IN THE OLD DAYS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 77, 2 April 1910, Page 10

IN THE OLD DAYS.

A BANKER'S ANECDOTES. Interesting sidelights on the history of banking were givea in London on 9th February, in an address by Mr. Maberly Phillips b<»fore the Institute of Bankers, reports the Daily Mail. When Mr. Philiips's father entered the Bank of England in 1818 the examination was to count one hundred pounds of silver. The money van opread out in front of him, and he • diligently started to stack it up in .singre pounds. After he had laboured some little time the kindly examiner whispered to him, "Never mind, my lad, so Jong as you have twenty shillings in the la«t pound." The diess*of the- ordinary bank clerk ' in the old days was knee breeches, silk j stockings, shoes with silver buckles, tail coat, and often a white tie, the latter being still retained at Messrs Hoare's, whik Messes Coutts insist on a clean dmre and a frock coat. In early days nearly everyone walked flo and from business, three, four, or five miles being no uncommon distance. He knew one gentleman who lived in Friday-street, Cheapside, He used to saunter down to the bank about halfpast 8 in dressing-gown and slippers, sign the "appearance book," and then .return home to shave and breakfast at his leisure. In regard to tho question of food in business httuit, Mt. Phillips said that *in his opinion nothing surpassed a butcher's nhop somewhere at the back of CoptliP-11-court. Here one purchased a grand chop or steak for s|d or 6d. That waa sent to the pttblic-houfe next door and beautifully cooked for a penny.