Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-29
.LAY nnELD TaLkEn.
lie Spoke Many words, but sense Was
Not in Them.


lie Spoke Many words, but sense Was
Not in Them.
New York World.
Jay Gould arrived at the Grand Pacific
Hotel in Chicago one sunday afternoon
in the Autumn of 1889. 1t was one of
his regular tours of inspection across the
continent, and on this occasion he was
in particularly good humor
A small horde of railroad reporters
was gathered in the corridor awaiting
his coming, and when lie entered and
saw them Il merry twinkle came in his
eye, and with an expression that almost
approached Il smile, he said cheerily /:
well, boys, are you waiting to see
mey" The reply came in II chorus of
'yeses." was member of that small
horde and was pushed forward to act as
spokesman.
There was furry in railroad circles
at that time and many stockholders
feared that Gould's tour through the
west meant more than appeared on its
face. | told Mr.. Gould of this feeling
and urged upon him to give the news
paper men an interview on the general
railroad situation The twinkle in his
eye became more perceptible than when
he first entered.
We'll" he said, contemplatively, "if
you will wait until make a short toilet
| will come down and see you"
thought there was something omi-
nous III that unwonted twinkle in his
eye, and the older men in that group of
reporters were astounded. They had
never seen Jay Gould in such a com
PLEASANT mood before, although they had
seen him scores of times. Mr.. Gould
came downstairs on schedule time and
headed the procession to reception
room in which there was long table.
Mr.. Gould took the head of the table
and the reporters surrounded the other
three sides.
Nov, then, boys, when you're ready,
crack away" said the magnate in tone
OF voice that was US hearty as though
he We're really good fellow. Then
followed fussilade of questions that
would have staggered and confused any
man but Jay Gould. The questions
were fired in solid and scattering vol.
leys, but not one missed the keen ear of
Gould, and the answers came back as
rapidly as the questions were asked, and
each answer was unerringly directed to
the man who asked it.
The boys were amazed ard delighted,
They covered page after page with notes,
and thought they were getting the big.
gest interview that the silent man.
had ever given out. The questions and
answers came so thick and fast that they
had no time to think-they simply put
down the answers and felt that they were
good and sufficient. At last the firing
of questions became desultory, and
| finally ceased altogether The reporters
ammunition was exhausted. They leaned
| back in their chairs, and with great
beads of perspiratiOn on their faces.
But'there was look of Joy in their
eyes. They felt the ineifable satisfac-
ton that they had secured the greatest
Interview ever vouchsafed by the
Sphynx of Wall street.
:. Are you all through, boys?" asked
Mr.. Gould cheerfully, and looking
fresher than when he began.
All through; we thank you, Mr.,
Gould"
The twinkle in his eye was almost as
sclntlllant as the evening star, as he
| left the room, and there was ghost OF
q smile under his black mustache.
Then we all sat down to compare
notes. We went over the questions and
answers carefully. They were all there
but to the horror Of every one, the
ANSWERS" did not answer the questions
The notes were gone over carefully
again and again, but always with the
same result. Then it dawned on the
bewildered reporters that in their haste
they had allowed the willy railroader ia
play them" He had actually moi
given word of new information, and
the next morning there was not news
paper in Chicago that had "stickfull"
of interview with Jay Gould.
All OF which accounted for the
| twinkle in his eye.