Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-02-22
A BIG PRICE FOR LUMBER
TIE CIRCUS RIDERS FUNNY sPEcu-
LATIoN IN WOOD.
Buying FOur Stalls for Horses al IA
Big Price and Selling Them at a
Large Profit.


Buying -Four Stalls for Horses al
Big Price and selling Them AT "A
Large Profit.
"The funniest thing ever heard of in
the way of wood speculation, said
Charlie Stowe, the famous circus agent,
''was the story of jim Robinson's box
stalls. Jim had to take four trained
horses from little port in the West In
dies to Marseilles, France, and had to
have some box stalls built on the vessel.
He lIad great dlfnCuIJy III nnuIng fum-
Der, but at last local merchant 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 work of con-
structiOn.'
"When the stalls were built Robinson
was much pleased although he could not
see any particular necessity for making
them of such very large and thick tim
bers and boards. But when he went to
pay the bill and heard that the actual
cost of the lumber and work amounted
to $400, he was astounded He was too
much of a gentleman to kick or com
plain, and he paid the bill, but went
away feeling that an advantage had
been taken of him. Just as the vessel
reached Marseilles, her stewardapproached
Robinson and said to him:
"T you'd like to buy of you re four
box stalls zat you have on board.
"'What will you give for them2' Rob-
inson asked, indifferently, wondering what
anybody wanted to buy second hand stalls
for in a country where lumber must be
plentiful.
"T will give 5000 francs said the
Frenchman.
''Robinson looked at him in amaze
ment, but promptly coming to the con-
clusion that anybody who would offer
5000 for four old box stalls must be a
lunatic and that he did not want to rob
crazy man, replied: We'll, I'll think
about it and let you know later and
walked off. He went up town to see
about stabling, and when he got back to
the vessel was met by man who said to
him:
"T understand that you have four
horse stalls on board there2'
Eyes
I" DO you want to see them2"
"'No objections
"T will give you 1000 francs for
them
"Jim fairly jumped with astonishment,
but, thinking that he had struck another
maniac, went aboard without taking any
further 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 that somebody had already
seen that bid and gone better, when the
captain of the vessel stepped up and Of
fered him 5000 francs for his stalls, and
tried to clinch the bargain by threat if
Jim tried to take them away. Jim flared
up and rushed to set his men at work
getting the horses and stalls ashore.
"Just as they were commencing the
work a new man came on the scene, who
said:
care you the owner of those stalls2"
"'Yes, am, and what have you got
to say about it9'
"T9 Nothing. Only that I would
like to buy them from YOU
$50 you've escaped from the same
asylum, have you2 exclaimed Jim.
"'I don't know what you mean, but I
want the stalls, and will you give $500
francs for them
"'You will. And take em as they
stand2
"' Certainly. l 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 responded: They're yours.
Cash up The purchaser promptly
counted out the sum, 81, 75O, and it was
not until hours after, when he told the
story to somebody who had sense about
such things, that the idea got into his
mind that his kind West Indian friend
had built those stalls of mahogany or
rosewood, or some other valuable tropical
wood, and that the final buyer of them
had, no doubt, got a bargain" "