The Osceola times., 1884-12-20
SERVANT GIRLS MITES.
Some OF the Strange Dcpositors In the Phil
adelphis Saving Fund.

Some Of the Strange Dcposi,ors In the Phil
sdelphis saving Fund.
On the books of the Philadelphia Saw
ing Fund, at Seventh and Walnut streets
are the names, residence, and occupa-
tons of nearly 10000 depositors. OF
this number 1900 are servant girls,
cooks, chambermaids and nurses, whose
deposits foot up over $2,500,Oo0. Thurs
day being the traditional servant girls
day out, there are always more deposi-
tors on that day than any other. Thirty
seven women stood in line waiting their
turn to get to the receiving teller's desk
on Thursday last. Each one had bank
book and in one hand tightly clasped
was the sum of money that was to be
added to the savings already entrusted
to the society for safe keeping.
First Teller Mckee said that the aver
age number of servant girl depositors on
Thursday was 800, and that three fourths
of the q 900 had on an average $500
credited opposite their names in the led
gers of the bank, The deposits vary
from IS to $50. Some of the servants
save up for month or two before max
ing deposit. The rules of the institu-
ton only allow a depositor to deposit
$500 year, and the final limit is $1,000.
Teller Mckee said that number of SER
want girl depositors have reached the
limit, which takes ten years.
Twenty-Five hundred and sixty-six
new depositors, who are servants, open
ed accounts last year, and 1889 had be-
gun 10 deposit their savings this year up
to October l. The majority of the girls
are Irish and German, and great many
draw money and get drafts, send them
to the old country and in the course of a
month a sister, or a mother, or cousin
comes to this city on the proceeds of the
draft. OF the 27,0O0 depositors not l0, 900
can write their names. They are regis
tered in big book at the rear of the
desk, where their names, occupations
and residences are registered. Those
who can write are requested to write
their names, and those who cannot
simply make mark under their name
written by the clerk.
Every depositor is allowed per cent.
per annum on the money deposited.
Many depositors have never touched
their deposits and number have had
interest accumulating for quarter of a
century without touching either princi-
pal or interest. When the servant girl
depositor draws out 500 or 5000 and
sends draft to the old country and a
relative comes to this city it is not long
before the greenhorn also becomes de-
positor.
The number of Italian depositor is in
creasing rapidly, Teller Mckee said.
Many of them are rag pickers and still
greater number are laborers who work
at building railroads for 81 or less a Gay.
A few organ-grinders are among the de-
positors of the institution and a good
many misers have snug little sums stored
away in the vaults at Seventh and Wal.
nut Streets. The teller said that sup
posed paupers frequently die in the
Almshouse and after they have been
buried in Potter's Field the discovery is
made that they have deposits in the
Philadelphia Saving Fund. Nearly four
tifths of the Chinauen in this city are
depositors there and several of them
have over $500 in bank, but the majority
of them have about $500 on interest
They write their signature in the register
of Chinese. Alaska and st. Mary streets
have many residents who are depositors
in small way. In 1888 there were 1876,
3O7 depositors and 81, ,S5l ,60l AZ were re-
ceived by the tellers.
On the 7th of November. 1867, hand
some man, dressed in rough clothes,
entered the bank and signed the register,
George II. Osborne, seaman" He de-
pcsited $500 and it remained there until
December, 1870, and $3.50 interest had
accumulated. The seaman was lost at
sea on the Australian coast, and turned
out TO be the Right Hon. George Gordon
Earl of Aberdeen, Scotland. The records
of the bank read opposite the deposit:
: He engaged in seafaring life under the
name Osborne and this money was paid
to his executors, and it was discovered
that 100000 was due him from his
fathers estate"
He left his home before he became of
age, determined to make his own living
and see the world before he took his seat
in the House of Lords and assumed con-
troll of his estate. During his stay in
this city he stopped at the Seaman's
Home and wrote many interesting letters
to his mother about places of historical
interest that he visited in this city. He
Carried out his original idea of support
| mo him self and rose IN he first mate of
the vessel on which he lost his life,
Philadelphia Times.