The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-02-14
TIE BEW1roHING BROKERS.
The New Furorc in ssThe Strcet''-First
Levce and Business Reception of the
Female Stock Brokers-A Sensation
among the Panicky "Bulls."

In The NEWS Of Tuesday the opening OF
the Offices of the new female firm of Wood
hull, Clanin & Co., in Wall street, New York,
was briefly announced. The Herald says:
From early morning 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 curios-
ity; but a large number of business men-the
members and representatives OF the leading
firms on the ''streeC'-called to pay their re-
spects and to form the acquaintance OF tile
handsome advcnturesses. The curlositles ol
commerce and banking arc more fascinating
than the curiosities of crime; hence the first
banking house opened by ladies during the
bustlng G00O years that have elapsed since
Eve brought misfortune and grief upon her
daughters is naturally wonder, and not des-
tined to be q s.nine days wonder"
Pcople of all classes thronged yesterday at
No. Al Broad street. Spinstcrs, elderly and
scdate, with a large experience OF the world,
tary transactions, and with longer purses, still
come to learn how they may turn their mon
les, which have not practically been bearing
any interest, to the best account. Blondes,
fair and fresh as plppins, entered with a rich
twinkle of humor in their eyes, but bewitched
by curiosity, and afterwards delighted with all
they SOW and heard, left the premises 6ethink-
live for besides cosmetics, the toilet, fashion
and vanity. Hardy old veterans, who have
been stumping it for a long time on short legs,
took turn in, but the atmosphere OF the es-
tablshmcnt did not seem to agree with their
tcmperament and they left, under the impress
sion that II money were to be made there It
should be made legitimately. Bankers. with
silver boards and golden memories, rich In the
perfumes of champagne and cigars. toddled
through the premises, but having come TO
mock they remained to pray that the lady
bankers would vouchsafc to note the members
of their firms and 10 express hope that their
acquaintance might be long-lived:
The ladies received their visitors with q
GOODNESS and an eye to business that drew
forth the plaudts and the curses of old veto
rams Every large house In the street went to
take notes Of the movements of the ioncsscs.
Hosts of friends, with advanced ideas, put forth
their opinions and prOfIcrcd their counsels,
and hosts who came to scott and to mock the
gentle loncsses who dared to fake stand in
the most stormy and uncertain arena OF life,
pressed forward, but the Establishments and
The opinions of all cOmers were received with
an amount OF daredevil sclt-possesslon that In
dicated to ''the street, that Woodruff. Clnllin
& Co. appreciated the situation. that they
knew their business, and that they proposed
10 take the stand like men, and 10 meet men
on dollars and cents, handsome features, gen-
tie features, and protllsion Of blonde locks
TO the contrary Notwithstanding.
They talked of stocks, Of gold, of G. Wander
bilt, and of a thousand other topics, which
showed that they were not ''strangers in Il
strange land" They insist, on their honor as
ladies, that before three months they VIII do
the largest business as bankers and brokers on
the street. They will do stock brokerage
business on commissions; will buy and sell
stocks and carry them OH margin, and 90 q
banking business, paying five per cent on de-
posits. They claim to be wcalthy-say they
will sink half million dollars in the business
but are quite rcticent as to the names OF their
bankers and supporters. The street talked OF
the matter as Vandcrblt's new moTe. Some
contemned the i,lea, some believed it; but the
question was universally asked, why should
Vanderbilt allow his name 10 be mixed up IN
the matter if he were not an active partici-
nator in the enterprise? 4 September gold
iianic could not create Il greater furore In the
Stock Exchange than the advent OF the lady
brokers.
There was nothing of the novice in the man
ner and movements of the ladies. They were
both dressed in dark blue Empress cloth
walking dresses, and moved around with
keen and quiet air. They looked handsome,
and the gold pens poised on their pretty cars
formed topic Of unusual interest for the
gouty old war horses of the street. In the
hustle and excitement attendant on an open,
ing of this kind, it speaks well for the onward
sentiments OF the age that no unseemly cX-
preston, whether by word or gesture, greet
ed the ears of the visitor, although mlscel-
lancous throng of some four thousand persons
called at the Office yesterday.
Quaint and commonplace remarks were
used i'm proilsion, and the air was alive with
such expressions as ''What does Vanderbilt
mean p! s'Thcy knew thing or two, "When
will this cnd?m 1.-TWO thousand visitors for
two ladies within eight hours" 'Stocks
will 20 sky high" At four o'clock the
tempest subsidized and the Ladies' drove away III
their coupe, without any signs oil Hca0acle, 10
lhrir apartments in the Hoffman House.