The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-18
MEN. WOMEN
 AND THINGS

have been told that years ago when Henry whtterson was going over the country delivering his lecture on Money and Morals" that he always be- gan by saying: ''The other day a friend said to he, Henry why did yeu choose suc oh a subject, for you have neither
 "Marse" Henry may be willing to admit that he is shy on conventional morality, but the other night at dinner I lat next to a noted preacher and professor who has made LouisVille his home for years and he rather start led me b bk saying that Henry wat terson is an intensely religious man find that the venerable editor in ms "reminiscences makes the same admis- sion.
 But for this story I am gong to cut out "rnorals'' and keep hold or the money end It is, however needless for me to set up the claim that I am short ,on money and Hong on nor als, for if you do not know all there is to be known about me it is not my fault if you read this column daily, for am continually unburdening my self in it to the pleasure of some aho to the annoyance of others. This is to be no doctrinaire thesis on finances, for in spite of the confession that some accuse me of trying to kho" f0 confession that I know very lltlle about mon|ey, and that with meAt IS side line, Iand that I am more lnter- ested in IT any other things than am in trying to corner the money market in this district I know it's value put am not pbsessed with it or burdened by it.
 There are some men who make It life study, not the mere accumulat'iS it for themselves, but from the stano- point of financiers who delve into the intricacies of city, state, national ant international al finance. It's big task and realize that by so doing many bankers render a highly valued pubhc
  of the help they render to the commu- mites in which they do business. But I am goinf to limit my story to those who finger it as tellers.
 have known some men who llKed to handle money They get pleasure just out of the feel of crisp notes anu the jingle of silver or gold is music to their ears I am not speaking of mis- CTS who hoard it and get out their bags to gil pat over their treasure but | of normal. active business men, Now, l in my casd the physical contact with money gives no special joy, it's the thing which sit. will buy which glves me a pIea$ durable sensation.
 
 1 But I can readily understand those who enjoy counting or stacking money | in piles. frequently stand fascinated before a receiving teller's window and watch him as he receives deposiyafter deposit and, checks them up and then III a jiffy separates the coins and places ] them in their proper receptacle and also puts the bills in drawers, accord l ing to their denomination. Many If l them become very expert in their tasks Then I almost collapse at the easy way the paying teller hands the money | out
 ] I never cease to wonder at the non 1 chalance of the tellers, for if I had to be responsible at the days end for the correct totalling of all the thousands lin currency and coin passing through my hands Or the correct paying of it out I would become "a nervous wreck, and yet I have friends who have year after year stood behind the counter and received millions without eyer hav- ing to go to a sanitarium to be trea i for a case of nervous prostration. suppose after time they become ac- customed tp their jobs.
 Now, the receiving teller is not only responsible for accounting for the nu merous depdsits so that they will tally with the books as to amounts, but he also has to keep an eagle eye out for counterfeit bills and coins. The aver
 
 nose for the sports who try to slip "phony' money through the cage and get away with it as the bird dog has for locating coveys of partridges.
 It is really remarkable how expert tellers become in the detection of bad | bills spurious coins and raised checks, and yet every now and then in the match of wits the able counterfeiter puts one across even on the best men who face them. The would-be passer of manufactured money most generally has the good sense to get rid of it on of bank, for he knows he is less liable to be caught.
 How do bank men get on to their jobs? Of course, when there is a lot of bad bills, and particularly so when they happen to be of large denomina- tion, being circulated, they are put on notice and keep a close watchout for them Then, after long service it gets to be kind of sixth sense with them to bounce on any currency or coin which is the least bit off color or if gold, off weight.
 I happened to be living in New York in the panic of 1902-3 and the firil with which I was associated represent