Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-09-13
FROM WALL STREET TO NEWGATE.
VIA THE PRIMROSE WAY.
BY AUSTIN BIDWELL.

women came under that category; but,
if any, then it must mean those who
came around selling apples and oranges.
The reader will see that when once
away from the shelter Of home, in
threading the worlds devious ways, 1
would be crossing the roaring torrent
ION the perilous footing Of spear, I"
all but certain to fall into the flood be-
meath.
During my last year at school and for
long time after leaving it my father
and mother were never tired of talking
about my good education. Possibly they
were not very good judges, but 1 am
confident that they, after all, did not
realize the Importance of boy being
well equipped in that regard. Their
thoughts and minds were so bent on the
other world and things unseen bulked
so hugely on their mental vision that
there was small space left for things Of
this earth. They, good, simple souls,
were made for and ought to have lived
in the golden age, when all men were
brave and all women true, where neigh.
borly eyes reflected the love and faith
within, but in our utilitarian days they
were sadly out Of place, and little Won
der if they had lost their way in this
world
In their intense longing for the life
beyond the grave, their passionate de-
sire to walk the streets Of gold, they,
by their actions, seemed to forget we
were on this earth, and that we were
here with many sharp reminders of the
fact.
The same guilelessness was manifest
ed in their choice of our home readings.
The books I was allowed access to in
the house were "The Life of King Da-
vid," "The History Of Jerusalem,
"Baxter's Saints Rest, - "The Immor-
tai Dreamer's Pilgrim" and Fox's
"Book of Martyrs" " His first martyr is
Stephen, and such was my gross igno-
rance of his story that I always supposed
Stephen had been martyred by the
Church of Rome. Here was mental food
for boy who had his own way to make
in the world
Craving other mental food than 'The
Life Of David" I used to club pennies
with a chum and buy that delectable
sheet, "Ned Buntline's Own," then in
fear and trembling would creep to all
upper room and read "The Haunted
House" or "The Ghost Of Castle Ivy"
until my hair stood on end in sort of
ecstatic horror, or the stirring adven-
lures Of Jack the Rover" or "Pirate
Chief" until my brain took fire and 4
mighty impulse stirred every fiber, i'm
pelling me to follow in their footsteps.
had remained idly at home for some
six months after my happy release from
school, when one night my father re-
turned from New York and said, "My
son, have found a situation for you. "
That was delightful news, and when I
went to bed that night I was too excited
to sleep.
So now at 16 was about to sail on.
of harbor, and how equipped!
Absolutely without education, void of
worldly wisdom and in my boyish bra;:
dividing the world into two sections.
In one was King David Staying the
Philstines or dancing before the ark
In the other were Jack the Rover and
the Pirate Chief. How easy to guess the
sequel! Yet I was not bad boy-far
from it. only needed wise guidance
and good companionship, and as the ig-
norance and crudity of my character
dropped off the innate virtue-mine by
lawful heritage-would have been de-
veloped. But pitchforked into the wild
whirl of Wall street and its fast set Of
gilded youth, the gates of the Primros"
Way to destruction were held wide open
to my eager feet.
The situation my father had obtained
for me was with sugar broker of the
name of Waterbury. He was a partner
in large refinery, his Office being i'll
South Water street. He was nice, con-
servative old man and let things run Gu
easily. His chief clerk, Mr.. Amber,
was every inch gentleman, who,
quickly perceiving what an ignoramus
I was, out of the goodness of his heart
resolved to teach me something.
There were two sharp young men in
our office. They liked me we'll enough,
but used to guy me numerically for my
simplicity and clumsiness One of them.
Harry by name, was something Of n
scapegrace, and soon acquired quite u
power over me. I stood in much fear of
his ridicule and frequently did things
for which my conscience reproached me
rather than stand the fire of his rail
lery. The greatest harm he did me was
in firing my imagination with stories
of Wall street, Of the fortunes that were
and could be made in the goldroom or
on Change. He made tolerably clear the
modus operandi Of speculators, and I
secretly resolved that some day 1, too,
would try my fortune.
Ny friend Mr. Ambler's health was
bad, and frequent attacks of illness
caused him to be away from the Office
for weeks at q time, and that meant
much loss to me- When I had been there
about year, he resigned his position
and went as manager for factory III
New Haven. But before leaving he in
terested himself so far in my welfare as
to secure me position with Il firm OF
brokers in New street at Il salary ot
$40 week. Ny employers were goo;
fellows, lovers of pleasure and men of