The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-05-02
THE GAME OF NlsEEUI.A1IOS,
Az II IL Conducted In New York by
Stock Ilrol1 cry.

Az II ~ Conducted In New York by
Stock EroA cry.
Correspondence San Fr.ntIsco Bulletin.
In New York ut present there are 1000
stock brokers or persons calling tlicm.
selves such, 5000 produce brokers' OF
whom $500 belong to the exchange, and
1000 cotton brokers, OF whom only 3GG be-
long TO the exchange. Judging by the es.
Inmates OF the most careful brokers whom
! have been able to talk 10, about $50 out
OF those 1000 brokers are really engaged
in buying Gnd selling actual grain, cotton
or stocks Tor persons who wish to export, or
weave, or grind, or invest permanently.
The 1860 other well dressed sc ntlemen,
who pass their lives with their feet upon
desas watching tho stock ticker through
the smoke OF half dollar cigars, gamble on
their own or some else s account.
"Do you see that handsome nun buyiu.
Strawberries ut Sc Il quail?" said friend OF
mine as VIC were walking past II iashiona-
bic importer OF Southern and dollhouse
fruits, yesterday. "Do you know how he
makes Il living? Well, he hus done moth
ing for the past five years but buy and sell
fictitious lot Of 100 bales OF cotton. lie
passes his life Mt it. lie buys it and sells it
half dozen times a day, when the Nuc,u-
atoms are heavy. lie does not know one
grade OF cotton from another; he probably
never saw Il cotton field or the inside OF Il
cotton mill, and ii is doubtful whether he
ever secs any cotton even in bale; but his
calculations in life, his interest, his very
being, are wrapped up in TINT lot OF cotton,
which exists only on paper. llcis nothing
but M invetcrate gambler, engaged in
fleeing foolish people. III reality he is
not particle better than the faro player
upon whom the police might pouncc-but
do not. The social difference, however, is
immense; one is pillar OF the church, Il
highly respected member OF society, who
cannot find words too severe for the faro
player, while the latter is II social outcast.
''Some day, in the chance which comes
to all men once or twice, tina, man will be
carried out of his depth by some run Of
luck, and will be tempted TO extend his
operations beyond the 100 bales OF iicti-
tious cotton. lie may make fortune II,
week. The chances against his keeping it
arc 10 to J.. Once 4 gambler always Il
gambler. lie knows no other pleasure
Since he was an Office boy he has known
and heard OF nothing but buying and sell.
ing 100 bales OF cotton. lie knows nothing
OF books, art or music, aud OF the theatre
he knows only the worst side. His intel.
lcc,ual vision is limited to the gyra.ions OF
that 100 bales OF cotton. lie is eta,ed or
depressed accordinyto its behavior. Whe,
it makes $40 or $50 day for him he rides
home in cab and buys some Strawberries
Mt 81 a quart"
This is not pretty picture, but it is n
true ono. Ono has only TO listen to the
talk OF the young men who haunt tn.
neishborhoodS OF our exchanges to find
thousands OF Just such men. They are in.
,elligcnt Young fellows in appearance,
spruccly dressed, quick in talk and always
with theirrcd lcathcr.covercd note book in
hand. II they have not got to the supreme
happiness OF actually buying and selling
stocks, they sell certificates among them.
selves which answer the purpose almos. rs
well. a gives to b n paper which says in
substance, "Good for u bale OF cotton ut
12:5Oto.dny, February "a" n value OF S5Go5.
tho standard bale OF cotton being supposed
to weigh $50 pounds. At o'clock tho