At the very beginning of the 80s of the last century, the owner of the famous Museum of Curiosities F. T. Barnham was sitting in his New York office and suddenly heard a light knock on the front door. He shouted:
- Come in!
The door swung open, and a classic Yankee appeared on the threshold in front of Mr. Barneym. He sat down on the chair offered to him, knocked over a glass of an amber intoxicating drink and stared with a grin at F.T.
- You will be F.T. Barnham? - the Yankee began.
“We got it right the first time,” responded the owner of the museum.
“Well,” said the unexpected guest, “hey, do you have an exhibition of unprecedented animals on display?” But I bet you don't have a beast like mine on your farm in Connecticut!
Mr. Barnham, a cautious man, wanted the visitor to provide some evidence of this.
- Could you describe this amazing animal to me more accurately? he asked.
- We can be more precise. What can you say, for example, about a handsome cat, huh?
- Cat? What's so unusual about this? Nine thousand New Yorkers can show you a cat.
- Uh-uh, but my cat is an unprecedented cherry color.
Mr. Barnham's incredulous smile expressed all the professional experience of the illustrious owner of the Museum of Curiosities. However, he tried to hide his interest.
“Well, in that case, you actually have something that the public will pay money for,” he said casually. - How much do you want for your cherry cat?
- No, you set the price yourself, Mr. Barnham. But remember, my old woman is very attached to this creature, she won’t give her up for that.
“A cat is a cat,” said Mr. Barnham. - It's not worth much.
“It’s not much, but I’ll tell you what: if I wrote everything about it correctly, then you will pay me three hundred dollars when I deliver it to you in New York.”
“Deal with each other,” F.T. agreed.
A week later, to the F.T. a packed box arrived cash on delivery. Pinned to the box was a bill for three hundred dollars “for one cherry cat, as agreed.” Mr. Barnham paid the bill and opened the box. The beast sitting in it was undoubtedly a cat, but... just such cats could be found on any street in New York. He was blue-black.
Mr Barnham immediately sent a telegram to the farm:
“Are you laughing at me by sending a black cat instead of a cherry one?”
But then came the answer:
“Dear Mr. Barnham, have you never seen a black cherry? We have a ton of it in Connecticut.” Well, Mr. Barnham admitted that he lost. This funny joke spread throughout the city of New York.
It is quite possible, with the light hand of F.T. One way or another, the notorious cherry cat served as excellent advertising for Mr. Barnham's Museum of Curiosities.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru