Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-09
LADIES AS DEPOsIToRs.
The Difficulties the Dear Creatures Have
in Comprehending Simple Things.

I
| stood behind the counter over which
was the sign Paving Teller in one of
| the uptown national banks
well, y he replied, with a smile-a
| very agreeable smile-"now that / have
become practical philosopher l do
not find it irksome. Indeed, | rather
enjoy myself. The efforts of lady to
master the intricacies of banking rules
and practices used to make my head
ache. Now they provide entertainment
for me all day long. | used to sigh
when saw lady approach the win
dow with an expression on her face IN
dicating that she was in doubt about
| something. Now | observe her coming
with pleasure, for she may have some
new problem-though that is unlikely
or she may develop some new phase
of character. That is unlikely, also,
| however. think know them all.
! ought to-
why is it they can't understand"
I MANY of them understand eVery-
thing. The majority of them do. The
woman who cannot comprehend all
! that is required of a depOsitor is an
! exception. But those who do not I'M
derstand do not understand at all.
! What do you think of a lady coming
here and demanding to know why a
check drawn by her was not paid when
there was no money to her credit?
I've had that happen to me number
! of times. 1t happened this morning.
When | told the ANNOYED woman
that her account was slightly over
drawn, she asked me why hadn't sent
her word.
You could have told very easily by
consulting the stubs in your check
book and comparing the total with the
total deposits in your bank-book,' /
said
oh she said, y can't bother with
figures. | always hated EN-"
'.And | had some difficulty in con-
vincing her that it would be necessary
TO put money in the bank before she
could draw any more out. She wasn't
quite SO bad, however, as the very in
nocent lady, historical in bank circles,
who, when one of her checks was sent
back marked No funds descended
upon the bank for information, and,
incidentally, for more money, explain
ING that there must be plenty to her
half the checks in her check book.
The teller was obliged Just then to
inform a bright-looking young woman
that her signature to the check she pre-
scented would be absolutely necessary
before he could honor it. She blushed
furiously and hurried to a desk to add
her name.
There's an example," he said
laughing. But she knows better 1t
was only carelessness.
When he had paid the young woman
her money he continued: ct is a great
wonder that lady depOsitors are not
continually being defrauded, because
of their manner of drawing checks.
Of course when they draw them at the
bank we can correct them. But the
checks they write during their shop
ping hours would | should think, be
a constant temptation to people with
tough consciences. They could be so
easily raised. Nearly all, except the
experienced ones, fail to fill out the
line after putting down the amount.
and any bungler could raise the fig
ures. 1t is blessing, therefore, that
most of the checks are drawn to the
order of the reputable business houses
of the city.
"Frequently their checks are for
ridicut0us!y small amounts. 1t is the
new depositors who write them. 1t is
a novelty, and they appear to leave all
their small change-and big change,
too. for that matter at home, for the
purpose of enjoying it. | have had as
many as tifeeen checks from one wO-
man in one day and some for amounts
us small as cents The other day
check was presented here fer 10 1~2
cents"
DO they lose their tempers often?''
ooh, sometimes of course"
Just at that moment the angry notes
of Woman's voice were heard. She
was talking to the cashier. 1t APP
Deared that a check of hers had been
refused because it was drawn for an
amount larger than the sum to her
credit
The check, said the cashier calm
", "calIed for 1928 You have only $14
in the bank"
Il have, too she answered fiercely;
1--WE got $37."
You're mistaken. madame" an
swered the official, still calmly.
"Well, here's my book. You can see
for yourself"
The cashier took the book with the
resigned air of man who had been
there before many time. He exam
ined it quickly.
s'The trouble isl he said, that you
have drawn check hurriedly some
time, and neglected to fill out the
stub"
Il couldn't possibly have done that"
she replied, because | always Ell out
the stub first. Aud, besides, | don't
write checks hurriedly. | don't do
business that way"
The cashier smiled, and that exasper-
ated the woman still further.
You've made the mistake yourself"
she declared.
we do not make mistakes here"
was the quiet response.
But YOU might" she said, with en-
phasIs.
Yes, we might. but we never do"
Its possible isn't it?n she demand
ed, with more emphasis.
Yes, it's possible. Almost every
thing is possible. But we never have
made one in our twenty-five years of
business life
The lady shifted at this, and then,
throwing her check book on the coun-
ter, she said sarcastically, We'll, if
this Institution needs money so badly,
you can have it." She f0unced out.
will the bank be that much rich
err" was asked of the paving teller.
'HardIy.m he reDlied. .fsha'U nm