Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-10-30
The Old Bankers Story,

10 .'.
eyes" said Mr.. Badgerly, leaning back
in the spacious armchair in which he
was wont to repose his port'y person.
whilst enjoying the evening breeze ana
his Havana under the elms at quiet ht-
tie retreat whittier he and few TRENDS,
for many summers past, had been &C
customed to repair for rest and relax
alton. ..t.t az .Hg
Yes" he said. responding to 4ues-
tiop of one of the group, as they sat ex'
changing past experiences, 1.-THE house
of Badgerly & Barker, like others, has
had its close slaves, and twice it was
saved by sb It Iuck,'
Seeing b. tbeir faces that his friends
were anxious Tor the story, Mr.. Badger
ly proceeded:
Eve began our business of bankers
and brokers with a modest capital; oo1
by close attention aud cautious dealing
we prospered, and by the end OF the hrSt
vaar felt that we were fairly on our
business legs.
"Bu, one day great calamity betell
ns Our messenger, who had been sent
T., bring the cash on parcel OF securI-
ties failed to return. We ascertalned
that he had received the money ana
the only inference left was that ne had
decamped with it. The amount VS.
twenty thousand dollars, and comprised
nearly all our ready means.
Here was a shock We had, it is
true. assets in the shape OF notes and
bills amply sufficient, in time, to cover
onr liabilities. But the banker VINO IS
unable to pay depositors check az
sight has no alternative but to wind up
bnsiness, In such case there is no say
ing give US little time
1T was with much trepidation that
we opened our doors next morning. II
the average amount of checks came ID,
oar suspension was but question OF
few hours. If, however, only trltilng
SINUS should be called for, and the like
GOOD fortune continued for few days,
we might be able to pull through. But
if the news of our loss should alarm oul
customers. and bring them down upon
Ms in a rum our fate was sealed.
cit was souie minutes before any one
entered. The first who came was
youngish-l looking man, who approached
the paying teller's desk. Barker and
looked on trembling Our business III
aepended on the amount OF the strang
.er's check. We held our breath, strain
iug both eyes and ears.
{" i wish to make deposit said tn
stranger quietly.
Il don't know what Barkers hear
did; mine leaped for joy.
..'step to the other desk please re
piled the paying teller
The gentleman did so, and laid be
fore the receiving teller pile OF ban
notes. which he said amounted to S2O
600.
The clerk referred 10 Mr.. Barker an
myself. 1t was not customary to ope
accounts with a stranger without SON
reference. But Mr.. Jared Pilsen-th;
was the name the gentleman gave-loo]
cd so respectable, and his coming, III
der the circumstances, was such go'
send, that we felt in no mood to be pun
tilious-especially when Mr.. P.lsen e
p]ained that he intended his deposit
be in manner permanent, only expeC
ing to draw such occasional sums as b
business needs required. The clerk W
directed to receive the money, which
counted, and finding the amount &C
rect, it was duly entered to Mr.. Pilse1
credit A few weeks carried US beyo,
danger, and placed us where we cou
have paid, on demand, every one of o
depositors, Mr.. Pilsen included.
Mr.. Pilsen drew out, from time
time. moderate sums which he gave
to invest on his account in certain 81
cited securities; and so judiciously d
be select the latter, that before long
had more than doubled his original Cal
tai: and his good fortune contlnul1
he had, at last, over hundred thousa
dollars to his credit on our books. Th
he drew five thousand dollars and We
on a trip to Europe for his heal
which seemed failing, leaving the
maiuder of his money in our hands,
"The house Of Badgerly 4 Bari
waxed stronger daily. Its name rank