FIRST DAYS IN WALL STREET 47 



upon my presentation of him and started to speak 

 of credentials. Mr. Taylor interrupted him by 

 saying : 



"You don't need any better credentials than 

 my young friend's introduction," and I scurried 

 out of the bank before the tears in my eyes could 

 spill over. 



My next business uplift came through James 

 R. Taylor, and I don't have to shut my eyes to 

 call up a picture of his kindly face as, seated in 

 his office in Maiden Lane, he smilingly drew his 

 check book from its drawer as he caught sight of 

 my approach. He was a director of the Ameri- 

 can Fire Insurance Company, in whose office we 

 had desk room, and the many messages I had 

 gladly carried for its officers gave me some knowl- 

 edge of its customers. It was a mutual company 

 and made return of profits in scrip which was re- 

 deemable in cash when and if a certain reserve 

 had accumulated. The individual issues were 

 small, varying from five to less than one hundred 

 dollars. Many houses, not caring to bother with 

 amounts so small, offered the certificates for sale 



