Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-08-16
A Bank Presidents sharp Practice.

A Bank Presidents Sharp Practice.
During the year 1857, the President of Ger
tain Bank, situated not more than a 100 miles
from great city, became convinced that his in
sttution was rather short of specie and in conse-
lquence, lie found it difficult to make up his re-
turns under oath each week. After devising one
means after another for months, he finally hit
upon a new process, which succeeded admirably.
Having an acquaintance of long standing with a
gentleman who occupied an important position
in the Post Office, he accosted him one morning
as be was passing his bank, by saying, My good
fellow;1 want you to accommodate me little,
without discommoding yourself in the least. y
The officer replied :"I have no objections to do
ing so upon such favorable terms, but tell me
how it can be done9" e ao5s ,o'ai s'.1 H9i
The President, walking close up to the ear of
his friend, very blandly said: sin your official
capacity in the Post Office, you retain in your
possession large sums of money from week TO
week. Now what want you to do Is, to let
me have $4,000 in gold, which can use tc
swear on in making up my returns, aud when
ever you want it, I'll return it."i 51i 9iisw
"But cannot do that, my dear Sir !; the thing
is impossible. have to make up my returns as
well as you. Besides which you might BY mis-
take use some of this coin, and thus ruin me-"
"Not at all, my friend. You car. put 1t in o
bag and seal it up, can return it on the days
you may want it, and thus make it serve for us
in making up our accounts" ~
The officer could not be induced to agree to
the arrangement then, but did finally consent to
retain the proposition few days and then give
the President an answer.
In the course of week, the President called
upon his friend, and asked him for the result OF
his delay. ,ss.i...... ~,
he answered: snow if do this thing, you
must understand that an exposition would ruin
me forever, whilst my doing it is certainly to
your advantage; Twill, therefore, consider you
under the greatest obligations to fulfill your prom
ise of never opening the bag" ts.ek .o b....
"Of course. SIR" the President replied III will
here swear to you, upon the honor of gentle.
man, that the bag shall never be opened whilst
in the banks custody, or its officers, and that it
shall be returned to you whenever required"
"Very we'll you recolect that shall want 1t
every Sunday morning." said the official, at the
same time handing the President very heavy
bag of coins snperbly sealed up. The parties
shook hands and parted, well pleased with each
other and the rest of mankind. ,.i
The President kept his oath to his friend most
regularly every week; he sent for the bag on
Wednesday morning, with the seal unbroken.--
This continued during the summer and fall OF
1857, nearly up to the time of the general sus-
pension of the banks On the Friday of the
week before the general suspension, the bank
experienced quite run from its holders and de-
positors, which continued during the morning on
to about O'Clock when the specie OF the bank
became short. s 1gs 5 5.gf .tsa -
The President was walking backward and for
ward in the bank Office when the teller came in
and Informed him that the specie was gone, ana
some must be obtained or close the doors. o In
great trepidation the worthy President went to
the safe, aud dragged out the Postoffioe bag, he
hastily broke the seal and commenced pouring
out the coin, when, with eyes wide and lace
quite red, he exclaimed, why, these are all
cents!" Putting on his hat he rushed to the
Postofice, and confronted his official friend who
sat in his chair calmly examining some papers,
said in savage tone of voice, 'Sir, you have
ruined mel You have led me to perjnre my
self! / shall hold you accountable for this a.
bominable piece Of workl"
The official turning in his chair, and smilingly
looking his excited friend in the face, said:-
"What's the matter, Mr.. - You seem ex-
cited. PRAY sit down and cool yourself off"
s.No, sir, I'll not sit down in your presence
You're a sooundrel, and shall be made to regret
your conduct" 3tt.ag ~,
"What have done, Mr.. E., that you should
talk to me in this manner 2" 4..,..J,,. .ic
"Done havn't you made me swear for weeks
past to cents being goldl Is not that enough to
make me excited2" -E,,aiD y ~ y.
"Wel, sir, supposing have, how did you
l,,,o hat and U0n ~
II opened the bag, cir, and detected the swim
de-" o. = e.e. u ias.o,d ss.
"You did, eh2" .asa. asA
''Did you not swear to me that you would not
do it2 I think ain the one to use hard names,
and not you. If had given you gold you would
have ruined me by using that which did not be-
long to me, and that which have no business
to let you have, and now you come here and a.
buse me- You swore you believed you had 80
much gold; and no doubt you did believe 1t. II
I deceived You, did not do it with the inten.
ton of inuring you, but to save myself for II 1t
had ever been found out that let you have
$4,000 of the public money, even il you nao
never touched il, i should have been ruined ; but
as it was, / let you have my own. AS 1t has
turned out, I feel very much pleased with my
lprecaution." ~
The President looked wild for while, but
then putting on his hat, left the office, and his
bank failed with $5 in cents in the safe. "a,
An old Dutch farmer, just arrived at the dig
nifty of Justice of the Peace, had his first case o.
marriage. He did it up in this way. de hrs'
said 10 the man: :,
"Vell, you want to be marit, do yous Veil
you ovsh dis women 80 goot as any women yor
have ever seen 2" W. .4-'a' j - .'--
| "Yes," answered the man.
/ Then to the woman: aI :.
swell, do you like him 80 veil as to be hi
yife2p gh.' lsa @# F9
"Yes, yes" she answered. :.
/ SWELL, dat ish all any reasonable man coult
expect. So you are mart; pronounce yo'
man and wife," ,..,ee.i ~.
The man asked the Justice what was to pay
| "Nothing at all, nothing at all, you are vel
come, if it will do you any goot." ro
A CURIOUS FAoT.-If an acorn be suspended
Iby piece of thread within half an inch OF tn
surface of some water contained in hyaclntl
glass and so permitted to remain without being
disturbed, it will, in few months, burst ant
throw a root down into the water, and shoot up
wards its tapering stem with beautiful little greer
leaves. A young oak tree, growing in this wa,
on the mantle shelfof room, Is very interest.