NEWS BY MAIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1929, Page 7

NEWS BY MAIL.

WALL STREET ROMANCE. NEW YORK, Eeb. 5. The romance of Wall-sLi'cet trading is strikingly shown in the career ol “Jakie” Field, who lias died after fifty-eight yea is of adventure around Exchange. Throughout his career he engaged in whirlwind baLtles in which he constantly defeated the best brains .if the must daring speculators, si.cli as Livermore and Durant, opposing t.lieir abilities uitli a tremendous gill for mental calculation, a wonderful memory and the courage to piunge heavily. It is said that he made his first gamble in an old-time bucket shop with a ten dollar hill (£2) earned by routhful perspicacity. He was messenger boy for a firm who sent him one day to pay into the bank a cheque for £35,000. Jakie noticed that hank oifieials were standing around talking in low, anxious tones, and suspecting something, he took a walk round to Battery Point for a couple of hours, carrying the cheque with him. When he returned the bank doors were closed and the panic of 1870 had begun. Tho firm rewarded him with a ten dollar bill, which subsequently made a fortune for the bright lad. Wall-street traders pride themselves on their dress, but Jakie looked Uke an impoverished clerk as he strolled iround in an old suit with baggy tiousers sadly in need of pressing. Butthis little man with crumpled clothes could outguess anybody, and traders after a few tussles learnt to give him a wide berth. LOST 15 MILLIONS. Born an East-side New Yorker, ho always retained the rough accent of the society in which lie was horn. This, his friends sav, was partly assumed as a cloak to hide his talents. Jakie had his losses. Between 1900 and 1910 his losses on fifteen different deals were reported to be a million dollars a deal. But he came up again and was soon among his old friends talking in “thousands.” His death is regretted by all floor traders. If he was a merciless enemy lie could be kindly when the mood suited him. He battled all his life with It is wits, and, as they say in America he ran a shoestring into a fortune. VON KLUCK’S MEMOIRS. BERLIN, Feb. 5. An English friend who recently visited General von Kjttek who is now 83 years of ago, told me that women would call him a “perfect old dear.” That is the impression which the leisurely hook of Memoirs which he tentatively adds to the “War Recollection” published several years ago will make upon the reader. Tho amiable pages which the general has written about tours on the Continent are here and there interpersed with remarks which show that ntterness has entered into his soul. Here for instance, is a passage from an account of a Moditeranean tour.

On the heights of Trafalgar one thought of the British hero who while dying in the Victory founded his country’s rule of the sea. Every Englishman knows the significance of the 21 st of October, 180;), for British supremacy at sea, which was undisputed until 101 1 ami was,also recognised by ns. Then there flamed up the war which sliorf.’-fiigb'Usl I<lii<j;l i.sli .statesmen dial not hinder. Every war wrics on the walls of those who cause it: .Mono Lekcl. WHO CAUSED THE WAB? And the old gentleman is also certain that “Ihose who caused it are also to he found in England.’’ because lie kiiov.s what .Sir Alfred Mond 'now Lord Mcleheti), whose father was horn at Cussed, wrote against Oermaiiy in 1807. This, however, is one ol the rare passages in which the author interrupts tin. ideas;)nt How of his happy recollections of manoeuvres of years ago and of officers who have long since ..essed iiwav. of the treasures ‘of the Vatican and of the glories of Mass at Bt. Peter’s on Faster Day. Ceil, von Kluek’s hook will nerluH's be of greater interest to his friends than to a wider public.