The New York herald., 1922-03-12

that travel is great educator. He spent
his time in Europe seeing sights and study
ing people and conditions. He made no
attempt to study European banking
methods.
Accepted $50 a Month
On Return From Europe
Coming back to America on the steamer
he met Mr.. Bullen.- who was cashier of
the Continental Bank of ST. Louis. Ac
cording to Mr.. Lewis himself, Mr.. Bullen
seemed to be somewhat impressed with his
conversational ability and his ideas sbout
business. He suggested that Mr.. Lewis
call upon him at the bank in st. Louis,
promising him job 81
maturity He was quite determined in his
desire for success. He thought he would
do well to take a good position in the Con-
tinental Bank, and so upon arriving home
again he paid visit to the cashier i'm
mediately. 1t must have been Immediately,
for his money was practically all gone
The very day he arrived in ST. Louis he
went to the Office Of Mr. Bullen and asked
for the job. I'D
1t was not as great position as he had
expected. 1t was the opening for general
clerk and the salary was $50 month. He
considered for minute and then accepted
the job. He must have thought of his for
mer prosperity; he must have thought of
that position that had paid him more than
twice as much. And. doubtless he thought
of his European trip. He had seen better
days. He certainly had pride.
But he weighed the situation quickly
and took the job. 1t was the cropping out
of the old acumen in investing He had re-
for $5O-but in place where he felt the
future was more pregnant of potentiality.
He was not suffering loss OF SIS
month; he was investing it regularly in
himself
AS general clerk he was bound to learn
the business from the ground to the top of
his limited scope IL he proved conscien-
tious. And he did prove conscientious. He
was more than that, even. He was aggres-
sive and possessive of initiative and in
genuity. One feature Of ineffciency in his
office worried him vaguely for long time
1T was that there was no adequate sys
tenn for balancing cash and mail at the end
OF the day.
Accordingly, in his spare time, he went
about visiting the other banks of the city
and investigating their methods. After
complete research he sat down in his home,
and evolved method which would be use
full in his own institution. He submitted
" to Mr. Bullen and Mr.. Bullen approved
the system 1t was still in operation when
that bank was absorbed by the National
Bank of Commerce in 1902.
Back Again in the Bank
Where He Was Office Boy
At the end OF two years in the Continen-
tai Mr.. Lewis was promoted to the position
OF note teller. His investments began to
pay dividends. Then he became receiving
teller and then paying teller and then as
sistant cashier and, at last, cashier. In
1902 the bank was absorbed by the Ma
tional Bank OF Commerce. Mr.. Lewis was
back again with the bank at which he had
worked as S25 a month Office boy.
The change brought about his reduction
to the post OF assistant cashier. But he
was not really deferred, and In a year he
was cashier again.
Three years ago John A. Lewis was ap-
pointed senior vice-president of the Irving
National Bank of New York. He was near
ing his goal New York and the great
financial marts had ever beckoned to him
That was success.
The pangs that accompany success were
impressed upon him every time he went
back home to st. Louis. There were his
friends. He loved st. Louis.
John Asbury Lewis inevitably attains his
hearts desire. The announcement has
come from st. Louis that he has accepted
the presidency of the Republic National
Bank Of that city.