Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-21
HIS APPEARANCE MISLEADING.
Brokers Thought Him An Anarchist,
but He Was Ont for the Cash.

From the New York Sun.
Some time ago there appeared In Wall
street a man who looked dangerous. Al
most any member of Mr.. Byrnes staff
would have declared him such and
would probably have run him in on general
principles. He had a face which seemed
to betoken an acquaintance with the beer
mug. His clothes were of the toughest
and ill-htting. He wore a SLOUGH hat, and
was altogether a most unpleasing person
to look at. No one would have looked at
him n second time had he found him in a
gathering at Herr Most's beer garden, or
mingling with a group of autonomists on
East Fourth street, bat he looked out of
place in the Street.
Wall street is well aware that appear
ances are deceitful, and under ordinary
circumstances very little attention is paid
there to a mans dress. One frequently
meets in Wall street men who look as
though they might be phlegmatic mechan-
les, but who ere really most daring and
skil'ful operators in finance. Men who look
to be only grade above the average tramp
may be able to draw their cheek for a
hundred thousand or so. This man, how
ever, appeared to be a particularly hard
case. and even the calm, philosophic brok-
ers and spectators, who are rarely sur
prised at anything. looked askance when
lie fioated around in the most frequented
parts of the Street. One or two even eN-
pressed an apprehension tnat he might be
an anarchist come down to the Street with
the purpose of throwing a bomb or two,
and there was some apprehension, when
he entered well-known brokers' office,
that he had designs upon the wealthy head
of the house. When he approached the lat
ter, several of his friends held themselves
in readiness to pounce upon him.
1t turned out, however, that the appre-
tensions were not well founded. Instead
of having any dislike for CAPITALISTS or
desire ipilIrn If ra1 IN
be his ambition to join their number. After
calmly watching the quotations for some
time he sat DOWN and wrote an order for
the purchase of several active stocks in
thousand share lots.
The broker to whom he handed the order
locked somewhat startled, and acted as
though he was In doubt about the sanity
Of the man. When he looked, however, at
tie certified check which accompanied the
order, he changed his mind and Was most
effusively polite. 1t is very probable that
he sent around to the bank to make sure
that the check was all right but it is GER
tain that thereafter the strange-appearing
newcomer was treated with the utmost
Difference by everybody In the office. The
Nell-dreSsed clerks, who paid more for their
trousers than he Gid fer his entire outfit
OF clothing, scrape1 and bowed and were
most polite in their attentions.
Gossip is always active in Wall street
and 1t was soon known in the remotest
corners that queer stranger with plenty
OF CdSn ndu come 10 speculate. POSSIBLY
some hopes were kndlcd in the breasts Of
those who heard it that they might obtain
a share of the spoilS; if so, their ambition
must have been disappointed for he proved
most astute and well informed. He rarely
made any losing ventures and did not
plunge to any extent. Since then he has
become familiar to all those in the Street
who keep the run Of what is going on. He
does not come down every day. and some
times does not appear for weeks. lie
never chances lis dress and does not At
tempt TO enter into any general conversa-
ton. He talks with very few, and meyer
about his own business. II has been learn
ed that he is q man of con siderable wealth
which he secured in mercantile pursuits
He is one Of the few men who appear to
be always plentifully supplied with cash
and to be on the right side Of the market
as q usual thing.