Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-12-04

AuO udIT QOXGu OI uGT Cu1tQESR ana has other relatives hanging on his coat tails got $l,0O0 when his salary is only $1 800, which is all he is worth to the firm. Of course, good work and loyalty are counted in, and it's system of re- ward and merit, but 1t is finely tenn pered with human interest" These gifts are distributed with a formal courtesy and personal greeting that make of this office the lGseption room on the day before Christmas.
 Wall street is lavish in its gifts when the stock market is free with its favors, and last year made high water mark for this form of distribution. A con- servative estimate is that bankers and brokers gave away $1,00O,o00 in re wards to employees, and In the Stock Exchange $10,00O was raised for its working force. These gifts included 5000 gold certificates in one house and an entire years salary to employees of more than one bank. While such mu- nifcence made. one joyful Christmas, failure 10 equal it this year will spoil many holidays. Such magnificent gen. CA0SASy &A6 AIS A&W WS a6 @ubWA Uy luG lament of one favored bank clerk:
 Tt was, wonderful Christmas last year. received a whole years sal ary, and I had been with the firm only one year, and I was so happy when went home that did not bother to criticise the fact that the salary was in Steel stock at the market rate. My wife and were beside ourselves plan ming country cottage, the dream of our lives, and of course when Steel be- gan to slump we held on and hoped for an upward turn and are still hold ing on. My Christmas present has shrunk, and our dream Is smashed, and all ask of Kriss Kringle this year is that he will restore my last years pres ent to its original size" F
 In the same institution there was an employee whose Christmas gift had the saving grace of individual consider ation. He was a bookkeeper, nearly forty years in harness, and he had been overlooked in former years of fatness in Wall street, except for customary and unvarying ten dollar gold piece. Several days before Christmas last year
 
 of an unprecedented flood of good for tune. The old bookkeeper tried to keep calm, but his hopes ran riot, and the day before Christmas found him in a nervous furry. He saw his fellow em- ployees called into the cashiers office one by one, leach returning with a sealed envelope. The bookkeeper wait ed for his summons, but it came not Even the office boys emerged biting new gold pieces to test them, and the roll was complete an hour before the bookkeeper summoned courage to send in an inquiry whether a mistake had been made in the case of MT. Blank and whether an envelope had been overlooked. The answer was:
 There is no envelope for Mir. Blank, but the president wishes to see him for a moment"
 The bookkeeper saw only one inter- pretation. This meant his discharge for failing efficiency. He fairly tot tered into the sanctum, pitiful figure of panic fear. ~.
 "Sit down, MT. Blank" said the pres ident. II have omitted your name in the list of Christmas rewards for faith full service, and regret that the bank will have to find another man to fill your position after tomorrow. Com pose yourself, sir; tears are undigniied in this office. You should know better after being here for so long term of service. Don't go. I have few words more to say before you leave. The di- rectors have decided to retire you cW full pay for the rest of your life, and the years salary will be paid you in advance. This does not establish ruinous precedent, for employees with thirty eight years of faithful service to their credit are not aprinkled very plentifully through Wall ofreet."
 -----------------------.~ -------------------- 4. EKnxu Ar MAn Hsa mn NEua arYAaA. 6samaanv. Ann