The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer. [volume], September 28, 1890, Image 9

About The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1887-1896

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ESTABLISHED 1SOO.
SEPTEMBER 28, ISQO.
PAGES 9 TO 16
A SPIRITED CONTEST.
HAS DANCED FOR 506YEAR&
HOW AMBMOAK WINES HAVE FOUGHT
THEIR WAY TO FAVOK.
TH13 INTERESTING REMINISCENCES OF
A VETERAN DANCING MASTER.
ff7-rmW' jisLj i i- Tir.
si
They Now nohl Tholr Own With the Iin
ported Artlclon Points In Which the
Latter Hnvo the Advantage SoinethhiB
About the Trmlo In Washington.
Mr. E. J. McQuade, ono of tlio members of
the To-Knlon wine agency here, in speaking of
the remarkable growth of the American wine in
dustry in the past few years and the rapid way
in which the domestic wines nro displacing the
imported in popular use, 6aid:
"In 1870 there was little or no demand for do
mestic wines. The business dragged, and a
great many growers wcro forced to nbandon
their vineyards for a mora lucrative Investment.
Domestic wines then were sold at ten and fifteen
cents a gallon and wcro made into vinegar. The
savings banks refused to loan money on vine
yard property, as they considered the vines
added no value whatever to the land. Ourdcal
ers knew that their market for imported wines,
on which profits were greater, would be ruined
It the use of tho domestic product should be
come general, and did everything in their power
by way of adulterating processes to destroy its
incipient promise of prosperity. Since that
time, however, tho business in California wines
has steadily increased, and if tho interest is not
stilled by Congressional interference I have no
hesitancy in saying that within fifty years Cali
fornia w'incs will not only be tho only wine sold
in this country, but will to a largo degree sup
plant the European wines right in their own
countries.
"Our soil is too rich at present, and because of
tho consequent Increase in the quantity of
sugar In the grape our wines are 3 or 3 per
cent, stronger in alcohol than the imported.
This unfavorable characteristic will disappeor
with the ago of the vlneyaids, and within
twenty years probably only the standard per
centage of alcohol will exist In the home pro
duct. There are at present 150,000 acres of Cali
fornia land devoted to the culture of the grape.
This territory Is divided up among 5,000 vine
yards, and there arc about forty thousand peo
ple dependent upon tho business for their sup
port. There is a capital of ?00,000,000 invested
in the business In that State alone. In
1860 California produced 0,500,000 gallons.
In 1S90 tho nroduct will probably reach
22,000,000 gallons. We have been in the
business as agents for the To-Kalon vine
yards since 18S5, aud during that time we
have seen our sales iu this city gradu
ally growing until now they aie 500 per cent, of
what they were then. Washington is an excel
lent market for wines of nil kinds, and the
users like to get a good quality of pure wine.
California wine Is uot only used as a substitute
for imported brands, but has found a place on
tho tables of private houses where wine was
never used befoie. There Is probably no city
in America in which are gathered a set of men
better capable of judging of tho excellence of
wines than this one. As an Instance let mo men
tion the case of the Italian Minister, who went
out to tho Glenn Echo Caf 6 tho other day, and
refused to touch our native wine, calling for
Bordeaux. It cost him two dollars a bottle,
and he 6ald it was good. His companion then
ordered a bottle of California claret, for which
ho paid twenty-five cents. Tho foreigner un
hesitatingly said tho latter was the better wine
of the two, and said that in tho future the Cali
fornia brands should take tho place of tho Im
ported on his table.
"The naval ofllcers lime traveled pretty much
'all over the world tnd ought to know a good
wine when thev taste it. Wo have supplied the
Atlanta, tho Kcarsarge, tho Baltimore, and a
number of other vessels bound on foreign cruises
with their full supplies, made up of tho Califor
nia product. Wo furnish nearly all tho clubs of
tho city with these brands, and whero formerly
thero was no demand for Miem now tho club
members Insist on having wipes of homo manu
facture. "In whatever line of product wo may equal or
excel tho European growers, thero aro, neverthe
less, two kinds of wine in which wo haven't
reached their standard. These are champagne
and sherry. Wo have fairly good brands In
both, but wo cau'tcome up to tho Imported arti
cle. No doubt in time, since wo have their vinos
and a similar climate in California, wc will at
tain tho perfection of their methods, and then
wo may even equal mem in ineso."
