Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-08-18
GOULD'S BOYHOOD.
"reminiscences by a Seh00lmate, Who
Takes an Unfaverabie View or
the Little Wizard.
A COeI, Crafty, LOng.Headed, but Withal
COwardIy Strategist-His Spirit
or Revenge.

10 the New York Sun, OF Sunday: John
Gould, the father OF Jay Gould, was the first
white child born in this towr. Jay was the
first son and the fifth child born 10 his faith
err. He was born in the latter part Of 1881,
which makes him ~fifty-two years of age this
present year. No statements relative 10 hia
age which have appeared from time 10 time
in the public journals during the past f-w
years, so far ss l have observed, have hit
upon his exact age. His reiicence upon his
point ia, no doubt, the principal cause OF
/ these inaccuracies.
He began to go 10 school at an esrly age
in the little village Of Roxbury. 1t was coon
observed by his schoolfeIlo%s hat Jay was
different from other.boys Of his age. He was
not what was generally termed a manly
boy" not one who would j1in heart and hand
in their rough but good-natured games. He
preferred rather to. remain indoors during
recess and noon tims, safely euscoBced in
some remote corner of the schoolhouse, and
busy about no one knew what. When ap-
preached by his mates with a rough but
hearty invitation to come out and join their
games, he would sullenly refuse. If in ban
lka hoya atIsnnPtaA To force him To Join
them, he would at once make q great out
cry, and, breaking away from them, cit and
NOPE until tine school was called 10 order.
Then he would at once go up to the masters
ChdlI duu III q Ohpsdlu ~ dluSl
his enemy. His accusations usually resulted
in a vigorous application Of the birch to the
back of the offender. Many a sound thrash
ing has the writer received at the instigstion
of this same Jay, for no greater an offense
than that he has downed him IN a friendly
wrestle.
1t soon became generally understood
among the boys that little Jay was a 'bawl
baby" and a t~attler, who could not bear, like
other lads of his age, a triflipg defeat at play
without enGeavoring TO be revepged by blab-
bling to the teacher. j can see now the look
of satisfaction upon his face, the CLEAN OF
his black eye, the rubbing together of his
hsndP, as he gszed upon the squirmiDg vic
lin Of The masters rod, or heard the Gu
prit's yells coming from the dark entry sa-
cred to punishment. Although at the pres
emit time, and, in fact, all through our lives,
we have been friends in a certain sense, yet
/ cannot rid myself OF the impression that
Gould has to-day the same revengeful spirit.
/ believe that he would sacrifice $4,000,
nay, thrice that amount, in gratifying that
spirit Of revenge upon one who had worsted
him to the extent OF oue-tenlh that sum.
As a scholsr Jay Gould applied himself
with diligencs 10 his books, but In all
branches, save mathematics, he was regarded
as a regular Ounce. In matthew stlcs, how
ever. he excelled all others of his age and
many OF his elders. He seemed, in fact, to
have a special faculty for this one study, and
he improved it to the u,mcs.. hen he was
twenty or Whereabouts he had already By
come a skillful surveyor, and he conceived
the project OF making a map OF Delaware
county, and Of compiling a history OF its
earliest settlers. Not wishing to allow any
one, even his father, 20 profit by his venture,
he first perfected an agreement with Gould,
- h- uhfnh for q anrfaIn sanm he III aU l
should be allowed his time uotil his ma
iority. His plans resulted in a careful sur
vey of the county, and in y map OF it,
which, by the way, is a marvel OF accuracy.
Many of these maps may still be seen hang
ing upon the walls Of the homes Of the To-
habitants of that county AMI the surrounding
counties. His history has some merit, too.
Many copies OF it are still extaui. Ia this
venture he cleared S5000-quite a fortune in
those days-and gained the reputation of
being a smart and sharp young man.
Shortly alter this, his shrewd business tact
and ability as a inancisr attracted The ia
vorable notice OF Zadoc Pratt, a wealthy tan
ner of Prattville, VINO ssnt his son, afterwsrd
q colonel in the Union army and killed in
the late war, to invite Young Gould TO call
upon him at his earliest convenience, as he
I thought tn al by pulling together they might
make money. Pratt, although very wealthy,
was of Incorporate habits, and was generally
considered 10 be more lucky than shreUd in
business. 1t is needless to say that Jay lost
no time in calling upon his wealthy neigh
Dor, and it W s soon known that together they
had purchased a largs and valuable tract OF
hemlock timber land in Bradford county,
Pa. In this transaction Pratt put 10 his
money snd Gould his business talents. Soon
an immense tannery was built, and the place
was called Gouidsville. Here Pratt and
Gould conducted operations Tor several years.
When they dissolved partnership Gould had
the cspitsl, and Pratt retained as his sh are
a dearly bought experience. Goula's next
move recalls TO my mind the Fisk and Gould
transactions in Ere, a few years ago
Having now smassed a largo capital, he
turned his attention 10 railroads, as
offering a speedier avenue 10 the %accumula-
ton of wealth. In a short time after be-
coming an Invts:er in them he obtained en-.
tire control of the Saratoga and Rensselaer,
railroad of New York, whose stock he quietly
watered to thrice its real value. Hetaen pulled
it TO the high st possible point, and suddenly
uulosdsd, pocketed his profits, aud left the
8 ockholders TO their meditation. His later
achievements arsfamiliar to everyone; ther,-
fore il ia needless to recoun. them. He is
10 day what he was forty years ago, retiring,
~reticent and revengeful, but cowardly wiihsl
"a cool, crafty, long-headed, and far seeing
strategisi, whose great delight is 10 revel
amid the fallen fortunes of his opponents.
He hates all but one, he loves none but one,
and he ia for that one first, last, aud all The
time, and that one is himself. That Just my
opinion of the man, and L have known him
since he could creep. He has never Injured
me; on the contrary, as 1 said before, we are
still friends. But, as true as you live, that's
a pen picture of what little jay Gould, Of
R~oxbury, was and is.