The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-12-21
characteristics OF Mr.. Gould.

is said to have made only four or five
speeches in his life, the longest of which was
about seventy-dve words. He was great
reader Of the newspapers and got much
quiet fun from them, BE was a close OBJ
server, finding many points Of interest
which other people passed over. He spent
nearly all his spare time in reading.
Mr.. Gould's great aim was to keep his
head clear by living plainly, his only indul
gence being coffee of which he was extreme.
" fond. he scarcely knew the taste Of
liquor, but occasionally took sip OF wine
for courtesy's sake. He was not smoker.
Mr.. Gould was in the habit of rising about
6 in summer and by at latest in winter. He
was never idle from the time he left his
home until he returned, often not even then,
as he frequently brought back reports OF the
operations of his corporations, which he
studied deeply until bed time. He went TO
the theatre rarely, though he had q box at
the Metropolitan Opera House.
He generally spoke without infections or
gestures. Unless he were the questioner, be
did not talk even for the purpose Of enliven
ing dull conversation. When seated he
invariably leaned far back in his chair. with
one leg thrown over the other. When stand
ing be liked to rest his hand upon something.
Generally he had something in bis hand,
letter, a scrap Of paper or pencil which he
twirIed almost necessarily, though not nerv-
ously. '..
1t was almost impossible to interview Mr..
Gould except when he had some specific
object in view, as when he consented to have
his strong box opened aud his millions Of
git-edged securities inspected. He wished
to Offset the report that he was weak fnan-
cially, and his object was accomplished.
But at other times he was sscretive and nom
communicative. When asked by the inter-
49, 4, Nrk hat ha AVID
Sage wore very large holders in Atchison,
he replied quietly: ''Wen, we might have
less"
he has been much sought by publishers
without avail, one having gone SO far as to
offer him So, ,0N and forty per cent. royalty
to write book, furnishing stenographer
free. Mr.. Gould did not even reply. -.
Outside Of his business Me-. Gould's hot.
bies If he ha6 any, were his books, hil dow-
per month for his services and always had
the table graced with rare, rich specimens
from the hothouse. Mr.. Gould's Office was
not ostentatious. He had. oaly two rooms
in the Western Union Building, in one Of
which his son George stayed with him. He
had few intimate friends. la'.
An Estimate OF Mr. GouId's Wealth.
Probably there Is nothing in waich the
public takes more interest when rich man
dies than to learn the size OF the fortune he
has left. When it Is as large as the one MIR.
Gould has left it is obviously difficult. says
the New York Sun, to make an accurate esti
mate. Mr.. Could principal holdings Of Sc
curities are we'll known to all Of his associ-
ates, and, to an extent, to other people. In
the Following table every item, except that
of miscellaneous securities, is known to bs
correct. It will bs seen from the table that
1uuy one-aaif or his fortune Is in three
stocks: Western Union, Manhattan and
Missouri Pacific. His estate, when inven.
toriod will eInxu ho,,t 40 Hollnnc.