained avishly.
About three years ago q change came
over them. They became convinced that
wine 10 a mocker and that strong drink is
raging. Both joined the Independent Order
of Rechabites, and an organization known
az the John B. Henderson Tent was named
after the distinguished convert to tenn
perance. After that the wine cellar was
locked, but the key was not thrown in the
we'll.
Mr.. Henderson kept wondering what he
would do with the elaborate supply Of
wines and liquors which the cellar con-
tanned. His conscience dictated that he
should not give 1t away, and he soorned to
sell L., and yet he resolved that he could
not keep L.. Finally the decision was
reached that the costly beverages should
be destroyed. Accordingly he invited more
thai a hundred members OF John B, Hem
derson Tent and OF Onward Tent, OF which
Mrs. Henderson Is a member, to cone to
Henderson Castle last night and assist In
the destruction OF these costly drinkables,
As a prelude Of the work there was a
meeting OF the two tents in the parlors OF
the Henderson home, and a committee was
appointed to 60 into the cellar and bring
out every drop Of intoxicating beverage
and pour IL into the street. Case after
case OF champagne, bottle after bottle Of
imported whiskeys, brandies, cordials,
cocktails, bourbon, sherry. port, claret,
burgundy and liquors Of all sorts were
brought forth. Some of the demijohns
and bottles were covered with oobwebs
and the dust Of many years, testifying to
the age Of their contents. but none Of these
was spared.
Astalwart Rechabite seized the first bottle
and crashed 1t against a huge boulder on
- -aoln, NV Tea at,o Rbltn~ 49,
tents flowed out upon the greensward,
Another and another bottle was broken,
the destroyers not taking the trouble to
pull the oorks. Soon there was a. puddle
OF wine, and as the breaking OF bottles
and jugs became faster a tiny stream Of
mixed drinks began to flow out into the
street. In a little while 1t became almost
q torrent as 1t gurgled down the hill past
the mansion and found its way intoa sewer
opening,
Still the enemies OF strong drink kept
at their work Of destruction, and az they
did 80 a rich, tantalizing aroma arose from
the surging rlvulet, But there was no
halt in the pro ceedings until the last de-
oanter had been broken md Ito contents
added to the stream Of royal booze. The
R~echabites were getting revenge good and
plenty upon John Barleycorn and al. OF his
relatives,
After the ceremony the company, having
satisfied themselves that the cellar was
empty, calmly watched the last drop drain
of into the sewer and then returned TO the
mansion, where there was a programme
Of song and speech making. More than a
thousan d dollars worth of wines and liquors
were destroyed.