HOW A LADY SQUAKED HER OVERDRAFT.

Timaru Herald, Volume LX, Issue 2646, 8 March 1898, Page 4

HOW A LADY SQUAKED HER OVERDRAFT.

The manager of a London banking establishment gives a charming example of that delightful inability to transact business of any sort which so often accompanies great artistic accomplishments. A young lady artist who enjoys a first-class reputation among her colleagues, and whose pictures have repeatedly attracted considerable attention at recent exhibitions, was (says London Table 7att)!;;persuaded by her friends to start a banking account. Having been shown the obvious advantage of the cheque system she followed the advice. Blatters went on quite smoothly until one day she received a communication from the bank manager, m which she was politely informed that she had overdrawn her account, and would have to make up for the deficiency by paying m the sum of £20, Full of indignation the artist sat down immediately and penned a reply m the following terms :—• Sir,—l am m receipt of your communication of even date, and must express my astonishment at its contents. You ask me to deposit another £20, whilst there are still seven blank cheques m my cheque-book. I shall be glad of an explanation by return of post. —Yours, etc' Next morniDg's post brought her the desired reply. It said : —'Madam, —You seem to have misunderstood our letter of yesterday, m ■which we drew your attention to the fact that you had overdrawn your account. We enclose a statement of account, which we trust, will help towards clearing the matter up m a satisfactory way. Believe us to be, madam yours, etc' No doubt the perusal of this letter by the fair artist resulted m a formidable attack of headache; but anyhow it apparently convinced her of the justice of the request. On looking through the correspondence next morning the manager of the bank found a new letter from the artist—' Dear Sir,—l am exceedingly sorry for having caused you the trouble of sending me a statement of account. I find that you were quite right, and enclose herewith a cheque of £20 to make up the difference.—Yours, etc.' Needless to say, the cheque was made out on one of the seven blank forms. The story is authentic, although it may sound a little improbable.