Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-07-28
HOLDING VANDERBILT'S HORSE

A True Story from Wall Sfreet-HOu
Ruined Broker was ReInstated-
How AN Operator CONTROLLING mil.
lions can Manage the Market and
Realize Fortunes for Himself and
Others.
From the New York Sun.
A young man from an adjoining
State, who has recently been res
eded from score of hungry cred
ltors, and who still has a credit at
his bankers of about 100000, but
who not long ago was in reduced
circumstances and obliged to live
IN retirement on Staten Island.
makes the following solution of his
\ sudden acquisition of a competency,
>Fhe gentleman-Holt by name
was residing in one of the fash
Ionable hotels on Staten Island. He
was eXtremely down hearted. This
was the reason of his low spirits:
About two years ago he had married
very handsome woman, on whom
he fairly dotted. At that time he
had $4,000 in cash. Soon after
the nuptial ceremony, Holt rex
moved to this city, and became a
broker on Wall street. He was too
honest to succeed there. The bulls
and bears gorcd and tore him-f-
nanclall y-and in less than twelve
month he had not a dollar left. Dis
gusted, he retired with as good a
grace as possible, leaving his cash
to fulfil its mission. With wife and
child he went TO the country, and
finally, as before stated, settled
down in q hotel in Staten Island.
Ills wife had some means, and she
gave it freely for the support of
his family.
About two weeks ago, late in one
hot afternoon, gentleman drove
up to the hotel where Holt was
living, and gruf1y asked whether
there was a boy there who would
hold his horse. 81 will do it, SIR"
said Mr.. Holt, and he did hold the
animal during the time consumed
by the elderly gentleman in oh.
tanning his dinner.
A few days later the same gen.
tleman, driving the same horse,
stopped at the same hotel, and
hunted for 4 boy again to hold his
horse. No boy being present, Holt
again volunteered. He held the
horse until the hostlcr came to take
the animal TO the stable, and then
retired within the hotel TO dress for
dinner. Mrs. Holt had a way of
making her husband get himself
up very respectable ut least once
each day, and that was for the din-
ner hour. Usually he had been
rather negligent of his costume,
and since his financial .faScO, had
really become soedy. When Mr..
and MIS-. Holt entered the hotel
dining room that evening, Mrs
Holt was resplendent. Her hus-
band was at least dressed in gentle
manly style.
At an adjoining table sat the ell
derl y man whose horse Mr.. Holt
had on two different occasions had
the pleasure of holding. The eyes
Of the elderly individual were oh,
served to dilate considerably. In
fact, he stared at Mr.. and Mrs.
Holt But he said nothing at that
time. After dinner, however, he
sought out Mr.. Holt and bluntlv
asked his name. "Holt. sir, at
Your service" "And who do you
Eshink 1 ann again asked the elder
ly parsonage. "Oh, you? You are
old Vanderbilt ! know you, and
and the horse have hel@ is Noun
tain Boy, an animal any man might
be proud to draw a rein over"
Instead Of taking offense at the
epithet "old,' Mr.. Vanderbilt-for
it was the COmmodOre-seemed to
like it, and he made some inquiries
about Hollis antecedents, took a
fancy to him, and peremptorily or
dered the young man to make his
appearance at his uptown Office on
the ensuing forenoon at precisely
IL o'clock. Holt promised TO obey,
did so, and had an interview OF
over an hours duration with the
millionaire What was done OF
said on that occasion no one has
ever been able to learn. But few
days later Holt made his appear.
ance in Wall street, and speculated
strongly and successfully in a Ger.
tain line of stocks known TO be
mostly controlled by Commodore
Vanderbilt SO we'll did he work
his card with the Instructions un.
' doubleday obtained from the Com.
modore, that in a few weeks ht
cleared over $1,000 in cash, which
he deposited with a prominent
banking house whose vaults are
protected by burglar proof locks
and who keep day and night watch
men expressly paid TO see that NJ
unauthorized person hampers will
those safeguards. Two days az,
Vanderbilt sent for Holt again anC
said to him:
"Young man, hear you hav,
made some money. | am glad t,
learn it. Now just take my adVic
4 second time. Never put foot il
Wall street again. You are no
suited for that atmosphere. Shur
il As YOU would the devil. EOuv
got enough. Keep what you hav
and be contented."
Holt now shuns Wall street as b
would a pestilence.
General Ames has been called