The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-16

they alone that are likely TO find themselves en-
barrassed by the conflict between national duties
and the irrepressiple energy OF trading citizens,
ready 10 turn an honest, or even dishonest penny,
ersatye victory e he tea,S Was valuable Tor
sb0xing that those ties OF kindred ana commerce
to which the American advocates so oddly appeal
as oasis Tor damages were not without lnnuence
on us. We have SHOWN bv the agreement a sincere
desire TO make up our diplomatic quarrel with our
grounds OF sucn disputes IN years 20 come. Our
satisfaction al these results Is more diminished
the new document than our content with our little
island when Yankee orator tells us, as taunt,
that mis- "nome is IN the setting SUM-"
An English Pen Portrait Of James Fisk, Jr.-
A Prophecy-His Fall Not Fur Distant.
From the London Daily Telegraph, Jan. 81
or ali the questionable notorleues that New York
mas produced within the last lustre, 'Jim Fisk"
az he Is popuary called, unquesnonably
towers far above his fellows. The life, the
character and ldiosyncraces OF this remark
able man well merit study; nor would 1t
be possible for any other nation than the United
States or any other city than New York to produce
such paragon as the "Prince OF Erie" Many
volumes and articles pOrtraying his career have re-
Gently appeared on the other side Of the Atlantic and
they have eliminated In Lille OF James FISK.
Jr. bclng o full and accurate narrative OF oil
the enterprises IN which he has been engaged"
Not without an uneasy recollection mat we nave
ment Of a novel by Mr. Harrison Ainsworth,
we may, with the assistance OF this volume, admit
the public 70 an intimate acqnaintance with the
Like most OF the cutest Of his cOuntrymen, James
Yankee by birth. Vermont had the honor Of
heng his parent state, and Bratteboro on tho
Re the oaSe ne OF ns sno
says his enthusiastic blographer, that the
switzerland OF America possesses, passed the
childhood and youth OF the man whose career is
the greatest wonder as well as one OF the most
sgn,nSanS OF the ZINES MIN the me
the very limited educatlon which he could be in
duced to take I'M IL was here tnat he grew up,
married ana entered into business on his own
account, in The humble capacity-we hesitate TO
write the word-of an ltinerant peder. such was
adapted him that he soon bought out his fathers In
terest IN the wagon and Its wares; and thus "Fisk
I panther 'a and remounted dun it as MS sons
hired man at very liberal salary" me
e eSs m w peW nem ami ami
lives IN the region which they dazzled and which
their driver bewltched. "Tnere Is no other period
OF his career" wisely says the volume, $50
free from faint or so much to his credit" He
was one OF the best and keenest pedlars that
behind ID him at Bratteboro a swesi.smelling
SAVIOR. From Vermont he moved to Massachusetts,
and accented the w MsSsrs OF osaB Boston I
business was utterly dlstastelul, and ne
but that, Just when his employers were growing
tired OF him, the great civil war broke out. From
immense contracts for wOOllen and cotton fabriss
would be issued James Fisk took measures which,
without the knowledge OF Messrs. Jordan 4
Marsh, secured a portion Of the harvest TO
that firm, and enabled them to dispose OF pile OF
Old blankets which had long been condemned to
the lott. But q few weeks and the title OF the firm
ran Jordan Marsh n CO."-withln the elastic final
word being included the "Magclan Fisk" From
contracts blakets MI. FISK and his partners pro
cecded to the purchase OF some or New England's
largest woOen mills, which, during the four years OF
wal, tney worked at fabulous pronts. The end was
hal iUh IN nH a
individuality Of their JUNIOR partner Messrs. JORDAN
N Marsh paid MIN large sum TO quit Their firm.
He set up for himself IN Boston, and within lew
months he is believed TO have lost most OF the money
received rom Jordan 4 Marsh His next removal
period OF his lie when his greatness" begins and
from ms subsequent history Is derived the title
TO notoriey when n0nemanu eas Oh ali tne holders
within three years. says his blographer, "a man
VINO started without money, influence social posi-
ton or education should attain uncquaed notoriey,
prominence ana power" Is indeed marvel. No
other name Is The theme OF so many editorial
and journalistic comments. He Is represented
"tne manipulation of Legislatures and Of high
Onclals"-as giving prominence ana interest
"uniformly triumphing over the press winch has
tried crush him-as running of with the
We're We're struggling and thus gaming an advantage
winch they have never recOvered"-as banning the
| employment OF "unllmited capital, both English
| and American, against him." anu laughing al the
puny efforts OF the most crafty sockjObDers IN the
| world 10 shake MS supremacy.
the Kaleidoscope career OF the Prince OF Erie''
during the last four years: From his first
| Of his last dollar, to the hour when he became
the Great Mogdl OF lone OF the finest rail.
way ran 10 raa me S %Sn iae STORY OF ms
we say 'In fuIlY" VINO, It may well be asked, can
ever lay bare the whole OF such lifes The nara
tive OF the thrilllng hight between the three
| rival interests which, IN October 1857, were
battling Tor the control OF the Erie Railroad
| BY what sklful management the interest OF
Daniel Drew, represented by Messrs. Fisk aud Jay
rivalry rivalry OF John S. Eldridge and Commodore Van.
derbllt, could not be brought out ef1ectually with
out reteing IN all its details the whole story OF
the manGuvre; one OF the countless instances in
which the Intrigue OF the novel or the
drama IS outdone by living comedy, 10 which
the strange. eventul history Is the account OF the
CONSERVATION in Wall street when IL was discovered
clean ana unrumpled, issued TO James Fisk Jr., had
been put upon, the street that day." In
tn the e Of this hcro r fe
checked and understandable power to issue
new STOCK has for nearly iour years made James
Fisk the monarch OF Erie. Having achieved all posi-
BILE nOtOrlety IN railroad management. Mr.. FISK deter
mined, in 1862 become The Msecenas of the stage.
He purchased the Opera House; he rebuilt the
Fifth Avenue Theatre; he leased the Academy OF
Music. "He prepared entertainments al each OF the
three establishments without regard TO expense
In OF 1869 the second floor OF the Grand
Opera House was converted INTO sumptuous offices
for the Erie Railway. Here sits James Fisk on his
throne. About INN are numerous clerks, messen-
gers aud lackeys, laughing az his humor, which he
Keeps constantly Moving. Within reacn are springs
sendlng signals TO all parts OF the building. All
the ceilings are richly lrescoed, and IN the main
room Is an elegant symbolic design, having on us
four sides the words New York, san Francisco, st.
Louis and chicago On the floor above Is q grand
Danquettng nail, where sumptuous enter
talnments are occasionally given" What
avail "InjunctiOnso anu processes" and all
The artillery OF the law against such a
magninco as thiss Per mare per te,rds became his
motto III 1870, and from Admiral OF steams ship line
BECAME Colonel OF Ninth regiment state
Guard. "Wheh the Chief Magistrate OF the nation
goes out with his family for an evening
drive at Long Branch the respondent
Prince of Erie passes him In. eclpsing spien-
dor on the road, and unDiushingy naunts
In his lace common ddnSeuse-to-day a Parlsenne,
tomorrow a BerlIner-impOred for him by ms
special agent, whom he sends to Europe for TINS
purpose" Into the erotlcs Of the marvellous
10 enter. SlLMce II IN uLcLuLe ~ QLrSGLreS nj