The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-12-05
THESE ARE LIVELY.
hESsENGERS WHO ARE NOT OF THE
SLOW PERSUASION.


They Wear Diamonds Bccausc They Inn
prove Their Opportunitics- Many of the
Wnil street Mcrcurics Have Access to
Valuable Information.
''Of course you know those chaps do
not live on their salaries, " said Wall
street broker few days ago, pointing
TO one of those speedy messengers that
are seen daily just before the close of
the exchange flying frantically along
the street
Just notice the next ono that comes
! along" the broker continued. 'It is 10
to that he wears diamonds. If he docs
not, he is ignorant of the business. -
At that moment one of the "mcsscn.
gers, having performed his speedy and
morcurial duty, passed by on his way
back to the Office. Sure enough, ON the
hand with which he mopped his per-
spring face there glistened a two carat
diamond.
"It's easy enough, said the broker
philosophically. land it cannot be help
ed. Many Of thcso messengers are con
fidentiaP-that il, in tho hurry Of tho
closing moments of the exchange they
receive orders of tho most important ma.
ture that are simply written on an open
sheet Of paper. Many of these messen.
gers are frugal and quick witted fellows,
who are ready to take advantage of op.
portunities as quick as flash. So far
as l know, they do nothing absolutely
dishonest, although in many cases such
a thing would be possible.
Very often when they are given or
ders to convey to brokers they digest
them thoroughly, debate the chances of
success and act accordingly. If they
think the order a good one they rush
around to some bucket shop and buy or
sell, according to the tenor of the order
That is why they wear diamonds. 1t is
an easy thing for messenger for firm
like that of Connor & Co. OF Cammach
to make money. All they have to do is
to follow their opportunities. Go over
to the Consolidated Exchange, and you
will see Them
The broker was right. While tho
bulls were believing and the lambs
were bleating around the big railing
two or three messengers who happened
to have nothing particular to do were
hanging around watching the market
with fevorish anxiety. Pretty soon they
were re-enforcod by now arrival. He
rushed up to tho railing and shouted
| frantically to young broker ON the
floor whom / happened 30 know A
whispered consultation took place, and
| then the broker dived into tho melee
and began to bid on stock until he SO.
| cured the proper amount, when he
emerged flush and perspiring
Its pretty hot work in there, isn't
| it?" asked.
81 should say it was," he replied,
especially when nobody wants to SELL 4"
'Who was the young man who gave
you the order few minutes ago?" in
quired.
"He's chap that works for the firm
Of - g. Co.." was the reply. Hes
shrewd boy, too and it is seldom that
he is wrong ON the market. W
perhaps he has exceptional oppor-
tunltles, L suggested.
II suppose that is it. It's no business
of mine, though. He has an account
with me, and it is never overdrawn.
In fact, ii is constantly increasing. /
got my start in the same way, and, in
fact, a great percentage Of the brokers
in the street were once messengers of
one kind or another"
asked an old broker who had grown
gray in the street what he knew about
speculation among messengers. He said:
''It has increased wonderfully during
the last ten years. In the old days, when
speculation was heavier, it took far less
to sway the market than now. Then
the messengers speculated at their own
peril. The turns and changes were far
more quick and decided, and il was an
almost sure thing that the small specu-
lator would be wiped out in day or
80. Not half 30 many men are living by
speculation in Wall street as formerly,
and many Of those who dabble in the
street do SO merely for the fun of it.
Consequently they do not guard their
tips as closely as in former years.
mot long ago ! went into Delmoni-
CO.'S for dinner, and sat down at table
opposite q young man whom I recog-
nized as messenger for prominent
Wall street speoulator. Iwould be will
ing to take an oath that his salary is not
over $l5 week. Yet there he sat, with
diamonds on his fingers and in his shirt
front, eating pate de foie gras as though
no had lived upon 1t all his life. sup
pose he had made lucky stroke on
some tip which his employer had sent