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. His head was
small, in keeping with his body, but
there was something m about
the man 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 DAY 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 t~crscly outlined in oar
despatch announcing his death. 1t
nectiOn with the facts of his later life.
when he became in the financial circles
of this country as much an autoCrat as
the ear at st. Petersburg. The fab
ulous wealth he amassed was really the
thing that made the name Of Jay Gould
a thing to c|onjure with, but it is prob
able that the true history of his 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 lndulgent
father, and a man who seemed to attend
10 an exemplary way to his duties as "a
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 IA street near 9TH
avenue. DR.. Paxton is IA modern
Presbyterian who has never
been given 10 talking much
on hell fire and birthstone: a luxury-lov-
ing divine, who has IA quick wit and ii
glib tongue. aud finds some of his de
lights in good fat capOus and pate-de
fOis- gras. Jay Gould knew well that
nothing in the way Of IA theological
gun need cver be feared in that
pulpit. The roaring of DIR. Paxton was
sure to he at all times rs gentle as that
'or n sucking dove and nothing
would ever be said that could CRATE on
the tender sensibilitics 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 mOu
stcr. but his heart seemed to he pos
sessci by an Unsuitable demon which
clamored all the time FOR more money.
To appcase this demon Gould had to
reach out and acquire whenever and
however he could. If. when he began 10
euucozc, the weaker ones persisted ne
did not regard that as his concern, for
he always comfortcd his mind with the
that they would serve him in
the same way il they had the power.
Estimates of his wealth are sure To- he
far from the mark. They range from
S%GoyOOU.OOO to $%lG0.OO0.0OO 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. ana held large
interests Of which the public knows lit
tie or nothing. OF one thing we may be
sure: he has taken nothing with him,
and il would be a decent thing for his
heirs to divide some Of their supertluOus
millions among the families he brought
10 bcg@ary by his constituencies mani
pulatious. Few will mourn his death,
but when society has been reconstructed
on a plan t. make impossible such d
phenomenon is Jay Could. he will be re
mcmbcrcd and cited as the great high
priest It a money mad period. and the
prince Of plutocracy and murirrous
grcr,t.
luAr wa a queer conflict OF authority
in pittsburg when the chief of ponce