The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-29
WOMEN PLUNGEON WHEAT
FEMININE SPEOULAToRS TACKLE
A RISING MARKET.


The feminine bulls and bears had an exciting
tlmo last week. For the past three months the
ladies parlor" Of the various brokerage Of
Gees that do business with women havo been
almost deserted. The majority Of their regu-
lar customers being away for the summer, they
were largely dependent on casual and out.of-
town spectators. On Monday this was changed
In the uptown offices tho faces Of many OF the
regulars appeared. On, Tuesday they all
seemed to be on hand with o goodly number Of
recruits, and Judging by appearances and bits
Of conversation. tho recruits were not always
green.
The parlor Of an office in the heart Of the shop
ping district was thronged every day during
the week. Here one morning two women who
had never seen each other before began IN eX.
change condolences when they met at the lit
tie opening in the wall through which the rib
bon Of the ticker ran.
I'm from the West" said the tall. raw.boued
woman to her neighbor, as together they ex.
amined the ribbon critically, and I came East
to spend the summer. ! was having a grand
time, but when I seen from tho papers what q
lot Of money the men was making on wheat, /
couldn't stay away. So l just run over to New
York to take II hand. I made s. o on To-
bacco in Chicago last spring"
You didl' exclaimed the other woman. with
q little gasp, looking at the tall woman in awcd
surprise. u never have specialized in any.
thing except cotton. I'm from the South. you
know. and cotton is the only thing we know
much about But as l was in New York l
thought I'd drop in here and watch the market.
I've been readin' the papers pretty closely. and
maybe III buy. Do you"
Here their conversation was Interrupted by
the attendant, who requested them to take
seats She suggested that they could find
an easy chair or divan. placed SO that they
would have a good view Of tie blackboard and
would be more comfortable than If standing
around the ticker.
Il suppose they are accustomed to buying
downtown said a haggard-looking, red haired
! woman as she watched the eil=,le.
Either there or in some small city where men
and women AL have to use the same room and
are allowed to crowd around the ticker. What
are you buying to-6ayl WheatF
NO, Burlington" was the reply.
That's a good stock" commented her COM
ramon, nodding her head approvinsly. Bur
! lngton. Sugar, and Southern Railway are a.
ways or the move. Now Paul Is"
"Eivc hundred Darlington at IL" sang out o
mans voice from the other side Of a partition
The buying began. Instantly the red haired
woman vas out OF her chair whispering TO the
man at the desk. She returned to her seat
mora slowly, smiling complacentlY at the ~
mnrked on the blackboard under "B. O."
One thousand Burlington: at 90" sang ont
the voice. The red-hasrcd woman. twisting IN
her char. eroancd. Then she fell 10 staring at
the biaekbosrt and biting her nails,
Two hundred Leather NJ s. cried the voice.
while the women chatted on. 81 Paul q.
Great Western y. wheat so 6-S."
! Ten women were out Of their seats pushing
and shovtpc one another in their efforts to be
nr.i 70 whisper. to the man ct the desk
rhc Hcnnen carSht their hrea, IN Staring n,
the blacSb"art they began to bite their nails or
ne:yoisly finger their pocketbooks.
some of the women around the desk began
} TO move slowly back toward their seats. but
sill seepins an eye on the board
TIE women took their seats.
There was no one left To whisper with the
man at the desk, and no sound except that OF
=: ticker il the adjoining. room. Then al Old
lady in the deepest mourning, with white hair
and a sweet, soft face, LETT her seat and walked
deliberately over 20 The desk. bent her head 70
the MAJ ear fo' 1 r ,Ha {stn,, and h..st too h "a,
sane saai, l.cr face wearing the sweet. IN
ruthed eNp;esston OF a Sister Of Mercy.
ant. she comes 10 New York every tai! and
spring, and always does business with us. They
say .he has been coming for more than twenty
i've years. She began soon after the war. Thi:
"a the first time ever, knew her to buy any
s sn5 I except so''GP' sne snTiAs o wgai do" 20 n
for wheat to-day. for she certainly has has
tip, and knows that the fall l. only temporary
she must be over 20. and has always worE
widows weeds
Leather 81. St. Louis 90, brooklyn a. tn,
man in the next room called from time to time
While the women hated, apparently not heed
ing his voice,
Burlington "a"
The red haired woman stopped gnawing he
nails and almost smiled at the figures chalke'
II hope she'll make. WHISPERED the attend
anr. 'She lost $4,000 last week, and is try
Ing to make it up. She Is one OF our regulars
and generally buys heavy. She Is really yer
goodIooking when she is not worried to death
Vow she looks twenty years older than she di
when she first came IN Iast week; And 90
bitten them. They say she buys under an A:
sumed name because she is afraid Of her hut
band. finding her out"
The chatting ceased. and the " omen began I
watch the board and each other nervou7ly.
Several OF them left their seats and hurr!c
st Paul u. Wheat 49,.
The women at the desk made way for other
AM returned TO their seats smiling contentedlJ
More than half the women in the room wer
strugeIing 70 speak 10 the man at the doss
Those in their seats smiled jHhilen,'y o., triG
from Texas remained unchanged. She "a
slowly swNying back and forth in her rocke
gazing ~p!aci1ly at the board and 70 ali appea
ences totally unconscious OF the ~Strusslin
. Then followed half u dozen or more cal
. ANAA $50 AAAAANA N~ NNNNs H'HA'A NEt
: unnot!cod, except ~ the boy. who prorapt
/, chalked them on the board. AZ the womer
: having placed their orders, returned to the
. seats one by one they were as quiet as mice an
\ even the attendant ceased TO whisper. Ever
ear was strained for the next call
Burlington ~. All eyes turned TO the re-
. haired woman.
from Texas started forward In her chair an
held her breath. 'al IS" They heave a sis
Of content, glanced about them, and began
r chat.
, Indicating a plump young woman w!!!h heav
/ company last .easo1. bur this year she vi
r play in New York. She made a lot OF mons
0 on sugar last a,on. and u month later can
0 back and lost IL al on ~. Louis"
Wheat 81 Sc"
Z Many OF me women ceased talking and b
gan TO look inqr!ringiy at one another.
wi eat, 82Ib."
, Hadn't We better selll' one woman viii
: pered TO a friend across the room, who promp
~ shook her head. That seemed TO settle 1t Il
them all. and they, again began to chat.
Wheat so %"
There followed q wall In which the attendai
3 Joined. Several OF the women left their seat
rushed over. and Selling the ribbon OF the tickle
4 haYun tn examine IL as though not belle wing n