The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-08-03
Highest of all in Leayening
EXPENSIVE SHARPNESS.
Tne Brewer Thought That He Knew a
Thing TWO About Hops.

at once cost ME just $1,000, besides
J the price of three bottles of cham
pagne, to learn that 4 Nerm ont farmer
was smarter than ! was" said the old
fellow with q well-fed air to a \. I.
Iri6uuc man IS he lighted a fresh
cigar.
The speaker had been brewer in
his early days, but lie had retired
after he had put by comfortable
sum. and at the age of 72 he was still
enjoying life.
"One season." he continued. chops
were scarce and all the brewers were
| keeping a sharp lookout for any good
ones which were put on the market.
Our agents in Boston telegraphed TO
me that man down in Vermont had
100 bales of just the kind that l want
ed, and | started Immediately TO buy
them.
Now, if do say it myself, do not
take a back seat from any one when it
comes to Judging the quality of hops.
Well, | arrived at the place where the
owner of these hops lived, and in
spected what he had for sale. They
were the best hops | had seen that
season. The price which he asked for
them, 60 cents q pound, was reason
able for hops of that quality; in fact,
+ it was little less than the market
price. Not to let tho old fellow see
that was too anxious to get them,
began to try and beat him down lit
tie on the price.
"The thought struck me that per-
haps | might beat him down more if
could induce him 10 90 to town and
get him little mellow over bottle
of champagne. The town was not far
away, and | suggested that he 90 back
with me, as my time was limited, and
if we struck a bargain on the way
would pay him the cash for the hops
before leaving him.
He consented and to town we went.
We stopped at the hotel. | ordered a
bottle of champagne and some good
cigars. We drank the wine and
smoked the cigars. l kept his glass
full and he did not seem at all bashful
about taking all that gave him. He
began to warm up and | thought was
going to save the price Of three or four
cases of wine at least. | suggested
that he ought to let me have those
hops for about 80 cents pound.
declare, he raised the price instead OF
lowering it, and said he thought they
were worth 81 cents.
81 laughed, but it was no 90. and he
! insisted on 81 cents as the price.
Il ordered another bottle of wine.
Again he drank ali gave TO him, and
| poured nearly all of it in his glass.
When this bottle was finished the price
Of hops had gone up TO 62 cents a
pound. Things were getting interest
ing. The wine had flushed the face of
, the old fellow, but he would not come
down a quarter of cent.
"In desperation | tried another bot
tie of wine and more cigars. The
sparkling fluid went down his throat
like water down rathole. He became
more and more talkative and | gained
courage once more.
"'Well,' | said, we'd better close the
bargain on your first offer of so cents.
"'Well, think them hops are worth
bout 65 cents, he replied
81 argued and threatened not to take
them at all, but it was 10 use. He
was sharp enough to detGct the fact
that | wanted those hops and wanted
them badly. He would not bulge Il
bit and had to pay G5 cents for them.
That additional ) cents on a pound
made 4 difference of $40 on every bale
and 1000 on the hundred bales, be-
sides my wine and cigar bill of nearly
/ $50"