Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-04-06

cilitiss, and take the matter 10 hand At
once.s
4 0hrewA Operation.
The Boston Commonwealth Bulletin, under
the title Of "Recollcctions Of 40 Old Mer>
chan.," IL giving sketch Of the business
history Of Boston for the past fifty years.
Among other characters introduced is Josh
Sears, Of whom the following story is told
Those were the days Of sharp practice.
The principals Of concern then did not
delegate csrtsin transactions to their clerks
as they do nowadays. Josh was an early
bird, and the sunrise rarely found him un>
der the sheets il there was a worm to be
caught he was sure to catch it.
Al the time We write Of, Boston controll>
ed full three quarters o. the West India
trade Of the country, and the daily arrival
Of several cargoes OF molasses in the season
was no unusual occurrence. We have sold
our birthright in it since to Now York, as
We have nearly everything else that once
gave Us commercial pro crninencc, and for
something less than moss Of pot age.
A cargo Of molasses was classified, after
being landed on the pier, - sour for distill-
ing and sweet for retail. and after the cargo
was landed aud gagged BY the customhouse
official, it was offered for sale. II il was q
fair average cargo Il was offered to the job
bers. the price being fixed upon the hogs
heads a. they ran. Josh would oftss buy
several hundred hcgsheads. and resell TO
the small jobbess; he Of course also bought
them ''as they sun," bat not ill after he
knew exactly how they did run.
Now every one knew that josh Sesss
Was very shsswd buyer, but how be d.
! way managed to get the best retailing mo-
lasses out OF = cargo. without getting any
sour hogsheads, passed the understanding
I Ct importers and buyers, till at last q very
/ swrewd importer, whom we will call d,
had his suspicious that the early prowling
propcnsities Of Josh meant something be
sides exercise to get up an appetite.
4 A cargo VI molns ses having arrived to his
/ consignment, he determined TO watch. So
taking his posltitn early one morning,
where he could see unobservcd, he waited,
Not long after. well known individual wa
seen approaching, bung driver and broom
stick in hand. accompanied by two Irish.
men. Said individual proceeded to try the
molasses; and upon every hogshead that
proved satisfactory he placed n email pri>
vAts mark. When he had selected the
quantity he wanted, he ordered the Irish
men to roll them into 4 certain position, and
then left the wharf before any one was stir
ring.
Az soon % he vas out Of hearing, a.
jumped ffeA his hiding plece with laugh.
"Ah," said, IL have it. Josh, old fellow,
you ere done now" He Immediately pros
cured large easg Of men, shifted che hogs
heads, replacing them with others, taking
the prseautioa to put the sA:.s private
chalk mark on, and leaving . few Of the
original private inspection at the head Of
each tier Tor josh q Try.
Shortly after returning 70 he eounsing>
rosa, Jesh entered, = expected. "Well,
c.. what are yeu ssking for. he Els
wssth's easgor'
"Twenty> sieht cents"
Fair cargoy'
Eyes. Do you want 70 buy?"
"Yss."
"Go ieek Il Il now ?"
"Yse Where 10 u landed -
Thislast question va almost 700 much
for d gravity.
''Bartlstfs wharf. Well, cone aloae.
Arrived At the wharf, Jesh saas his 90
tesnly along the hosshesd. There we're
bic marks, all right aud then he vent
through she fora e tryiae several hogs
heads 81 The head Of seeh tier. Thev
proved satislactesy
"Think it il will run about like this.
CO."
II don't know. There Il is; take il q
you find it."
swell, I'll take these six tiers. Send up
a. sosu - you can, and take OF the gauess,'
and Josh, putting on his big 8 in chalk,
they both Left
Josh, a. usual, immediately ord red up
the ten hogsheads % q sample. Well aware
ten good ones cent.
In due time they arrived, and were de-
posted on the sidewalk at the back Of the
store. Invitations were sent out n the Job.
oers to come and inspect. Every thing was
satisfactory; the balance vas sold a Q
handsome advance; clerk vac sent down 10
denver; eavees were taken of: book.
Keeper made out the bills; Josh vas sitting
oowe q the old desk. Pleasantly calcuiatiue
the net pfonte Of ths dodge, when sudden.
y HE rsveris was disturbed BY The entrance
Of Mr.. A. with:
Loo4 uUss 0sesss snss moiasses you sent
| y sour."
Enters6 Mr. ,. sfhas nslass.s 10 no,
what I bought; IL ID eous."
'Ths devil 4 isr' /. sss~
Entered Ne. C., lsqnitsr. ''I,sey hsss-
head Of that conioandsd nolsssss 10 sour.
fAe wes eco oueh (; ep jsnped ~ ifals
josh, and put Tor 0-'s counting room.
G. vas in. I'd
look hsss. g. says Josh, .tha,
oolssses bought Of yea has soursd mighty
suddsnly, e else you have given me what
didn't buy. I'd like to have il ex
| phined.'
s"Csstaialy. NJ. Ssafs; there l. Z peculiar.
ity abesl this Soath SIDE oolasees II il
- disturbed by rolling the hogshead .before
sunrise, i invariably eours. haze besn
thinking that perhaps sems-"
80 oespped % hs9H no moso, hut len !.
~ ~ ~ asresly ovse his right saf, end
ooun0lng - haods n Aiaeerae1aL - M.