The New York herald., 1875-12-25
FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL.
Another Dull Stock Market
Prices Irregular.
A SUGGESTIVE BANK STATEMENT.
Gold Dull at 1l3 Is a 113-Money on Call
and z Per Cent-Government Bonds
Weak and Railway Securities
Barely Steady
WALL. grnEEr
v AIlL I9INHE y
FRIDAY, Dec. 24-6 p. N.

FRIDAY, Dec. 24-6 r. NJ
Under the present aspect OF Stock Exchange the
writer Of a money article is very much under the
conditions as the theatrical critic who essays 10
press something each day on the progress OF a
drama which has numbered its hundredth night or
more. Actors aud audience both exhausted, but
day by day the play is 'bed' and day by day the
critic Is expected find fresh feature worthy OF
comment
Lake Shore has been the play ofthc past few weeks
comedy to some, tragedy to others Whether
Thalia or Melpomene is 10 be the winner in the end
best be decided when the curtain falls and the
footllghts turned down.
AS has the fashion among members OF the
Stock Exchange for fifty years back Christmas Eve
uaugurated the opening Of the board with its usual
clamor, din and confusion conlounded." +"
The pagan rites peculiar to and per-
haps consonant with the attributes OF heather
divinities but which have been grated on the
dispensation by unaccountablc pressure Of
imitation, observed with zest than could
reasonably have expected under the depressing
circumstances which control things financial The
ruling passion Of stock gambling yielded for the time
TO tho influence Of hilarity, but drums and horns
seemed TO their influence for prices gave way
the ond under the general fanfare did the walls OF
Jericho when prostrated by the trumpets of
Joshua The whole market led by Lake Shore, offered
dismal contrast IN its weakness TO tho strength OF
yesterday-an acrobatic entertainment which showed
equal aptitude to turn upside to stand up
right, circumstances wllled It, The avorte early
betrayed inclination decline from the closing
figures made last evening" an inclination partially due
10 the fact that the short Sellers both great and small
had TO very great degree been frightened into
ing their contracts, and the market accordingly
left without buyers report wired from Philadelphia
that the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad would
probably reduce If not pass the coming dividend had
also depressing effect upon dealings
Western Union next to Lake Shore attracted most
attention in the half holiday market and gradually
weakened in price if il half ashamed that
only for confidence rested poles and and
holes in the ground Quotations for other stocks else
where noted VIII exhibit the monotony in prices and
indsposlton to trade which invariably characterize
dealings the OF great holiday.
The prices the fluctuations about follows
Western Union, 72zs 7l% 7276 72,<; Pacific Mail,
3sH s91I a91 Lake Shore, 5ols ssh 5ok 59
Michigan Central, SO 5sk Sos; Northwest SSx
asX 3sJ1; preferred, 65H 54h; St. Paul, s4x
ASK S4A preferred, 651S 65 Ohio and Mississippi
10 o 15% I61 a. l6 Erie l5k 1915; Central and
Hudson 104; Rock Island, 104 103sS Io3Z; Central
OF New Jersey, los l04H Union Pacific. n 72A;
Delaware Lackawanna and Western, l2o 1l9s<, and
Hannibal and St. Joseph preferred, 26 2e1S.
TOTAL TRANSACTIONS
to-day aggregated 81 shares distributed among the
active stocks as follows:-Ncw York Central and Hud
son, 800 Erie $500; Lake Shore S4577; Northwest
ern 100, Northwestern preferred, 800; Rock Island
200; Pacific Mail, g. 100, ST. Paul, 7oo ST. Paul prefer
red /, 200 ohios 1850; Western Union 2S,625; Wa
bash, 300 Union Pacific ZOO; Michigan Central 1000
OPENING, HIGHEST LOWEST
The following table shows the opening highest and
aft tha