The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1908-11-15
SILENT MAN OF WALL STREET
BROKERS' APPELLATlON "SllEN1
EDWARD" FAR FROM BEING
mIsNoMER

New York, Nov. i4.-There has
been frequent speculation for many
years as to where J. Cheever Good
win found the type which he embodied
in the Lone Fisherman made famous
In Evangeline. Mr.. Goodwin himself
usually I.ot yoluble man. not siven
to long dissertations. found his widest
remains that he has never written the
story of the origin of this silent mys-
| terious character which has taken a
| permanent place in American usage
and tradition. The expression Lone
! Fisherman springs naturally to the
/ lips when one beholds a man perched
on the shores of the river or sound.
solitary and eXpectant But were you
| 10 speak to one of these persons they
might be voluble enough in telling of
the wondrous fish they have lanAed
or expected to land.
4 AfuA lH' lfHl AhFdl lffilt
as conceived by the librettist is a
man whose whole sphere OF activities
is comprehended by pantomine and
no spoken word. For many years
there has been a search TO find such
a character, but now the friends of
Edward Lefferts Neefus, or Silent
Bfward." declare that Mr. Goodwin
must have certainly had him in mind
or someone who was a perfect replica
when Re drew the character In Evan.
4 geline."
Mr.. Neefus is probably the most
expert fisherman in the financial dis
trict. just as he Is the most silent and
uncommunicative operator on the
street. He has never told fish story
He has never made an election fore
cast He has never attempted TO tel
the age of Ann. Nor has he ever es
sayed to predict increased prosperity
or appalling disaster. In an environ
ment where words fill the air like
leaves OF Vallambrosa. Mr. Neefus on
ly releases those which are absolutely
necessary. that is all. The appellatior
silent Edward" is no misnomer.
II is related by Mr.. Neefus's clos,
personal friends that the broker,
daughter at one time asked her moth
| er:
Mother, how did father ever finc
his tongue long enough to ask you t,
marry him."
> That question was not answered
both Mr.. and Mrs. Neefus smiled up
on their child.
Mr. Neefus when trading upon tn,
curb never shouts forth the wore
"Solf' in making a trade, but simpl,
mods his head and the deal is close,
without the loss of breath and with
out waste of precious words
He is an enthusiastic yachtsman
He rushes from Wall street to hi,
, home in Rockaway beach and al
l quickly as possible gets into his boa
and sails away 10 the fishing grount
I and remains there. more silent thar
!. the sea on a calm day when the waite
r Is like glass. He will fish and fisl
I and when the day is over, return hom
$ take seat by the hearth and listeI
n to all that his family has to say smil
{ and nod his head and never say
r word
?, But Mr. Neefus is a man of actor
: and under strict compulsion-for II
s stance that imposed by military disc
= pline-he can talk in cold. direct, con
i prehensiye speech. 1t may not
e much to his liking, but he is a ma
II who puts duty whether domestic @
X patriotic, above all other things, an
s IL occasion requires. may rip off
y line OF talk which fairly vibrates wit
u vitality.