The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1903-10-15
WHEN BANK CLERKS SMOKE.
strictly Prohibited During Business
Hours, Hut when the Doors
Are cIosed-Furyi


Are cIosed-Furyi
In every bank in this city there Is 3
rule against smoking. aud 1t is doubt.
full II any deposltor or visitor to any
banking institution IN town ever saw
coil OF tobacco smoke sitting through
the atmosphere IN the big counting
housea-that is. no visitor who Is ox-
cluded from the building promptly
when the bank Closes But II the Curl
Gus could squeeze their way through
those closed portals during the after
noon they would be treated 10 q very
different sight. says the New York
Times
The rules against smoking In all the
big banks apply only during banking
hours After the doors are closed one
can transform himself into q human
volcano with perfect freedom land he
does And "he" is legion.
The favored one who is allowed 10
remain within the locked dcprs of the
National City bank is treated to an
unusual spectacle At least 150 clerks
are employed at this bank, and OF that
number there are probably not score
who do not indulge in the weed"
AS the hands Of the clock approach
closing time 100 pairs OF eyes search
for the form Of the superintendent Of
the building As he approaches the
door. hands reach into pockets with
military unison Of movement The
hands rest there until the lock clicks
in the door Then, in twinkling
cigarettes, cigars. and pipes are pro-
duced. and In another second there Is
q fusillade OF striking matches. Before
a minute passes dense blue vapor be-
gins TO rise behind the bright glass
partitions and before the clerks have
finished their days work the usually
| immaculate counting room has all the
appearance OF a good old-fashioned
smoker. the scratching of pens being
substituted for the click OF stems.
"It Is really wonderful the way they
smoke up" said the superintendent Of
a big bank building on Wall street the
other day. though I know to work
elk hours without a pull at the weed Is
somewhat OF an ordeal. Those who
don't know. might imagine that being
kept of the weed for so long might
cure one OF the habit. but Judging from
my observation II is quite the reverse.
No sooner do get the doors closed
than they start right in like lot OF
impatient locomotives. Some of them
go AT Il in a manner that you might
call ravenous. and Il isn't long before
the air Is filled with blue fog
There was a time when ] thought
this was the case only in our bank
A few inquiries. however. have con-
vlnced me that Il is the same in every
big banking institution throughout the
financial district
In some OF the hanks cigarettes are
strictly forbidden. even after hours
though hardly see why the lin'
should be drawn. for cigar butts arr
: lust as dangerous. II one considers th'
. possibility of fre Then the chanc'
! OF fire from this source Is only re
K mote possibility, for before the smok
v Ing IL we'll under way the cleaners re
q 20 work and are about until the las
/, clerk has wound up bis work on hi
ledger
"The idea that cigarette smok
leaves more lasting odor is also fool
ish. for when you get about Is differ
e ent kinds of pipe tobacco and as man.
e brands OF cigars mingllng IN one mas
i. Of smoke you have complete aromi
of tobacco beside which the yapor o
cigarette Is but 3 deiieately perfumes
= mist.
How do we get the smell ont Wh,
\ after the smokers have left, We opel
o all the windows and turn on the elec
> trlc fans and ventilaiors. A half a
hour later the atmosphere Is as fres
As crisp mountain air Even in winte
y -. t-... 49, afaafrfe Aaaa handy =