The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-04-27
IN OIL.
Tne Ups and Downs OF life i'm OH City
Brokers' Wives In tire Exchanges.
philadelphia Times..l

NA&NO~s4
Speculation on the price of oil finds promi-
hence to-day. Magnificent Oil Exchanges
were erected in Oil City, Titusville and Brad
ford. Here speculation is INDUCED in on the
| price Of oil, the oil certificates being the basis.
One instance of how men become rich in this
speculation occurred in Oil City. Two broth
ers by the name Of Goethe, in 1867, were
bootblacEs around the streets of the oil
towns. They made q good deal for boys,
and saved it. When they had a few hun
dreds saved they took a flyer on the market.
They were successful, and doubled success
still followed them, and to-day they are
among the weaIthiest and most successful
spectators in the region. The magnificent
generosity of oil men is well known. A poor
and seedy woman has often had thousands
Of dollars raised for her among a crowd Of
oil men, and in a few minutes she was raised
from poverty to opulence. They spend
money like water, and no towns in the coun-
try will show better dressed men and women
than these. They all almost universally wear
diamonds Upon their hirt-bosoms, which in
many cases they are forced to pawn for ne
c%essities before they become even accustomed
to them. Speculation is the life blood of Oil
City. When the market is dull, inactive TO
a few days, it is noticeable in every place.
Business stagnates, men get the ssblues, and
the town is dull indeed. But let the market
be variable, fortunes are being made and lost,
men are excited, the streets are alive with
oil-brokers, rushing back and forth between
banks and exchange with certiflcatesy drafts,
checks, and even money in their hands. The
wives Of the brokers crowd to the exchange,
and filling the visitors gallery, watch the
operations of their husbands.
Some time ago, in one Of these exchanges,
the gallery was filled to overaoWing. The
market was leaping up q 1.-THE rate Of ten cents
an hour. One of the heaviest buyers was on
the wrong side. He saw his fortune disap-
pearing like mist at the rate OF $$25,000 an
hour. For six hours this continued, and he
was forced TO clay down. as it is called, to
be announced a bankrupt, in other words.
His wife was a witness Of the whole scene.
An hour before the worst she left the Ex-
change, walked into q dry-goods store, took
off her seal-skin sacque, and sold it. From
that place she went to the jewelers. and dis
posed Of her diamonds and all her silver.
When her husband returned home, disconso-
late and doWncast, she met him at the door
dressed in q neat sscalico wrapper. He had
been a clerk before fortune smiled upon him,
and she a modest school teacher. She in
formed him that she had discharged all the
servants, and that they would live as former
", she doing the work She handed him $5,-
500 as the result of selling her jeWelry, and
told him to use it. Joy and hope heamed in
his eyes, and found a place ID his heart again.
He went again to the business. In one month
he had regained his former position, had re-
deemed everything his wife had pledged, and
was living as formerly. Three times within
six years was this man saved in this manner
by his wife. To-day he is one OF the most
daring and successful of our operators.
The New York HernlG says: I'VE should
have liked to have seen the civil service re-
form kept alive" What is most needed ID
thof nnioo 5;c 8 rofornn IN ifs Grammar