How We Saved Our Madeira.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 65, 30 August 1884, Page 5

How We Saved Our Madeira.

It was tho close of bur Christmas dinner, and we wero draining the last bottle of tho old Madeira. The vintage was exhausted ; and wo knew when we rovorentially placed the aged flask on tlie table that, under existing circumstances, it was to us as tho sole survivor of an Indian raee — the last of the Madeiras. With wistful eyos wo watchod tho golden tide obb lower and lower, and not a fow calculations woro made by expectant members of the half-circlo about our iiroside, as to who would be tho allottoo of tho last precious drops. Radiant to the last, liko a sun, it finally set into the wineglass of an old gentleman whoso seat was nearest the tiro. Others of the company had drained their glasses, fearing that unless thoy exhibited a decided deficit, the costly wine would by acclamation be passed onwards. Not so tha old gentleman. Slowly and solemnly ho added the remaindor of tho Madeira to his already fair supply; then heaving a sigh, ho handed tho ompty bottle to his disappointed successor, placed the full glass cxi the mantelpioce, and contemplated it. ■ There was a befitting silence for somo moments. The old gentleman tasted his Madeira with a melancholy relish, and having attracted evorybodj's attention by an exaggerated " hem !" volunteered the following story, which, as Irccolloct it to have eclipsed any other on the same occasion, I have attempted to reproduce briefly thus :—: — In the island of Barbadoes it was usual for absentee land proprietors to bo represented by some agricultural agent, or ''attorney " as he was called thero. This important functionary, in common with most peoplo in England, had his boxing season at Christmas, and it was customary to pond certain annual presents for his acceptance, such as hams, bairels of spiced beef, cheese, and wine. Some years ago a Mr Uollingsworth was. the attorney or manager of certain estates in Barbadoes, called the Codringlon Estates, under trust to to the Socioty for tho Propagation of the Gospel. As usual at IJhiistmas time, one year this gentleman received as a gift a hogshead of special Madeira. As might bo supposed, great value was set upon the wino, and all care was taken of it during its transit to the island. On an appointed day orders wero given for broaching tho cask, and great expectations wero naturally raised ; a group surrounded the hogshead ; tho cooper was called, tho wino tapped: but, to tho vast disappointment of all, tho Madeira was found to be in a highly acetous state— in plain English, tho valued wine was vinegar ! Something had happened to it ! Everysaid so. Knowing hands declared, perhaps not without truth, that the failure was o\\ ing to defective fermentation, insuilicient fining, or careless cashing. Bo that as it might, the wine was spoiled, and, save for kitchen purposes, worthless ; and evon foi that use it was not as yet entirely fit. Well, tho cask was rolled out into the mill-yaid with expressions of disgust, the head unhooped, and carelessly placed over tho top oi the hogshead, for tho purpose of allowing tho rays of the sun to ripen the deceitful Madeira into honest vinegar. No dependence was to be placed in it — it was lclt to its fate. Somo -six or eight months afterwards, upon the occasion of somo festivity at the "great hou^e,"' the preparation of some piece de residancc required the assistance of vinegar. The kitchen stock was exhausted — tho nearest neighbours, of course, wero singularly enough in want, at that moment, of all the little that remaircd to them. The waiters were at their wits' end ; and tho cook, under the combined influence of pressure of work and the absence of the necessary ingredients, was almost a maniac. Heated negroes rushed tumultuously to Mr lfollingsworth with the lamentable tidings. Ho soon bethought him of tho despised Madeira. On the hint, away flew tho rabble to the mill yard, and instantaneously some of tho contents of the exiled cask were drawn olTin a jug. But no expression of relief shone in tho intelligent countenances of thc-o who hastily tasted tho liquor. Evidently theii difliculby was not solved. Something was the matter with the Madeira again. Slowly the drawers retrace their steps, bcaiing the jug with the perverted liquor at arm's length, lest the manifest presence of a darker power than even Cuftee himself should do them harm. Mr liollingsworth tasted the contents. He started ! Surprise, but not alarm, agitated him. The negroes Avatchcd with mistrust and fear. Mr liollingsworth tasted it again ; he smiled this time. The negroes breathed again. There was a strange convulsion of Mr 11. 's eyelid: it was a telegraph of inward appreciation. " Roll the cask into the cellar. Hoop on the head carefully. Lock the door and bring mo the key." The order was rapidly obeyed. Dismissing the itill unsatisfied negroes, Mr Hollingsworth croeps to the cellar, enters, taps tho wino, tastes tho wino, drinks it. He laughs aloud ! And why ? The vinegar is no longer vinegar, but superlative Madeira ! How they drank that night ! Evidently the host had kept the good wine until now. How they drank ! And was there ever such Madeira ! General Haynes endorsed it ; and the then rector of St. John's parish certified to its merits "with meditative grunts of much content." Well, the wine didn't last very long. Tho climate of the West Indios is, I confess, a very thirsty climate. It passed away, dooply regretted by all who knew its worth. And when they came to the bottom of the cask the secret came out, which had worked this wondorful cure and metamorphosis. At the bottom of tho hogshead, in various stages of decomposition, lay the bodies of four or five large Eats ! It is well known that animal matter refines wino. The rats, thirsty souls, stopped to drink, and met an acetic grave. But their good lived after them, and their epitaphs wero the praises over tho Madiera they had saved.

A novel method of displaying jewels on black lace dresses is a wide ribbon of red satin or moire ; the latter is preferable, worn across the shoulders, as her Majestywears the ribbon of tho Garter ; on this are sewn diamond ornaments, stars, flower*, or the varied fancies of the day. Long strings of pearls, which are more in demand than ever, are also worn on the low bodices, either fastened by ornaments at the front and back of the bodice, and again on the shoulders, hanging in graceful curves between, or hanging from the shoulder |in graduated lengths under the arm. Chains ot diamonds arc worn also from the left shoulder, and fastened in the centre of the front under an ornament,