New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-31
"uySTEHf on. y

"HYSTERY on"
Several years ago one of the mos, acuve
stocks dealt in at the Exchange was New-lork
and New England The stock was practically
worthless But at irregular intervals mysteri-
Gus rumors We're put in circulation concerning
some combinations or deal, or sale. or other
vague and indefinite transaction upon the
strength of which it futered and tiuctuatcd'
sailed up and plunged down. ana was traded
in TO the extent of thousands of shares by men
who treated it as if it had some prospective, II
not present value although they knew very
well that there was nothing in II. Al such
times il was sold. in Street parlance. mystery
on" Sellers were glad 10 get rid of II. ana
purchasers picked 1t up only because with "mys-
terry on" there was an active market Tor IL ana
a trading chance 10 fool some other fellow with
IT, But most mysteries cease some time" 10
this gradually flickered and faded and went
out and one day the road went into the hands
of receivers Thomas c. Plat was one OF them.
Ii begins TO look II the same game was IN
process Of being played with Mr. Platts per
sonal organ. THE New-York Sun. For nearly
a week now-six days. 10 be exact-that lively
and somew hat erratic newspaper has been sold
"mystery on Just one week ago this morning
II delighted its habitual readers with what pur-
ported to be the first insaTen of one or me
most thrilling romances that ever churned the
emotions Of a tramp or moisened the eyes OF
newsboy. Reference 10 this great work of he
ton has heretofore been made in these col
umns Read RS of The Tribune know the story
of "Milhoand and Mills and The Tribune
crowd; how they organized company TO shoot
the mails through a tube from the foStofn'e 10
Forty -second-st., thus doing away with the
horse-and-wagon department which now adorhs
Mail-st and makes that great thorousliare
lively and attractive: how they Intended TO
faSen themselves on the National Treasury ana
stick TO 1t till II is exhausted, meanwhile ais
posing Of the companys stock and bonds 10
conhding public: how Mlholand had already
bribed and corrupted shoals OF Senators. Con
eressmen and Cabinet officers by inviting them
10 dinner and by sending stock certlficales 10
their wives. which they had fired back at MIN
with redhot Indignation; how he was still al IT,
audaci0us, greedy and Unsuitable scattering
brides with lavish hand. only to pave the way
10 plumber unboundcd how The sun had the
names Of the Senators and Congressman ana
Cabinet officers and Southern eXSenators ana
ex- Congressman. and how il would presently
go to extremes and publish the entire list
with the amount Of Doodle they had scooped
Until such publication. Of course. the names OF
the malefactors were wrapped in profoundest
mystery.
And the public has been buying "The sun
for the last six days ''nystcry on Like The
New England road. worthless in itself. the "myS
terry on" created demand for it. Complaint is
now made that the conductors OF that eccentric
publication show no sign Of carrying ont their
Threaten promise publish the names Of the
guilty persons. So long as the paper sells fairly
we'll mystery on they seem disposed TO hold
back the information they say they have in
their possession and let the curiosity Of read
ers go unsated Last Saturday. replying to a
correspondent who in doubt to which one
Of three ladies' all well and robust" but one
of whom was young and pretty he should
give up his seat in Il slreetcar it came ont in
great force upon the subject Of Good Man
ners" on which j. is reckOned All authority on
the East Side and in Hesterst It's conclusion
was that ii was a question for every man 10
settle for himself-a concession for which the
ouestioner ought 10 he profoundly grateful. il
not being the habit of The sun to let any
body settle any question for himself On sun
DAY. in answer to another seeker after truth It
Infnitive." which ii said was matter for goose
flesh" and not 10 he approached without APP
prehensio on this subject. TOO it was gen
erous and catholic. II permitted the use Of the
split infnitve in cases of necessity, but ad
vised the exercise of "a reasonable conServa-
tism and polite sceptcism" with regard TO If.
But all this time no second instalment of the
romance no further disclosures. no names. moth
ing resembling in the renotcsi degree a solution
of the mystery. "rhe sun still sells mystery
on" And The curiosity of us habual readers
goes unsatisied. What care they which OF the
three well and robust" ladies the calow young
man should favor In giving up his seat in ihc
streetcar or whether he gives il NJ az all: OF
what interes, To them Is the split lnhntive while
they are themselves splitting with unSatisied
curiosity over the mystery that never was on
sea or land? Diversions such as these are
mere tri1lng. "The sun owes II 10 It's readers
to solve the mystery. even If II has the same
effect IL had on the New England road. and
drives il into a recevcrship.