"California wines grow In popularity every
day," said Mr. II. A. Sellgson,' one of tho
largest dealers in the city. "They never will
quite take tho place of imported wines, for tho
reason that thero are a few forelgu wines that
cannot bo produced in this country. Tokay,
for instance, Is a wlno which is mado in Hun
gary. Tho climate of California Is not exactly
suitable for Its production, and domestic Tokay
is far inferior to tho imported. Then, of course,
thero aro classes of people who must have
something that Isn't home-made. They will
contlnuo to drink imported wines oven when
ours come to be as good or better.
"Washington has become an excellent market
for California wine, which now takes tho place,
to a great extent, of whisky, beer, aud other
beverages at the table. Many persons who
formerly used water and other of tho ordinary
beverages at tho table have substituted wine,
simply becauso It has corno to bo so cheap. I
started my establishment hero about soven years
ago. Then 1 sold probably not over fifty bar
rels of wlue a year. Now I sell that many a
week. I attrlbuto much of my success to ad
vertising in tho newspapers.
"Of course, tho ago of tho vineyard has a
great deal to do with the excellence of tho
product, and In that respect wo aro placed at a
disadvantage with tho European grower. Tho
Uueyardd In Southern California aro tho relics
of old Spanish sovereignty on tho racifle Coa6t,
and aro therefore quite old. Tho wlno we get
from that section Is fully equal to any European
production of tho same kind. As soon as our
vineyards have aged a few years moro California
wines will lake u jdaco in competition with tho
best Imported. Wines aro sold at an ago of
threo years and upward. Senator Stanford re
fuses to sell any wines less than ten years old.
Thero aro a great many persons who kuow this
and demand his wines. Tho ordinary grower,
though, is quite willing to let his reputation
grow or suffer on athieo years' vintage. Tho
European wines aro sold as new as ono year In
some cases, and a great deal of tho wine that
wo get hero is of an ago which makes it unsuit
able for 6ale. Thero Is a great deal of adulter
ation dono iu Imported wine, too.
A man can hardly afford to adulterate
eloret when ho sells It at eighty cents
a gallon as wo do tho domestic wine, but
&jVAr&$l ;8ftZSB5vs! iSi - vi-iir wait SSKSiMzZJiWrMni Vi ll ' jS-t "'J-'
mlliffirnH'""WEw York's"" mMKfllWil' JSi
vffi;fc'2BBJfJkl PATENT-ADJUSTABLE. mmf'M ' V W zSz
WSpB fnstalmentt FAK. WJU I ML . Si
COLU3IBIA "Well, really, Mr. New York! II" that is the best you enn do after all thes-o years I think 1 will have to
move the General over to Arlington, where he at least can have the company of his old comrades."
in the imported brands it is difTercut. I men
tioned the fact that there are some Americans who
won't drink wlno unless tho bottle has a duty
stamp on Its neck, but there are a great many
such who drink American wines even after
breaking tho seal of the foreign grower. A
great many Europeans find it profitable to im
port California wlue, uottlo it in tlielr country,
and reshlp it to America. '1 he users aro In a
happy state of Ignorant bliss In that ca60,
though, and as they never learn better there Is
probably no harm done. Tho months of June,
July, and August 6eem to bo tho ones in which
most wino is sold. During those months of the
present year our average daily sales were
probably threo hundred gallons of clnret and
one hundred and fifty or two bundled gallons of
6herry and other sweet wines a week. In wlu-
ter our sales of sweet wines aro much heavier,
and we soil then as many as 500 gallons In a
week."
.
LIKE A FAIRY REALM,
St. 1'otor'H Now Church IJouutlfully Fitted
Up for tho Great Fair anil Uuziir.
Tho grand fair and bazar for tho benefit of St.
Peter's now Catholic Church will bo opened to
morrow evening at the new church, corner of
Second and C streets southeast, by Cardinal
Gibbons, with elaborate ceremonies and music.
Tho fair will beheld In tho main body of tho
church building. Tho booths, which have been
designed by Johuson & Short, architects, and
draped and decorated by tho most experienced
decorators In tho city, present a magnifi
cent effect. Thero aro 6lx principal booths, In
cluding a largo ilower bower and several an
nexes. Tho ono In charge of tho Sunday school
teachers and scholars Is a magnificent design in
pink and whlto, representing tho Greek Tan
theouj tho Sacred Heart booth Is a quaint Moor
ish design In red and whlto; tho Sodality booth,
a Venetian ideal in blue tints aud white, while
tbo Lndles Benevolent booth represents a Swiss
chalet stylo of architecture that Is both unique
and beautiful. Besides these principal booths
aro the Confectionery booth, a handsome design
of oranamental work aud art drapery, and the
paddlo boxes, which aio draped In tho iiatlonal
colors and aro purely American In type. Tho
flower bower Is a largo octagonal structuro In
tho centre of tho hall, with n minaret loof,
which fully suggests the object for which It was
erected. A section of tho Marine Band, In con
junction with tho graud orgau, will reuder tho
music on tho occasion, which will consist in
part of two grand choruses by a largo choir
composed of tho leadlug slugers of tho city.
