The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-09
SKETCHES ABOUTTOWN

~ The paving teller of a big bank has
great many opportunities Of studying the
genus ignoramus in at least a few inter
estiug details. That is largely the pay
ing telTer's business and hardly a day
passes him the sacred monotony of which
is not rudely shattered by some new ex-
hibition of colossal foolishness on the
part of some of the many people with
whom he comes in contact.
There is the man to whom an intima-
ton that he must be identified is an in
suit He is Il sort of cousin to the man
who regards the presentation of bill as
d slap at his honesty and the man who re-
CARDS sight draft as utter ruin to his
credit
Such people seldom realize that the
sum involved is rightfully the creditors
and that he has a right to ask for it at
any time; they fail to see that the bust
ness of q great country must be carried
on on strictly business principles, and do
not seem TO be able to comprehend that
the necessity of Identification is as much
q matter of protection to them as to the
bank that asks it.
81 had a case the other day that l
could not help smiling at" said Mr..
- of the Bank of Topeka. HE was
little dried up German and he had
check that he wanted cashed.
81 replied to his request with the usual
salutation but he didn't know what
identified meant.
~ must know who you are said by
way of explanation.
''Slowly it struck him and a look of in
tense relief came with the clearing up of
the mystery.
"'Oh,'" he said, Dot ish all right. Dis
is me- and he was so vehement and hon
net hor haS y 10 oh. ,aI- 4
hive never heard of him since.'
\ H"An Irishman came in here the other
Nay" said Mr. Henderson of the First
National bank, with draft and wanted
the money for it. The Identification was
easily gotten over, and having satisfied
myself tina the draft was all right l be-
gan getting the money and pushed the
draft back for him to endorse.
"'Put your name on it, | said
"The 1rishman looked at me with a
cunning leer and took hasty possession
of his bit of paper.
"sNo I'Il be - frat he said.
"'What do you meant 1 asked him.
HE laughed as though he thought he
had me-
IA course yen cash it if sign it, he
said.
He thought I was going to rob him, I
guess, for he took The draft and went
out.
"He must have met somebody who told
him how foolish he was for in an hour
he sent friend back with the draft and
l cashed it. He was too much ashamed
to come back himself"
III Some people have strange notions of
| Bank teller's memory. Such person went
into Topeka bank yesterday to identify
a friend. The teller didn't know him
and he was very much Inundated and
very mad about it. "Why - you" he
said, 81 was identified here myself less
than a year ago"
Another bank teller in town who is also
a teller of good stories but who is what
is know as 'husky" fellow and does not
want his name printed, told this one:
IAN old farmer came TO my window
one day this fall to have what must have
been his first check ceshed. He was
slow of speech and almost as slow of
| comprehension.
"'You must be identified said.
"He was blankly thoughtful for q min
ute.
"'How'm I goin' to do it?' he asked
"'Get somebody that knows you to
come here and tell me who you are, re-
piled.
81 know who I am the farmer said.
"'Well. but l DON'T said L Don't you
know somebody in town who knows you,
and will say SOP
"After moments study his face bright
| ened, much as it could, probably.
"'Biil knows me- he said.
"Who's Bill?' l asked
"'My hired man. said the farmer. He's
| out there on the wagon
81 don't know BILL almost snorted.
THE farmer was quite at his ease.
"'But l know him. he answered.
"Three or four men in line were get
ting impatient at the delay, though they
were smiling. 1 was getting impatient
too.
THAT doesn't do me- any good 1 said.
You can't identify Bill and Bill can't
identify you unless you get some body 1
know
"'And can't get no money
" N OF on that showing
"'Well, that's a laundering way to run
a bank said the farmer and he picked up
bis check and went out mad"
"When I was at the other window"
said this same teller. 'A'woman with d
determined face aud about $50 tn at she
had taken out of an old stocking or a
stove came in and wanted to deposit it.
She pushed it under the window in coin,
denomination from ooPpers to dollars),
with the exception of bill or two
"Oa the back of an old envelope she
was carefully taking down the number
of nickels and the number of quarters,
etc., and my curiosity was aroused. This
proceeding was what in vulgar parlance
is sometime known as "a horse on me
and l asked her what she was doing it
for
$50 I'll know 'em when l see 'em
again. she said.
81 was dumfounded as caught her
meaning.
"'You surely don't expect to get that
same money back again?' l asked.
"'Of course de- she snapped and
don't propose to lstyou smart bank chaps
fool me either
81 told her that would be impossible
and tried further to explain some of the