The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-01

ZOOS no was a born wizard. and so the
tccrcts and the mysteries of the great
game Of chance are left for the young
men who can afford TO learn 1t.
So far as their university education
fits them for their Wall street appren-
ticeship. they might just as well have
omitted a. Neither calculus nor classics
nor evidences Of Christianity form any
valuable stock in trade down there. IL
is "Pull"-a great pull, spelled with
"a capital P-that counts. Without it all
the energy ard faithfulness and loyalty
which young man could give would
avail him little. He might In time be-
come confidential man or collier
for some big house but his name never
would figure I'm any OF the so-called 'gi-
gantic deals" and he never would be
fearcd - the Street.
THEIR APPRENTICESHIP.
Before plunging into Wall street the
future nnancicr generally goes abroad
inst TO polish on his education. If he
follows the ordinary tourists trail-and
nine out OF ten OF them dot will do
him no more good than his college edu-
cation has. He returns I'm the fall and
begins work just where he would had
he not been 10 college and rounded his
course of I'm foreign travel
On going into the Street his father
acts az his sponsor and gets him a posi-
ton in some brokers' office. II the father
Is in business down there himself he sell
dom takes his son into his own concern.
lie recommends him 20 some business
firm. The boy starts I'm as "A runner.
A runner Is not an especially dlgnihcd
nosition for a young man who has just
received his degree OF 4. y. The first
day he is put In charge OF another young
man who probably received his degree
the year before The young man explains
10 him the duties which he must perform.
In tho FIRST place he must reach his
Office by o o'clock. Then just as soon as
the exchange Is opened handful Of
stocks IS given 10 him. These have been
sold the day before on the floor Of the
stock Exchange and must be delivered
There may have been twenty-five or fifty
customers. and the young apprentice
must chase around 10 the brokers offices
until the stocks are delivered and ne
has received a receipt for them.
No MENTAL ENERTlON.
The only mental exercise which this
task calls FOR Is TO see that the receipt
Is for the same number OF stocks deliv-
cred. and this can De done readily. even
hv VI Young man who has received a
college education.
This work keeps Eim busy until the
Exchange closes. when he receives an
other nduOiul o. documents. CONSISTING
this time Of the orders and receipts for
stocks which have passed through the
Office during the days business. These
he takes TO the Offices where the trades
have been made and sees II they bal
ance N they do. ;hey are delivered to
the Clearing House.
These are the principal duties o, the
runner" which is the first course I'm
Wall street. For this he receives any
where from s. 20 50 a week
His term as runner depends In great
measure uDon the strength Of his pull.
II the broker for whom he IS working
thinks that his apprentice can bring Gus
toners 20 the Office In the form OF indo-
lent papas and Interested uncles. tho
Young graduate is raised to the position
~ buying and sales clerk within a short
time.
here his duties are trifc more ar
duous and exacting, but not surheiently
revere 20 bring on nervous prostration
or brain fever. As purchasing and sales
clerk no is supposed TO keep a record