Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-13

the year over so much Of its lines a. sx-
tend. in the case of a member of the house
of commons. between that members con-
stituency and the houses of parliament.
and in the case of a peer between his
usual place of residence and the houses Of
parliament.
New Quarters for Historic Bank
Saturday Sunday and Monday were busy
days with the historic Coutts' Bank. I'm the
Strand. The fact Is that Coutts is busy
moving its belongings across the street
TO the new Coutts Bank, which Is a veri-
table ornament to the Strand. 1t stands
on the place occupied for many years by
the famous Lowther Arcade. where. doubt
less, many Americans have purchased toys
and trihes There was a huge pantechni-
con van and little army of porters en-
ployed in the Sunday fitting. while, OF
course there were several policemen at
hand to see that no person laid greedy
fingers on the valuable property of Coutts.
The change of abode has produced one In
novation In the time honored habit OF the
famous bank. The old Coutts put out no
sign The plain old building In the Strand
might have been prosaic government Of
nee or wholesale drapery store for all
the passing public knew. With the new
Coutts it is different. The sign "Coutts &
Co" in prominent metal letters is now af-
fixed to the building. Coutts, as all the
WofIu KNOWS. mas many secrets In It's rec
ords and its safes. not the least piquant
being the story Of the marriage of George
the Fourth to Mrs. Fitzherbert, which Is
said to be stored away in one OF the safes
now being transferred across the Strand.
1t is interesting at the moment to note
one or two particulars about Coutts' Bank.
Its books date back TO 1892. At that time
one ledger sufficed for the names of tho
customers from A to u: now about fifty
ledgers are required. In the firms books
are the signatures of Princess Charlotte OF
Wales and all the members of the Royal
FAMILY from George III TO King Edward.
Contrary to much that has been written
the lucky guinea of the Coutts-the story
or which has been told to boredom-is still
treasured In the bank. 1t Is dated IIS2 and
is not very much worn. Coutts' stands by
its old traditions, despite the passage of
time There are now eight partners. of
whom Lord Archibald Campbell is the best
known. The staff numbers 40 clerks, and
the rule Is that they shall be cleans haven.
Every one knows that the Baroness Bur
dett-Coutts is the granddaughter of tho
founder.
In Lawson's History of Banking there
| Is an amusing story of the shrewdness and
boldness by which the founder built up the
business Thomas Coutts used to dine the
other London bankers in great state at the
early period of his career Through a rival
manager at one of these dinners Coutts
learned that certain nobleman had ap-
piled to his bank for a loan OF ESQ 600 and
had been refused. Coutts at once asked
the nobleman to call at the Strand, and
there offered him with great respect thirty
flOOO notes The nobleman took the
money, and within a couple OF months had
sold an estate and lodged f2OO.OOO with
Coutts Through him, It is said. Coutts
got the best of his notions.
"Black Rods" Death.
Black Rods death leaves only memories
| of regret associated with Sir Michael Bid
dup. The grand old general. who never
| finched from facing his country's foes.
was Ill at ease in the simple duty he had
| to perform in summoning the commons to
| the upper house. There was quiet dig
| nifty in the slow measured pace at which
| ne advanced up the floor of the house on
| high occasions. In his brilliant generals
uniform. and his breast covered with med
ais and decorations. but he was apt to for
get the terms OF the message short and
simple as they are. and furtively looked
| into his hat for inspiration, which rather
| spoiled the effect. There is a story that
MI John Morley prompted him when he
broke down on his first appearance 1t al
ways seemed to Morley a humiliation and
| indignity that this fine old soldier in his
| last days should be reduced 70 the posi-
tion OF mere carrier of messages between
the two houses.
OF the Office of Black Rod '-Ichabod"
| might be written-at least regarding its
emoluments. 1t was worth several thou
sanos year In the old days. when Off
Gals and holders of sinecures reaped a
golden harvest from fees. Even I'd to 1895
black Rod was in receipt of e 600 a year
but on the death of Admiral Sir lanes
Drummond the salary was reduced to 81 ON
| a year. and this is what Gen Sir Michael
| Biddulp received. In the same way the
| salary or the sergeant-at-arms has been re-
| duced from FL. 800 a year to FL 900
| Black Rod is chief gentleman-usher to the
KING and usher to the Order of the Garter
| keeping the door at the chapter meetings
OF the order. When the royal assent is
given to bills or royal speeches read if the
sovereign be present. Black Rod com
mands the presence of the commons but
II the sovereign be absent he only .desres''
their presence. Black Rod dispenses con-
siderable patronage, and the post is covet-
ed for this as well for its honorable inn
portance.
L believe that the picture post card busi-
ness is now positively at a low ebb In
last weeks Gazette one of the most pop
ular firms, which had had a miraculous sue
cess in a couple of years. was among the
firms In liquidation. But my opinion is based
rather on the statements of artists who
have made a speciality of the business
Ihey can hardly get publisher to look at
their designs now, whereas less than a
year ago publishers were squirting them
for fresh designs. But even as IL is many
OF the artists have stored a rich harvest
The best known and wittiest of them all is
said to have made f. .00O I'm six months by
comic designs. One hundred pounds for
twelve designs was not an uncommon price
for moderately known men. There is how
ever. a permanency in picture post cards.
and that Is the Photographic one. 1t has
come to stay. l.. H. MOORE.