A Strange Sight

"But what is going on here?" the visitor asks. Gatbered in circles or hurrying across the floor in all directions ho beholds hundreds of men eagerly intent upon the pursuit of some inuiviciuai yct common object. The different groups aro closclv huddled together, like shcep in an "inclosure, and i-i i.li Yiini] í u olwlifíiwv tí Vi! n (M-.A,.!.,fAo ing his words with frantiegesüculations ana ilushed, excitcd features. "Is this a veritablo 'Bedlam let looseP" tlie vistor queries in amazement, "and are all these men crazyP Very fat from it. The cause of this excitement and of these rapid inovements is the simplo fact that thousands of dollars are liero changing hands every minute. The incessant click of a hundrod telegraphio instrument is conveyiiig the knowledgo of these hurried transactions to all parts of the commercial world. The East and the West, tho North and tho South are ahke interested in the information thus imparted, while grave and solid grain and provisión merchants inLivarpool, London, Antwert and Paris, cagerly scan the report of each day's doings. And thus the harnessed lightning of two continents is kept bnsy scattering abroad the facts and figures produced in this apparently insane hubbub. On cither side of the hall, and without the line of the trading-pits, are rows of rnarble-toppod tables, on whieh are deposited sample bags of grain, and around these cluster buyers and sellsrs, shippers md exporters, cxaminiug the goods and determining upon the price of exchange. Market quotations from all tho large trade-centers of America and Europo are received during the trading hours, and are at posted upon conveniently-arranged blackboards. The wheat-pit usually attraets the largest crowd, the provision-pit comes next, and tho corn aml oattraders bring up the rear, except in times of special activity, whenthis regular order of things is liable to bc roversed. In the four corners of the hall are small separate rooms for special purposes, and on two sides are galleries, frou whieh astonished sjjectators look down with fcelings of wonderment upon the turbulent and noisy scène below. As a whole, the sight is truly a strange and significant one, and the casual visitor usually turns away from it with bram and hcart tossedby conflicting and