The Topeka state journal., 1900-11-17

want by rapidly extending his hand
partially open. and drawing it slowly
toward him. To signify that he is pre-
pared to sell he pushes his partially
opened hand from him.
The SIGN language does not attempt
to Indicate the name OF any stock. The
brokers dealing in each rally around n
siEnboard on the floor of the exchange
which bears its name.
II sometimes happens that the crowd
VIII be pushed or viii swirl away from
TINS centre, but the frenzied shouts OK
the brokers always serve 10 Identify it
II Wli be seen how broker by Joining
one OF these bowling. struggling mobs
with the aid Of his signs may make
known the number Of shares he may
wish to buy or sell.
ne price Of the stock IS also made
h-oWn by signs. One finger pointed
vertically andaupward signifies that "a
pa Is offered at one-eighth OF "a point.
l"o hngers, two-eights. or one-quarter.
ana so on. The price Of the stocks go
point.
ALL DONE QUICKLY.
All these signs are used 80 quickly
ana the antics Of the brokers to at-
tract attention are so violent that an
unframed eye can scarcely recognize
tnem. man may be seen. for exam
pie to rush excitedly 20 "a group Of
wildly shouting men and. after he has
attracted attention to himself by
shrieks, move his clinched fist rapidly
UP and down. as though delivering q
series Of upper-cut blows 70 an imag-
mary foe.
Instantly a dozen men start for him.
gesticulating wildly. In response he
tries to rush toward them. meanwhile
appearing TO beokon them on with his
partially closed hand.
As soon as he has attracted the at
tention Of the crowd he waves his hand
rapidly back and forth. with one or
more fingers extended. He repeats
these menacing signs over and over
again. and just free fight seems
inevitable. he exchanges a quick jerk
of the head with some one before him.
the crowd falls back and he walks or
unmolested.
When the excited broker rushed into
the struggling mob he was merely ioin-
ing the group trading IN some commo-
dity. like Sugar. The upper-out blows
of his fist merely Eignlhed that he
wished 10 trade in 100 shares Of the
stock. When he appeared to be beck
oning on his adversaries he merely eK-
pressed a desire to purchase this stock
and his excited jabbing Of the air with
extended fingers indicated that II the
he would pay Ia. The gentlemen who
rushed "a him merely desired to attract
his attention, and the jerk Of the head
signified that the offer was accepted
and the sale, which perhaps involved
hundreds OF thousands Of dollars. was
com piete.
The rules Of the exchange governing
all such transactions are very rigid.
and yet Il is surprising how many dis
putes arise A committee OF half a
dozen or more men are constantly pa
trolling the floor TO enforce them. A
man with authority 20 decide disputes
also sits on a seat overlooking the noor.
but these precautions are rarely need
ed. A thousand disputes which it would
seem must inevitably end in free fights
arise each day and as quickly subside.
1t sometimes happens that two men
viii misunderstood each other IN quot
ing price. and that after the sale is
made each viii have a different quota
tion in mind.
The disposition OF these cases is pc
culiar. The disputanrs Immediately so
before the presiding officer and state
the trouble. The friends Of both par
ties crowd about them. The officer IN
charge then calls for vote OF hands
on the dispute. and the majority rules.