Tho now church is ono of tho largest In tho city,
and Its principal auditorium is being used as the
fair ball. It Is largo, spacious, aud excellently
ventilated, aud with tho magnificent deeoratlous
presents tho most beautiful fair hall that has
been witnessed in this city, Tho fair continues
from September 29 until October 18.
Electric Belt Free.
To Introduco It aud obtain agents tho undor
slg ned firm will Klvo away a fow of tholr 85.00
Gorman Elootrlo Bolta Invented by Prof. Van der
Woydo, Pres. ot tho Now York Electrical Society.
(U.8.Pat.257,M7,)a positive euro for Nervous
Debility, Hhoumutlsm, Loss of Power, otc. Ad
dross KlectrloAKonoy, P.O.Box 178, Brooklyn.
N.Y. Wrltoto them to-day.
THE POST OFFICE CLERKS.
They Expretss Tholr SentlincntH as to tho
Fiiiluro of LeKlnlution.
A large and enthusiastic meeting of tho Post
Office Clerks' Association of Washington a.5
held in the City Post Office on Friday evening,
Mr. II. Willis presidlug, with Mr. J. J. Shugrue
as secretarj'. The purpose of the meeting was
to take action In regard to the neglect of Con
gress to give them the necessary legislation that
would place them on an equal footing with
clerks of tho various Departments, aud also to
Indorse tho big muss meeting that takes place
In New York on Monday evening. The meeting
was addressed by various members of tho asso
ciation, pointing out tho injustice dono them.
Tho meeting unanimously indorsed tho action
of tho New York association, and a committee
consisting of Messrs. J. J. Shugrue, Benjamin
Barkhurst. and Cupt. Mills was appointed to
draft resolutions expressing tho sentiments of
the Washington association, and pledging finan
cial support. Tho clerks are very desirous of
securing eight hours, fifteen days' leave of ab
sence, and equalization of p.iy. 'The meeting In
New York on Monday will bo addressed by tho
most prominent speakers in tho country
- -. .
The Vacant Professorship in the Navy
As already announced iu theso columns,
thero are several applicants for tho vacancy
created by tho resignation of Professor (now
Assistant Secretary) Soley, and thero Is consid
erable interest iu tho result, which will no
doubt soon bo auuouuced. Another candidate
appeared this week, Mr. Everett Ilnyden,
marino meteorologist of tho Hydrographtc Of
fice and ensigu on tho retired list. Mr. Ilayden,
it will bo remembered, lost his leg through an
injury received soveu years ago by reason of a
land slide while with ono of Mai. Powell's geo
logical pai ties iu tho Cascade Raugc, Oregon.
Whether this would debar his appointment is
a question, of course, although his service eluce
that time at the SmIthsonIan,with the Geological
Survey, at tho observatory of Harvard College,
and In tho llydrographic Olllco servo to show
that ho is uot physically disqualified for shore
duty. Indeed, since tho accident he has mado
a trip to Cuba and to Germany on duty con
nected with his work In tho Hydrographic Of
flco without any difficulty.
Tho Speed of Railway Trains.
The demands of modern travelers is con
stantly in tho direction of Increased speed, pro
vided it can bo attained without increased risk.
No trains in tho world meet tho required con
ditions as fully as tho Royal Blue Lino trains
between Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia,
and New York via B. fc O. H. R. All tho cars
in all tho trains aro vcstlbuled, heated by steam,
lighted by gas, aud protected by Pullman's
autl-telescoplng device. Tho euglues all burn
hard coal aud coke, so thero Is absolute free
dom from cinders and sinoke. Tho road Is a
superb double-tracked steel-railed highway, and
travel on the Royal Blue Hue is therefore not
only safe, but it is free from all disagreeable
features.
Drink Taunhaucor beer. H. Benzler.
IR. TINDALL'S SUGGESTION.
It Would lie a Good Idea to m alco tho Po
lice Ueutenaiitn Captains.
