The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-04-04


Bachelor Millionaires - The Ocean Bank
Failure-Lent and Easter-A Novel Ball
Sheridan Knowles-Tho Follies Of specu.
lators.
New York, March 30, 1877.
The dangerous illness from which PeLeI
Goelet is now suffering calls attention to
the fact that within the space of little more
than year so many of our capitalists have
been borne 10 the grave. A short time ago
such names as William B. Astor, A. It.
Stewart and Commodore Vanderbilt were
mentioned daily as living illustrations of a
grand success, but now they are only men,
toned among the things Of the past.
Among lesser names, though still of great
importance, were Aaron Arnold, founder
of the fashionable dry goods house on
Broadway, and Cortland Palmer, the real
estate lord and owner of the ground on
which stands Manhattan market Other
names also might be mentioned to show
what death has recently made among the
former masters of capital. The demise of
three of the above mentioned capitalists
changes the ownership of one hundred and
twenty millions, which is more than the
entire wealth of this city at the time of the
last war with Great Britain.
THE GoELETs.
This family has long been noted for its
wealth, and is really the Oldest in point of
New York ancestry of all our capitalists.
For instance, the Vanderbilts arc Staten Is
land people; the name of Astor was un-
known here before the revolution, and
Stewart came here in full grown manhood.
On the other hand the Goelets were an old
family before the revolution, but had
reached no distinction until Peter Goelet
opened hardware store on what is now
Pearl street in partnership with Col. Peter
Curtenius. The latter was noted patriot
He aided to pull down the statue of King
George, which stood in front of the Bowl
ing Green, and he also manufactured bullet
moulds for the army. One of these is now
to be seen in the Historical library. 1t may
ba said that at present the Goelets are the
Oldest family in this city, next to the Stuy-
vessnts. They have, however, never been
noted for anything but their wealth, except
1t be the eccentricties of "Uncle Peter"
He has a passion for rare fowls, and is also
a good mechanic, having shop in the base
ment of his mansion. Here, however, his
eccentriclty ends, for in point of parsmony
he is like most other rich men, who love
money the more as it increa,es on their
hands.
LOOKING BACK.
When the writer of this was Broadway
clerk, tall man with a slight stoop, plain
ly clad, and with care-worn face, often
passed the store and was known as 'rich
Peter Goelet." He was then supposed to
be worth a half million, but he has lived
to see this increase to twenty times that
amount. In those days, however, half
million was an immense sum-excelled by
the possessions of only two men, John ia
cob Astor aud Stephen Whitney. A. L.
Stewart was then keeping n small dry goods
store and was estimated at 100000 while
Cornelius Vanderbilt was simply the Staten
Island ferry master. Since that time "Un-
Gle Peter" has seen these men culminate in
wealth and pass away, until they have left
him the senior capitalist. 1t is to be re-
gretted that Uncle Peter has no better re-
cord to leave than that of mere money
maker. He has thus far made no ndica-
tions of liberality, and there is but little
prospect that he will do better in any be-
quests. In this point he resembles Stephen
Whitney, who was the least liberal of all
our noted capitalists. In fact, never
heard of his ever committing an act Of such
character. Whitney, however, might
plead his children as an excuse, but Uncle
Peter has neither "chck nor child" to pro-
vide for
RICH BACHELORS.
Should Uncle Peters present illness prove
fatal it will break that trio of rich bache-
lors who are such noted features in the
Broadway crowd. In addition to the tall
spare form Of uncle Peter, there is the dig
nifed and portly John @. Jones, president
of the Chemical bank, who is one of the
best looking men for his years in this city.
The third Is the smallest of the three, be-
ing the philsnthropist, John Lenox. He is
almost identical in age with 'Uncle Peter"
and is like him, a native of this city and
the heir of great wealth, but unlike him he
is devoted to philanthropy and has passed
his life in secret as well as public acts of
beueyoleIce. Had "Uncle Peter" adopted
such course he would have been much hap
pier. This leads to the remark that his
mental frame has long been in a state of
chronic and incurable complaint. lie was
always in "a worry" Everything was 60
ing wrong, and such was his misery that it
has been said of him ''that to be in his
company ten minutes would make rich
man feel poor, and poor man feel hum
gry." This frame was the natural result
of such life. When a mans mind is fix
ed exclusively on the care Of an estate, with
perpetual anxiety to increase its income,
his best virtues will perish.
POINT OF UNION.
The only point where in these rich bach
elors could be placed in direct connection,
is the share list of the Chemical bank. They
are all stockholdersIin that opulent institu-
tion, whose annual dividends, for some
years, have been 100 per cent. This hand
some profit ought to have convinced "Un-
Gle Peter" that everything was not going
to ruin, but he was not to be moved from
such a conviction by trfles. Peter has
grumbled all the way from the half million
his father left him up to his present state of
wealth. What hard lot he has had
Stephen Whitney was also such a grum-
bier. 1t was special point of misfortune
with him when money got down TO seven
per cent in Wall street, for his chief profit
was in buying business paper. when then
was sold at heavy discount. Whitney was
really miserable man, as know from his
language to me, and this must be the case
with every one who shuts the heart against
sympathy with his race.
ooRAN BANK MATTERS.
II "Uncle Peter" had been a shareholder
in the Ocean bank, he might have had rea-
son for complaint, since the latter was the
victim of unparalleled fraud. A few days
ago its remaining assets were sold at auc-
tion. This term, by poetic license, was ap-
piled to an immense quantity of paper ..'se-
curities" on which the directors made enor-
nous loans, and which at auction brought
hardly more than the auctioneer's fee and