The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-08-08
Uncle John S Tavern
By NJ QUAD
Copyright. 1910. by Associated Lit
erary Press.
By M QUAD

He had got to be nifty years old aud
tired Of hard work, and be 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 hot day.
and 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 u
tramp then Uncle John never saw one.
He was motioned TO go around to the
kitchen for cold bite, but he sat
down and said:
"a little business talk with you drst.
and then III take the best room In the
house and eat my meals In the dining
room"
81 can't hire no tramps," said Uncle
John.
but 1t may be that shall hire you.
\ Lead the way"
The fellow had compelling way
with him. Uncle John led the way
upstairs. and he picked up his bundle
and followed. AS they entered room
he locked the door ON them and then
sat down for talk.
When the talk was finished he
brought shears and razor and cut the
strangers hair and shaved him. Then
J the old bundle was opened and fair
ly decent suit brought out What it
; lacked was supplied by mine host. Re
sult-a decent looking guest instead
Of disreputable tramp. He appeared
downstairs just after the train came
in, and Mrs. White thought he came
by 1t. SO did the villagers who strag-
gled In after supper for glass Of beer
and n BIT of gossip. John Taylor had
arrived-best room In the house-paid
q week In advance-no doubt 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 horse first
and advertisements had to be written
and placed. II was also necessary fol
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 gift Of S1,000.0O0 fol
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 waiter
He ordered extra kegs OF beer ant
raised his rates from 81 a day to JUS
double 1t took sand to do 1t. Mrs
!, White was not let into the secret, ant
u she almost went crazy.
One day ten strangers got of at th'
y depot and asked for Taylor. The mex
day there were twenty. On the third
day Uncle John had TO distribute hi
. guests around among the villagers. liz
= 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 n. IN. to
p. m. He gave each patient" on
hour That made eight per day. Tn,
rule was rigid. and the others mus
wait. Therefore n conner might hay'
TO wait Eve or six days for his inter
view. Meanwhile he had to eat an'
" sleep and pay 81 per day.
Strangers who knew Just how tina
million ought to be expended 10 d.
the world the most good kept comini
by every train. There was no othe
l. tavern: there was no other Mr.. Taylor
'e there was no other place in tow
p where beer and cigars were sold. Col
u leges, hospitals, asylums and ever
~ sort Of public institution sent repre-
T. sentatives Politicians came to 81
u that million 10 start reform. Men cam
re who wanted TO found new religions
. Widows wanted cash. aud township
" and counties wanted highway In
- provements For two months the
came and went. They slept wher
= they could and ate what was set b.
fore them Then the tide began
" thin out. and there was more advel
!, Using. This time the advertisement
!. read
"A ANY inventor having good thin
=. or any person having an idea that ca
~ be turned into cash viii find man an
money ready"
And then II was the rush all ov,
again. Inventors brought their model
-, and there was barn full Of then
~ Others brought their Ideas. and the
-. were too numerous TO be listed. +,
80 Eve long months Uncle Johns ta'
crn hadn't a room or n place at n
h., table to spare. Then along came
"a man TO buy him out.
"Sel and get out" advised Mr.. tn.