For Other Lips.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue XXI, 25 May 1901, Page 967

For Other Lips.

The announcement that it is intended to sell by auction five thousand dozen of the late Queen Victoria’s wines does not very directly concern us common mortals at this side of the world. Why the cableman wired the information unless with the object of making our mouths water I do not know. It can never fall to our lot to drink that royal draught. Princes and millionaires, I presume, will only be privileged to taste that nectar. It is not merely the intrinsic quality of the wine. That I warrant must be good indeed, for during the long reign there must have been laid down in the royal cellars many a choice vintage, and much of it no doubt has slept ankle deep in sawdust since the days of Waterloo. But consider the sentiment attached to such a drink. It will not be only the generous fluid which the lucky purchasers will quaff, bnt a thousand rich associations. With what pardonable pride will the lucky entertainer draw the attention of his guests to the fact that that wine came from the royal

cellars. 11 would surely be excusable to l>e<.onie more than usually exhilarated on such a tipple, and rv.u a |endeiicy to over indulgence might be attributed to excess of loyalty. But after all what boots it for us who shall ne\rr kuow the colour or odour or taste of that drink divine to speculate on how that five thousand dozen will be absorlved into the <*ellars of Dives and his friends. o o o o o