Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-14
THE RULING PASSION.
A SYNDICATE OF BEAMS.
Experience Ceneuers Obstacles. Even In
Prisen--Recreations OF Banker, q Broker.
ard Dusiness.pian.


ard Duslnsss-ni
New York IIerpld.l
Making money while confined in jai
has been regarded during all ages a
the browning test Of financial ability
Several well-authenticated accounts arr
extant of boys who have entered prison
without a cent in their pockets coming
out with a competence, arising from
profits made in swapping jack-knives
Others, similarly situated, have achieved
opulence in trading their oyercoats
but the fact remains that they made
money. History neglects to state In
what form these profits were realized
whether they were in the nature Of
prornissory notes, debenture bonds, oil
simply open accounts payable so many
days or months after the prisoners lib
Grafton. Ii is highly probable that these
boys ultimately became the Goulds and
Vanderbilts of the period in which they
lived, attaining old ages and cashing
in their checks" as the phrase goes
full of years and honor.
The great difficulty attending this
class of transaction has always been
the lack of the commodity in which to
trade. 1t goes without saying that a
man never ends up in Jail until his
money is pretty well exhausted, or, IL
ne has little left. the warden or his
deputies are apt, very properly, to re-
lieye him of it on the ground that it can
be Of no possible use to man in pri-
son, while it always "comes in han
dyr to the sheriff. lie is indeed to be
considered fortunate if he retains his
oyercoat, jack knife, or umbrella as a
basis for future business enterprises.
A SCENE WITHIN PRISON WALLS.
In a certain prison not far from Lud-
low street there were two gentlemen
under confinement whose financial
abilities and their subsequent misfor-
tunes had given them worldwide
reputation, such as it was.
One Of them had been connected with
a bank, and the other had been broker.
Not many days had elapsed after their
incarceration when it occurred to them
that their abilities in the money-making
line ran a good chance Of going to
seed if not properly employed.
They accordingly laid their heads
together to develop scheme which
would answer the double purpose of
keeping themselves busy and Of making
a little money. 1t was agreed that each
man should continue in the line Of busl-
ness he was engaged in before coming
to prison as nearly as possible. So the
bank man elected himself president Of
an imaginary bank, and the broker set
himself up in his old line Of business
in his mind. Things went along with
them about as well as might be ex-
pected, considering the difficulties I'M
der which they labored and the general
dullnesS of trade. II was soon found,
however, that one great element of sue
cess was wanting, and that was some
thing to trade in.
GETTING UP A COMMERCIAL RE-
VIVAL.
The bank was going along well
enough. The president was at his desk
promptly every morning at 10 o'clock,
looking as dignified as he had done
when acting in his real capacity. He
gave directions to his clerks in the same
arbitrary manner as before. lie bull
dozed the poor customers who came in
to ask for small discounts to save their
business from going to ruin, and hob
nobbcd with the rich ones who dropped
in to say they could. as a favor to him.
use few hundred thousands. and per-
haps offered to let him into a good
thing if disposed to take " flyer"
Still this was all imaginary, and while
it seemed to amuse did not satisfy the
cravings of hunger, which money alone
could assuage. The broker also soon
came to the conclusion that calling at
the bank every morning, seeing the
president, and talking over business
matters, while agreeable, did not lead
to any tangible results. 1t did not take
long for these two intelligent minds to
come to the conclusion that if things
continued this way much longer no.
thing was in store for them but ultimate
bankruptcy Imaginary, of course).
A MERCANTILE MAN ARRIVES.
At this stage Of the proceedings,
however, another prisoner, who had
formerly been a merchant, appeared
upon the scene. He came to prison as
the banker and the broker had done
because he had arrived at " the end Of
his rope" outside; but, like them. he
seemed to possess all the elements of
success in imaginary business. In
fact, his imagination had in a measure
been the cause Of his present troubles.
This gentleman had not been in con-
fnement long when it struck the banker
one day that, through the merchants
agency, the dilemma they had found in
their business might be obviated.
The bank had for some time been ac-
large imaginary funds and
held surplus above its legal reserve.
The dullnesS Of trade had prevented
the usual demand for money. and, in a
word, the bank was in the condition Of
many banks outside-it was in danger
Of getting into trouble through exces-
sive, though purely imaginary, SOL
vency. With these facts in view the
bank president suggested to the broker
one day that he should interview the
merchant and ascertain if he was not
in a position to let them have some Of
his notes, which he was TO offer to get
discounted at a very low rate Of inter-
est. The broker caught the idea i'm
had the interview with the
man, and the result was an
arrangement by which all the obstacles
to large and profitable business were
removed.
HOW THE PLAN WORKS.
The pature Of the transactions of
these gentlemen now is about like this ::
The broker calls upon the merchant at
his Office in prison in the morning,
comes away with hatful of the latter's
notes, which he offers to the bank on
the "usual discount days, Tuesdays
and Fridays" The bank purchases
them at low rate OF interest. the