The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-12-12
JIM RoBINsoN,s Bon STALLS.
The Circus Riders Unconscious Speculation
in Choice Lumber.
New York San.


New York San.l
'"The funniest thing ever heard Of in the
way of wood speculation" said Charley
Stow, the famous circus agent, twas one
that happened once to Jim Robinson-and
I'm sure don't know what reminds me of
it now, without il is the color of this dark
beer that the waiter persists in bringing to
me, although 1 order the light every
time Jim. when with a circus down
in the West Indies somewhere, reached
little port, whence he was to
take passage on vessel for Marseilles.
France. He had four horses with him. valu-
able trained animals that he had to take
along at his own expense; but the vessel had
no stalls aboard and no lumber, and there
wasn'ta board yard or carpenter shop, or
even piece OF pu-cbaSable scantling, so far
as he or anybody else could find, in that
town When things looked blacklist local
merchant, who had taken liking to Robin
son and heard OF the trouble he was in,
sought him out and said: Il have little
lumber on hand, and will see to four box
stalls being built on board for you at no
higher cost than the simple value of the
lumber and the work of construction.
when the stalls were built Robinson was
much pleased. although he could not see any
particularly necessity for making them of
such very large and thick timbers and
boards But when he went to pay the bill
and heard that the actual cost of the lumber
and work amounted to $500, he was astound-
ed. He was too much of a gentleman to
kick or complain, and he paid the bill, but
went away feeling that an advantage had
been taken of him. Just as the vessel
reached Marseilles, her steward approached
Robinson and said TO him:
'Sare, 1 would like to buy of you re four
box stalls Eat you have on board.
What will you give for them Robin
H.:
deuce anybody wanted to buy secondhand
stalls for in a country where lumber must be
plenty.
al will give three thousand francs said
the Frenchman.
Robinson looked at him in amazement.
but promptly coming to the conclusion that
anybody who would offer 5000 for four old
box stalls must be a lunatic, and that he
didn't want to rob crazy man, replied:
We'll, I'll think about it and let you know
later and walked of. He went up town to
see about stabling. and when he got back to
the vessel was met by man who said to
him:
az understand that you have four horse
stalls on board there?
YES
"De you want to sell them
p" No objections
"'I will give you 1000 francs for Them
Jim fairly jumped with establishment
but thinking that he had struck another ma
mac went aboard without taking any fur
Their notice of the man. The steward tackled
him again as soon as he reached the deck
with another offer of $3.50 francs, and Jim
just had patience enough TO tell him some
body had already seen that bid and gone bet
ter, when the Captain of the vessel stepped
up and offered him 5000 francs for his stalls,
and tried to clinch the bargain by a threat if
Jim attempted to take them away Jim
tiared up and rushed to set his men at work
getting his horses and stalls ashore.
Just as they were commencing the work
new man came on the scene. who said:
"'Are you the owner of these stalls%
es, am, and what have you got to
say about ii?
81? Nothing. Only that would like to
buy them from you
so you've escaped from the same asy-
lum, have your exclaimed Jim.
II don't know what you mean, but l
want the stalls. and will give $500 francs for
them
lyon will. And take 'em as they stand?
l. Certainly. i should prefer to do so, as
can have them taken down with care
For minute, Jim's compassion for the
mental wreck who proposed TO squander
cash on old horse stalls almost got the better
of him. but he hardened his heart and re-
sponded: They re yours. Cash up The
purchaser promptly counted out the sum.
nearly 81, 80, and il was not until hours
after. when he told the story TO somebody
who bad sense about such things, that the
idea got into his mind that his kind West
Indian frien0 had built those stalls of ma
hogany or rosewood, or some other valuable
tropical wood. and that the final buyer OF
them had no doubt got bargain"