“I never notice what is said about me. I am credited with things I have never done and abused for them. It would be idle to attempt to contradict newspaper talk and street rumors. As to enemies, any man in my position is likely to have them. With me the bitterest enemies have always proved to be men to whom I had rendered services. As a general thing, I do my best to be on good terms with everybody I come in contact with. I am not of a quarrelsome disposition. But, on the other hand, I have the disadvantage of not being sociable. Wall street men are fond of company and sport. A man makes $100,000 there and immediately buys a yacht, begins to drive fast horses, and becomes a sport generally. My tastes lie in a different direction. When business hours are over I go home and spend the remainder of the day with my wife, my children, and the books of my library. Every man has natural inclinations of his own. Mine are domestic. They are not calculated to make me particularly popular in Wall street, and I cannot help that.” The day after his death, his friends had only one word to say as to the qualities in the dead man which commanded a tribute from them--his ability, his foresight, his wonderful patience in the working out of his aims, his fidelity to friends, his good faith with his business associates and his generosity to subordinate workers. Mr. Morosini, speaking of his dead friend and former employer, with whom he had been associated for a longer period, and perhaps more continuously and in some respects more intimately, than any other man in New York, said: “Mr. Gould was one of the most lovable men I ever knew. It was a pleasure to serve him. He was very appreciative, and never imposed a needless task upon any one. In the office he always took things easily and coolly. There was never any hurry or confusion. In his family he was the best of husbands, and I never knew a man who loved his children with such intensity as he did. He seemed to worship them all. He was a very companionable man, and there was a great deal of humor in his disposition. While he was not given to telling stories or cracking jokes himself, he enjoyed hearing others do so and would laugh as heartily as the rest. He was very abstemious in his habits, but was exceptionally fond of coffee. Now and then he would sip a little wine, but he rarely took more than a spoonful at any time. My opinion is that his system gave way under the great strain resulting from the consciousness of his immense wealth. It was a tremendous care, and he was always weighed down with the anxiety and excitement of protecting his properties.