New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-01
IN AMERICAN FAMILY.
Correspondent Detroit Free Press.

C0rrespondence Detroit Free Press
NV companion was not himself broker. but he
had been among the brokers several years. and had
seen good many ups and downs in the street
" know something about it," he said. "and am
the world than stock gambling. Its fascination
when It takes hold Is irresistible and the final
rum is almost certain. have known many cases.
put a siS2le one will do for illustration. Among
the thousands of outsiders who dabbled in Wall-st
ten years ago was one-I don't want to give bis
real name, but will call him Richards. He operated
through our house, that is. the house In which
was employed as bOokkeeper, and as he soon be-
came daily visitor got to know him SO well that
we cften had familiar chat. sometimes met him
in the evening besides. and our acquaintance
ripened into intimacy. At first his luck in the
street was pretty good, and one day when he had
made thousand or so IN an hour he asked me 70
dine with him that evening in DeInonlcos. Most
of our talk was about the street. and when bottle
OF wine had made it pretty free yentured to sqg,
gsst that as he had done pretty we'll ne should beg
gin think about getting out.
a. WE'LL he said, have thought about it, but
don't see my way just yet. must have $4,000
year FOR my family. and how else can get itp
/ asked If his family was large, and be said it
cor sisted Of his wife, two daughters and son.
.. And yon need 100000 year to live on; isn't
- Well he said, high or low can't get on with
less The girls are always ss6ng for money. In
summer they must go to the watering places with
their mother, and in winter there is a bali or
party every week 1t costs q great deal OF money,
and the money must DO had in some way
"'May | ask how much money yon have as cap
q. Well, altogether. l suppose ], could rake mp
$50 600. Now, what I want to know is how |
could use that so as to make $4,000 year |
don't really fancy this Wall.st. business. but what
am to dof must have $4,000 year, and
though have looked around good deal ! cannot
find any other business that will produce it,
90 Why not reduce your expensesf You say you
can't do with less than $4,000 year, l THINK
Won are mistaken. Many families live well on less
than $1,000, and some ON $4,000. Does your fam
iiy know Just how much money you haveP
ST have tried over and over TO make them I'M
derstand. but 1t IS no use. When taey want IAN, any
say l cannot afford it they tell me they know l
have plenty of money. | really can't make them
understand or believe that my means are limited
and the amount of the matter is that must have
,af lost sisht of Richards soon after by going to
another house where had better offer. but
heard from time to time that his luck was not 80
good. II must have been five years before met
him again. He looked like another man his face
was careworn and his clothing barely escaped
shabbiness. After q few words asked him II no
was still III the street
mo, he said, that's all over:
"'Well. hope you came ont all right 80
"'All rghtH Yes, If You call coming out without
q dollar all right =. -,
and asked him il he had gone into any business.
mo lie said ID was not easy for q man who had
nothing to go into business; but his friends were
trying to do something for him and there was some
hone that they would succeed. They were trying
10 yet MIN place in the Custom House. asked
him what the salary WAS and he SAID he under
stood it was $500 with a chance OF something
better after a while 1t woIid have been cruel TO
about not being able TO live on less than $4,000,
but while we were lunchIng together he gave me 70
undersJand that he was living with his vile anu
daughters in small house on the outskirts OF
Rrooklyn and that the son had obtained clerk
ship at q week, which was the cnief support Oh
the family"