The union Democrat., 1870-02-26
THE QUEENS OF FINANCE.
The New Future in Walt Street.-The First
Ru.ine.. Reception of Weodhnii. Ciafiin
Ca Sensation anon. the Balls
and UBcars."

The New Future IN wall Strcct-s ne FhSa
Bu.ine.. Reception of Weodhuii. Ciafin
&Ce-A Sensation among the Balls
and "Bears."
In the Herald of Yesterday the opening of
the new offices of the new female firm OF
Woodruff, Clalliu i Co.. was announced.
From early mornin: till the closing of the
business houses in Wall and Broad streets.
the Offices Of the ladies were besieged with
hosts of visitors, Of whom many were led by
curiosity. excited by the notice that appeared
in the Herald but large number of busi-
ness men the members and representatives
of the leading firms on the ''street''-called
to pay their respects and to form the acqua'nt
ance of the handsome adventuresseS. The
curiosities of commerce and banking are more
fascinating than the curiosities of crime hence
the first clearinghouse opened by ladies dur
ing the bursting 6.000 years since Eve
brought misfortune and grief upon her GauGb-
ters is naturally wonder. and not destined
to be mine days wonder"
Peopleof all classes thr1nged yesterday at
No. Al Broad street. Spinsters, elderly and
sedate, with large experience of the world,
but with little larger suspicion of its mo-
netary transactions. and with longer purses
still, come to learn how they may turn their
bearing any interest. to the best account
Blondes. fair and fresh as pirpins. entered
with a rich twinkle of humor in their ewes.
but bewitched by curiosity, and afterward
delighted with al! they left the premises be-
thinking themselves that there were other
things to live for besides cosmetics, the toll
ct, fashion and vanity Hardy old veterans,
who have been stumping it for a long timeon
short legs. took turn in, bu. the atmosphere
of the establishment did not seem to agree
with their temperament, and they left. under
the impression that if money were to be made
there it should he made legitimately. Bank
ers, with silver boards and golden memories,
rich in the perfumes of champagne and ci-
gars, toddled through the premises but hav-
ing come to mock they remained to pray that
the lady bankers would vouchsafe to note the
members of their firms and to express q hope
that their acquaintance might be long lived.
The ladies received their visitors with a
coolness and an eve to business that drew
forth the pleudts and the curse of old vet
erans. Every large house in the street went
to take notes of the movements of the lion
esses. Hosts of friends with advanced ideas
put forth their opinions and proffered their
counseis, and hosts who came to scof and to
mock the gentle lionesses who dared TO take
stand in the most stormy and uncertain arena
of life, pressed forward, but the blandist-
ments AMI the opinions of all comers were re-
ceived with an amount of daredevil sef-pos-
session that indicated to the "street" that
Woodhull, Clafin & Co. appreciated the stu
alton. that they knew their business and
that they propose1 to take the stand like
men, and to meet men on dollars and cents,
handsome features. gentle features, and
proiusion of blonde locks to the contrary not
withstanding.
They talked of stocks, of gold, of Vanderbilt
and of thousand other topics which showed
they were not strangers in strange land"
They insist on their honor as ladies, that before
three months they will do the largest business as
bankers and brokers on the street. They will do
a stock-brokerage business on commission
will buy and sell stocks and carry them or
margin. and do u banking business, paying
five per cent. on deposits. They claim to be
wealthy-say they will sink $780, 900 in the
business but are quite retcent as to the
names of their bankers and supporters. The
street talked Cf the matter as Vaaderbilt's
new move. Some condemned the idea, some
believed it, hut the question was universally
asked, why should Vanderbilt allow bis name
to be mixed up in the matter if he were not
An active partcipator in the enterprise? A
September gold panic could not create
greater furore in the stock exchange than the
advent of the lady brokers.
There was nothingof the novice in the man.
ner and movements of the ladies. They were
both dressed in dark blue Emor cloth walk
ing dresses, and moved around with keen
aud quiet air. They looked handsome, and
the gold pens poised on their pretty ears form
ed a topic o. unusal interest for the gouty old
Warehouses of the street. In the hustle and
excitement attendant on an opening of this
kind, it speaks we'll for the onward sentiment
of the age, that no uuseemly expression, wheth
er by word or gesture. greeted the ears OF the
visitor. although miscellaneous throng Of
some 1900 persons called at the Offices yes
terday.
Quaint and commonplace remarks were us
ed in profusion and the air was alive with
such expressions as {: What does Vanderbilt
mean? ~ They know a thing or two"
"When will this end?' 1.-TWO thousand Wis
itors for those ladies within eight hours"
"Stocks must 90 sky high At O'Clock
the tempest subsided, and the ladies drove
away in their coupe, without any sign of
headache, to their apartments in the uotf-
man House.
Imprisonment for debt has been abolished
in England The law went into effect on the