The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-01-28
4 Glimpse ut the New York
stock Exchange.

The inside view of the New York Stock Ex-
change is not always open TO the prying eyes of
the general public. and it is only by an occasional
sketch, AZ the following, that we catch a glimpse
of that interesting locality, where transactions
to the tune of millions of dollars are daily made,
almost in the twlnkling of an eye. As you en-
ter, ut the left of the President your eyes rests
on the most important parsonage present, Hen
riquies, the principal Secretary, who does the
most of the fabulous figuring hourly accomplished.
He is n dignifed and sedate, but shrewd looking
man, of about fifty years, whose face, seldom
lit up with the least expression, is closely scanned
by every member of the Board throughout the
stormy session. Not that Nature has chiselled
there features which his fellows love to look upon,
nor that tasteful Art has lent its aid TO beautify
what else lacked symmetry and ornament. Not
at all. The Governor is no rival of Apollo
in appearances and nothing in his address indi-
Gates any aspirations in that direction. The
chances aimed ut him are not those Of art con-
noisseurs admiring and criticising a favorite face
or 4 faultless physique far from it, His fellows
watch to catch some tell-tale expression on those
cool, calm features, from which to Judge the
drift of his thoughts and the real significance of
his frequent bids. But the effort is fruitless for
his most intimate friend cannot discover from his
face, whether-when he bids-he wants to buy,
or is watching his chance TO sell. lie often offers
n thousand shares, ut the loss of as many dollars,
merely to fix a price at which he can buy five
thousand shares back again at ten thousand
dollars profit. While the rest laugh and jest,
Is the Governor preserves his statuesque appear
ance, as though a smile slid In a sin, or a joke
would cost n fortune. Of such stuff is the father
and creator of the Public Stock Exchange made
up: but there are few of his sort besides. There
is something truly Napoleonic about his '. grand,
gloomy and peculiar position, as he sits there
wrapt in the solicitude of his own originality"
He can scarcely move or speak without affecting,
in one way or other the price Ot the particular
stock at the moment before the Board. If :. the
C--.---.I,.~ tba inFarap ic fhat ~ 10 for n fnra-
seen rise-if he sells a rush is improvised to stand
from under, for the great Tycoon is " getting
out"
Ever since the war began, he has bought
largely whenever a military reverse occurred
has done Il business which has required his checks
for two millions and a half daily has owed as
much us thirteen millions at Il time, and fire.
ouently has owed for weeks together six millions
always ~planking up satisfactory collaterals, and
never over drawing the bank account nor turn
ing a cold shoulder to fellow operators who need
ed help. However short at times, himself, he
could always lend To others. Ills operations
have been heavier, and more widely extended and
varied, than Jacob Little's ever were; and to
those who have watched these operations and
seen purchases of Pacific Mail at Go, (now 1851
of Pennsylvania Coal at 7S, (now 1851 of Har-
lem at 80, (since sold by him at l3O)-those who
have seen all this and much more of the same
sort, are not openmouthed with wonder that
A. G.. Jerome has in less than three years made
himst liza real millionaire on Il capital of less than
FIVE hundred dollars. 1t is a remarkable fact,
moreover, that speculative stocks do not form
any part of his present fortune that species of
property having been worked of, as opportunity
allowed, at higher prices than now rule.
Nor have the successes of Leonard w. Jerome,
John NJ. Tobin, and E.. \. Corey-members of
this same Public Board-been less magnificent.
The street is full of stories respecting their
stupendous operations and their rapid accumula-
ton of wealth. Almost fairy-like seems the tale
of their fortunate ventures and financial %triumphs.
They have as it were. dreamed of wealth, and
awakened to find it really in their grasp. At
another time, it may be worth while to trace the
brief story of their gains and watch the mushroom
growth of these modern millionaires.