Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-11-25
The King of Wall street.
From the Cincinnati Commercial.

reminded of short account of his career given
ME not long ago by friend who Was brought
up with him. Henry n. Smith is known
throughout the country as one Of the most des-
perate and successful operators In Wall street.
1t was he who became so noted at the Black
Friday time as the head of the firm of Smith,
Gould 4 Martin it was be who was in with
Fisk in the bold operations against the Erie
Railroad and it was he who made corner
on greenbacks last winter by carrying FIVE mil
lions of dollars on bis person and locking it up
in the Tenth National Bank, which last opera
zion became the subject Of Congressional IN,
quiry Smith came on to Washington and
was examined. The committee did not get
much comfort out of his answers. They asked
him if he had locked up FIVE millions of dollars
asked him why he did it. He freely acknowl-
operation, and wanted to know what the com
mittee intended to do about it. Without an
swcring, the members of the committee asked
what right he had to lock up that amount OF
money. Then he got angry and tod them
that it was none of their id business; that
the money was his own and he could do with
it as he liked !; and it was about this time that
the committee found they had made mistake.
Smith collected about fifty dollars witness fees
aud returned to New York, and that was the
last of the SHY investigation. A gentleman
who was also witness before the committee
said, subsequently, that Smith actually carried
the five millions of dollars on his person for
two days. The lining of his overcoat was filled
with pockets, and into these the money was
stored. \
Smith is about thirty-6ve or thirty-eight years
old, short Of stature, slight of frame, and red
of hair The latter he wears cut close and bis
whiskers la miitaire or mutton chop, with
mustache. His name is not Henry NJ. nor
Henry n. Smith, but Norman Henry Smith.
lie is native Of Toga, Pennsy ylvauia, little
village which Is shut in with charming grace
from the outside world by a circle 9th Ills, which
in fall presents such an enchanting appearance
that it clings to ones memory forever In this
pretty little village this monster operator was
born and here he is called to this day plain Tom
Smith. nicknams he got when baby. It IS
nothing against Tom that he spent his young
days about as other village boys do, and til
nothing against him that he learned the shoe
maker trade and was an excellent workman.
1t is said there that Tom Smith can make the
best ''fne' boot of any man in America
A love scrape, if / am correctly informed,
drove him from his hammer and lap-stone and
took him to Buffalo year or two before the
war; While there he attended course OF m
struction in one of the Business Colleges
which were so common then. From this he
operated in Buffalo in small way, going final
Iy to Albany. He could not long remain IN
such place, and he turned his eyes toward
New York. 49,. !.
His career as a money.maker is without par
allel in history 1t would be idle to estimate
his wealth, for to-day it might be twenty mil
hons and to- morrow ten. He is called the sue
cessor of Jim Fisk, but this is an insult to him.
He possesses the same reckless dariDg but he
brought to his experience keener and more
deliberate Judgment and intelligence than FISK
had. Besides, he has none of the fast quail
tiles which Fisk possessed He has no desire to
display his wealth ostentatiously; he does, not
care to build an opera house that he may have
the privilege Of the green-room, and ne IS not
likely to run line of steamers merely to show
h;msefin an admirals uniform, nor to show
himself at the head Of regiment at the cost
of thousands Of dollars He lives as becomes
yery wealthy man, and owns a'number OF the
best horses that money can buy merely for nls
own driving. He has considerable money, In
vested in real estate in his native town.. Wnere
he has provided handsomely for his father and
mother. -. II - .-1a.~
VINO ARE EsoUIREs. The present use Of
the distinction "Esquires, . conveys not the re,
motest idea Of its origin or appropriation N I,
past ages. The esquire originated in ohival
ric times, when the sous of gentlemen. from
the age of seven years, were brought up 10 the
castles of superior lords-whieh was an ines
Unable advantage to the poorer noblty, VINO
could hardly otherwise have given their. chill
dren the accomplishments OF their statlon;-
From seven to fourteen, these boys were osilee
nages or varlsts at fourteen, they bore the
name of esquire. They were instructed IN the
management ofarms, in the art OF horseman
ship. in exercises of strength and actlvity 80 a;
TO fit them for the tournament and battle, ano
the milder glories of chivalrio gailantfy. Long
after the decline of chivalry, the word esquire
was only used in limited sense, for the SON. y
Of peers and knights, or such as Obtained the
title by creation, or some other legal, means
Blackstone defines esquire to be all who bear
Office or trust under the crown, and VINO art
STYLED esouires by the king in their COMMISSION
and appointments; and being once honored b1
the King with the title of esquire, they have
right to that distinction for life.
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