to behave like a gentleman; and if you will take my advice, confine

yourself to a safe, conservative business in railroads. Breadstuffs are

tempting, but very dangerous; I would not try breadstuffs at your time

of life; but you may feel your way a little in other commodities. Take

a pride to keep your books posted, and never throw good money after bad.

There, my dear boy, kiss me good-by; and never forget that you are an

only chick, and that your dad watches your career with fond suspense."

The commercial college was a fine, roomy establishment, pleasantly

situate among woods. The air was healthy, the food excellent, the

premium high. Electric wires connected it (to use the words of the

prospectus) with "the various world centres." The reading-room was well

supplied with "commercial organs." The talk was that of Wall Street; and

the pupils (from fifty to a hundred lads) were principally engaged

in rooking or trying to rook one another for nominal sums in what was

called "college paper." We had class hours, indeed, in the morning, when

we studied German, French, book-keeping, and the like goodly matters;

but the bulk of our day and the gist of the education centred in the

exchange, where we were taught to gamble in produce and securities.

Since not one of the participants possessed a bushel of wheat or a

dollar's worth of stock, legitimate business was of course impossible

from the beginning. It was cold-drawn gambling, without colour or

disguise. Just that which is the impediment and destruction of all

genuine commercial enterprise, just that we were taught with every

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