The Indianapolis journal., 1903-10-05
SMOKING IN BANKS.
Forbidden While Doors Are Open, hut
Permitted After They Close.

New York Times.
In every bank in New York there is a
rule against smoking, and it is doubtful
if any depositor or visitor to any banking
institution in the town ever saw coil Of
tobacco smoke sitting through the atmos-
phere in the big counting houses-that is,
no visitor who is excluded from the build
ing promptly when the hank closes. But if
the curious could squeeze their way through
those closed portals in he afternoon they
would be treated to a very different sight.
The rules against smoking in all the big
banks of the city apply only during bank
ing hours. After the dpors are closed and
locked one can transform himseif into
human volcano with perfect freedom-and
he does. And "he'' is ilegion.
The favored one who r. allowed to remain
within the locked doorssof such an institu-
tion as the National CITY Bank is treated
to ar unusual spectacle. At least l5O clerks
are employed in this bank, and of that
number there are probably not score who
do not indulge In the weed"
AS the hands of the cock approach clos
form of the superintendent of the building.
As he approaches the door, hands reach
into pockets with military unison of move
ment The hands rest ehere until the lock
clicks in the door. Then. In twinkling.
cigarettes, cigars and pipes are produced,
and in another second there is fusillade OF
striking matches. Before a minute passes
a dense blue vapor begins to rise behind the
bright glass partitions aud before the clerks
have finished their days work the usually
immaculate counting room has all the ap-
pearance of good old-fashioned smoker,
the scratching or pens Eeing substituted Tor
the clink of s1eins.
1T is really wonderful the way they
smoke up" said the superintendent OF a
big bank building on Wall street the other
day, though L know to work six hours
without a pull at the weed Is somewhat OF
an ordeal. Those who don't know, might
imagine that being kept off the weed for
so long might cure one of the habit, but
Judging from my observations IL is quite
the reverse. No sooner do L get the doors
closed than they start right in like a lot OF
impatient locomotives. Some or them go
at il in a manner that you might call raw
enous ,and it isn't long before the air is
filled with blue fog.
"There was time when l thought this
was the case only in our bank. A few in
uuiries however, have; convinced me that
it is the same in every big banking insti-
tuition throughout the financial district.
I'm some of the banks cigarettes are
strictly forbidden, even after hours, though
/ hardly why the line should be drawn,
for cigar butts are Just as dangerous, if one
considers the possibilit. of fire. Then the
chance of fire from this source is only a
remote possibility, for be fore the smoking
is we'll under way the cleaners get to work
and are about until ,he last clerk has
wound up his work on his ledger.
THE idea that cigarette smoke leaves a
more lasting Odor is alao foolish, for when
you get about twenty-five different kinds
of pipe tobacco and as many brands of
cigars mingled In one mass of smoke you
have a composite aroma of tobacco beside
which the vapor of a cigarette is but a
delicately perfumed mist.
How do we get the smell out? Why,
after the smokers have left We open all the
windows and turn on the electric fans and
ventilators. A half an hour later the at
mosphere is as fresh as. crisp mountain air.
Even in winter we keep the electric fans
handy"