, 1864-03-22
Speculato1s at Their WIS End.

The extravaganza and folly Of New York
in these hey days Of abundant currency, ore
everywhere the subject Of rcmhlk, not to
say astonishment. The New York cores
Eondcnt Of the Boston Journal writes rs fol-
lows:
Not since the war broke out have shrewd
men been SO much ut their Wits end as now.
Speculation is rampant and men are fairly
mad with the gambling mania- Bnt these
are unfedgcl Spectators, who hare yet to
learn bow treacherous and uncertain the sea
is on which they hare launched their all.
Men Of capital are standing aloof from the
dict crash that will be more sweeping than
any sthing New York has known this century.
i gentleman OF large means called upon ono
Of onr largest and most successful brokers
this week. told him he had SICK, 900 to invest
md said to him, what would you advise me
driven By an ash man. tGo and ask that
man." eaid the broker, The knows as much
about 1t as do" Such is the general feeling
among shrewd and experienced capitalists.
The speculntions in real estate the past year
have been astonishing. Prices have reached d
tain A broker in this city in 1868 hired
house On Fifth avenue, and took q lease ut
s., Loco. This was considered Il high price tor
1t. In January last he under.1et The house at
the rate Of s., 500 year, scmi-annua{ly in
advance. He Is now travelling In Europe on
the gain. 4 house that WAS sold last Noyem-
her for sSO, 600 vas sold In February for S50,-
eco, and the owner Is grumblfng over the
loss Of $4,000 in the sale, as he has SINCE
found a man who would hare given him St0,-
COO forit Men hare been sold ont of1ouse and
home by asking what they supposed to be
IN ezorbitant price for their property and
finding themselves suddenly taken up. Ono
man offered house that cost him S10, 600
for ~, eco. His offer Has Immediately taken.
When the papers were drawn, they were
nude out to third party, to whom tho sec
opd party had sold at an advance Of $40, 600.
An ex-Meyor Of the city, Who lived IN IN ele.
gant residence in s11nptuous style; was visit
cd one day By two Indies who asked permits
sion to look at his house, stating TINT the
house next door vas for sale but the occu-
pants Yon1d not allow them to view it. He
courteously Informed them that tho honses
in that block ives exactly alike, and they
might examine bis house as fully as they
him, II suppose You would not sell your
house ~ t'0h, yes,'' said his Honor, "
would sell anTthinS but my wife and chill
dren." That afternoon be received q note
from leading real. es!ate house, asking him
If he Would sell his house. and at what price.
He offered It at ss0, 600. This offer Was taken
at once. Tue papers were passed and the
honee was sold for s30,500. Two Or three
things IN this transaction made his Honor
little unqufct: He Offered his house s10, coo
less than his next door nelghbor asked. He
lad to abandon his comfortable md luxurious
home instanter. He was literal1y turned
into the street. Somebody made s105o1 out
Of him. Getting fashionable residence at
any price Was out OF the question. Nothing
refaninetl for him but the oFercron'dcd Fifth
Avenue Hotel He is now with his family in
the attic story, waiting for something to
turn up.