Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-06-07
HOW cARIsTY PAID A DEBT.
The MinstreI's Generosity to Man VIII
Had Befriended Him.

Inc MlnSLrelS generosity TO Man VINO
Had Befriended Him.
The head of the famous Christy min
strel troop was not George, but E. p
Christy, who originated the company
some time back in the forties, and the
following story of the latter is interest
ing:
Christy, then a young man, was a
passenger on a Lake Erie steamboat
commanded by Captain Folger and
bound to Buffalo, where the first show
was to come off. But the minstrel had
not even dollar to invest in the hire
of cellar for the performance. Cap
tain Folger, to whom he made known
his wants, generously handed him 500
bill, telling him that he was welcome
to it, and that he need not trouble him.
self about paying it back. On the
strength of this $40 Christy began bust
ness and in a few years became success
full and rich.
In the meantime misfortunes overlook
Captain Folger. Losing his employment
OIL the lakes, he resolved to try again
the salt water, on which he was brought
up. So he came to New York to see if
he could obtain situation as master
Or, failing that as mate of seafaring
vessel.
He bethouglt himself Of Christy,
whom he supposed might possibly know
some shipowner to whom he could rec
commend him. The minstrel received
him most cordially, but told him that
he had no acquaintance in that line of
business.
"Why don't you buy ship" he
asked.
"Buy a ship!" answered Folger.
"Why, haven t dollar in the world.
All want is employment.
''See here" returned Christy, chow
much would vessel cost?"
'Any price, replied the Captain.
"a pretty good one could be bought
for, say, $40, 900 Or less''
"Well, now,' exclaimed the big
hearted Snowman, "you loaned me $40
once, and am ashamed to say have
forgotten to pay it, but will pay my
debt now. Go and buy $780, 600 ship
and send the seller to me for the money
will own her, and you shall sail her.
If she makes anything, you shall have
it. If she don t, shall stand the loss. :"
This is the conversation, word for
word, as Captain Folger told it to me.
| had just returned from an East Indian
voyage in the Vandalia, ship Of about
400 tons. One day Captain Folger came
OH board at the dock and introduced
himself. He said he would like to buy
the ship and asked the price. It so hap
pened that $40, 900 was the sum had de-
cided upon. After little dickering he
offered me $1S, and I accepted it.
To my establishment. he referred me
to E. P. Christy as the purchaser, and
then he told me the story as tell it.
We went together to see Christy, and
the result Of the interview was that
gave him bill~of sale Of the Vandalia,
taking his note i'll payment, the note to
be paid in installments, and every morn
ing after one of his entertainments
called upon him and received a hatful
of bills, quarters, shillings and six
pences until the indebtedness was can
celed.
Captain Folger made a successful
voyage to California in the Vandalia.
The ship was then sold, and Christy
bought larger and more expensive
ship, on board of which Captain Folger
eventually died at Calcutta John Cod
man in the New York Herald.
Watch Competitions.
Very few people know that there are,
in connection with the Geneva watch
trade, competitions involving very large
sums Of money, a goodly proportion of
which finds its way into England
A certain number of watchmakers at
Geneva nominate certain dealers in
England who shall hold competition
watches made by the former, and the
names of such dealers are agreed to by
the whole of the said makers. Prizes
ranging from $500 downward are given
to the makers whose particular watches
shall keep the best time and remain i'll
the finest condition during 10 months.
The English dealers who hold the
watches during the 10 months have to
keep daily record in regard to the loss
or gain of time evidenced by their
charges, and they are Of course in abso-
lutte honor bound to keep correct ono
and not to tamper with the watches be-
You'd winding them. No given makers
watch in the competition bears any
name or distinctive mark other than Pc
culiarities of construction by which the
name of the maker can be identified by
the holder. The watches are Of the
usual kind manufactured for trading
purposes and not mere "exhibition''
watches, and the holder Of each prize
winner receives One-half of tho award,