Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-09-07
GOULD AND KEENE,
The Widely Different Nature Of Two
Great Wall Street Kings.
From the Stakeholder

Probably no two men ..on the street diff.
fer 50 widely in temperament as do these
two operators. They both have in them
the clements of unpopularity, and that's
about all they have in common. The un-
popularity of each, however, will be
wrought for very different reasons. Keene
would be generally unpopular, because
he is indifferent us to the opinion of 9TH
ers, and is somewhat irritable in disposi-
ton, and not always agreeable in manner.
Gould, on the other hand, while not seek
ing the favor of those with whom he
comes in contact, is not averse to its be-
stowal, and in temper and manner is as
soft and fine to the social touch as the
wool of the lambs whose symbols he has
| fleeced by the thousands. Gould is said
to have some kindly 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-getting, by merely
speaking Il truthful word now and then.
Yet, If he has business friend who has
not lost money ON words and opinions ut
tered by him, or through his office, with
in the past two years. it is because that
friend needed not his utterances.
Keene, on the other hand, while he is
unstable and suspicious, and neither in
vites nor accepts condolences, is above
any little petty misrepresentation for the
purpose of sticking an acquaintance with
Il few hundred shares of stock. If Gould
should give the opinion to man of mod.
crate means that certain stock was n safe
purchase, about MS much reliance could
be placed ii 1t as upon the varying winds
of March while Keene, if he could be
induced to give an opinion at all, and ii
he believed his opinion was to be acted
upon, would express himself sincerely
and on his best judgment. OF course,
this does not apply, i'll either case, TO ut
terances made to the active traders in the
market--as it is considered entirely the
proper thing on Wall street to deceive
any one who might exert the smallest
fraction of influence on the markets gen
eral course.
A few judges, few editors and few
legislators have made money through
Gould's Office points, but the line must be
drawn there. The more faithful the SER
vice, the more close the relation, the
greater the confidence reposed by an as
sociate or friend, the greater the financial
loss inflicted. "This, at least, cannot be
SAID OF keene. In no respect do these
great operators differ SO widely as in bus
mess scope. keene is speculator, pure
and simple, and 80 thoroughly imbued
with its spirit that he has never made his
mark i'll single outside enterprise. He
Is one of the ablest and most expert ope-
rators in that line, however, that ever
came to Wall street, and had 1t not been
for one mistakc-that of extending him
self into every branch of speculation,
and particularly his dealings in ''privi-
leges'-he would now have million for
each Sl00,0O that he has. But Gould is
one Of the shrewdest and most successful
spectators in the world, and at the same
time the organizer and promoter Of stu
pendous business enterprisers. 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
naturally attained and SO discreetly exer-
clsed as not to irritate those who acknowl-
edge it.
Keene is agile, needle -witted and bold
Ill his operations, Gould is slow, patient,
deliberate, broad and "conscien tious" in
his.