The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1856-11-13
Huntington, the Financier.

pie and 6ne linen, drink Burgundy every
day. and make their wives walking adyer-
tsement of jewellers and dry goods deal
rrs. These persons have no property
"they toll not neither do they spin"--but
10 the magni6cence of their surroundings
and the extravagance Of their establish
ments they rival the famous robber oi
Arabian Nights who had two or three
Aeres Of diamonds and precious metals at
his disposal. Everybody wonders where
the magnificent Mr. Snob and the spen-
did Mrs. Snob get their money to pay for
all these luxuries; but once in while
there comes grand crash--some OF the
lights Of Wall street are let in for half a
million, and the finale of Snob. who has
not saved enough to clog the wheels OF
justice. is ON a tour to Sing Sing.
Such seems to have been the case with
che note broker Huntington. who now
lies in the Toombs. awaiting trial for for
ging notes OF hand to the amount Of over
half million Of dollars. Huntington was
undoubtedly man Of considerable ability
which he used for bad ends. lie had the
implicit confidence OF many men in the
mercantile world. and put his nearest
friends in for large amounts. Perfectly
familiar with the manner of conducting
business in Wall street, he ascertained
what notes good houses had put out, and
duplicated them without fear of discov-
cry. A single relapse into the careless
ness which, on the part of others had
caused the success of his exploits, ruined
him in moment. 1t is a solid proof Of
the maxim that honesty is the best policy,
that all great rascals. no matter how able
they may be. always do have their relap-
ses. and are always discovered.
The career Of Huntington has been
like display of fireworks, brilliant but
evanescent. For little while he spent
money like water. He had six or eight
horses-two pairs OF carriages for himself
and wife, and several fast trottcrs-his
sideboard was brilliant with massive plate
He was great man at Saratoga, Niaga-
ra and Rockaway. where his wife had
more trunks and more diamonds than any
one else; and in town be kept up two mat
rimoni.l establishments. one regular and
the other irregular--one Christian home
the other a Mahommedan seraglio-one
according to the laws of New York and
abe other according to the Mormons-
within few doors Of each other. He
was prince for an hour. People ate his
dinners, drove his horses, drank his wine,
borrowed his money, and wondered how
he got il all But the crash cane at last.
and what are all his former splendors
compared with his present position? He
bought his luxuries at tremendous high
price. -
The case Of this man is peculiarly il
lustratiye Of the slap dash style of doing
business which has become quite too com
mon in New York. Our merchants
make their money easily and throw it
away foolishly. In old times trade wa.
vocation which was pursued by men Of
honor. Fifty years ago the first requi-
sites for mercantile life were unsullied in
tegriy and unr. mitting attention to bust
ness. Then merchants met each other
will, perfect confidence; they knew the
men they were dealing with; the word OF
one Of their fellows was as good as his
bond. In such time fraud was un-
known. because it was impossible. Now,
most Of our merchants, though generous,
liberal and benevolent as their sires, seem
enervsted by success. They trust all
their affairs to confidential clerks. ag nts,
factors, brokers, and it is no wonder that
these men. dazzled by the display Of their
employers. should yield to temptation
Thesmerchants give them every facility
BY their lax way of conducting business,
and the merchants are morally response
bic for the result. That this Huntington
should have raised FIVE hundred thousand
dollars on forged paper is monstrous, and
is clearly the result of carelessness on the
part Of the victims.
ai The great financial centre of the repub
lie is full Of Huntingtons and Schuylers.
Every two or three weeks some of the
frauds come tolight. Ifitis large af.
fair like She achievements Of the men we
have. Just mentioned, it creates a panic for
q week or two; but ifitis small piece oil
rascality. il is rushed up, the victims sub.
mitting quietly rather than be ridiculed BY
aPdblic exposure, by which they would
not get their money back, but receive 3
public verdict "served them right We
have reason to believe that the fraud.
which have been made known to the pub
lie are Insignificant compared with thos.
which are undiscovered or kept secret
Wall streetis full of hurry skurry. slap
dash, head d-over-heels fnanciers,r VIII,
never know how they tand on any ON
else's books. or how any one else stand
on their owp0 The opening Of Schuyler
isms and Huntingtonisms is, conse uent