The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1908-02-07

bank IN the world Is right here in st.
LOUISE asked an official Of one of
the large st. Louis banks. There is
bona fde banking institution in this
city with total deposits for the whole
period of Its eSistance Of only little
over $500, and Its entire business is
conducted by one woman. 1t Is the
children's bank In the Ghetto, and
though it is one Of the most interest
ing financial institutions in the city
1t is such tiny affair that you could
easily put the whole works In your
hat and still have room for your head"
The little bank referred to Is an In
teresting nstitution-interesting for
the originality Of the idea which 1t
demonstrates and for the educational
and ethical work 1t has already accom-
plished, and though small in deposits
and depositors-no child over IA years
Of age Is allowed banking privileges
there-it Is very far from small in the
scope of It's influence, and is really
one Of the most important economic en-
terprises now being carried on in st.
Louis. Through It's influence 500 chill
dren have learned many lessons Of
economy, self-denal and generosity,
lessons which they are putting into
daily practice, to the great benefit Of
all with whom they come In contact.
BY means Of the system employed by
the bank the juvenile depositors are
also being taught accuracy and orderli-
ness, and If they are old enough to COM
prehend the instruction are given an
Insight into the elementary principles
of modern business methods. Through
the agency of this little bank many
poor families Of the Ghetto have had
pleasures and comforts hitherto I'M
known to them, because the pennies
that formerly went for indigestible
sweets or big fat pickles are now saw
ed, and when a sufficient number of
them have accumulated they are used
for other larger and more lasting en-
joyments; and there Is one case In the
banks brief history where boy saved
enough money -$32-to go into bust
ness for himself. That boy Is now
educating himself and also adding his
mite to the general fund for the sup
port Of his mother and three small sis
ters.
Less than year ago Philip L. Sc
man, superintendent Of the Jewish Edu-
cational Mission at Ninth and Carr
streets, established the bank for the
purpose Of teaching economy and indie
pendence to the children among whom
his association works
The Penny Provident Bank Is really
a remarkable institution and Is the
only one Of its kind in the world, so
far as is known. ITS depositors are
all children under Il years OF age, and
many OF them are scarcely more than |
babies, The youngest depositor at pres
ent is Israel Fellman. who not only
cannot speak English, but Is rs yet un-
able to converse intelligibly In any lam
yuage. He ts not yet 9 months old.
and his account to date amounts to
nearly 30 cents. Many Of the deposi-
.ors who appear regularly on banking
lays and stand In line patiently wait
ng their turn to deposit the money
which they hold tight in their sticky
little fists, are SO tiny that only their
yes are visible above the cashiers
able. Some Of them can make orr
heir own deposit slips, and some cam
lot, but all know very well what they
ire doing and why they do it, and
he child who brings two pennies laws It
Town with his book with as much of
IN air as do those who can boast of
having a whole big dollar" to ex-
hange for the fascinating colored
lamps that are pasted In the bank
looks.
Stamps are used to register the de-
,osits instead Of the usual entry sys-
EN-, because they are not only more
asly understood by the children, but
hey seem to have stimulating eff
ect- The height of every chiid's am
ton seems to be to get yellow
lamp (the 81 stamp in his book,
nd 1t Is one Of the regular events of
anking hours for the children to 90
f in little groups to compare books
nd see which has the most yellow
lamps. The stamps differ in color ac-
ording to their denominations and
ven those children estimate their own
counts by adding the stamps in their
ooks In this wise:
1.-TWO nickels. That's a dime, amt
:? Two pennies, one penny. two more
ennies. That makes nickel. I got
dime and nickel in my bank book p
No amount is too small to be ac- /