The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-10-05

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profession 1t IS indeed, and deserves
to be called one of the learned professions;
fer the administration of q large BANK
calls for as much intellectual power as
is required by the men who write UeallSeS
cn political ecorOmy, and whose names
are familiar in the world OF literd.,li,a.
venture to say that there are letters
written and documents produced at times
in any great banking centre by brokers or
fnancicrs, which are equal in intclloc-
tual rank with any chapter in Mill S
"Poltical Economy or Smith S Wealth
Of Nations and display as much acute
ness as any eminent lawyers argument
or any speech of Webster or Clay And
it is not unnatural chat it should be 50.
for a banker s faculties are constantly
sharpened ly the consciousness that II
he makes mistakes. he will have to pay
HE penalty Tor them in TIE shape of
losses An author may PROFOUND UNI
sound theories. and set forth Hnworkable
schemes. and all that he has to fear is
that another MAT will write son.ethins
to the contrary: but a banker exercises
his faculties under constant penalty CT
monetary loss. So it WAS said. not
long ago. by a banker to a journalist,
that if all the mistakes made by the
Writers OIL DOORS, ana All t:le IulS.lNGS-
1lents of critics We're followed by penal
ties as severe as were paid by bankers,
and the amount paid to the STATE,
sum would have .,een accumulated long
ago sufficient TO pay off the National
Debt
COURAGE AND PATIENCE
Certain moral qualities in the training
of an officer must not be overlooked,
such rs the habit of obedience, of cour-
tesy; of patience-often sorely tried-of
close attention to directions. of economy
of time, of thorouShness in work. and Of
conscientious discharge Of duty as duty.
Many fellows indeed, go through tbs
whole round OF bank employment. and at
tho end OF il have but a mere smatterng
of such knowledge as is here indicated,
and have almost many bad habits
as at thu beginning. Sometimes this is
their own fault. They are too stupid to
I-arn, or too proud to obey, or too con-
ccited to submit to direction. But in
many cases. it is to be feared, the fault
is with the banker himself in not properly
training his men. 1t is i'5aily his business
and duty to educate his officers, and. this
by insisting at all times and with every
man that work is not only to be properly
done but intellieently mastered: that rul-s
are to be observed, time kept, and penal
ties to be enforced. Knowledge so
acquired will never be forgotten. The
best friend of a Young bank officer Is the
cashier who strictly enforces disciplined
his worst enemy the one that lets him
do as IL pleases. Banking is a pro-
fession that cannot be played with.
man who has had an easy-goins superior
and grown I'D TO an easy-golng style of
doing subordinate work is apt to carry the
same spirit into a higher position. We know
the mischt-f that al easy-song banker
may do | have known such a one
cause loss of millions.
One of the most important duties OF
a cashier is to notice indications of abil-
ity. When a young man not only does
things but wants to know the reason
why: when he suggests Improvements
in methods and economy OF time, or
notices the Irregularities in thr working
of accounts and communicates them
such a one should not be snuhbed, as
tn, manner OF some men is, but drawn
out and encouraged. and made use OF.
and made to understand that he is appre-
ciated For no man should be too proud
to take a hint from a subordinate.
LIVES FOR OTHERS.
But l have not time to enlarge further,
except to say this, that banker ought
to aim not only to educate himself but
his customers and the community he lives
in No man can live TO himself, as We
know; an influence is always radiatinS
from him. And from few men do more
influences rauiate from than a banker. As
a simple matter of business apart from
higher considerations, d banker will find
it his interest to let his influence be on
the side of sound business methods, pru-
Debt dealing economy Of living; honesty
ana uprghtness; Of the avoidance Of bust
ness gambling, and of that commonplace
setting siu-the making haste to be rich
He can do much to promote sound ideas on
financial subjects, as for example. to eN-
pose the 1a1lacy of supposing that the val
US of silver can be doubled by a vote of
Congress or, III q district infested by the
..fads'' Of Populists, the folly of supposing
that the Government ought to own ali the
land and houses and farms inNrhe coun-
try, Which, if carried out, would reduce the
whole population to Government serfs; or
in a mining district that capital and CAPT
talists are per Sc enemies of labor. in
stead of the very springsand fountain of
its Vitality, without which employment
could never begin. ana which, if with
drawn. it could never be continued.
Much more might be said on such a
fruitful subject as a bankers education.
But it is impossible to pursue it fur
Their. And what has been said will prob
ably sound very simple to many Of YOU
But in this address, I am thinking NAM
ly of younger men. And, as an old ban
ker, whose time has about come to put Off
the armor. I am desirious to point out
to them some of the way-marks on the
road they will have to travel. And If any
thing am now saying may serve as
sort OF guide to keep them off the many
boys and qua gmires that beset their path.
and enable them better to pursue an non-
orable, upright and useful career to the
end 7 shall be we'll repaid for the trouble
OF writing this paper.
CONSULAR DEPARTMENT.
Under the head of unfinished business.
a resolution was offered providing for a
separate department of the government