Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-12-17
GOULD'S
The EARLY Life OF the Great Spec
ulatOr.

San Francisco Chroniclel
The life of Jay Gould, like the
lives of most great spectators, hiss a
peculiar interest for the philosopher
aud the mar Of the world. Still in
the vigor Of manhood, yet at the head
of the most powerful railway system
in the world, his gigantic combina-
tons are becoming daily stronger and
more complete, and he yields a power
which the president OF the nation
would scarcely dare to claim, Of the
boyhood life Of the great Spectator
much is known. The cottage in which
he lived and the school-hou in which
he was taught still stand as memen-
toes of other days, and the story OF
the busy life reads more like a ro-
nance than an actual record of fact,
The father being a sehOolmastsr, the
younger Gould received a good com
mon school education, and many are
the tales told OF his youthful pranks
and early business career. Clever with
a iack-krife and pen, cunning at driy'
ing a bargain aud with a thorough
love of trade, his boyhoGd soon be
came an index to his future career
and ere long the routine of school life
was exchanged for the more active
duties of the world. In all honest
fun the young Spectator was ever
ready to take a hand. Whether en-.
gagged in coasting or snOwballing in
the winter time with his companions,
or in attending the country parties
and gallanti1g the country misses
home Of an evening, or in barring oui
the teacher on Christmas, or in firing
a salute from some ancient gun-barrel
or anvil on the Fourth Of July OF
ether holiday his exuberance Of spir
its was always strongly marked, ard
the adventures &C his boyheed day:
show a realistic picture in the east
full thirty years ago. Two anecdotes
related by the late Matthew Hall
Smith will illustrate the youthful pas
sion for trading, and will show the
great railway msgnate in the light OIL
an early cattle trader aud clerk in Q
country store.
EARLY EXPLOITS IN TRADE.
In one ofbis tramps after cattle the
young trader happened upon a farmer
who owned a small herd,and overture
were made toward a~purchase. In til.
mist of the ~bartering a woman ap
peared. Gould caught a word nos
and then. Nov don't, husband,
beg Of you not to; If you have any re
gard for me, don't. 1 shall die if yol
do" What's the matter with tina
woman" asked Gould. "0h, nothing
my wife has a favorite cow-she i
called old pailful, and the woman i
afraid | am going to sell her." Tn,
woman hung around, and of cours,
Gould demanded hat old pailful'
should be brought out. She was
picture, and Gould said the COW mus
60 with The lot if he made the pur
chase. The cattle were driven home
and the father sent Jay out to see wha
kind of a mixer "old pailful' wa;
He had scarcely seated himself beforI
the COW threw him, pail and stool, SIX.
high; she tore around the pasture
leaped the fence and started for home
Ever afterward Gould never bough
anything which a WOmao wanted (
keep. AT another time, as a clerk j
a country store, he chaled under tn
hum-drum style Of country trad,
Being very smart and capable, he 500
found an opportunity to introduce
few improvements, as follows: I'll
trader started on a trip to New Jerse,
and left the clerk in charge. the ouI
going wagon was scarcely out Of sigl
before Gould began his operations. Il
, proposed to sell out the old and lay
a new stock of goods. He markc
. everything down, covered the COUNT
, With show bills, ard promised gre.
, bargainE for a few days. He stirrc
, the country, aud the store was Grove
ed from dawn until dark. When Ii
4 trader came home he found the year
/, stock sold, the store empty and ii
|, clerk counting up the gains, He ";
, too smart for his position, and W,
obliged to leave.
FROM CURBsTONE BROKER TO MI
+ LI0NAIRE.
The clever and ingenious cler
t finally developed into a cool and cat
5 tious business man. His fearle. sne
ofpurpose and natural insight I'M
the character Of men naturally carrie
z him beyond the limits of his COUNT
town, aud with his settlement as
broker on Broad street, New YorI
, his extraordinary success may be sal
to have begun.
"My Partners"
New York Graphic, l3th.l
Mr.. Kelly and his Pammany frien,
r would do well to ponder over Il