The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-04-10
TOLD OF JAY GOULD.
an Episode of His Young Manhood WhieE
Caused Him to Roar with Laughter.


il. Ingalshe of Gleus Falls, N. Y,
relates this anecdote of the late Jay
Gould.
On warm morning, a few years
since. w iile engaged in surveying op-
erations on the Carleton farm, in the
town of ii mpton, Washington county,
was accompanied by John Carleton,
the elder of the brothers. then owning
the farm. In advance of the main
party. and oaded with heavy transit
and other impediments. on reaching the
summit of rocky pasture field, now
grown mp TO bushes. briers, etc, we sat
dowR To recover breath. Pointing to
the pi es of debris and great irregular
excavations in the hillside. my compan-
ion said:
Did YOU know that Jay Gould did
this?' NV answer atteSted both my as
tonishment and NV interest, and my in
formant continued: Yes, l was boy
then and my father Herman Carleton.
for The sum of, think, 81. 500, conveyed
TO Jay Gould, either as principal or
agent, the right to eXcavate and occupy
10 any extent a certain tract for the
purpose of manufacturing roofing slate.
siyely for several years, but for various
reasons was finally abandoned.
Il remember him well. He was a
little fellow. sharp as steel and right up
to business every time. He didn't say
much. hut he knew what was going on.
Il know he caught me once very
nicely. One forenoon l was up about
the works looking at the operations of
A.
me: Young man. do you suppose you
can get me a drink of milk down yon-
der somewhere?'
little tin pail and some pennies, ne said:
Put now, I'm thirstyr
4 was down at the farmhouse in
short order. and soon started back for
the hill with the pail of milk, In my
eagerness | stepped on a sharp stone,
tripped and fell. spiiling almost all my
milk. Here was a fix. My pennies
were gone. and dared not show my
nearly empty pail at either end of the
route. for the evidence would be fairly
against me that drank the milk.
must, at all events, return the pail, and
slowly continued my way toward the
quarries. Crossing a small brook l
dipped my pail and examined the con-
tents. 1t looked rather blue, and tasted
pretty fiat. but as the pail was not yet
half full l dipped again and went on.
Feeling rather shaky as to the result, l
watched till Mr.. Gould was very busy
talking. when, handing him the pail,
slipped away.
@Well, l kept away from the works
for q number of davs. but presently [
was back again. All went as usual.
No one noticed me, and began to feel
at home again. l was watching some
interesting operation of the workmen,
when | fe.u a touch on my shoulder.
~'Can YOU get me another drink of
milk?' said Mr.. Gould, who stood at my
side. He handed me little pail, and
this time 1O-cent piece. A glance at
his face showed no sign of suspicion.
and started again down the valley.
Returning with my pail full of milk
and half the money in my pocket, |
went straight up and handed over both
pail and money. Giving me the 8 cents
change. Mr.. Gould sat down on a rock
and took a good 'pur from the pail.
Deliberately wiping his lips and with a
look of inquiry. he remarked:
Say. bub. get this at the same place
you did the other?' Scratching in the
dirt with my bare toes answered, not
very boldly: Yes, sir Another taste
from the pail; then another look at me.
".Mi ked different COW. didn't they9
Il couldn't stand it any longer, and
told the whole story. Mr.. Gould lay
back on the ground. kicked up his
heels. and fairly screamed with laugh
ter. slid off out of the way, leaving g
him sitting there. What he was think
ing of, or whether gave him the idea
of watering stock. don't know. l have
told the story as remember the occur:
renee. and have never seen Mr.. Gould
since he left these uuarries"