The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-07-13
For The Cecil Wing.
NOTES OF FOREIGN TRAVEL.
The Falls OF the Giesbach and the City
of Zurich.

The Falls OF the Giesbach and the City
of Zurich.
Tho majority of the people of Switzer-
land are poor. They live in country that
will not admit of agricultural improve
ment, and consequently their chief en-
ployment is that of herding cattle, raising
sheep and making cheese. They are sim
pie in manner, dress and habit they are
scrupulously honest. There are very few
moneyed institutions in Switzerland, and
the money repositories are guarded with
care. 1t would be a blessed thing if the
banks in this country would adopt the same
stringent rule of government that they have
in Switzerland; for when the cashier en-
beetles the funds of the bank over which
he has control, they make short work of
him, for they just put rope around his
unworthy neck and jerk the other end of
it until he is pronounced to be dead, dead,
dead. In my humble opinion this rule
would work well in this country, where
persons who have been exalted to positions
of trust. as soon as they have control of
the funds commence to steal, dress their
families upon the funds of others, and when
prosecution has been commenced, those
who have not suffered by the defalcation
set up cry and howl about unjust
prosecution The banks of Switzerland
are not very prepossessing in appearance;
the room where the business of the bank
is carried on is quite small, and person
entering it can see no money or the sign of
any. When you first go into bank you
will see gentleman sitting at table be-
hind a small screen, and you present him
your letter of credit, he examines it, and
inquiries how much money you want; he
then presents you with draft for your
signature; you sign it; he marks the amount
you have received upon your letter of credit,
pays you the money, and You then can 60
and spend it as fast as possible.
have been in the Bank of England. 1t
is a very large building, nearly white in
color, three stories high, and is entered
through high doorway. AS soon as you
enter the bank, the first parsonage who
will attract your attention is curiously-
dressed old gentlemen of the old school,
who slowly walks up and down the stone
flooring, and could not see what particu-
lar use he was, for | did not see a single
person approach him to ask him any ques-
tions, nor did l see him do single thing
but walk up and down the center of the
room, with just about as much pomposity
as if he owned the whole affair; and such
dress. l never in all my born days saw
such gorgeously appareled person before.
l really think his whole outfit could not
have cost single penny less than two dol
lars and half. He welded in his hand
also mace, and to which he gave mo-
ton very similar to that given by drum
major at the head of his band. He wore
tight-fitting breaches, black hose that need
ed washing and mending, scarlet coat, a
frilled bosom shirt, and cooked hat; he
also wore low shoes that looked as though
they had not been polished for at least fifty
years. This scare crow is the first object
that meets your eye as you enter the Bank
of England. Directly opposite are long
tables, upon which are heaped piles of gold,
and nothing as far as l could see to pre-
vent you from helping yourself But be
careful, very careful. Do you see that
cluster of men standing over in one corner
of the room, apparently engaged in con-
versation? They look like business men
who have just happened to meet in the
bank, and are holding quiet conversation
about some business matter. Well, let me
tell you that from the very first moment
you enter the Bank of England the eyes
of one of those four gentlemen are con-
stantly upon you. Go where you will and
you are watched. The clerks behind the
desk or counter, upon which these tempt
ing pyramids of gold are placed, give you
no concern; they do not notice you, but
attend quietly to their duties. not even
keeping guard over the piles of coin, but
leaving them to the tender merces and
watchful care of the four detectives. They
have no wire screens to protect the funds.
The directors of this wonderful bank are
all young men not over thirty-two years of
age. There must be twenty four in num-
Der. They are appointed to hold office
two, four and six years. They receive no
compensation for their services. Strange
to say the Bank of England was founded
by Scotchmau, who had it particularly
engrafted in it's bylaws that no Scotch
man was ever to be elected a director of
the bank. These directors elect gov
ernor, a vice governor, and about half
dozen cashiers. The governor holds office
during good behavior, or until he has ar
rived at the age of sixty years, when he
retires, and the vice-governor takes his
position The cashiers are elected during
good behavior, or until they shall have ar
rived at the age of fifty years. Their labor
is immense. and they are paid good round
salaries. A Bank of England note is
printed on clear white paper, with black
ink. 1t resembles strong tissue paper, and
is about four by six inches in size. The
paper is very thin, strong and durable.
Strange to say, that as thin as the bank
note is, a man "not having the fear of God
before his eyes, but being moved and ipst
gated by the DEVIL" actually split the thin
notes of the Bank of England in two and
passed both notes, the printing showing
clear and distinct on both notes. At last
they found the man who had done this
thing. But after they had caught him, what
could they do with him? There was no
law in England to prevent him from split
ting the notes, and besides no one could
tell which note offered was the original
impression, and the bank found no statute
under which he could be convicted; 50 they
had to buy him off, and gave him the an
nual sum of nearly $4,000, if he would
enter into bonds not to do SO any more.
He did so, but he only lived to draw his
annuity about three years thereafter. The
way he operated was, am informed, as
follows: He would take note of the Bank