The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-02-20
VANDERBiLT'S PgOrEGES.
Interview with Jennie C. Claiiin
and Victoria C. Woodruff.
Their Past Financial Successes and
Future Intentions.
Women Of Destiny.

Women Of Destiny.
| waters here, there has been moving Of late a
more potent influence, that has by its peculiar
power created quite q stir among our bulls and
bears.
Inc advent in our city of those two we'll
known Snltanas OF Wall street, Mrs. Woodruff
and Hiss C!aain, to which should be added the
knowledge OF their past financial successes. pro-
duced on tho flags more OF movement than
those circling in other grooves Of outside com
merce could appreciate. Their wonderful vicissi-
tudes during their reign in the season of Black
Fridays and the other monetary climsctrics have
already attracted to the firm above named the
homage Of our best fnancers. and the subtle
prescience by which Miss Clafin SO remarkably
foretold the variations in stocks on Walt street
was pronounced almost beyond the possibilities
of human Judgment.
Thinking that the business career Of these
ladies would be Of much interest to our readers,
and that their pioneer march into the very
lions den Of trafic-the stock brokers chapparel
OF New York. q representative of the BULLETIN
yesterday afternoon made his devoirs to them
at the st. Charles Hotel.
After dapper little bell-boy had carried in our
card and returned with an answer to- step into
the parlor, We walked down the hallway and,
whilst awaiting their arrival, took short siests
in comfortable armchair in one corner Of that
richly furnished apartment.
The rustic Of dress, the patserine Of little
feet on the stairway and the sudden app-oach Of
two ladies, shattered our meditations, and in .
musical voice Mrs. Woodruff introduced herself
and Miss Tennie @. Clafin. The bearing and
manner Of both the ladies was peculiarly fascina-
ting. OF 1.-the. supple forms, magnetic charm of
eye, and with faces hom which radiated tho de-
termined purposes Of their lives the first impress
sion ono forms Of them il most agreeable.
There y nervous energy expressed in their
every movement, which, Of itself, were their
great intellectual powers unknown. would attract
to them the notice Of every one. even in the
circles Of court; an energy indicative of extra
ordinary will, power and physical endurance
enough to push their resolves to an accomplish
ment.
Mrs. Woodruff WAS for the time being called
away, and to Miss Tennie @. Clafin our repre-
sentative addressed hlmself.
Miss Clafiin, % our readers perhaps will re-
member, was one OF the most industrious brokers
Wall street ever saw, although she was lady.
Educated by her father, who was . lawyer, in
every branch Of business, in the laws Of political
economy. national necessities and fnanciering,
her mind at an early age developed . remarkable
precOcity for what was then thought to be mat
ters exclusively belonging to the male SEX From
the tuition she received her intellect became
analytical, perceptive and keen, and the fuctua-
tons in the money values OF securities to her. fol-
lowed only the rules Of well defined laws, the
horn book OF which she possessed.
Bringing to bear her clairv0y ant powers, which
she claims has been the principal source of her
successes in 1858, she miniatsred to Com. van
derbilt during indisposition, and in return she
received check for $4,000, the nest egg from
which came the fortunes they afterwards
smassed. In short time the firm of Woodruff
b Claflln announced themselves to . startled
world as Bankers and Brokers, A Broad street,
New York city stocks, bonds and gold bought
and sold on commission" and Wall street was IN
. commotion. Heavy transactions, speculations
son and Harlem followed, and in brief space
they secured, 40 . clear profit 500, 900.
After pleasant conversation Of some minutes
our representative, TO open the subject upon
which he had called, inquired OF Miss Claain-
"What was the first incentive which induced
you to venture into the troubous waters Of
finance to make your sustenance 2"
Miss c." From our girlhOod we were re.
solved to reach Q sphere where our influence
could be felt and appreciated. Educated BY our
parents to depend upon ourselves, and to believe
that women ought to be equal to man as an inde>
pendent worker, we we're resolved to earn Oct
livelihood without being indebted to any onei,:
i. and fnancisring opened to US results o..
yrander boundaries, and to it we resolved to have
"Woman in commerce has never been real-
Zed, and We we're the first TO go down Broad
street, New York, for when we commenced on
,endence Of thought, and the freeing Of women
rom the restraints thrown about her, helped us
% make up our minds to show the world that
woman could - well a. man master the intri-
,acies Of monetary affairs. We started. When
We first ventured in 1867, down TO Wall street in
,ur carriage, we only dared TO raise the curtain
mt little, to pep through to beckon our
brokers' to Us to givSthem directions relative to
took.
"a lady in business there then would have
Produced almost revolution, rs it did. We re-
olved at once that instead OF doing business in
hat way we would at once commence the battle.
md open in the light Of day an Office ON Broad
treet. We did it. Thousands upon thousands
passed the place Just to look in at the NOVELTY
4 the Queens Of Finance as we were caiied.
This gradually wore away, and we felt, after
hort time, owing to our great gains, that the
irst skirmish in our great world battle had
terminated fayorably to u.s."
'sWere Your transactions large on the streets,
Miss Tennie2"
Miss C.-"Very large, at times We controlled
he market Some days our transactions amount
ID to millions. We have made and lost fortunes,
'ut have not lost % much IS We gained. What
las been gained has been devoted to our great
purpose, and wien we resume business again,
whatever we may make will be again devoted to
I. We are in business communication to-day
With the largest bankers Of the world. The very
act that We have fought the unequal battle has
lrawn sbout ~ the confidence OF the wealthiest
inanciers. Our labor has been crowned with
he most eminent success"
Here Mrs. Claflin exhibited letters from promi-
lent bankers Of England and California.
Do you think the prejudice against woman's
aking an active part in tire has disappeared
rom your crusader"
Miss O.-"I do. / am perfectly satisfied that
low men are reaching out to give to them posi-
ions in all avenues of trade. prophecy that in