Dr. Tindall, secretary of tho Distilct Com
missioners, does not believe that the police force
is invested with enough authority or dignity to
bring It up to the level of other cities. "While
I do not caro to tuurp any of Maj. Moore's
rights," said Dr. Tindall. "I think the best
move he could make would bo to change the ex
isting state of affairs at tho various station
houses. In the first place, I would make every
lieutenant now in charge of the precincts a cap
tain, so that each place would bo looked after
by such a titled ofllcer. It has a better sound,
is more compatible with dignity, and I am 6iire
would work advantageously for the discipline
of tho force. Every other city ot Importance
has Its precincts presided over by captains, tho
head being either a major or "inspector, and
there Is no reason why such a large place as this
city should'nt follow suit. I firmly bellevo in
Increasing tho force, as Maj. .Moore proposes,
but I am sure, on the other hand, that tho desig
nation of captains to look after tho precincts
will help affairs considerably."
- - --
The Woman's Clinic.
Those Interested lu establishing a woman's
dispensary aro showing great zeol and meetlug
with much success. At tho meeting held Tues
day a temporary organization was formed, and
tho following ofllcers were elected: Chairman,
' Dr. Ida J. Ileiberger; Secretary, Dr. Jessie
i Keppelar; Treasurer, Dr. Amelia Erbacli.
Board of Directors, Professor E. I. Fiistoe,
I Mrs. II. L. Coolidge. Mai. W. H. Clapp,
i Dr. D. I. Lamb, Mr. Dan B. Lloyd, Dr. II. O.
Yarrow, Mrs. E, E. Massou, Mr. A. S. Sol
. omans, Dr. Mary Parsons, Dr. Swan Uuruett,
1 Dr. J. II. Bryan, Dr. Clara Bliss Hinds, Dr.
Julia E. Smith, Dr. D. W. Prentiss, and Dr.
, William Leo. Tho committee having tho
choice of a location Is hard at work, aud will
doubtless secure a homo bythol6t, and tho
work will bo fairly launched. Tho following
druggists will receive subscriptions and dona
tions; The Portland and the Shoreham. Mr.
Julius Lansbuigh has donated tho chairs for
tho reception-room. Tho great need is an op
erating chair, which it Js hoped will bo do
nated. Tho PrettyGirl and the'Bicyclo.
1 A pretty mulatto girl and a lady's bicycle had
a wrestling match on Pennsylvania avenue yes
terday afternoon, and the bicycle came out tho
victor. Tho girl wa6 attired in a very llashy
suit, while a Nellie Bly cap adorued her head.
Sho was attracting considerable attention from
her riding, but unfortunately her dress became
entangled In the cogwheel and ere she could
dismount it had torn her dress aud ono skirt
completely off. Ofllcer Frazier extricated her
and sent tho discomfited maiden on her way re
joicing, Consumption Guroly Cured.
To tho Editor: Please inform your readers that
I have a positive remedy for consumption. By
Its timely use thousands of hopeless eusus buvo
been pormanoutly cured. I shall bo glad tosond
two bottles of my remedy ritUK to any of your
readers who have consumption if they will send
mo their Express and P. O. Addross. Hespoct
fully,T.A.8LOCUM,M. 0.,181Ponrl8t.,N. Y.
ProfcsKor Sheldon Learned Something of
"Prnoflciil Politics" In Tippccniioo's
Time, Wan an Actor, and Thou Toole Up
Dnnclnc; OldtDancos Revived.
For twenty-Govcn years Professor Sheldon has
been teaching Washington people how to dance.
In that long period ho has had as pupils many
who have since become distinguished In ono
way or another.
The Professor has also been an actor in his
time, and hos an endless fund of Interesting
reminiscences.
"I was born way back In the 'twenties," ho
said. "I don't take much Interest in politics
now, and haven't voted for twenty years, but
one of tho earliest things I remember having
taken part in was when I helped carry tho hick
ory pole, on which wo hung the flag celebrating
Jackson's election. Politics were as corrupt
then as tlfey aro now. I remember tho timo I
supported a man's family while he went over
into Pennsylvania to do some 'pipe-laying' for
William Henry Harrison. Tho election in
Pennsylvania took place In October, and they'd
get all tho New Yorkers to come over thero and
vote, and when tho Now York olectlons took
place in November tho Pcnusylvunians would
do tho same for their neighbors. They called
that 'pipe-laying,' and if I helped corrupt the
Government by supporting that man's family,
I'm Eorry for it.
