Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-12-29
The Woman Banker.
NoM NOrlL TrIbune.

1t is reported that Mrs. Howe, the |
woman banker who ruined so many
people In Boston, and was sentenced
tn three years imprisonment, has on
her discharge Immediately resumed
her old business, and boldly invites
women TO deposit money with her,
promising them rate of interest
which cannot be earned honestly, but
refusing 70 have anything TO do with
men. The statement that many wo-
men have responded TO this invitation
has furnished text TO several Journals,
and most of the commentators hold
that the fact indicates the low state Of
| the average female intelligence as re-
CARDS matters OF finance. Perhaps this
! is n just inference, but If 80 10 applies
with precisely the same force to men
AZ TO women. Take in illustration the
GTantWard case 1t was perfectly
clear from the first that the firm named
could not obtain the dividends It paid
| honestly. The explanation given has
been an effort TO vindicate the business
sense of the investors at the expense of
their integrity. IL Is alleged that they
invested because they believed
Grant & Ward were making i'm.
mense profits by swindliug the gov
eminent But further inquiry showed
that the business sense of the investors
could not be vindicat,d even by the
sacrifice Of their regulations as honest
men; for II was made clear that no
such robbery OF the treasury as they
believed TO be going on was possible,
/ and that very little inquiry must
, have manifested this to anybody So
, 1t appears In theultimate analysis that
the business men and experienced
ilnanoiers who put their money into
: Grant a Wards hands were In all TO.
q spects as foolish, reckless and credu-
/, lous as the women who intrust their
: savings 10 Mrs. Howe.
L There iS, IN fact, no substantial diff
ference between the two cases, and the
n dominant motive In each Is the same
That motive 10 greed OF gain. aud the
facts only show that, given the neces
y sary temptation, and men and women
e can to-day be induced to part will
n their money as easily ss Ia the days o
the South sea bubble Nor have meI
q any ground Tor assuming greater finan
4 ciai shrewdness than women In case
as of this kind Only let the inducenent b,
IA strong enough-that is to say, only le
4, the intending thief oiler such profit
:" az make IL cersain that he could no
40 come by them hon estly-a and crowd
vs. Will rush TO him In the hope OF shaf
II lug the proceeds OF his villainy .land Ii
these crowds The men shail he no lea
- forward and eager than the women
pii Perhaps, however, there ia a differ
Q enee In the character OF the argument
n with which men and W.
), men persuade themselves 1
~ embark In such enterprise,
We The former know that roguery nust i
H. at the bottom of the business bui hop
II TO profit by IT, The latter, Ia their II
=, experience, may sometimes honestl
~ believe II possible TO cam sixty or
oy hundred per cent. legltimateiy.
90 this difference exists It Is plainly M
al. llatterlng 70 the men, and thew oa
n have little object In maintalniny I
~ seeking TO demonstrate it, eYistene,
ng The truth il that however man
i'd impostors there may be At any Nm,
he the supply OF dupes Is ALWAYS MI
~ larger, and this heOAuse greed "A one
~ !he strongest o. human motives Nh
liis because those who utilize Il mav 4
ways count upon It's ohscuring the /,
ielilgenc0 Of many people. And ,
piacticing upon this prevailing mott,
aaFentnfefs sud swindlers eertaini
derive iar more OF their grains froi
led men than rom women.