The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1870-01-08
Holding vanderbiIt's Horse-A True
Story.


A young man from ncighboring
State, who has been recently rescued
from a score of hungry creditors, and
who still has 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 compe-
tency. The gentleman-Holt by name
was residing in one Of the fashionable
hotels on Staten Island. He was ex-
tremely down hearted. This was the
reason Of his low spirits About two
years ago he had married very hand
At that time he had S25, 900 in cash.
Soon after thesnuptial ceremony, Holt
removed to this city, and became q broker
on Wall street. He was too honest to
succeed there. The bulls and bears
gored and tore him -fnancialiy-and in
less than a month he had not dollar
left. Disguised, he left with as good q
grace as possible, leaving his cash to full
I'LL its mission. With wife and child be
went to the country, and finally, as be-
fore stated, settled down in hotel on
Staten Island. His wife had some means,
and she gave it freely to the support of
the family
About two weeks ago, late one hot af-
ternoon, gentleman drove up to the ho-
tel where Holt was living, and grufay
asked if there was boy there who would
hold his horse. 81 will do it, sir" said
MIR. Holt, and he did hold the animal
during the time consumed by the elderly
gentleman in obtaining his dinner
A few days later the same gentleman,
driving the same horse, stopped at the
same hotel and hunted again for boy to
hold his horse. No boy being present,
Holt again volunteered. He held the
horse until the hostler came to take the ami
NAL to the stable, and then retired within
the hotel to dress for dinner Mrs H olt
had way of making her husband get him.
self up very respectfully at least once a
day, and that was for the dinner hour.
Usually, he had been rather negligent of
his costume, and since his financial fasco
had already become quite seedy. When
MIR. and Mrs. Holt entered the hotel
dining room that evening Mrs. Holt was
resplendeEt. Her husband was at least
dressed in gentlemanly style. At an
adjoining table sat the elderly gentleman
whose horse MIR. Holt on two different
occasions had the pleasure of holding
The eyes of the elderly individual were
observed to dilate considerably. In fact,
he stared at Mr.. and Mrs. Holt. But
he said pothing at that sins7 After din
ner, hUwercr, ae s6ughts out hr. Holt
and bluntly asked his name. "Holt, sir,
at your service" "And who do you
think / amp" again asked the elderly
parsonage. "Oh, you? You are old
Vaderbilt! l know you, and the horse
| have held is Mountain Boy, an animal
any man might be proud to draw rein
over"
Instead of taking offence at the epi-
thet "old," Mr.. Vanderbilt-for it was
the ommodore-seemedt to like it, and
he made some inquiries about Holt's an
tecedents, took fancy to him, and per-
emptorily ordered him TO make his ap-
pearance at his uptown office on the en-
suing forenoon at precisely Ii 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 a few days later
Holt made his appearance in Wall street
aud speculated strongly and successfully
in certain line Of stocks known to be
mostly controlled by Commodore Wander
bilt So well did he work his card with
the Instructions undoubtedly obtained
from the Commodore, that in a few
weeks he had cleared over 500, 900 in
cash, which he deposited with promi-
nent banking house whose vaults are pro-
tected with burglar-proof locks, and who
keep day and night watchmen expressly
paid to see that no unauthorized person
tampers with those safeguards. Two
weeks ago Vanderbilt sent for Holt again
and said to him:
"Young man, heard you had made
some money. I am glad to hear it.
Now, just take my advice second time.
Never put foot in Wall street again. You
are not suited for that atmosphere. Shun
it as you would the devil. You've got
enough. Keep what you have and be
contented."
| Holt now shuns Wall street as he
would pestilence.