Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-30
BANK TELIER's WOES
FACILITY DISPLAYED 81 MAN AT
THE w1HDoW.
Coming and Going 81. Thoss With Busi-
ness to rrans4ct-ssmple
Interviews. e


1t was pay day andsa Star reporter had
occasion to make a deposit in a local bank.
Seeing the various types Of people stand
ing before the window of the receiving
teller he scented story and forgot his
mission. 1t is a wonderful sight to watch
a receiving teller of a big bank plying his
trade. Wonderful that men can acquire
such facility in the intricate ways we have
of doing our business and wonderful none
the less the GOODNESS with which foolish
questions are always asked.
What interest do you pay on deposits?"
asked grandmother dressed in gray col
ors.
Three per cent, madam"
What, only per cent? My friend, Col
onel Brown. tells me you pay per cent.
Don't deceive me, young man."
No, madam. We pay only 3 per cent.
Formerly all banks paid per cent, but
now you'll find the uniform rate is what
we give"
We'll, I expect I'll have to go somewhere
else"
Teller, let me see my deposit slip for
May Z. My balance is short 1928. You've
made an error, and see what trouble it is
giving me.
What do all ,.rese marks mean along
side of every item?" said the depositor
when the slip was handed him.
THAT shows that the other teller. as well
It..
II want to deposit the interest on this ac-
count for the last month" you'll hear some
fellow say.
60 down to the passbook clerk at the
window to the right"
Here's half dozen blank books with
some deposits. Write them up as soon as
possible. I'll be back after lunch" re-
marks the fifteenyear-old ollce boy.
Hes got his nerve with him all right,
all right" comments the fat man from the
rear of the line
After you balance my book and enter
this deposit" said a lady, send 1t to Cum
berland Cottage. De Lancy street. New"
"I'll enter the deposit" said the teller,
but you'll have to leave all instructions
with the pass-book clerk"
Il can't take theese, SIR" said the teller
to a gentleman. These coupons don't
mature until November"
coupons? Yes, 1 did, for fact. But, say,
teller, you know me. Can't you fix this up
anyhow"
No, sir; it's utterly impossible
None of these checks has been Endorsed"
said the teller handing the bank book
back to the clerk.
Take this deposit will your" said
smart old man of business, in check suit
and wearing white mutton chop wmskers.
The sign Closed was staring him in the
face as he passed the money under the
barred gate of the receiving teller's win
dow, but the long-suffering man said: "I'll
accommodate you this time, sir. if you will
make it a rule in future to come before 3
o'clock" Very WE'LL said the old fellow
in tone that clearly meant "all that l
want is to get this money in the bank"
The Man at the Window.
When the rush was over the reporter went
up to the window to pass word with the
man who is tired out every day counting
money. Did our ancestors ever think such
a thing possible? Does the old lady with
morsel O. siller in the, toe of an old sock
believe that it is possible for a strong man
to earn his bread and butter by counting
dollars?
you must have had a hard day." said
the reporter, noticing the worn expression
on his face. '~S q
No. he answered, o"this Is an ordinary
mornings work. It's o'clock now and
haven't had a bite to eat go to- lunch
whenever there is a lull In business. There
isn't much work there" said he with
smile, as the reporter glanced at the pile
of bills, notes and coins on the counter.
1T doesn't take long to balance the cash
and then I'll check up all the notes that
have been paid in today, assert the money
and then I'm through"
DO you ever have any trouble in strik-
ing a balance?'
Not often, and I pity the receiving
teller who does. The layman has no idea
of the vexation of the reviewing of ac-
counts. It's the most fatiguing work in
the world. 1t means constant mental
effort. Have you ever noticed how few
men there are in banks with full thick
suits of hair? l haven't any authority for
the notion, but 1 believe it's due more or
less to worrying over accounts and books
that refuse to balance. OF course, a
man is often out few dollars. but that
does not give him a great deal of annoy
ance. It's the big sums that brings the
headaches and the breakdowns."
What do you do with the dirty money
and the defaced paper money!
'Why, there's knack of picking out the
old bills as you count lot of money You
get on to it after a little and it becomes
mechanical. The government gives the
bank new bills for Old
DO you ever have disputes with GUS
tOmers?"
Not often 1 have only been through
one embarrassing situation of the kind.
A gentleman discovered after having his
book balanced that he was short in some
way to the amount of $500. He declared
to the cashier that his clerk had deposited
New York draft for the sum of $500. He
insisted that the boy brought back dupli-
cate ticket for that amount, but he had
since lost that ticket. We consulted the
original ticket. which called for only $500.
We wrote to the New York bank request
ing that they send on the paid ticket under
registered mail. When the draft was ex-
amined 1T was found that it had been
cleared on some other bank. and the GUS
toner's name was Endorsed on the back.
When his memory was refreshed in this
unpleasant manner he apologized. 1t was
very unpleasant for a while. The bank
had me watched constantly"