BANKS AND BANK CLERKS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7110, 23 April 1910, Page 10

BANKS AND BANK CLERKS.

In tlio course of a lecture i on banking history Mr. Maberlv Phillips told the Institute of Bankers ' in London that when his father entered the Bank of England in 1818 the examination wasrto count one hundred pounds of silver. Xhe money was spread cut in front. of him, and he started to stack it. up in single pounds. After he had laboured some little tiine the kindly examiner whispered to him, "Never mind, • ray lad, as long as "you have twenty shillings in the last pound." Some uniform plan .of examination before election, was now adopted by many of, ; tho London Joint Stocks, biit a bank manager recently «aid to him, "A new junior is a perfect terror.. He ha-s a smattering of Latin, French and German, can do a simple sum in algebra or a problem, in .Euclid, but he cannot writ© a decent hand, he cannot spoil, ho cannot add a column of figures correctly, ho ‘ has. ’ doubts whether Berlin is in Franco, or Ireland, and he has no idea how to address an envelope." Formerly, the dress of the ordinary bank clerk was knee breeches, pi Ik stockings, shoes with silver buckles, tail Coat, and often a white tie, tho latter being still retained at Messrs. Hoare's; Messrs Contis drew the line at the clean shave and a frock coat. Hirsute ornaments were- regulated bv strict,-orders from., hondnurfrters. beards or the moustache hot; being tolerated -for many years. Nearly everyone .walked .to - and from' business at that time, three, four, or five miles being no uncommon distance. ‘•Mr. Phillips knew one gentleman who lived in Friday Street, Cheanside. He used to saunter down to the Bank at about half-past eight in dressing-gown and slippers, sign- the "appearnneeboek." and then return-home to shave and breakfast at his leisure.