Morning journal and courier., 1889-06-06
A FINANCIAL JOK E.
HOW nEr. Abraham Stayn was 1n- duced to Invest $1 5000 fin 8 Monkey

HOW Har. Abraham St&Yn was In.
 duced to Invest s15,OOO fin a Monkey
 Farm.
 There is worthy citizen of Birmingham, Ala, who is ready to throttle the man who says Speculation" to him. Some months ago Mir. Abraham Stayn, an Israelite, moved from a neighboring city to this place with the idea of making fortune in hurry in some of the rapid ways he had heard of. His expectations were so sanguine, and he repeat ed them so openly, that combination of leading citizens was affected against him. MT. Carlisle Mulroe, a prominent banker, to whom Stayn had spoken On the subject of investments, had promised to keep an eye open. MT. Mulroe is a lover of fun, and is suspected of being the originator of the scheme, which was as novel as It was suc- cessful.
 In accordance with preconcerted ar rangement MT. Mulroe informed Stayn that he had discovered good thing, but pratty much all the stock was taken, though he might squeeze him in. It was new enter prise which had 8 corner in line that would yield immense profits, and the meeting of the projectors would be held week hence for organization. That was all Mulroe was willing to divulge. If Stawn was willing to go in with this much knowledge MT. Mulroe might secure some of the stock for him. Stayn jumped at the proposition, and the in terview ended by his giving Muiroe check for sl5,00O, for which he took Q receipt and | he was happy man.
 l Some days later Stayn received a circular l letter, private and confidential, notifying | him to attend a meeting of the promoters ot | the enterprise to which he had subscribed. On the night fixed Stayn went to the desig- l mated place a hall which had been hired by | the conspirators. The gathering embraced ! some of the most prominent business men of the oity-meIchants, bankers, railroad men, and others. The meeting was called to order and the form of electing secretary l and committee on credentials was carried | out. The chairman then announced that an | important communication had been received | from the Mobile committee setting forth the grand scheme which was now under way. ! This paper he then directed the secretary to l read to the meeting. The communication ! was heard with profound attention. The Mobile committee outlined the enterprise, which the latter stated was even then being put into execution.
 This enterprise was the purchase of an I island in Mobile bay, where thousands of monkeys were to be raised annually. The l letter set forth that two cargoes had already l arrived, The plan involved the propagation ! of monkeys for use in the cotton fields ot | the south. The report stated that it had 1 been conclusively proved that monkeys could ! be easily trained to pick as much cotton as | three negroes. In addition, it was shown | the comparative cost of feeding negroes and E. ! saving on clothing. The report closed with | a prediction that in five years all the cotton | in the south would be picked by monkeys. The reading was received with grave satis- facsien by the meeting, as was agreed before hand.
 The bewildered Stayn looked from one to | another face and could hardly believe his ! senses. Finally one gentleman arose and asked some questions about the report, ex- pressing desire to know whether the exper- | iment had been tested sufficiently to insure | it's success. This gave the timid Stayn the l outlet for his own doubts, and he rose and I expressed the fear that the undertaking was l chemical The meeting, however, was over- 1 whelmingly the other way, and voted for the l immediate prosecution of the work. Stayn. growing more nervous, urged more carefu l consideration. His imagination aided hii 1 fears, and he exeitedly asked who would
 train the thousands of monkeys. It was {
 well-known fact that Italians were the only
 people who could do anything with mon
 keys, and he predicted that the syndicat | would not be able to get Italians to do thi
 training. He also predicted that the mon
 keys would be continually escaping iron
 their keepers and injuring property, thereb,
 entailing harassing lawsuits upon the syndi-
 cate. Despise this speech the meeting re
 solved to prosecute the undertaking, ant
 then adjourned.
 Early the following day Stayn sought Mul
 roe, and said he wanted to sell out. Mulro
 said this could not be done right then, as al
 the stock had been placed, but finally agree
 to give him what he had paid for the stock
 and immediately gave a check for $15, ,00C
 receiving 8 receipt therefor. As this trans l action was consummated a telegraph mes
 senger, in pursuance of one of the details c the plot, entered with message. It wa
 read and was from Mobile, stating that tn
 price of the stock had jumped twenty points
 and was still booming. Mulroe showed tn l telegram with great exultation, and Stay
 turned pale ss he begged the return of tn
 stock, but Mulroe was obdurate, and griml
 thanked the Israelite for doubling an inves
 ment for him. When the joke was reveale
 a few days latter Stayn was nearly tormeI ted to death. No man here dares whispe , | monkey farm to him now.