The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-03-09

this way; since English nationality Las
developed in corresponding turmoil,
and yet has given life to the rich and
deep Temperament Of ennyson, Brown
ing, and George Eliot, in the very heat
OF such upheavals. After all, we can
only say that we have somehow missed
the golden conditions which give life to
great literary art; and it Is doubtful If
any studied observance of conditions
will give us what we have missed. One
thing is plain, however; at earnest
ness of life and fine moral rectitude
are ingredients of a worthy literature.
The immense increase of American lit
erature is but sorry compensation for
its lowered quality. There are those
who doubt If the materials for great
poem or romance can be found in the
United States. Drama and fiction, it is
said, express the tragedy and suffering
of humanity, and the study of modern
civilization is to obliterate suffering.
There is truth in this; but without being
pessimists we can see that some strug
gle and suffering are inevitable. More
over, the drama of personal develop
ment always offers alluring material to
the artist of human nature. 1t is not
believable that dearth of material can
explain the dearth of writers. 1t is
more credible that the spread of the
scientific spirit which brings all the phe-
nomena of life within the reign of law
may have indisposed the stronger intel
lects to poetize human experience. That
such poetization is compatible with
keen psychologist analysis we have DEM
onstration in 'Thackeray and George
Eliot. But whatever the causes of the
lowered quality of American authorship,
it is impossible not to feel regret at
the undoubted act.--Boston Transcript.
Identification by Handwriting.
A good handwriting is getting to be
one of the lost arts. The fathers and
grandfathers of the present generation,
as a general thing, wrote handsomer
and more legible hand than do the chill
dren and grandchildren. There is one
point in penmanship to which l have
just been giving some attention-it re-
lates to the testimony of handwriting
Not long ago man was hanged in
New England by handwriting experts.
AS class, such experts ought not to
have influence enough to hang cat;
and now it is claimed that some Brus-
sells murderers have been run down by
tell-tale tracks of their penmanship.-
The readers of this little note may be
assured that the writer of it knows indi-
viduals who can write other peoples
names so cunningly that these other
people cannot decide whether the sigma
lures are their own or not. / have ac-
tual cases in mind where this puzzle has
been tried. One notable instance must
mention. The State of Massachusetts
not many years since had two of its
bonds presented for redemption which
seemed precisely alike. One was
forged bond throughout. The officers
whose names appeared upon these bonds
could not tell (which was which" But
this is nothing. have a man near me
who can write your signature or mine
or the signature of any person that may
be placed before him as study so cum
ningly that neither you nor l can tell
which is which. 1t is lucky that he is
an honest man, or he might do danger
Gus work with your name on a big check
or note. Bankers in the United States
place little reliance upon signatures as
means of identification in payment of
checks, etc. The person who presents
check to Boston bank for payment
must be positively identified before the
money will be paid to him. 1t is in
vain for him to offer rs evidence that he
is the right man any handwriting testi-
mony. And it does not make any diff
ference whether the check is payable to
bearer or order. Identification in both
cases is demanded. In England one
finds most marked difference from this
way of doing business. The Paying
Teller of London bank tries to assure
himself that the face of check is all
right both in point of signature of draw
er and as regards the drawers balance,
and then slaps out the money TO whoev-
er presents the check. 1t matters not
whether the check is payable to order
or to bearer. He demands no identifi-
cation in either case. He only looks
upon the back of the order check to see
If 1t has the name Endorsed. The check
paying custom did not always prevail in
England. At one time the English
practice in these premises was the same
as ours now. At that time we copied
our custom from them. They have
since progressed out of it. We remain
tied to their old style. We shall get out
of this rut one of these days. Thegreat
bankers of London long ago found they
could never get through their business
If Identification responsibility was to re-
main upon them. They pressed the mat
ter upon the attention Of Parliament
Parliament came to their relief. 1t said,
pay checks to whoever presents them,
and your whole duty is done. II to-day
drop my check in London made payable
to order of w. B. Morrill,, the first ras-
cal that picks it up in the streets and
puts Mr.. Morril's name on the back
may collect that check-and get inn
prisoned for life for so doing. 1t is, OF
course, the imperative duty of any
person who has lost check to have its
payment stopped at once. = Boston
Banker.