MIXED DRINKS.
I09
that he has more than once taken as much as four hot-
tels of the wine without inconvenience. The occasions
were festive and exceptional; but his words were none
the less a compliment both to the wine and to his own
head and stomach.
"It must not he thought,in spite of the immense
and growing consumption of champagne the world
over,that the trade of wine merchant in Reims is one
of sure and easy prosperity. Perhaps only one year in
twelve can be termed a good vintage. The man with
out enough capital to wait for the good vintages to
balance the had ones must not hope to make a leputa-
tion, and the fortune that follows a reputation. There
must,too,he an immensesum invested in reserve wines,
"especially in a house like Heidsieck's, which relies
mainly upon the production of wine of uniform quality.
Dry Monopole is Dry Monopole all the world over. If
you are sure the bottle before you contains this, you
know exactly what pleasure is in store for you. But
the makers of Dry Monopole have toiled about a
hundred years for their fame. Iask upon what amount
of capital a house like theirs could he established, and
am told that with 5,000,000 or 6,000,000 of francs the
experiment might he made. As for the result of the