Entry from
July 13, 2004
Wall Street (from a graveyard to a river)
Wall Street is between a river and a graveyard. H L. Mencken has recorded this saying, but he provided no date for it.
10 November 1894, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, pg. 4:
Murray -- Wall Street is very well equipped for the man who wants to do a little speculation.
Holloway -- Oh, I don't know. There is a graveyard at one end and the river at the other. -- Truth.
10 April 1904, New York Times, pg. SM1:
JAMES B. DILL, the corporation lawyer, has a modest wasy of attributing his own bon mots to others when first he springs them on his friends. The saying in point was started in this way, but there are those who recognized characteristics too familiar to admit of success for the attempted deception.Said Mr. Dill:"
A woman client of mine who has made variegated investments during the past three years asked me if I could give her a good description of Wall Street. I couldn't and she said:"'
Well, Mr. Dill, Wall Street is short and crooked. It begins with a graveyard and ends in the river.'"
14 August 1904, New York Times, pg. F51:
Q -- Why is Wall Street the shortest road to Heaven and Hell?
A -- Because it ends in a graveyard.
21 December 1904, New York Times, pg. 9:
"Then come criticisms of Wall Street, with its sick hurry and frantic arithmetic; that it is not the straight road to success, but a narrow,crooked street, with the river at one end, and a graveyard at the other."
29 January 1924, New York Times, pg. 24:
...sent a shiver down the Wall Street spine which extended from "the graveyard to the river."
10 November 1894, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, pg. 4:
Murray -- Wall Street is very well equipped for the man who wants to do a little speculation.
Holloway -- Oh, I don't know. There is a graveyard at one end and the river at the other. -- Truth.
10 April 1904, New York Times, pg. SM1:
JAMES B. DILL, the corporation lawyer, has a modest wasy of attributing his own bon mots to others when first he springs them on his friends. The saying in point was started in this way, but there are those who recognized characteristics too familiar to admit of success for the attempted deception.Said Mr. Dill:"
A woman client of mine who has made variegated investments during the past three years asked me if I could give her a good description of Wall Street. I couldn't and she said:"'
Well, Mr. Dill, Wall Street is short and crooked. It begins with a graveyard and ends in the river.'"
14 August 1904, New York Times, pg. F51:
Q -- Why is Wall Street the shortest road to Heaven and Hell?
A -- Because it ends in a graveyard.
21 December 1904, New York Times, pg. 9:
"Then come criticisms of Wall Street, with its sick hurry and frantic arithmetic; that it is not the straight road to success, but a narrow,crooked street, with the river at one end, and a graveyard at the other."
29 January 1924, New York Times, pg. 24:
...sent a shiver down the Wall Street spine which extended from "the graveyard to the river."