The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-12-25
START SAVINGS
BANK CHRISTMAS
Colonel Washington Suggests
Unique Idea
START CHILDREN RIGHT
If Each Child Were Given at Least
rs Cents to Start Savings Account
the Habit Would Grow
Steadily
START CHILDREN RIGHT
BY ROBERT LEE CARTER

New York, December 24.-(Special.)-
Col. William D'Hestburn Washington,
civil engineer, author and man of prac-
tical and successful affairs OF large,
has suggested an idea In Christmas
giving to children which is we'll worth
serious attention and which If general
ly adopted may very well have wide
spread influence on the future prog
ress, prosperity and happiness of the
country
Colonel Washington's idea in brief
Is that parents instead of spending the
full allowance for Santa Claus annual
visit to their little ones In toys and
other perishable things. should see
that a small part at least, ii only 10
or 20 cents, be given in shape OF saw
ing bank deposit.
In explaining his idea Colonel Wash
ington says:
THE foundation of the prosperity
the providence In spirit and the en-
couragement of thrift among its people.
Thrift Is as much a matter Of educa-
tion as 1t Is of natural inclination and
In common with all habits its inculca-
tion cannot be begun too early Vac
climate the child with 1t. The child
with bank account in its own name,
no matter how small, has taken the
first lesson in thrift and the spirit
providence.
Suppose each parent on Christmas Day
should present to his children a bank
book. showing an entry OF from rs cents
IN rv,al ~ o,t
erty owner. 1t gives him a feeling of
responsibility which he could not other
wise have. Mind. do not suggest that
the toys and the sweets should be cut
out on Christmas. Let it be old-fash-
Toned and gay. These are essentially
part Of Santa Claus, to the children. My
suggestion simply is, that instead of
spending all the Christmas funds on toys.
which are soon broken and sweets, which
are soon eaten, part should be used in
the manner 7 have suggested. On birth
day anniversaries and future Chrstmases
these bank deposits should be added to
and in very many cases, IL not all, small
owners of bank accounts would be encour-
aged to increase their store by the de-
posts Of their pennies and nickles, which
should otherwise be wasted.
BY the time they are old enough to
strike out for themselves they would have
nice little nest egg which would help
them in establishing themselves either in
business or in making homes of their
own. tf
Many great businesses have been built
up from very small foundations. More
than one man who is now very rich has
started with capital of IS or less.
"The saving bank account is the acorn
from which the oak of success grows. It
encourages that spirit of saving which
we are assured on the authority Of many
men of wealth is the secret Of the sue
cess Of their line.
Have you ever stopped to think OF
the enormous value to the country of
the saving banks deposits?
IA hundred years ago there were In
this country in round numbers about
5000 deposItors with only 100000 oe-
rosits. There are now more than $9,-
900 900 in various Institutions.
If the plan that have suggested
should be generally adopted there is
no reason why, within very few
years, the total number Of saving