The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-16
oUR HANDSOME BANKS.

OtA hANloOnS< oANht
Association with bank in however
humble or remote capacity has always
seemed 60 us TO promote "a feeling OF com
fortableness hardly, or SO intimately, posi-
BILE TO no other connection.
The average citizen can but feel a cer-
tain degree of distinction upon being dis
covered entering or departing from good
lookngIbank. One may not need to be a
sufficient endorsement Of his own good
name, or even depositor less important
as requiring no great measure Of credit or
standing in the community, to become
| infused with such a feeling when one
/ stands at the portal of substantial insti-
| tuition that deals i'm money where other
folk deal in merchandise, ideas or SUBJ
scription books. Thus on view TO his
fellow-citizens who pass to and fro with
out venturing to more than glance at the
neat sign, "Interest allowed on daily
balances, " or words of similar import or
like inviting purpose, he may
realize TO the full the significance of
the familiar couplet that runs:
1--WE pick our teeth on the Parker House
steps,
But we eat our beans at Gilson's."
1t is matter of common observation
that the young men employed in the SER
vice of a bank, the brass bound boy and the
glittering janitor are on the whole rather
more sleek and good to look upon than
the young men engaged in or associated
with other professions and trades, not ex-
cepting that of the newspaper field. Proper
surroundings Co such young men are not
only their due but they tend to make us
all feel yet more pleasurably the privilege
of such occasional intercourse as may be
permitted with them between the hours of
nine and three, and nine and twelve on
Saturdays. All things considered, we be-
licve IL is general conviction that TO be
seen going into or out of a we'll appearing
bank and by inference enjoying such in
tercourse, is rather better card TO the
confidence and esteem of ones fellow
citizens than purple or fine linen, going
into politics or taking on most any other |
thing that counts for publicity and fame
III we had time to hang around at all and |
show ourself we should consider IL the |
better part of ambition to stand in the |
dignifled shadow of the best looking
bank front in town rather than TO lean |
against "a gaudy and superficial barroom,
or exc to parade the most esteemed side |
of Westminster street with the air of hay-
ing leased it for term of years and being
prepared to suPlet in, small lots to suit
purchasers. Al good looking bank is
wholesome thing in community 1t
tends to elevate, inspire, and ennoble the
whole people. We instinctively feel, all
Of us, that we are at least possible stock
holders in IL even though we may mover
be depositors and, only by the widest
stretch of the imagination, borrowers.
We partake of its aspect Of substantial
beauty and have concern in it's contin-
led prosperity.
We are moved to these trite reflections
by the recent development of bank en-
terprise in this town. 1t is in line of
thc tendency everywhere in the profes.
'ions and trade and in striking and re-
Ireshing contrast to tho old fashioned
dea that a bank, to bo solid and to com
nand confidence, must be located in
, musty back room as far removed
rom common folk as possible and
equipped with cashier characterized
by the appearance, but in whom is wholly
ABSENT the delicious flavor of, old cheese
IL is within the memory of the present
that the nice brass railing.
'he piano polished woodwork, and officials
who look as II they had three meals a day,
md wear rs a further guarantee of good
'aith, clothes Of snug cut and neckties of
design, were once almost
entirely confined to the banks of abnor-
nal interest but cphemeral existence
whose chief capital lay in the aforesaid
outward semblances of solidity and bound
css resources. Ii Is significant that
such institutions were successful in inyit.
ng Investments on the principle that
bad thing may temporarily triumph If
properly advertised where a good thing
requires proper advertising 20 keep IL
rom going a-begging. II is odd, but not
Incxplicable, how strong an influence is a
yOOu onppntupra rt,th,s Il 49,.