The morning times., 1897-01-02
.TONEY A STAR DEPOs|T0R
Little Bootblack Always We'll
coined at BoWery Bank.
HE RUNS AN ACCOUNT THERE
When He Calls Upon the President
Attendants Quickly Open All Doors
for Him-Only One of Thousands
of Depositors Who Always Have
the Entree-What He Expects.

The Bowery Savings Bank of New York
has pet depositor. who is never kept
waiting. When he calls upon the president
all doors are opened at once. He is a
nine -year-old streetEoy, known as Tony"
"Got private business wild de Loss" is
his announcement when he enters the
building, and the attendants open the Coors
for him leading into the innermost sane
tum Aside from the pet build og, no one
has such privileges around the offices a S
Tony. He expects to become president OF
the bank some day, and he says he is ow
In training. The officials, while amused at
the boys ambition, take pains rot TO dis
courage him.
Tony, whose full name is Tony Armando,
and who lives at No. 113 Mott street,
is a depositor.s 1t is true his bank book
does not make a great showing. Others
among the 2GO,GC0 and more who keep
their money there may have larger ac-
counts with the institution, but none are
received with greater welcome than Tony,
whose books shows only $50 to his credit
All Are Interested.
All of the officials take keen interest
in every penny Tony adds TO his capital.
Time was when Tony was lot so highly
esteemed In those days he en.oyed
game of craps and malicious descent
upon the orner apple woman's stand as
much as any other street Arab in his ward.
But there has been a wonderful metamor-
phosis Tonyisa sober business man. One
hot day last August Tony laid down for "a
nap on the steps of the bank. He chose
the sunniest spot for his siesta. AS the
secretary returned from his luncheon he
stumbled over what seemed 10 be bundle
OF rags.
ION a second look said Mr.. Mailer, II
noticed one human feature, his dirty little
hand, which lay stretched cut, palm up
ward, on the step. My tramping on him
did not seem to disturb him III the least.
Nor did the dropping of penny into his
hand awaken him The only sign of life
he gave was the closing Of his fingers and
the drawing of his arm. l was curious to
see what the little rat Il coked like, go l
gave him vigorous shaking, which caused
him to grunt and open his big black eyes.
Through the dirt saw a bright and inter
esting face. / led him into the office, Gu
rious o find out who he was. may have
seen W JuSI sttu iittit
before but somehow this particular Arab
seemed to have peculiar interest for me.
He was not inclined to tell much about
himself.
when 1 asked him what he was and
whathe did, he said: ShoiRe; olpers! then
some one gives me penny Now, ,ifthere
is one thing that / am more opposed to
than another it is promiscuous charity. /
told Tony it was wrong to take pennies
" hich he had not earned; that was begging,
and begging was detestable. AT this Tony
opened his eyes wider than ever. Then he
locked at me, and then at the penny / had
given him. l was suddenly brought TO
realize that 1, to o, had been encouraging
pauperism in the boy. OF curse, / had
toliye up TO my principles, so l sent the
little scamp off after paper. He brought
It, threw it On my desk and disappeared
from my office like a shot.
He Came Back.
/ was never more surprised in my life
when the next day found him ating for
me in front of the bank. He had his black
ing-box swung over his shoulder, and
bundle of papers under his arm. yielded
to his solicitations, and took five papers.
it as a personal affront If any other newsboy
were permitted to enter the bank. You
couldn't help liking the little fellow, and
he soon became favorite with all Of US.
Now, while heis not on the bank regular
salary list, his claims to all the trade
that we have to bestow in his particular
line are recognized and deeply respected.
TONY soon became interested in the big
the little ones were for. We tried to en-
courage him to save money enough to get
one of them for himself. 1t only takes q
dollar, you know, to make a start in our
bank, but that seemed fortune to the lad.
He was discouraged at the prospect of ever
accumulating that much money.
About that time / succeeded in getting
him position as manager and confidential
clerk of a news stand down on the Bowery.
This stand was the top of a barrel, but
you could not expect boy nine years old
to take charge OF very large establish
ment. Things have gone well with Tony
since this branching out in trade. He soon
brought the initial dollar to my private
office, and raised such a protest against
being delayed by attendants, that they
have never since tried to deter him. Every
day he has brought in few pennies to add
to his growing account, until it has now
reached the sum, magnificent in TonyS
eyes, of $3O.''
Wants His Interest.
He made call the other day upon the
president to find out whether the interest
upon his deposit would be enough to enable
him to buy out the interest OF his partner
in the barrel news stand. Tony's ideas Of
interest are rather vague. He has great
faith in its possibilities. As an encourage
rment for further well-doing, his friend,
the secretary, wished to give Tony little
| Island, but his lecture upon the evils of
| aims taking was too well remembered.
! The boy refused to go until the secretary
convinced him he was travelling on the in
| terest of his own money. Then he decided
| he would take his little brother, a CHILD
| j of five years, with him. Tony went to
Coney on Sunday.
| Next day after school, for Tony attends
school regularly now, and pays particular
| attention to arithmetic, he came to the
| bank to report. His eyes flashed as he told
| OF the wonders of the place.
| AN say" he exclaimed, placing his
| hand affectionately over his wastband
| 1--WE didn't do a ting all day but eat cake -
| Tony is not the first boy who has been
| befriended by the officials of the Bowery
| Bank. Another boy, by name Joe, first
| enjoyed the particular personal interest OF
! the officers. AS in the case of Tony, Joe
| was discovered by the secretary. Joe, too