Los Angeles herald., 1905-02-26

nasty goodby to some one above and
ran lightly to the street. He started
from the vicinity of Fifty-ninth
street and Seventh avenue for the ele-
waited station. The air was .nipping and
eager and the walk all too short.
you see begin the day by trying to
learn what has happened over night.
No man on his way down to business
has time to read a newspaper thor
oughly. He just skins down through
the news and retains the paper till an
hour in the day whel. he may read it
thoroughly. 1 will read the paper
before the day is over; you may rest
assured of that"
In an instant he was buried deep in
the columns of his newspaper, the per-
sons about him similarly occupied. 1t
was just o'clock when he entered the
elevator in a skyscraper in William
street. In his office the clerks had
already gathered. A large bundle of
mail was upon his desk. With the
eye of a practiced man he selected
such letters as the exterior of the en-
velope led him to believe meant busi-
ness Of Importance. Several of the
letters related to business of previous
day and clerks quickly supplied him
with information pertaining to the mat
ters which induced the writers to COM
municate with him. There was possi-
bly, fifteen minutes devoted to reading
the letters of less Importance, replies
to which he quickly dictated to his
stenographer, asking between times IL
the business Of yesterday had gone
through without error.
The stock broker begins work as soon
as he reaches his office. This was evil
dent. He was due on the floor of the
exchange before 10 o'clock, that he
might communicate with associates
with whom he does business. There
were few minutes wasted before the
elevator took him to the ground floor
and the revolving door shot him to the
street, bound in the direction of the
stock exchange. This magnificent
structure he entered fifteen minutes
before 10 o'clock, and was on the floor
ready to see the hour hand reach 10
o'clock and work begin.
There are eighteen posts In this
building, scattered over a considerable
area. On this floor from five hundred
and fifty to seven hundred members
congregate daily. OF this number
eight or ten men called specialists"
men who deal only in special stocks
particularly stocks, one might say-are
in fixed positions. They can always
be found at their posts. making 1t a
business to be there. The hum and
shuffling of nervous feet marked the
approach of the hour of opening, groups
OF men. scattered here and there, talk
ing earnestly on matters pertaining to
the market and not unreluctant to
begin.
Opening Of the Battle
1t was half-past 10 o'clock before the
broker had finished notifying custom
ers OF the firm over the telephone of
the trend Of the market, and then he
had a respite OF half an hour, during
which he settled comfortably In cor
ner to read his newspaper. 1t began
to look like dull day for him. The
market was active and theNusual tur-
moil was noticeable from the gallery.
While this man was reading paper
others were moving about in an ener-
getic manner. Some of the rushes to
buy and sell would make an ordinary
movement on a bargain counter pale
into insignificanee. At II O'clock the
broker saw his number go up That
meant business. His office wished to
communicate with him. Now he was