Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-03-12


isn't done to him.
BriCc is lawyer-a bad one, it is
feared-and was years ago very
poor. When Charley Foster was
Governor ofOhio, Brice owed him
$1,000 and didn't have splinter
wherewith to pay.
"Give me an Office" said Brice to
Foster.
"Can't," said Foster. "You're a
Democrat"
"pll never be able to pay you if
you DON'T" quoth Brice.
"Pd rather lose the money" quoth
Foster.
However, Foster gave Brlce $500
and world Of instructions and bid
him HE to Wall street and look out
for his (FoSter's) interests in a deal
in Hooking Valley, which had
reached the acute stage.
BriCe went, violated in his hardy
way every order Foster had given
him and clawed off with $4,000 TO
the good. Had he followed Fosters
directions he would have lost all.
Foster was delighted, and, like the
good rich man in the story books
gave half of the $4,000 winning TO
BrIce, The latter then returned to
Wall Street and plunged. This was
the founding of Brico. Since thon
ut least Of late years, Brice has Sent
the markets w and down like an
elevator more than once. And bp
went with them.
When Brice built the Nickel
Plate he ran fairly ashore. It was
sell out or become bankrupt: per-
haps worse. Brice offered the road
to Vanderbilt. That wise descend.
ant OF tulip-raiser laughed merrilv
He would wait, he said and buy the
Nickel Plate at sheriff's sale.
Brice began to plot. 1t was q
matter of pride as we'll as business
safety to make Vanderbilt buy after
this.
Gould didn't want the Nickel
Plate. Brice knew well, however
that if he could but lodge in tho
breast of Vanderbilt a fear that
Gould was after it, Vanderbilt wouId
hasten to purchase. 1t paralleIed
the Lake Shore, and it would never
do to let it fall into the hands of one
so pO"er1ul aS IOulu.
All this was as lucid and clear as
glass to Brice. He would play one
money magnate against the other
He proffered Gould enough to dazzle
a prince if the great railroader would
but perform like possible purchaser
Of the Nickel Plate. Gould's share
in the delusion to which VanderbiJt
was to give way was to ride SLOWLY
he whole length of the Nickel Plate |
n an observation car, say nothing
,ut look sagacious. Gould was TO
iecline all efforts to interview him.
)ut was not to contradict any pub.
ished inference from his tonguetied
state that he was seriously consider
ng the Nickel Plate as a thing to
)uy.
Gould, who regarded it as an ex-
'ellent jest on Vanderbilt, made a
low and thoughtful excursion over
he Nickel Plate and the papers told
'f the trip and spread themselves on
he possibility of his taking the
Nickel Plate into the Gould camp.
3rice was with him on the trip and
eemed ever at his elbow pointing
'ut tic cSCtlicliCc Ol the ROAD.
Vanderbilt began to grow nervous.
lie was carefully reading the "Gould
rip" 1t bothered him. AT last he
'nded his anxiety by briefly wiring
8rice Il figure, which was promptly
accepted. The Nickel Plate was
sold to Vanderbilt before
Gould reached the end Of the road,
md Brice was out of the financial
woods. He has never entered that
orest since and is one of the shrewd-
EST, richest manipulators who watch
IS quotations to-day.
Those who are near Brice like him
we'll. Besides his "social secretary"
le has "buSiness" and "politi-
al" secretary. They are paid ripe
igures. Brice makes an allowance |
If $40, 900 a year to each of his sons
md $4,000 to each Of his daughters. |
He says the One-sided condition of
social life, which puts constant ex.
oense on the male and exempts the
female, makes the difference neces-
Iary.
Brice's career as Senator will soon |
end and Foraker will follow him. 1t
will make no great popular differ
'nce, this switch in Senators. The
public will lose in the coming of
all that ii gains in the going
IF Brice.