Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-09-12
Miss Rurdett Coutts, BanE,

& Co. is the repository on 'n0 gu gu
Queen down, most oank there. The
Emperor NappSon kept an account
there, and t. house, prior to the fall of
AZ Rn,rse, was constantly making
p gsFr u ''n'0i' % NiS y
The great success of Coutts' banking |
house is due almost to accident. Bur- |
dett Coutts, one of the founders, was a |
modest banker on the Strand, London,
in George Ills reign, and he made it |
practice, as his bank was some distance
from the so-called "city," in order to
keep himself "posted" on the financial
movements going on there, to dine with
some of the leading city bankers and
bank-manasers as often as opportunity
would permit. 1t was during one Of
these reunions that bank official cas-
ually remarked his surprise that Lord
- had been refused loan of ten
thousand pounds that day at his bank.
The circumstance was noticed by the
West End banker, and, the dinner over,
he repaired at once to the house of the
nobleman, and left his card, requesting
his lordship to call at his Office on the
following day on business of great i'm
portance. The next morning Lord -
was announced to Mr.. Coutts, and, on
his inauiring what business had necessi-
tated this visit, the banker at once in
formed him that as a banker he heard
that his lordship had desired loan of
ten thousand pounds, and he respect
| fully offered his services.
"But | can give you no security, Mr.
Coutts,' said his lordship, as the banker
commenced counting small package
of crisp bank.notes that were on his
desk.
:" Your lordship's note of hand will
be quite sufficient" CALAMITY responded
the West-End banker, and he handed
| him note to sign.
But do not think shall want as
much as ten thousand pounds" hest
tated the ncbleman.
That is immaterial, your lordship,"
replied the banker.
Son second thought l will take the
ten thousand pounds, and, as shall
only need five thousand, you will please
place the remainder to my credit as an
opening of an account with you in my
name."
The banker thanked his new custom
er, escorted him with much politeness
to his carriage at the door, and then
babe him "Good-day.n
The action of the banker was long
| sighted one. 1t was good investment.
The balance was soon increased, the
loan returned, and the nobleman com.
menced to tell the story round at the
Court of ST. James of the wonderful ac
commodating spirit of the West End
banker. Others soon deposited their
money in his hands, and the story was
so well circulated at the palace that the
Kings curiosity was excited, and he in
formed the bankers patron of his de
sire to meet the banker. Coutts went
finally. He was introduced to the
King, and his quiet, modest manner:
won the favor of the Court. His pres
ence at Court created quite sensation
for it was soon afterward reported tina
the King had given his private finances
into the keeping of Burdett Coutts
The rest of the Court soon followed the
example of the King, and thus was Sc
cured to the house the wealthy patron
age Of the aristocracy of England.
Miss Burdett Coutts has, as is well
known, the interest of the employees O
the bank at heart. 1t is hard matte
to get into the bank. Noblemen's son
now seek positions in the establish
ment, and some of the partners are nc
blemen. College educated men ar
alone taken as clerks, and then an ex
{ animation is gone through, which
8 conducted with the same strictness a
t is the examination into the family, rep
5 utation, and general recommendation
t of the applicants. For every vacanc
5 there are hundreds of applicants. But
t when admitted, clerk has fine pos
{ ton. He will be told, on his being al
C mitted, that he must not wear mus
: tache, but simply side-whiskers and i
/ his dress, although nothing will be sait
y to him about it, every modesty of styl
r will be expected of him. This is don
S on account of the great dislike the rea
/ aristocracy of England have for tn
: gaudy, snowy flop of the middle classe.
, who so often, in his ignorance and sell
: conceit, apes the gentleman. TIL
!, clerks are all supplied with dinner in
: side the establishment, at the persona
f expense of Miss Burdett Coutts, an
/ they owe their good-fortune (for tn
/ dinner" LUNCH" as it is called
2 frst-class) merely to accident.
q 1t appears that on one occasion Mis-
Burdett Coutts entered the bank short
b. ly after one o'clock, and remarked t
5 one of the partners that the bank seem
/ ed very empty. Where are the ger
: tlemen?" she inquired.
e "They have gone to lunch" answer
5 ed the partner, land they generally d
e SO every day about this time"
It She expressed herself as not approx
e ing Of "the gentlemen going out i
: ali weathers from one coffee-room t
:, another in search of meal, and sh
:, then inquired if there was no remed
n for it. She then asked why they coul
d not dine at the bank.
n Extra expense" suggested the par
: ner, whereupon Miss Burdett Cout
y authorized the providing of meal re
t, ularly for the gentlemen, and her a
n count to be debited with the necessal
/, expense. And thus it is ever with he
She is always on the watch for the o
G portunity to do some benefit with b.
d wealth. To say that those clerks wo
E. ship her and her good heart does NJ
n exaggerate their feelings of love an
le respect for hel.