Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-01-25
MIS.CELL A N Y.

MIS.CELL A N Y.
From Gibbons "Banks of NeaO York."
Banks and Banking.
Banking has always seemed to the public en-
veloped in mystery, and the working OF the in
ternal machinery of a bank is scarcely under
stood by many of the dealers who, by daily
transactions in the shape of deposits, checks
loans, or drafts, give it its vitality. Here is 9
book which opens and elucidates the subject, de.
failing, specifying and explaining the daily Incl.
dents and accidents of the business. The nu-
merous attempts at fraud, forgery, or peculation,
the means and vigilance employed to thwart
them, the misrepresentation resorted to by q
certain class of borrowers, the process of kiting
or raising the wind, the watchfulness of the tell.
ers and officers, the faithfulness OF the humble
attaches, the scenes in the Directors Room on
discount day, and in the bank parlor, all furnish
matter for elaborate and lively illustration.
DIsooUNTING-BEHIND THE SCENES.
The cashier reads offering number two, by
Bailey & Rush. This firm are in high credit
with the bank, and their paper is of the first
class. "Note of Sears & Co., three months tc
run, eighteen hundred dollars; and one of O.
JdckSOu, oiAty uayS W iuu, ioi ioui 'AouSohN
five hundred dollars"
"Gentlemen," says the President, "if no OBJ
lection is made, will mark the notes of Bailey
& Rush accepted. 1t is done. Let US have the
next in order, Mr.. Cashier"
Joseph Chambers offers draft of Green &
Davis, otSan Francisco, on Thrush u Co., of New
York, and sooepted-at seventy.fve days, fol
five thousand dollars"
1t is, perhaps, the first time that the paper
of Thrush & Go. has been offered for discount il
the Bank. The President is entirely unacquain.
ted with it. He asks for information.
Mr.. Breckenridge knows something about
them: "They began business year ago, with
thirty thousand dollars capital--are said to have
done profitable trade in the produce line-hat
shipped heavily to California. The %. was 9
young man who came out of Bacon's-the big
packers on West street. Guess he hadn't much
money-say, five thousand dollars; but very
smart. Thrush was the capitalist; put in twenty
five thousand dollars hard cash-about all he
had"
"Whst age is he7'
"Thirty-tive or forty"
"Man of familys"
"Oh yes I've known him these twelve years
Got half dozen children. You must know him
Mr.. Groull! He married Stubbles daughter
wine merchant, there at your corner. Guess he
ran away with her, and made the old man mad
But they're all reconoiled long ago, and now he's
Stubble's principle adviser in them new stores
he's building ir Murray street."
''Is that the man q
'That's the man, SIR"
"Wel,, who married Subbles' other daughter p
The President warns gentlemen that they hat
better not wander too far from the subject. The
matter before the Boards, whether Mr.. Thrush'
note is good enough to be discounted.
.sYou said he was in the California business
Mr.. Breckenridge!"
"Yes, sir. Made some very successful ship
ments there last spring"
"rve got mighty little confidence in Califor
nial" says Mr.. Groull, "mighty littlel"
"It's good way off, that's fact" adds Mr.
Breckenridge. ''1d rather do business with peo
pie that trade near by"
Mr.. Groull speaks again. Wouldn't touch i
with ten-foot pole. Bad line. Let it slide
Mr.. President. We can do better with oul
money"
Some of the directors may have been listen
ing indifferently to this rambling conversation
but the majority are otherwise engaged. On
has seized on morning paper, and all nj
thoughts are engrossed by the latest news from
Europe. Another has just taken tit to exam
ine the Statement Book, and several are talking
on their real estate prospects. Messrs. Breck
enridge and Groull make themselves heard abov
the suppressed confusion Of other voices. Th
President has tapped on the table with his pen
Gil, but failed to restore order. To persol
outside of the door it would seem as if the mem
bers were engaged in a general wrangle. Mean
while, Mr.. Marks, with q lively perception o
the ludicrous, and skill enough to prove that ht
is not now practising for the first time, la
sketched sundry odd figures on the blank pag
of "tckler," and finishes by caricature of th
two gentlemen above named, which he show
to his neigh Dor, and he to the next; and thel
follows an explosion of laughter, which break
up all other distractions of the Board and tinall
gives the President chance to be heard.
'Oome, gentlemen, come, come! we shal
never get through our work at this rate.
"Shultz & Cooper offer three notes-Jacol
Liston, forty-ive days, six hundred dollars; ant
two notes of Cobb & Walker, each one hundred
aud fifty, at two and three months"
Director Groull wants to know "where's th'
use of taking up time with that class Of custom
ers9 They apply every offering day, and keel
no balance of account. Let 'em Slide"
"Has their account improved any of late, Mr.
Cashier?"
"Not much, sir. They keep balance Of ont
or two hundred dollars, and have thousand un
der discount"
"Letter r. Let's have the next"
"Hold on, Mr.. President! Not too fast. Thes
small men are of use to US. They ought not II
be discarded too abruptly. They really wan
the money. Give em that little note ofsix hun
dred dollars. 1t will do them more good thai
twenty-five thousand does to Merrimack q Sla
ter"
An agreeable personal acquaintance between
the dealer and the director is the ground Of thi
favor. The note is discounted at the request o
Mr.. Miller; none of his associates deeming j
worth while to press an opposition in such {
trifing case But this class of applicants receive
no consideration when there is pressure o
more deserving customers.
TROUBLES OF A CAsHIER-A "TIGHT" DAY.
Eight or ten anxious customers await th'
Cashiers release frolG Mr.. Tarbox. Among
them are some Of his best personal friends.-
They will not be put off by his first assurance
that the bank has no money to loan. Each ont