, 1884-01-23
CHOICE LUMBER.
The Old Circus-Rider's Unconscious
Speculation in Box
Stalls
New York SUM

New York Sun.
"The funniest thing l ever heard of in the
way of a VOC speculation" said Charlie
Stow, the famous circus agent, "was the story
Of Jim Robinson's box stalls. Jim had to
take four trained horses from a little port in
the West Indies to Marssilles, France, and
had to have some box stalls built on the yes
sci. He had great difficulty in finding lum-
Der, but at last a local merchant said: Il
have a 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 aud work of construction
"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 timbers and boards, But
when he went to pay the bill and heard that
the actual cost Of the lumber and work
amounted to 800, he was astounded. He was
too much of a gentleman to kick or complain,
and he paid the bill, but went awny feeling
that an advantage had been taken Of him.
Just as the vessel reached Marseilles, her
steward approached Robinson and said to
him:
AZ would like to buy Of you 70 four box
stalls zat you have on board
what will you give forathemF Robinson
asked, indifferently, wondering what any
body wanted to buy second. hand stalls for in
a country where lumber must be plentiful.
az viii give 5000 Francs said the French
man."
Robinson looked at him in amazement,
but promptly coming to the conclusion that
anybody who would offer $500 for four old
box stalls must be a ~lunatic, and that he
didn't want to rob a crazy man, replied;
Well, 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
H. - .aa - -
him: o
AZ understand that you have four horse
stalls on board thereF
ayes
ado you want TO sell themr
"'No objections
AZ 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 offered him 5000 francs for
his stalls, and tried to clinch the bargain by
n threat II Jim tried to take them away. Jim
Haired up and rushed to set his men at work
getting the horses and stalls ashore.
Just as they were commencing the work
q new man came on the scene, who said:
care you the owner of these stallsf
ayes, | am, and what have you got to say
about itf
al Nothing. Only that l would like to
buy them from you
80 you've escaped from the same asylum,
have your exclaimed Jim.
81 don't know what you mean, but l want
the stalls. and will give $500 francs for them.'
"'You will. And take 'em as they standT
Certainly. should prefer to do 80, as 1
can have them taken down with care
For a 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, nearly 81, $50,
and 1t 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 ndian 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 Il bargain"