Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-07-06
BANKING IN BEKLlN.
The DiscOuragiDg Features
which Greet An american in
His First Dealings " it'll Them.

Berlin Cor. San Francisco Chronicle.
The majority OF banks in Berlin are
in the second story, aud the only way
to get to them Is through a court of
more or less dirtiness, and up a steep,
dar < pair of stairs. And when YOU
get there there isn't very much to sup-
gest a bank All there is about the
whole concern consists in two rooms
one small one where the actual BUSH
ness between customers and bank is
transacted, and large one where the
books are kept and the clerical work
done. Behind the counter stands a
man who combines in himself the dual
offices of paying and receiving teller.
The counter itself is an ordinary
wooden affair, with nothing about it
to suggest financial solidity or inspire
confidence. Neither are there trays
piled high with twenty-mark pieces.
In short, nothing is in sight to give
one the idea Of a bank. In the
larger room Of the two there are lot
Of ordinary high desks visible through
the glass doors separating the two
rooms And seated on the high stools
at these desks are from fifteen to
twenty clerks and bookkeepers, all
with ledgers and day books before
them. What in the world these banks
can do with so many clerks is beyond
me. The same amount of business
would be done in America by three or
four clerks. But, nevertheless, there
they are. They never appear to be
very busy. Most of them appear to
be half asleep, and those who happen
to be writing in the books do not seem
to be in hurry about it. From the
gray headed, stoop shouldered old
man who has been a bank clerk from
his teens, down to the smartly dressed,
eye glassed youngster, everybody ap
pears to be on good terms with himself,
and does not feel called upon to hurry.
Having 80 many clerks, the bank, of
course, cannot afford to pay very large
salaries. In fact, the younger mem
bers of the clerical force are there
under a sort Of apprentice contract
paying something for the privilege of
Learning the business. And even
when they have been in the bank Is
employ fer years they receive salaries
which, compared to an American bank
clerks salary, are miserably small.
Ones first encounter with Ger
man bank is rather disooursging. /
remember how helpless felt when |
took my draft to one of the prominent
Berlin banks to deposit it. | su3-
ceeded, after some trouble, in finding
the bank. And after had crossed
the dirty court, climbed the dirty
back stairs, and penetrated to the den
Of the paying and receiving teller, a
new trouble arose.
How am | to know that you are
the real MIR. Kaeg?" asked the eau
tious individual behind the coun-
ter
II don't wish to draw any money; |
only wish to deposit this draft. 1t is
made out in my name. I'll indorse
it. And as | shall need no money
for a couple of months, you will have
plenty of time to find out whether
everything is correct. Besides, you
have my signature, sent from San
Francisco
But it was Of no avail. He would
not let me deposit that draft until |
had proved my identity. After cons
siderable talk happened to think of
my passport, and asked him if that
would do.
IF you don't know anyone in Berlin
who can identity you | think can ac>
cept that, was the answer.
80 ! had to walk mile or two in
the rain to get my passport. But when
| returned TO the bank new trial
awaited me; the bank was closed,
locked and barred.
Here was quandary; o'clock and
the bank closed Visions of suspended
payment and all that sort of thing
rose up before me, and | was troubled. |
As stood in the courtyard debating |
what | gould Dc next, window in |
the second story was opened and
voice said:
Hello! What's the matter?"
So | explained. And the voice
said
you'll have to come back at two
o'clock. The bank il closed daily
from II to 2, to allow the clerks to 60
to dinner"
This was decidedly new idea in
banks-closing from II to2, the bust.
est part OF the day.
But there was nnthing left for me
to do but to stand around in the rain
for an hour. After this ordeal | felt
rather disguised with things in gem
eral. But at 2o'clock was back at
the bank. The doors were still locked
and the bars we're still up, with no
sign of life about the Playa. Five, ten,
fifteen minutes went slowly by. Then
a slow, heavy step came across the
court; the owner of the step deliber>
erately drew a large key irem his
pocket and deliberately proceeded to
open the door. Up the dirty stairs
vent the deliberate steps, | following.
Arrived at the head of the stairs, an
IL.