okers." A dozen or more different stocks may be sold here
at once, and the sale may be continued as long as the seller sees fit.
There is no regular organization of the brokers operating here, though
these men control the bulk of the sales made in the street. They are
noisy and seem half demented in their frantic efforts to make sales.

The "Stock Exchange" occupies the main hall, which is on the floor above
the Long Room. This hall is one of the most beautiful apartments in the
city. It is seventy-four feet long, fifty-four feet wide, and fifty-two
feet four inches high. Its lofty ceiling is arched and decorated with
bright red and buff penciling upon a sky blue ground, while the walls are
relieved by broad square pilasters, painted in brilliant bronze, with
tall windows and arched tops rising between, and other spaces between the
columns covered with drapery in more subdued colors. Up to a few feet
from the floor the painting is in a dark-hued bronze. The coloring is in
the Moorish style throughout, and the effect of the whole is very fine.
At the north end is the platform for the desks of the Vice-President and
Secretary, and on each side of this is a black board for recording the
quotations of the session. On the same platform is the desk and
instrument of the stock telegraph operator. At the south end of the hall
is a light gallery capable of holding 200 persons, for the use of
visitors. In connection with the hall are several committee, cloak and
ante-rooms. In the centre of the ceiling is a huge ventilator, beneath
which is suspended the lighting apparatus, containing 100 burners. A
chamber five feet in depth underlies the hall and the adjoining lobby,
and in it are laid pipes for conducting warm air.

[Picture: THE STOCK EXCHANGE.]

At the base of the walls is an open iron grating covering the apertures
of a shaft leading from the engine-room. Through this shaft warm air is
forced into the hall in winter, and cool air in summer, thus securing
perfect ventilation.

The Stock Exchange Board is an incorporated company, and is the only
lawful association in the city for the transaction of business connected
with stocks. It consists of 1050 members, but the control of its affairs
is vested in a council of forty members, together with the President,
Secretary and Treasurer in their unofficial capacity. The admission fee
is $5000, and a seat in the Board becomes the absolute perso