Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-07-03
BERLIN'S BROKERS.
TEMPLE OF THE GODDESS FORTUNE
IN GERMANY'S CAPITAL.

IN GERMANYiS CAPITAL.
Money Kings in the stock Exchange Of
Berlin - Entrance Practically Free to
Strangers Different Glasses of stock
Jobbers--The Reporters.
The temple of the Goddess Fortune, the
Stock Exchange, is erected on the banks of
the Spree. 1t is "A magnificent building, with
Corinthian columns, arches and statues re-
hectlng their pure outlines in the shallow
waters of the river Thirteen doors give
access to the vestibule, whence the enormous
hall is reached, supported by eighty pillars of
granite, and decorated with fine frescoes.
Statues of Mercury and Vulcan appear beside
fiery horse symbolical of Steam, and
group representing the adoption of paper
currency. On the numerous benches brass
plates record the names of the different
bankers. There does not exist any privileged
corporation answering to that of the "Agents
de change in the Pan is bourse, who occupy
special place called la Corbeille The
entrance to the Berlin Stock Exchange is
practically free, if not gratuitous, and
strangers are admitted on the presentation
of member of the craft. Business houses,
however, are obliged to pay a supplementary
tax for the admission of each of their clerks.
The state exercises no supervision over the
operations on change, especially since trans
actions on account have been recognized by
the legal tribunals. The hierarchy among
the frequenters of the exchange is fixed by
the Importance of the business they carry on.
1t consists Of seven classes, the first paying
an annual tax of $500, the last of SIG only
This tariff varies according to the expendl-
nd int of bo l,t l.
every stock jobber is at liberty to buy or sell
for his clients without further formalfties,
whe; al lie is licensed or not
The unlicensed stock iobbers exist under
the name of Makler Banker, whose directors.
representatives or agents are only responf-
bic for their acts to their own particular
house. The vereidete Maker, or sworn In
/ stock brokers, combine with the first men
toned to fix the casa cours, or average price
oil stocks. 1t is, moreover, permissible to buy
and sell ut the Berlin bourse without employ
ing either licensed or unlicensed brokers.
Contrary to the Paris bourse, that of Berlin
has a prediction for specializing on tho
fall, and in its dispatches the word "hau, y
which in its Jargon means weakness, con
stantly occurs.
RAvING LUNATICS.
At noon punctually the hall is filed by
about 1000 men, who carry on their business
in stentorian tones, with curious expendi.
ture of violent gestures and facial coutor-
lions. Bankers, brokers, jobbers appear for
while to be raving lunatics escaped from
the wholesome restraints of the straight
waistcoats and the surveillance of their
| keepers
An excellent buffet, served by women and
| girls, is to be found in the building itself, but
7 IL
unabated energy and animation Not far
/ from the restaurant is the telegraph office,
! where a fabulous number of dispatches are
flashed all over the world The whole service
of The Berlin Stock Exchange cannot be suffi-
GENTLY commended 1t is well nigh perfec-
ton in all its ramifications, and should serve
as a pattern to similar institutions in other
countries. The magnates of finance the great
plutocrats, are frequently seen on Change
4 They constitute a species of senate, of which
the most powerful and influential are NJ De
| Bleichroder, the confidential and passionate
admirer of Prince Bismarck; Won Hause-
mann, Warschauer, Mendelssohn and others,
/ all or nearly all Israelites Around them
/ gravitate Il legion of partners, clerks and en-
| ployes. They are tue head and apex OF the
whole society of German bankers, and in the
midst of the tempests let loose around them
maintain their grave and impossible serenity.
4 One of them having made Il slight error in
debating message, the result was a loss to
( him of 100000 marks; the discovery did not
even rufiie his unconcern.
A certain number of small speculative in
dustries live on the Stock Exchange and
tighten the tedium of the rare inactive mo.
ments Some Makers offer to the lucky
gambler theatre tickets for a special star
! performance of Nilsson or Iucca, and make
considerable percentage on them. Others
carry on the original business Of selling Jew
elry for premiums, so that it is often said #
such or such an actress or dancer in Berlin
that her jewels care at premium The
mos characteristic type, however, of the
Berlin bourse is the old fellow who has be
come rich in selling chocolate tablets to the
habitues, which he keeps hidden in the peck
cts of his long overcoat He goes by the
name of "Chokoladen Fritz
THE REPORTERS.
The press, to whom a special office is de
voted, is represented by about thirty report
ers Their dean is Herr julius Schwetzer.
Ladies are admitted to the gallery, but Their
appearance is always hailed by shouts OF
merriment and laughter. AT 2;45 the tolling
of big bell announces the official closing If
the Exchange. Two officials. shaking small
hand bells, pursue the laggards till they have
left the building. A few moments later the
npyySDaDerS rive the uuotatiOuS of cl5 differ.