The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-02-12
Banking In Spain.

To see the mode OF doing business
In Spain take the simple story of one
days work of mine in getting some
money in Madrid. Holding a"letter
of credit" which Is promptly hOnOred
i'm any part of the world, and Is just
as good for the gold i'm Cairo and Cal
cutta as it is in London, started i'm
search of Spanish banker to draw
hundred pounds sterling, say five
hundred dollars. AntanciO led the
way, and soon brought Us to the
house where the man of money held
his court. Being shown upstairs,-
through two or three passages and an
ante-chamber. Senior Romero, the
banker, man of fifty, dressed, or
rather undressed, i'm loose morning
gown or wrapper, a red cap on his
head, and pipe in his mouth. A
clerk was sitting near to do his bid
ding. presented my letter. 1t was
carefully read, first by the clerk, and
then by the principal. A long con-
sultatiOn followed, carried on I'm a low
tone, and in Spanish, quite unintelli.
bic to me If ithad been audible. 1t
was finally determined to let me have
the money, and after an amount of
palaver sufficient for the negotiation
of a government loan from the Roth
childs, and taking the necessary re-
ceipt and draft from me; was pre-
sented with check on the bank of
Spain. When 1 fancied the delays
had ended, they had only just begun.
The bank was in distant part of the
city, and thither we fastened, taking
cab to save all the time we could.
The bank is a large and imposing eel.
ifice of white stone. In the vestibule
was Il guard of soldiers. A porter
tsOpped us as we were about to enter
the inner door. We must wait our
turn, as some one else was inside =
One at time was the rule. Benches
were there and we sat down, admir-
ing silently the moderation of bank
ing in Spain. At length our turn
came. We entered a room certainly
hundred feet long. Tables extend
ed the whole length, Behind them
sat clerks very busy doing nothing
We were told to pass on and on, to
the lower end of the room, where we
entered another, the back parlOr or
private room of the officers. They
were clOseted out of sight, smoking,
of course, and giving their wisdom
to the business in hand. 1 presented
the check ut a hole, out of which
hand was put to take it. / saw moth
ing more. We sat down and waited.
Waiting is Spanish institution
Everybody waits. Nobody gets any.
thing without it. We waited, and
waited, and waited, and at last
hand was thrust out with the-mOney
you suppose not bit, but with the
check approved, We must present
it at the table Orcounter for payment.
Returning to- the long room, we pre-
sented the check and were directed
to the proper bureau. And here we
got the money, of course. Not yet.
Bills on the Bank of Spain were given
us, and when required the amount
i'm gold was told that gold was only
paid at the bureau of the bank in an
other street. Thither we pursued our
weary way. 1t was the rear entrance
of the same bank building. A long
line of gold hunters was ahead of us.
We stood in the cue, and at last were
inside. In the antc-rOOm we had to
wait SO long that we took to bench
again. At last, admission being
granted, we were told that only one
could be admitted with a single draft.
We sent AntanciO i'm and returned to
the door. We were told that no exit
only entrance, was allowed mt the
rear. Explaining the case, we got
out, and returning to the front, pa
tiently as possible, we looked for the
appearance of Antancio loaded with
gold. At last, for tho longest delay
has an enc, the man emerged with
the money I'm his hands. 1t had cost
me from two to three hours I'm the
middle of the day to draw this mon
ey which in New York, London or
Paris, or any city out of Spain, would
have cost five minutes or less. And
1 have been so particular in detail be-
cause it lets you into the mode Of do
ing business i'm the capital city and
greatest bank in this country.