The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-11-17
The Chief Feature Was a Large Tree Set on
the Floor Of the Exchange.
GIFTS THAT WERE HUNG UPON IT..
They illustrated Some Prominent Characteristic
Of the Recipient Balloons, Big Dolls and
FootbaIs---The DAY Of the Giants.

NEW YORK, Nov. 17.-tSpccial. They
are doing roaring business on Wall street
nowadays and expect to continue at 1t for
some time to come. And II things go on
ss at present there'll be an old fashioned
Wall street Christmas in New York this
year and no mistake.
1t was In 1892 that Wall street had its
latest really great holiday celebration. 1t
was hoped that there might be similar
jollification last year To commemorate the
beginning of tho depression's end but
somehow things were not quite ripe for It,
and, while thero was some hilarity, moth
ing really worth while was dono in tho
way of merrymaking on the floor of the
exchange Should tho celebration default
this year, however it will DO time TO won
der what has come over the spirit of the
brokers' dreams The fact that X. II.
Halstod, familiarly known as Dick Hal
sted by his FELLOW brokers, is still in the
flesh and vigorously so, Is pretty good
assurance that the Christmas dolngs will
come OFF.
Wall street Christmas Tree.
II was Dick Halsted who had charge OF
the carvings on in 1892 and the chief
feature thereof was Christmas tree which
was set upon the floor of the Stock Ex-
change a day or two before the real holi-
day
Naturally the greatest fun OF the occa-
sion was afforded by the appositeness OF
the gifts that hung on the tree. Thus,
certain member of the exchange, who also
belonged To the national guard and affect
ed To be military from the sole of his foot
81 81 L. Ia hon tod
with some toy soldiers of tin. Another
whose smooth and even flow of talk on all
sorts of topics had become little less than
nuisance TO his friends received an onor.
nous picaled tongue. Still another, whose
fad was yachting, got "a cheap model OF
sislboat. To ONO young member, declar-
ed almost unanimously TO be altogether
too fresh, bag OF ''choice dairy" salt was
given, and so on 20 the end OF the chapter,
the presentation speech in each case, either
by Mr. Halsted or ne one else equally
endowed with the gilJ of CAB, adding ma
terially to the joys of the occasion.
For wholesale, unaffected, though somo-
times rather boisterous fun, however, it
has been 1nuny years since the holiday has
been at its hest in Wall street In the years
following the civil war Christmas oelcbra-
tions were among the chief events of tho
where buying and selling Of the precious
metal, then at a premium, were carried ON,
did its share Of the celebrating too. One
OF the holiday schemes of tho brokers 20
years and moro ago was to march in
body from the exchange proper to tho
goldroom and there destroy tho furniture
simply as an evidence of good faith. Ere
quently the procession was headed by a
brass band, and invariably the goldroom
men Joined in breaking up their own
chairs and tables, while songs were sung
and stentorian cheers We're shouted.
What made this sort Of celebration most
enjoyable was the circumstance that after
tho destruction of hatever was destructi-
BILE in the goldroom "a similar ceremony
was carried ON in the exchange itself the
stockholders taking as keen delight in
reducing their own furniture to sticks as
had been displayed in annihilatiDg the
furniture of the goldroom
Balloons, Big Dolls, Football.
In those old times the brokers amused
themselves all through tho year with "a
good deal more abandon than they have
recently exhibited. For instance, they
used to get n lot of toy balloons, label each
with the name of some well known stock
and let them float in tho upper air of the
exchange.
Naturally the balloons rose TO the top OF
the room, where tho temperature was
much higher than within few feet of the
floor, and, ms heat expands gas, each littlo
inflated globe was bound 10 explode after
floating next TO the ceiling for awhile,
and of course, tho brokers rarely neglect
cd so excellent an opportunity to gamble,
the wager in each instance being laid on
the time of explosion of the toy balloons.
Some made their bets one way aId somo
another. You might bet that the balloon
labeled '"Missouri Pacific" would last %
certain length of time, while your neigh
Dor might bet that as between the Mis-
souri, Pacific" balloon and that of "Sug-
mr." for instance, the lattcr would burst
the sooner. IL was always noisy about tho
exchange when balloon betting was going
on, for the brokers invariably got as ox-
cited over this game as the real one of
buying and selling stocks on a margin
and otherwise.
Doll dancing days were even more
noisy. but also rarer. On such days stuffed
efligies Of women not much under natural
size wcro Let down TO tho floor from the
. galleries, and the brokers danced with
them 20 the sound Of such music as could
be had. Football days were most bolster
Gus of all, but not 80 picturesque. They
alone hayo survived till comparatively
modern times, though even football has
been mighty rare of late years on tho floor.
The Day OF the Giants.
There was once "giants' day" on the
exchange, but only fow very Old timers
can remember that.
IL came while the redoubtablo Barnum
was still alive and was running his mu-
scum at the corner of Broadway and Ann
street. Among the museums attractions
were two enormous followswell worthy TO
BE- called giants. They were led upon the
floor not far from noon with the qaict tip
that no one would get angry nc any little