B.CH. Forbes. Millionaires on Wall Street

B.CH. Forbes. Millionaires on Wall Street

The future founder of the publishing empire was one of 10 children in Scotland, a tailor. To help support the family, B. C. Forbes began work aged 14 years s failed when agreed to a 7-year apprenticeship in a newspaper typesetter for 75 cents a week (he thought he hired a writer - a reference to the school with the word "work" ') . "I soon discovered - he recalled - then, I agreed to do w, meant to stand in front of boxes with letters, day after day, monthafter month for seven years, doing only the selection of one and the same metal letters ... I felt a sentence of seven bastards hard guys. " Not accustomed to give up, Forbes decided that "will make them want to make me a reporter." At night he studied shorthand - a requirement for reporters - and actually got a job as a journalist.

It took the woman to break his spirit. Forbes has left Scotland after the object of his affection had decided to marry another. "I brushed the dust from their feet in Scotland - said he - and sailed into the most otdzlenny corner of the world, who could imagine - in South Africa, where just ended with the Boer War, and where, as I thought it was possible to find sufficiently sharp emotions, to calm my black, black sorrow. "After spending two reptile in South Africa, he traveled to the United States. In New York, he began writing for several newspapers, okatyvaya business questions from the financial market to foreign currencies. When William Randolph Hearst decided to that wants to have the best financial pages in the newspaper "New York American," he hired Forbes, eventually became the most well-known financial commentator Hirst.

In 1917, Forbes magazine founded by his name, he was going to call it "Things and their rulers" (Doers and Doings), but his friends persuaded him to change his mind, and they believed that the name itself is a great marketing tool. Even after Forbes founded his own magazine, Hearst asked him to write a syndicated financial column. An astute observer of events Yoll Street agreed. Forbes was not afraid to attack by such famous people on Wall Street, as Jay Gould, who was criticized for "its pattern of views, his irrational jealousy, suspicion, and his chronic, etc." Using his experience and villains, and heroes, he offers his view on a typical operator of Wall Street in his essay "The millionaires on Wall Street."



- What kind of people your millionaires on Wall Street? - I asked ua few days ago.
- What is the duration of the journey by rail? - I wanted to answer, but I did not. Instead, I simply said: - Very similar to other people.
- But, you see, they are terribly uncouth? I always thought they were uncivilized - and even worse.
- Not at all - I said in defense of the very class slandered. - Some of them are among the best people in America.
- It can not be talking to you seriously? Did they really have all the advantages?

I assured the questioner that if viewed as a class, so it is.

"The millionaires of Wall Street" - not a pack of samos, seeking whom they may devour.

The term "Wall Street" elastic than rubber band. It covers everything, everything - in the imagination of the public - from his brother, grown rich by stealing the members of which never saw Wall Street, to the most powerful financiers and our banking institutions. "The millionaires of Wall Street" and include a prominent speculators who made a fortune on gambling clearly, and the most conservative of our local bankers and capitalists.

How many people did - and saved - millions NSKLYUCHITELNO through speculation in shares. Not many.

People like John W. Gates - the typical millionaire Wall Street, as their authors describe a novel - it was necessary to be more than speculators, and to do more than simply buy and sell stocks in order to achieve what they have achieved. Before appearing in Wall Street, Gates earned a reputation as the best seller in the United States. He knew how to do nails and pull wire - literally - better than any expert in this business. A stock of goods, he knew how to sell it. Thus, it was not a pacifier, stupid jerk. But his famous sentence, "I bet a million" remember, while his real achievements in the industry quickly forgotten by the public, if any of them knew.

No one "millionaire Wall Street" the most criticized types is not without some special skills in one direction or another. People have become millionaires on their own - are not fools. Few of them are crooks.

The trouble is that the crazy antics of a few stain the reputation of others. And, of course, when the plutocrat with Wall Street loses his temper, we get from this great scandal to the newspapers.

For one hour at the table in Monte Carlo by Charles M. Schwab, gained fame more unpleasant than able for the years of amazing achievements in the production of steel. It shifted it somewhat, with the presidency of the largest industrial organization in the world, milliardodollarovoy "Steel Corporation." Uke then he did more than any other steelworker in the United States, but nine out of ten, he heard mention of the name Schwab, would remember the incident in Monte Carlo, not paying attention to everything else.

I never met a more generous and kind-hearted people than the "millionaires Uopl Street." Even the worst of them have redeeming virtues of generosity and charity. In addition, they use these qualities to the extent that the public simply can not imagine.

On the other hand, among the "millionaires on Wall Street," there are a few bad apples. The most avid person who uses foul language and blasphemer, whom I have ever encountered, one of our very respectable barons of urban transport. And his dictionary gives it to show who he really is. And others, admittedly, can not write Greek verses or compete with Caesar or Cicero in the role of the Roman writers.

But it is rather their misfortune than the fault, very many of them try to make up for what they missed. They are struggling to develop a taste and learn to appreciate art and music. They spend lavishly in an effort to encourage and cultivate an elegant side of life. They may know more about Reading, what about the paintings of Rembrandt, but when they leave the first, often try to get acquainted with the latter.

There is another, more numerous class of "millionaires on Wall Street." People caliber Morgan, Speyer, Seligman, Kan., Bargona Hepburn did not need any protection in matters of culture. Many of the best minds of the country find their focus to "Wall Street".

If you mix good with bad, then the resulting composite "millionaire Wall Street" will not be so useless, unworthy of respect, the type of dishonest as he is so often present.