Page:The Wizard of Wall Street and his Wealth.djvu/306

 containing a ticket for the railway journey and another for the missionary's passage to his destination."

About $20,000 was subscribed at this reception, and Jay Gould gave his check for $10,000. The Rev. Dr. Parkhurst was among those who criticised the affair as an ostentatious display of wealth in the name of religion. He wanted to know where Mr. Gould got that $10,000.

The religious side of Mr. Gould's life, so far as the public knew anything of it, was fully told at this church-extension reception.

Mr. Gould was interested in the extension of the University of the City of New York. Chancellor MacCracken said:

"Mr. Gould was very much interested in the university from his interest in telegraphy and telegraph lines and the fact that in this building the first telegraph had its home. Prof. Morse labored here fifty-five years ago, and was assisted by two of the university's professors, Profs. Gail and Vail.

"I had known Mr. Gould for five years, and from the beginning of our acquaintance he evinced an interest in the close relation between the university and telegraphy, and he made it a favorite subject of conversation. He made the largest single subscription toward our purchase of the uptown grounds, $25,000, and he gave an additional conditional pledge which I have never made public and shall not yet."

In his active, tempestuous business career one might infer that Jay Gould had little time and less