Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-07-18
HUNTINcToN's HORSES.
One Millionaire Tells story on Anoth


1t is fun to hear one millionaire tell
a story of another millionaire, and
here is one of that kind. Some time
ago he heard that Mr.. Huntington had
a couple Of cobs for SALE and being in
want Of Just that sort of thing the mill
ionaire communicated with Mr.. Hunt
ington and asked his price la re.
Spouse to the note Mr.. Huntington APP
peared next day in the Office of the
would-be purchaser. He explained
that the cobs were particularly fine
animals, and that he would not part
with them except for the reason that
they were rather small, indeed too
small for himself and wife, who were
rather large people. The purchasing
millionaire and his wife not being
large people, this of course was no OBJ
lection, and Mr.. Huntington was asked
to state his price. He said he wanted
$1,000 Well the millionaire had seen
the cobs and 50 had his coachmau, and
knew that this was pretty long price.
He expressed that opinion to Mr..
Huntington and told him that if he
could get down to reasonable figure
they might talk business. Mr. Hunt
ington asked what his idea of rea-
souable figure was, and the would-be
purchaser said that he would give him
$500 for the pair. Mr.. Huntington
scotfed at the offer and said that he
wouldn't entertain it for moment, and
the millionaires parted and matters
were left in this shape.
The next day Mr.. Huntington reap
peared and said that he had thought
the matter over and that he was will
ing 10 take 5000, but the other party
to the negotiation was not willing that
he should have $500 of his, in this
transaction ut least, and stuck to his
original offer of $500 for the cobs
Mr. Huntington talked for some time
and eNpatiated on the excellence which
justified the 5000 price, but the mill
lonajre purchaser wasn't at all im-
pressed. Mr.. Huntington was quite as
eloquent as any auctiqneer who ever
held forth at Bulls Head or any that
Mr.. Van Tassel had ever employed,
but the elOquence failed Of any effect,
and Mr.. Huntington again departed.
lie appeared again, however, and APP
Peared and disappeared for all the
DAYS of the next week and several days
of the following week, and altogether
spent perhaps twelve or fourteen hours
in striving to convince his customer
that 5000 was not too much for what
he had to SELL But failing utterly IN
this philanthropic desire, he finally
said that he would take the $800which
was offered if the purchaser would pay
his coachman S25,
But said the other millionaire
party, Il have nothing to do with your
cOac.man.
But, said Millionaire Huntington,
''my coachmau expects something, and
it seems to me that if / give you the
horses at your price you ought to pay
him
Well, the purchasing millionaire did
not look at it in that way. He didn't
think that coachman on wages-and
he presumed that Mr.. Huntington paid
his wages regularly--was entitled TO
commissions, and he thought they had
a demoralizing and corrupting inilu-
euce on the stable or unstable morals
OF the cOachman, and he thought also
that if there were any corruption OF
decentralization to 20 forward, it would
have to be done with Mr.. Huntington
money. These arguments were, Of
course, unanswerable, and Mr. Hunt
lugtOn, having spent number OF val
liable hours - because milliOnaire.s
hours must be yaluable-In attempting
% induce the other party in negota-
ton TO pay 800 more than me wanted
To pay, and, having failed utterly, ac-