The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-14
HOBsoN'S CHOICE.

There are good bargains found on old
bookstalls.' said Queen Charlotte. In Say
ings Wise and Otherwise" by Frederick S.
CozZens, wine merchant and editor of the
Wine Press, in New York city, in 1854
found on an old bookstall, price 10 cents)
l read in pleasant little essay on Phrases
and Filberts,'' that Jim Skiver, shoemaker
throws a leg of mutton on the table, and
says There Mary, had to take 'Hobson's
choice'-although Jim had neither read the
509th Spectator, nor knew that Hobson's
epitaph had been written by Milton" 500
Spectator: mr. Tobias Hobson, from
whom we have the Expression was a very
honorable Man, for shall ever call the
man so who gets an Estate honestly. Mr..
Tobias Hobson was a carrier, and being a
Man of great Abilities and Invention, and
one that saw where there might be good
Profit arise, though the duler men over
looked it: this ingenious men was the first
in this island who let out Hackney Horses.
He lived in Cambridge and observing that
the Scholars rid hard his manner was TO
keep a large Stable of Horses, with Boots,
Brides and Whips to furnish the gentlemen
at once. without going from college to Col
lege to borrow as they have done since the
death of this worthy Man; say, Mr.. Hob
son kept a stable of forty good Cattle, al
ways ready and fit for travelling; but when
a man came for a Horse he was led into
the Stable where there was great choice.
but he obliged him to take the Horse which
stood next to the Stable Door; so that eysSy
Customer was alike well-served according
TO his chance, and every Horse ridden With
the same Justice. From whence it became
Proverb, when what ought to be your
election was forced upon you, to say Hob
drawn in Fresco at an inn (Which he used(
in Bishopsgate street, with hundred pound
Bag under his arm, with this inscription
upon the said Bag; The fruitful mother of
a hundred more.
Hobsons Inn at London was the Bull in
BishopSgate street where his figure in
fresco was long to be seem Hobson died in
1920, while the plague was in London, and
his will was printed at the end of Peck S
epitaphs upon the immortal carrier" and
the shorter of these is here given.
ION the university carrier, who sickened
in the time of his vacancy, being forbid
to go to London by reason of the plague
Here lies old Hobson; Death hath broke
his girt.
Or else, the ways being foul, twenty to one,
He's here stuck in a slough, and over
thrown.
Twas such a shifter, that, if truth were
Death was half glad when he had got him
For he had, any time this ten years full.
Dodged with him betwixt Cambridge and
the Bull;
vailed,
Had not his weekly course of carriage
failed:
But lately finding him so long at home,
And thinking how his journeys end was
come,
And that he had ta'en up his latest inn;
In the kind office of a chamberlin,
Show'd him his room where he must lodge
that night,
Pulpd of his boots. and took away the
light:
If any ask for him, it shall be sed,
Hobson has suppd. ands newly gone to
bed.''
The longer epitaph written by Milton be-
gins with lines of pertinent value to all
moderns who would learn the fine art of
permanent activity
Here Iieth one who did most truly prove.
That he could never die while he could
move;
So hung his destiny, never to rot
While he might still jog ON and keep his
trot." EMMA CARLETON.
New Albany Aug. -