A "GOLDEN LEGEND."

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10109, 1 June 1917, Page 7

A "GOLDEN LEGEND."

VAIN SEARCH FOR WEALTH

The Now Zealand Herald of Tuesday

last thus disposes of a baseless rumour: “How much will you give lor 'a 1914 penny P” The question was put some weeks ago to a teller in one of the Auckland hanks by a lady, in whose voice there was more than a trace of eagerness. “Two ha’pennies,” was the prompt reply. “Two ha-pennies!” Indignation replaced the eagerness. “Why, my butcher told me this morning that 1914 pennies were worth Us 10id each, because there was gold in them, and that any of the banks would pay mo that much!”

The teller had an active mind, and an appreciation of humorous possibilities. “Well, you might take it to the Bank of , just across the street. 1 expect that’s the one he meant.”

bo the lady journeyed across the street, and put her question to another toller, who thought deeply for a. moment, and then referred her to the teller at tin l opposite counter, who happened to ho rather busy just then. However, he in turn found time to reply that the man who had been buying the pennies had been called up in the ballot, ami bad left no address. But if there was really gold in the pennies no doubt the bank further down the street would bo on the look-out for them. The lady journeyed homo then, it being after three o’clock, and meeting several friends in the car casually mentioned the matter to them, ascertaining first that none had any 1914 pennies.

Since then the golden legend has spread far and wide, through not only the city, but right throwgli many country districts, and little boys and girls in the homes of rich and poor alike, have shamelessly broken open saving-banks and missionary boxes, searching through the piles of pennies with all the primitive eagerness of the professional goldsookor.

Every bank in Auckland has been visited by an army of small children, eagerly demanding their reward, in addition to large numbers cf grown-up folk calling in to make inquiry. This has resulted in severe nerve strain for many of the bank clerks. When the innocent question, “Have you heard of this 1914 penny rumour?” was put to one sorely-tried youth on Monday, he flung out his arms in a gesture of despair. “Have 1 heard of it? Have I heard of anything else? It’s enough to drive a man wild?” In order to relieve the. situation it may lie stated, on the authority of leading bank officials, that there is absolutely nothing in the “golden legend.” The same rumour was abroad in other cities in the Dominion some time ago, receiving exactly the same credence, until its fallacy was exposed, and apparently Auckland is merely the last city to enter upon the fascinating, but elusive, quest. As a matter of fact, a careful analysis of one of the. muchdesired pennies was made by a local bank a few days ago. In it was found the ordinary metals and nothing more.