Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-09-15

unpopular, because he is Indifferent as to the
opinion of others, and is somewhat irritable
in disposition. and not always agreeable in
manner. Gould, the other hand, while
not seeking the favor of those with whom he
comes in contact. is not averse to its bestow-
al, and in temper and manner is as soft and
fine to the social touch as the wool of the
lambs whose symbols he has fieeced bv the
thousand. Gould is said to have some kind
ly traits but they are not so plentiful that he
carries them around with him during business
hours. Probably no man in the world has
so many and so great opportunities as he to
assist others in money-gettng, by merely
speaking truthful word now and then. Yet,
if he has a business friend who has not lost
money on words and opinions uttered by him,
or through his office, within the past two
years, it is because that friend needed not
his utterances.
Keene, on the other hand, while he is un-
stable and suspicious, and neither invites nor
accepts condolences, is above any little petty
misrepresentation for the purpose of stick
ing an acquaintance with few hundred
shares of stock. If Gould should give the
opinion to n man of moderate means that a
certain stock was a safe purchase. about as
much reliance could be placed in it as upon
the varying winds of March; while Keene,
if he could be induced to give an opinion at
all, and if he believed his opinion was to be
acted upon. would express himscly sincerely
and on his best judgement. OF course. this
does not apply, in either case, to utterances
made to the active traders in the market-as
it is considered entirely the proper thing on
Wall street to deceive any one who migth ex-
ert the smallest fraction of influence on the
markets geneaal course.
A few judges, a few editors, and few leg
islators have made money through Goulds
Office points, but the line must be drawn
there. The more faithful the service, the
more close the relation, the greater the conf
dence reposed by an associate or friend, the
greater the financial loss inflicted. This, at
least, cannet be said Of Keene. In no respect
do these great operators differ so widely as in
business scope. Keene is a speculator, pure
and simple, and so thoroughly imbued with
its spirit that he has never made his mark in
a single outside enterprise. lie is one Of the
ablest and most expert operators in that line,
however, that ever came to Wall street, and
had it not been for one mistake-that Of ex-
tending himself into every branch of specula-
ton. and particularly his dealings in ''privi-
leges"-he would now have million for each
500, 900 that he has. But Gould is one of
| the shrewdest and most successful spectators
in the world, and at the same time the organ
| zer and promoter of stupendous business en-
| terprises. One of the surest evidences of his
| wonderful ability is the class of men with
| whom he has become surrounded, and of
| whom he is the leader. He is not afraid of
| great associates outshining him, and so well
| poised is his leadership that his staff Is not
jealous of the supremacy which is so natural
| ly attained and so discreetly exercised as not
, to irritate those who acknowledge 1t.
Keene is agile, needle wtted, and bold in
| his operations. Gould is slow, patient, delib-
| crate, broad and conscienceless in his
| Stockhoider.