The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-04-26
SPLITTING BANK NOTES.
The PrOccns Is Simple Enough when
You Know How

The Proccns IN Simple Enough When
You Know How.
Some years ago the commercial world
was taken aghnst by the announcement
that certain scientific man could no.
tually split II bank note so exactly into
halves that it was impossible to distin-
guish the separate pieces of paper from
genuine notes.
The authorities Of the Banl. O.. Eng
land took alarm. for it appeared that
this invention would speedily open the
way to Il new kind Of fraud. Tie imi-
tation Of tho engraved plate. however
well performed. was always discover
able by experienced eyes. and he must
be good forgcr indeed who could pre-
pare tho paper Oil which the plato WAS
printed so rs to imitate the peculiar
water marks OH tho Bank of England
notes with anything like success. But
here was discovery which set ut
naught tho precautions of paper makers.
engravers and printers.
1t was really serious matter. A
long correspondence ensued between tho
proprietor of the secret and the officials
of the bank. the former asking large
sum OF money for his knowledge and
the latter requiring actual proof Of his
ability to perform the alleged feat.
Paragraphs began to appear in the
newspapers, and public attention was
drawn to what seemed II very extraor-
dlnary fact--that the thin tissue pnper
OF which IL hank note is composed could
really he divided into tive leaves 1t be.
came necessary tu test the truth of this
remarkable discovery. anil so it was ar
ranged that trial should J made with
an actual note of the Bank England
Prcliminarics were settled. and a
note. properly marked. 81 that it might
| be nfierward identified. was submitted
to the inventor. In the course of two or
three days back came the note to tho
owners actually split in two. 1t was
eagerly examined but in little time
the bnnk officials ceased to feel any
alarm. and confidence in the CONNER
cial world was quite restored.
1t was true the bank note was COM
| pletely split, but it was also true that
on only one half of it was the printed
impression sufficiently plain to allow Of
its being circulated. Any attempt to
pass the other or back half Of the note
would. it was declared, be Immediately
detected
Still. tho discovery was curious and
might lead to disagreeable consequences
should any person attempt to increase
his wealth by means Of split bank notes
Another kind of ink was therefore or
| dercd for the future to bo used in tho
Y,,ty a ne 1,1,
in case any one chose to try the expert
ment tho one half would be left blank.
Tho secret, however. did not long re-
main hidden from tho world. Indeed.
its very simplicity seems to have pre-
vented its being discovered by tho clever
men who felt go much anxiety ab ,ut it.
The method Of splitting paper is just
this: Two pieces Of calico are firmly
glued to the sides Of the paper, leaving
the ends Of the calico loose, and the
whole is perfectly dried. BY gentle
and equable pull on each side the paper
is split completely in halves, ono Of
which adheres to the calico ON cne side
and the other to the opposite.
The fact that the adhesion between
the paper and tho cloth is greater than
that between tho surfaces Of the paper
| to each otter Is the cause OF this pie.
| nOmenOn.
Having now divided the paper. the
two halves may be removed by damp
ing and so loosening the glue between
the calico and the paper. What was
once great and puzzling secret is no
longer in the possession Of one person.
Those happy individuals with bank
notes to spare may while away win
ter evening in trying this experiment.
Chicago Chronicle