THE GUISNES CHERRY. 67 



MRS. C. 



In the same manner that May duke is derived from the Pays 

 de Mcdoc, a part of France wheje that variety of cherry 

 abounds; and bigarroo is a corruption of bigarreau, an epithet 

 given to the cherry, from its beautiful red-and-white mottled 

 appearance but, I am interrupting you, Mrs. Fortescue. 



MRS. F. 



This Guisnes cherry, or merise, grows in Dalmatia, where 

 it is called marasca,* whence the liqueur derives its name. 

 It is chiefly manufactured at the little town of Zara, so cele- 

 brated in modern history, f from which place it is sent to 

 Venice and Trieste, and thence to every part of the world. 

 But this is not the only liqueur made from cherries; the Ger- 

 man kirschenwasser (the word only meaning cherry-water) is 

 distilled from the cherry.^: 



ESTHER. 



Where is it made 1 ? 



MRS. F. 



The best is manufactured in the Black Forest, so celebrated 

 as the scene of many a German legend. In all that part of 

 Germany, cherries are most abundant, and are sold at the 

 most trifling price. With the Germans, stewed cherries are 

 a favorite dish, and they eat them with their roasted meat. 



ESTHER. 



Are not walnuts, also, very common in Germany! 



MRS. F. 



Yes; although the tree is not indigenous to Europe, but is 

 supposed to have been introduced from Persia and the borders 



* An abbreviation of amarasca, from its bitter flavor, 

 t For its siege, in 1201, by tbe crusading princes, and 



" blind old Dandalo! 



Th' octogenarian chief, Byzantium's conquering foe." 

 % Cerasis avium. 



