Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-08-16
Uncle John Tavern
By M QUAD
Copyright, 1910, by Associated Lit
erary Press.

49, JNoAo OAo oDo
tired of hard work, and he thought
tavern keeping easy and profitable. 1t
wasn't six weeks before he learned to
the contrary, 1t was easy enough, for
he had nothing to do, but he looked In
vain for the profits.
One summers day Uncle John sat
doing and thinking. 1t was a hot day,
n the town was dead. Nothing
buzzed but the flies. Uncle John
would have been asleep in FIVE min
utes more but for the arrival Of a
stranger on foot. The arrival was
dusty and ragged. If he wasn't a
tramp then Uncle John never saw one.
He was motioned to go around to the
kitchen for a cold bite, but he sat
down and said:
"a little business talk with you first,
and then III take the best room in the
house and eat my meals in the dining
ROOM
II can't hire no tramps," said Uncle
John.
But 1t may be that 1 shall hire you.
Lead the way"
The fellow had a compelling way
with him. Uncle John led the way
upstairs, and he picked up his bundle
and followed. AS they entered q room
he locked the door on them and then
sat down for a talk.
When the talk was finished he
brought shears and razor and cut the
etrsnY royfa hot. oaI zLarN1 Ij,Na HNI,n~
the old bundle was opened and q fair
ly decent suit brought out. What it
lacked was supplied by mine host. Re-
suit-a decent looking guest instead
Of a disreputable tramp. He appeared
downstairs just after the train came
in, and Mrs. White thought he came
by it. So did the villagers who stray
gled in after supper for a glass of beer
and a bit of gossip. John Taylor had
arrived-best room in the house-paid
a week in advance-no doubt a man Of
means-was mum as to his business
probably had some big enterprise on
hand. 1t was two weeks before the
nature of that enterprise was learned.
Uncle John had to sell a horse first,
and advertisements had to be written
and placed. 1t was also necessary for
the editor of the local paper to make a
writeup. The advertisement inserted
in various newspapers read:
"a would be philanthropist stands
ready to make a gift of 100000 for
the best interests of society, but would
like personal advice. No letters. Shall
1t be colleges, schools, asylums, hos
pitfalls. homes or gifts to widows?
Then the name of Mr.. Taylor and
the village were given. Uncle John
was running a ten room tavern-that
Is, only ten out Of the forty rooms
were furnished. He bought, hired and
borrowed furniture for the other thirty
rooms. He bought crockery and cut
lery and hired a cook and a waiter.
He ordered extra kegs Of beer and
raised his rates from 81 a day to just
double. 1t took sand to do 1t. Mrs.
White was not let into the secret, n
she almost went crazy.
One day ten strangers got off at the
deuot and asked for Taylor. The next
day there were twenty. On the third
day Uncle John had to distribute his
guests around among the villagers. He
was here, there and everywhere, look
ing for Judgment day. AS for Mr..
Taylor, he was cool-cool and smiling.
He had office hours from o a. m. to 8
p. m. He gave each patient one
hour. That made eight per day. The
rule was rigid, and the others must
wait. Therefore a conner might have
to wait five or six days for his inter
view. Meanwhile he had to eat and
sleep and pay So per day.
Strangers WHO knew just how that
million ought to be expended to do
the world the most good kept coming
by every train. There was no other
tavern; there was no other Mr.. Taylor;
there was no other place in town
where beer and cigars were sold. Col
leges, hospitals, asylums and every
sort Of public institution sent repre-
sentatives. Politicians came to get
that million to start reform. Men came
who wanted to found new religions.
Widows wanted cash, and townships
and counties wanted highway i'm.
provements. For two months they
came and went. They slept where
they could and ate what was set be-
fore them. Then the tide began to
thin out, and there was more adver.
Using. This time the advertisement
read:
ANY inventor having a good thing
or any person having an idea that can
be turned into cash will find man and
money ready"
And then 1t was the rush all over
again. Inventors brought their models,
and there was a barn full of them.
Others brought their ideas, and they
were too numerous to, be listed. For
FIVE long months Uncle Johns tav-
ern hadn't a O a place at the
table to spare. Then along came q
man to buy him out.
Sell and get out" advised Mr.. Tay.
lor.
The advice vas followed.
Now we wall figure up and whaek
up"
II was done. Mrs. White smiled,
Uncle John rubbed his hands, and
the stranger grinned. Uncle Johns
tavern has a new name and q new
proprietor now. It is not a forty room
tavern any more. 1t is a five room
one, and the new man sits on the
veranda looking for tramps, but look