The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-12-03
OETS are born-not made,"
- is an old axiom. Newspaper
men as rule have a natural

- is an old axiom. Newspaper
men as rule have natural
instinct for news. Many
newsgatherers do not know news when
1t hits them in the eye. Some of the
greatest newspaper scoops have been
purely accidental. To get news one
must be in the news zone--around
where it happens and be on the spot
when it occurs. Stale stuff is not
news-except to some-which is best
exemplified by the story of the Catholic
Irishman who was told that the Jews
crucided Christ. He met an inoffensive
Hebrew and pummelled him quite Sc
verely.
"Vat fur you lick me ?" inquired the
Hebrew.
"Well, ye're Jew, amt YEP"
"Yes, and I'm broud of it," said the
disciple of Moses.
81 licked ye because ye and yer kind
KILLED Christ" said the son of old Erin.
"Ach," said the Hebrew, 'Christ vas
AHCU 1910 years okO. .
"That may be so," said the Irishman,
"but 1 jist heard av it a few minutes
ago."
That was news to Paddy.
Twenty-Five to forty years ago bank
defalcations were more numerous than
they are now. In the olden days bank
clerks were not all bonded as they are
at present. Young men who were the
sons of wealthy stockholders were gen.
orally placed in banks by their paternal
parents so they could learn the busi-
ness and work up to the presidency.
About twenty years ago bank was
organized in western city and q
young man from Chicago, whose father
was quite wealthy was installed in the
place as paying teller. He was a nice
docking young fellow, neat in appear
ance. regular churchgoer and teacher
of Sunday School class. He was
quite favOrite in the so.called smart
set of the town and was looked upon
as most exemplary young man in ev-
cry respect. He smoked not, neither
did he chew tobacco-nor did he look
upon the wine when it was red. The
bank clerks of the town organized a
club of their own and this young man
Mr.. B.-became one of its leading
splrits-happy, joviaI, quick-witted,
good at repartee and all that sort of
thing.
The bank with which he was con.
nected made up package of pay roll
money every week OH Friday-to be
shipped by express to a local bank
about 100 miles away-so that it would
have plenty of funds on hand to meet
the pay roll checks of the local COM
pany. This package was usually made
up by the paving teller-Mr. B.-every
Friday morning, placed in a sealed
package, properly addressed and then
put in the vault until about 1 80 p. m.
when the express company's messenger
called for it to be shipped on a train
that left half hour later. The money
count was generally verified by the
cashier. 1t was the habit of the cash.
der and the other clerks of the bank
with the exception of Mr.. B. to 90 to
luncheon between IL aud l daily ex-
cept on Saturdays and they consumed
their full limit. On this particular
Friday the cashier and the others left
as usual and when they did so they
were sure the aforesaid package was in
the vault. From to 2 Mr.. b. was off
and in the meantime during his alb
sence the express messenger called for
the customary package but it was not
In the vault. 1t had taken wings and
flown. Mr.. b. expressed great surprise
and was sure it was safely ensconced
in the sacred precincts of the vault
when he left for luncheon. There was
q great scurry all around and excite
ment was at q high pitch-in the bank
but the cashier had Instructed his
associates to say nothing.
was waiting to see party at the
hotel on the opposite corner and while
gazing at nothing in particular hap
pened to observe the cashier, Mr.. H.,
run out of the bank excitedly and hike
down the street. I thonght nothing of