Birmingham age-herald., 1894-08-14

HL Os0O the InOTuluR, duQ bIlS db ilA seasons of the year. It is his boast that he has never speculated, never attended a horserace or baseball game, and has only once been to a theater. His business methods are original and often eccentric. At one time he was partner of John B. Alley, but differ ences,arcse and>they separated Then Alley sued for something like &, ,JuJ,- 900. When the case came to trial MT. Blair was not ready and requested an adjournment. There was a small army of lawyers employed in the case and a hot war of words ensued. The judge, in the end, granted a postpone ment, but ordered that a bond for double the amount of the alleged claim should be filed.
 "The bond required will be $5,000,- 900, I understand" said Mir. Blair, when this decision had been reached. Alleys lawyers promptly assured him that he had not overstated the amount.
 'I expected there would be some thing of the kind necessary" said MT. Blair in his quiet way, land so brought this along"
 ''This" proved to be small black bag which he had brought with him into the court room. He now opened it and spread before the judge $5,0o0,000 in government bonds
 'These will answer, I suppose" he inquired.
 The judge, when he had recovered from his surprise said he thought they would. But" he went on, II will make ycu custodian of them with the distinct understanding that none of them shall be used while.it is part of the bond"
 "Your honor need have no fear on that score," was MT, Blair's reassuring response. T only brought in few this morning for this purpose. These are some that I will have no use for while this matter is pending"
 MT. Blair seldom drives, always pre- ferring to travel a-foot When, how ever, the distance forbids walking, he harnesses up a sorry-looking nag in ramshackle vehicle that saw it's best days a generation ago. His only son and heir lives in magnificent style at Belvidere, N. J., and drives steeds of great value and beauty.
 "Why is it, Mr. Blair" friend once asked him ''that your son rides in such splendid state while you jog along in this wretched style?"
 "Well, you see," said the millionaire, 'I never had the advantage of rich father"
 Years ago Mir. Blair used to take an occasional flyer in politics, and in 1860 was the republican candidate for gov crnor of New Jersey. There was sort of tacit understanding that he was to furnish the money and the wire pullers of his party were to do the rest As is usual in such cases he was badly beaten at the polls. He took his defeat good humoredly and said that his experience reminded him of western man who drove lot of hogs from St. Louis, where hogs were low, to Chicago, where hogs were high, and finding that be- fore he got there the hog market had twisted around so that the swine were higher In St. Louis than in Chicago, drove the hogs back again, reaching St. Louis just in time to find depres- sion in the St. Louis market, which was matched by an elevation in Chicago. The man said that he had not made much money out of the transaction, but he had had the society of the hogs.
 "Well, am like that fellow" said MT. Blair. q have not been elected governor, but have had the society of hogs"
 Mir. Blair was never bested but once in business transaction, and that was by Kansas City man. Some years ago the old millionaire concluded to invest some of his money in Kansas City real estate. While looking over the field he fell in with sharp, pushing real estate speculator named Shafer. To all ap- pearances Shafer was a man after the millionaire's own heart, and so he en- gagged him to secure every piece of un- improved property in and near Kansas City that could be bought at reason- able figure. Having completed his ar engagements with MT. Shafer, MT. Blair returned east, and whenever Shafer purchased piece of real estate he would V ite to his employer for the amount .e had agreed to pay and MT. Blair ,uld send him draft. Things ran along smoothly for several months, l and then one day MT. Blair received information that made him pack his va lise and start for Kansas City without l delay. Once in Kansas City it did not | take him long to find out that Shafer had swindled him from the first. If Shafer ] bought lot for five thousand dollars, he would write to Mir. Blair to send eight thousand dollars, and in this way he had already made a comforta- | ble fortune out of the old man. After learning how he had been victimized, Mir. Blair let no time in having Shafer arrastad Then Shafer triad to frinht an