1879 Facts About Champagne and Other Sparkling Wines

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Champagne and Othe:r Spwrlcling Wines. ,

Vauthier le Noir, and frequently mentioned in old works relating to tne capital of the Champagne. The discovery of various pillars and statues, together with a handsome Gallo-Roman altar, whilst digging some foundations in 1837, points to the fact that a Pagan temple formerly occupied the site. The street is supposed to have taken its name, however, from some celebrated gaoler, for in medireval times here stood " la prison de bolln.e semaine." On the site of this prison a chateau was subse-· quently built where Mary Queen of Scots is said to have re– sided in the days when her uncle, Cardinal Charles de Lorraine, was Lord Archbishop of Reims. Temple, prison, and palace have alike disappeared, and where they stood there now risee midway between court and garden a handsome mansion, the residence of Madame Pommery, head of the well-known firm of Pommery and Greno. To the left of the courtyard, which is entered through a monumental gateway, are some old buildings bea:;ring the sculptured escutcheo~· of the beautiful and luckless Stuart Queen, whil to the right are the offices, with the mana- - ger's sanctum, replete with artistic curiosities, the walls being completely covered with remarkable specimens of faience, in· eluding Rouen, Gien, Palissy, Delft, and majolica, coll!lcted in the majority of instances by Madame Pommery in the villages around Reims. Here we were received by M. Vasnier, who at once volunteered to accompany us to the cellars of the firm outside the city. Messrs. Pommery and Greno originally carried on business in the Rue Vauthier le Noir, where there are exten– sive cellars, but their rapidly-increasing connection long since compelled them to emigrate beyond the walls of Reims. In close proximity to the Rue Vauthier le Noir is the Rue des Anglais, so named from the English Catholic refugees who, flying from the persecutions of our so-called Good Queen Bess, h ere took up their abode and established a college and a seminary. They mpidly acquired great influence in Reims, and one of their number, William Gifford, was even elected archbishop. At the end of this street, nigh to Madame Pommery's, there stands a.n old house with a corner tower and rather handsome