28 WALL STREET AND THE WILDS 



At length the day arrived for which all pre- 

 vious days had existed, and I went to Jersey City 

 to visit a relative who was employed by a firm 

 of brokers in the magic city of golden streets. 



A few days later I was taken to the corner of 

 Wall and William Streets, and presented to 

 Henry G. Marquand, who in less than six years 

 was to be my partner, although it is doubtful if 

 he apprehended it at the time. There may be 

 in store for me an occasion of greater embarrass- 

 ment than when I stood before him for judg- 

 ment, but it is difficult to anticipate it. My 

 nervousness was patent but was quickly allayed 

 by the kindly smile which never failed to greet 

 me during all the years of employment and part- 

 nership that followed. He asked me a question 

 in simple addition, and I replied so quickly that 

 he fired a harder one at me: 



"How much is forty-five times forty-five?" 

 and there was no interval between his question 

 and my answer. 



There was genuine surprise in his face as he 

 motioned to the desk beside me on which were 



