The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1891-10-31
AN EPISODE

Although Mr.. Charles Clarence West |
bury was an Englishman of the most pro
nounced type he was not possessed Of
that hypercritical spirit with which SO
many of his travelling countrymen regard
the institutions Of these United States |
and the manners. customs and appearance
of the inhabitants thereof On the con.
trary, Mr.. Westbury. during the pro
tracted, and, as it is proved. interesting,
stay which ne made in the city of New
York, exhibited habituaI condescension
and affability toward Americans, particu
larry those who were in any way con
nected with the line of business followed
in Wall street. while his reiterated ex-
pressions Of admiration for all things
American aided him materially in gaining
that extensive acquaintance which it
seems was his chief object
Mr. Westbury was young man of
most gentlemanly exterior and manners.
He had a blonde mustache, ruddy com
plexion and pair of blue eyes whose prin-
cipal quality might be termed their hon
esty."
He made his appearance on this side Of
the ocean per a Cunard steamer. and went
to an uptown hotel, like any other wealthy
tourist doing the states. Apparently
however, Mr.. Westbury was not possessed
by the mad hurry which marks almost all
his visiting countrymen. He quietly took
up his residence in our midst and pro
ceeded to become acquainted with Amer
lea and the Americans
Courteous and affable, yet not without
proper dignity, he was not long in max
ing acquaintance, and, indeed, exhibited
remarkable discrimination in doing 90.
He talked of himself without reserve.
stating that he was the son of wealthy
manufacturer in the north of England,
that he had inherited considerable prop
erty, but that he was so much charmed
with the United States that he had almost
resolved upon investing his money here
and remaining here permanently 1t is
/ needless to remark that Mr. Westbury
met all his bills promptly, and during the
whole of his American adventures was
/ never known to solicit loan of any kind
In fact. on his arrival here, instead of
the customary draft or letter of credit, he
seems to have been possessed of a consid-
cradle sum III Bank of England notes In
few days lie took occasion to visit the
Office of a Wall street money broker, and
converted these into American currency,
while it was not long before Mr. West
bury's funds were deposited with prom
secured an introduction. and to which a
balance of over $4,000 secured a perfect
guarantee of responsibility.
OF all the American institutions with
which Mr.. Westbury was brought into
contact, Wall street secured the largest
share of his admiration. He was not long
in gaining the acquaintance of number
of brokers, and proceeding to familiarize
himself with the manners and methods OF
the "street, making daily visits to sew
eral brokers Offices, where he very quickly
grew into high favor
So rapid, indeed, were his studies il
this direction that before long he was
prepared to venture upon the troubled
waters of speculation. This he did by
drawing his check for s.. 900. as margin
against the purchase of IA couple of hun
dred shares of stock through one of his
broker friends. It seemed that his judg
ment was sound, and the stock advanced
two or three points. He at once realized
his profit by selling his stock. Contrary
however, to the usual custom of begin
ners in the street, he did not 60 in fur
ther at the moment, but closed out hi
account by taking a check for both hi
profit and the original margin.
Il only wanted to know how it went
u
and this seemed perfectly satisfactory t
the brokerage house in question, with th
, members of which the engaging youni
Englishman was on the most friendly an
sociable terms
At the same time Mr.. Westbury wa
pursuing the same tactics with others
+ Slowly and cautiously he watched th
market and whether by luck or skill
seized the moment when there was OF
portunity for an almost certain profit
open an account with one brokerage fir
or another His profits were general
| small, but on the other hand he mad
very few losses, and the checks which b
gave were always duly honored at tn
bank at which he had deposited hi
funds. Specializing as he did, in desu
Il tory sort of way, closing his account FIRE
quently and transferring his operation
from one office to another. he succeede
in extending his acquaintance throughoU
the street and making as he did so
]. favorable impression. In short, after
year of this, he was welcome guest an
occasional customer in twenty diferen
offices, while the social qualities abov
referred to doubled his popularity.
He was by this time a member of col
r pie of fashionable clubs. and made quit
q figure in society, where the wives an
daughters of Wall street regarded hi
with as much or even more favor than IL
masculine contingent.
It, therefore, occasioned no surpris
when Mr.. Westbury walked one mornin
4 into the Office Of one of his Wall sire.
/ friends. and after looking at the tick
! and talking little about the marke
came to the point with the remark:
''Oh, say, Jones, have an order f
you. have two thousand pounds-thi
is, ten thousand dollars of your money