"1'vo been dancing ever since 1833. I made
my first appearance on tho stage in 1837 at the
Coates-street Theatre in Philadelphia. I took
small parts, and tho only pay wo used to get
was tho privilege of sitting up in tho pit after
we'd played our paits. A good actor iu those
days didn't get over three or four dollars a
week. I've seen the elder Booth play
'Rlchard III' for a benefit, and there wasn't
over fifty dollars in tho house. 1 danced on tho
stage principally. Sometimes I took a part in
the cast. I got to be pretty thoroughly ac
quainted with nearly nil of the old-time actors,
and taught a good many of them a great part of
what they knew about dancing. I remember
the elder Booth very well. Ho used to bo a
hard drinker, as every ono knows, and they'd
have to shut him up so he'd bo sober when it
was time for him to appear on the stage.
"Ned Forrest, before he became an actor,
earned his living dressing skins in a Philadel
phia furrier's shop. Ned had a habit of recit
ing his pieces during working hours. One day
the boss came In and asked him whv ho didn't
stop trilling his time away with such nonsense.
Forrest jumped up on his bench and began
shouiirm Shakespeare with so much vim that
the old mun was overcome, and said that a man
who could talk like that oughn't to waste his
time cleaning hides. Wo had agreatgaugof
the boys iu Philadelphia then. Theatre fellows
wern't like they aro now. Every man was in
life for the best he could get out of it, and the
way we would rob each other at our Sunday
night poker games would have whitened the
hair of tho present day actors. Sunday morn
ings wc would gather in a saloon and 'initiate'
every man that would como in. If he'd
show any objection to treating a crowd of
twenty or more we'd make tho place hot for
him.
"In 1858 my partner, Hood, and I started the
custom of giving matinees. Wo were playing
'Cinderella and the Glass Slipper' at that time,
and our matinCcs took like wild-lire. Very
soon after other theatres took up the practice,
and pretty soon It became a general custom,
"1 have taught danciug iu this city for the
past twenty-seven years. During that time I
have taught tho children of Geu. Sherman,
three children of Geir. Grant, Nellie, Buck, and
Jesse; children of Gen. Oliver O. Howard, Geu.
Dent, and Secretary McCulloch; a niece of Gen.
Ruthburn, who, it will bo remembered, was In
the box with President Lincoln when ho was
assassinated, and a number of other children of
piominent families. Harry Rapley, tho mana
ger of tho Natloual Theatre, was one of my
pupils.
"You would bo surprised to know how many
old dances aro being revived nowadays ana
passed off as entirely new," continued tho Pro
fessor. "Every season thero comes out at least
ono now dance, and very often thero are more.
The men who Introduco theso dances as now
seem to forget tho existence of n man who has
been dancing for fifty-odd years, and I find a
great many that aro very old friends. Round
dauces were not much lu favor back In tho 'fif
ties and 'sixties. Tho dancers then thought
square dances much moro dlgullled, and their
parents objected to round dances on an over
stiingent sense of morality. Frequently they
had thirteen or fourteen sets of quadrilles aud
only ouo waltz set. In consequonco thero wore
not very many lound dances in oxlsteuco then,,
but thero were some approaches to round dances'
iu tho figures of tho quadrilles, and these furnish
tho duueo manufacturer of the present day with
a largo stock of material. A great many of tho
'latest' dauces aro some I darrccd lu tho squaro
dances fifty years ago. Tho 'Yorke,' for In
stanco, has grown very popular, and it has moro
fathers thau history, but in a book I have here,
published Irr 1803, l find tho sarno danco de
scribed under tho name of 'schottlscho quadrille.'
The Vcsuvlanrro Is also a rrew dauco, but irr re
ality is about as old as tho Yorke. Several years
ago when tho racket was tho great dance peoplo
thought they had struck something entirely
original, but It carr be found In my little refer
ence book here. It's tho 6amo way wltlr. nearly
all of them, and while I don't bellovo there's
nothing nowuudertho srm I nevertheless bollove
that thero haven't been any new dauces for 6ome
timo."
Professor Sheldon has dosks aud pigeon-holes
literally full of old dauco-cards, programmes,
circulars, newspaper clippings, etc. Ono of his
dance-cards bears the namo of Anna Dickinson,
tho great female lecturer. They aro interesting
lu their get-up generally, but one of them rather
outstrips tho others in this respect. It is dated
Philadelphia, 1853. You turn over from tho
title pago and tho order of dances to find on the
la6t pugo theso rules and regulations:
"Gentlemen are requested not to take their
places except at tho souud of tiro bugle.
"Gallopadlng positively prohibited.
"Gentlemen aro requested to accompany their
ladies to tho suppor-ioom. Ladles pass t tiro
right and gentlemen to the loft of tho table with
out crowding.
"Gentlemen will please seat thornselves oppo
site their ladies and remain staudiug uutil they
aro seated and tho covejs of tho dishes aro re
moved by tho servauts."