The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-12-09
THE ..LITTLE WIZARD"

Jay Gould seemed to possess the Sc
cret of Aladdin's wonderful lamp, for
| everything he touched turned to gold.
| He was a small man in stature, below
medium height, and Of light frame. His
eyes were like small black beads and a
full. black beard covered his face, which
for several years has been extremely
sallow in appearance. Ills head was
small, in keeping with his body, but
there was something uncommon about
the mar which was recognized at sight.
He was undoubtedly a man of genius
and he began early in life to turn his
genius to money-getting. On the Gay OF
his death, Dec. >, 1892, there was no
other being on earth so well entitled to
the distinction of being known as the
Genius of Money"
His life is tcrscly outlined in our
despatch announcing his death. 1t
reads like a romance when taken in con
n|ection with the facts of his later life,
when he became in the financial circles
of this country as much an autocrat ae
the czar at st. Petersburg. The fab
ulous wealth he amassed was really the
thing that made the name of jay Gould
u thing to c|onjurc with, but it is prob
able that the true history Of hls career
will never be written, nor the true story
of how he came by his millions.
All the ministers Of New York will
have him for "a text tomorrow. They
will say that he was a kind and mdulgent
father, and a man who seemed to attend
in an exemplary way to his duties as Il
citizen. lie was a church-going man. and
sat in his cushioned pew for at least one
service every Sunday when in town,
to hear DR.. Paxton IN the old Presby-
terian church on i2I street near 9TH
avenue. DR.. Paxton is a modern
Presbyterian who has never
been given TO talking much
on hell fire and birthstone: IA luXury-lov-
ing divine, who has "A quick wit and IA
pllD TONGUE. duu llHts Soui' VI iiS
lights in good fat capons and pate-de
fois- gras, Jay Gould knew well that
nothing in the way of a theological
gatling gun need ever be feared in that
pulpit. The roaring of DIR. Paxton was
sure to be at ali times as gentle as that
''of any sucking dove and nothing
would ever be said that could CRATE on
the tender sensibilities of the powerful
man of gold who had driven his chariot
rough shod over thousands Of ruined
lives. and crushed under their wheels
the hearthstoncs OF hundreds of beg
CARED families.
Jay Gould was not altogether Il
stcr, but his heart seemed to be pos
scssed by an Unsuitable demon which
clamorcd all the time for more money.
TO appcase this demon Gould had 10
reach out and acquire whenever and
however he could. II. when he began 10
squeeze. the weaker ones persisted he
did not regard that as his concern. for
he always %comfortcd his mind with the
reflection that they would serve him IN
the same way if they had the power.
Estimates of his wealth are sure to bc
far from the mark. They range from
to SlGO.O0O,oOO or higher. and
it is not Improbable that the highest
figure is nearest correct, as he owned
several railroads outright. controlled the
Western Union telegraph, ami held large
interests of which the public knows lit
tie or nothing. or one thing We may he
sure: he has taken nothing with him.
and if would be a decent thing FOR his
heirs to divide some Of their s~upertluous
millions among the families he brought
to brggary by his constituencies mani
pulations. Few will mourn his death,
but wien society has been reconstructed
on a plan to make impossible such a
phenomenon us Jay Could, he will be re
mpmborcd and cited as the great high
priest Of Il money mad period. and the
prince Of plutocracy and murderous
greed.