The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-08-12

A YouNG MONTE CKIsTo.-ISsn Francisco
| Chronicle | Dumas's wild story Of the ad-
ventures OF the Count of Monte Cristo has
been generally regarded as an example OF
the utmost extravaganza Of romance. But
the plain, unvarDlshed history of the career
of the ooy.SpCculator, Charles kuchel, as re-
realed to the public within The last few days,
disclose5 features scarcely less eXtravagant
ard incredible than the strange and high
wrought fiction OF the French novelist
Here we have q boy of nineteen, without
capital or available means of his own, going
into the stock market and operating on a
scale scarcely inferior to that of the =" King
of the Comstock," or Of the chief mag
mates of California street. This adYentur-
Gus and enterprising youth. a mere brokers'
clerk, with DO capital except his native
audacity and craft, actually riyaled
in the magnitude of his slock trans
actions The veteran millionaireS who
are popularity supposed to control the mar
ket, make corners, and send stocks up or
down according to their pleasure. His ope-
rations thus far ascertained durinS the hrst
two weeks Of last January amounted to
$3.50, 600, while during tue months Of May
and June they figured up to the Incredible
sum Of over $S4e, 900. His transactions from
amounted to over 81 100, 900. But these big.
ures. stunning as they may seem, only cover
his sa les and purchases through two brokers.
He is known to have also operated through
others. and the full extent Of his stock deal
ings has not yet been aScertained. While
carving on business upon this magnificent
scale young Monte Christie lived like
q prince of the blueSt blood. He
drove high.spirted trottcrs on the Cliti
road, and is said to have been the owner OF
no less than three dasbing double teams.
He was gorgeously apparreIEed, fared
.umptuously every day, and bad the best OIL
everything going that could be obtained Tor
money. There was nothing nigSardly about
this precociOus prodigal. If he lavlShed his
money freely it was not all expended upon
himself and his individual pleasures. Only
few weeks ago he sent his mother ana SIS
ter off upon European tour, and his main
Solicitude when arrested seemed TO be Iest
thew should hear Of his di$glace. Inc TACT
that the boy was able 10 continue such ca
reer so long undetected, using the stocks ana
the credit Of his employers Oh such an eA
tcpsive scale. seems ineXplIcabe. III all pro-
kers eviuce this contidiDg and unsusplclouS
disposition toward their clerks they Simply
offer almost irresistible temptations TO DIS
honesty, and are in a measure morally re-
spon$ible for the lapses of young persons III
their employment. 1t is also singular tnaI
| brokers should receive and execute hea'y
orders from clerks without word OF noti-
fcation to the supposed principal. Tue eX
elements of stock. gam bling have iatai
fascination. To live in the midst OF 1t and
breathe its Circean atmosphere IS moral
poison calculated to sap the foundations OF
sober integrity. The habitual contemplation
of ventures which, if successful, bring SUD
den sfflueuce, produces DISCUS; fer The pa
tient and industrious efforts, The economy
and self-denial by which wealth or compe-
tence can be safely and honestly won. II
kindlcs a fever for speculation which per,
turbs the conscience and the judgment, anu
makes men reckless in regard to RISKS OF
means and even Of reputation. IL lnonces'
especially In the young, mood 10 "oicu
they fall! an easy prey to temptation anu op'
portunity. 1t is DO wonder that these re-
Elections should have suggested themselves
forcibly TO the defrauded broker, or tnat
when friend applied TO him asking the slt.
uaton made vacant by kuchePs detectlon
for another youth, be made answer: II
YOU have boy that you care Anything aoout,
set him at anything but the stock trade. Put
him into a gambling den if you like-set him
| 10 dealing faro but don't make brokers'
clerk of him. The real gambling will be les
irving to bis morals than the Base Calltornla-
| street imitation"