BANK CASHIER WOOD.

New York, 1895

The Man Who Handles the Money of Jamaica People.

William L. Wood, cashier of the Bank of Jamaica, is widely known as a brisk, though cautious, business man, with a reputation for probity that is bombproof. He was born in Brooklyn in 1857, his father being the Hon. Alfred M. Wood, ex-mayor of that city and colonel of the fighting Fourteenth regiment, when it was doing its splendid service at the front in the late Rebellion. William L. is the colonel's only son. He was educated at Alexander Military academy, in White Plains, and after leaving school began his business career with a brokerage firm in Wall street. He soon developed keen business tact, a quality his employers were not slow to recognize, and gradually he was advanced to positions of greater importance, which afforded broader fields for the exercise of his faculties.

In May, 1889, the Bank of Jamaica was chartered, and the gentlemen interested in that institution offered him the position of cashier, which he accepted. His career in the bank speaks for itself. The splendid success that the institution has achieved is due largely to his careful and conservative management. Nothing could ever induce him to depart one iota from the line of policy which he, as cashier, laid down as being calculated to best conserve the interests of the bank. A year ago, when financial storms were wrecking monetary institutions all over the country, or battering wildly at their doors, the bank of Jamaica, with Mr. Wood at the helm, bravely weathered the storm, never once exhibiting the slightest signs of weakness. He is highly esteemed by the patrons of the bank for his uniform courtesy and his readiness to give attention to all matters which may come before him officially.

Mr. Wood was for many years connected with the Williamsburg athletic club, always having a fondness for athletic sports. He served a little short of seven years in the ranks of the Twenty-third regiment, and is at present a member of the Veteran association of company H. He lives in Queens, in a comfortable home that he built nine or ten years ago, and now that his father has returned from his duties in Italy, he has taken up his residence near him.

Like his father, Cashier Wood in politics is an ardent Republican. While he has done some hard work for that party, he never sought a political office, and never held one. It may be truthfully said of him that he would not take a political office, though it were offered to him on a golden salver. He gives strict attention to the business of the bank, and is never absent from his post, except when out of town, which rarely happens. To sum up, Mr. Wood is "all wool and a yard wide." — Brooklyn Times.

—Reprinted in The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, June 21, 1895, p. 8.

The Spread of Banking

1895

The Bank of England was established in 1694, the Bank of Scotland a few years later, and those institutions were not long in finding imitators. As trade in the provinces increased substantial men began to feel the inconvenience of being their own bankers and retaining all their wealth in their oaken chests. Gradually they began to open accounts with some of the London bankers, which they utilized for their business transactions. Doubtless such men were beset by many friends and customers to accommodate them through their banking account, and thus the well to do trader developed into the country banker with his London agent, who much preferred to do business and incur carriage and postage with some one leading firm in a town to having several small customers in the same place. — Family Magazine.


Couldn't See It

"Has Bilkens' sight been completely restored?"
"The doctor thought so until he presented his bill, when he couldn't make Bilkens see that it was worth $200." — Chicago Inter Ocean.

Our Day On Earth

1916

Augusta registered its first Chinese voter this. year, Chin Bong, who runs a laundry there. He was born in Seattle 28 years ago and is married, his wife being at present in China. Previous to coming to Augusta he lived for sometime in Boston and was a voter there.

A. Leon Esty, who was in the automobile with James W. Rafter in the smash-up at the Gardiner railroad crossing of Nov. 2, 1913, has brought suit in the United States District Court of Vermont in the sum of $10,000 against the Maine Central Railroad. It will be remembered that Mr. Rafter won in his suit for damages and was awarded $15,464.99. It was claimed at the time that the gates were not properly operated at the approach of the train.

A grand record for faithful performance of duties was rounded out last Wednesday by Edward G. Wyman of Bangor, when he retired from active service at the First National Bank of that city, after 52 years of continuous service, of which 38 was as cashier. He was given an assistant and granted a long vacation, on salary. Few men anywhere has a longer or more honorable career to his credit.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 1.

Too Extravagant By Half

1901

The manner in which one defaulting cashier was detected was rather peculiar. It was all due to the curiosity of the women of his neighborhood. He went to no expense in the way of dressing, they never heard of his gambling or drinking to any extent, he was a model husband, but he loved a good table. There was nothing unusual in this, but one day when the ladies of the vicinity were discussing the best method of cooking meats the wife of the cashier declared very innocently that her husband doted on ham, but he would not eat it unless it had been boiled in champagne. "Boiled in champagne!" exclaimed the listeners. "Heavens, how expensive! We couldn't afford to have ham on our table often if we cooked it that way."

It was soon noised all around the neighborhood that Cashier Blank was a high liver indeed, and the men began telling of his uplifted ideas of cookery. This soon reached the ears of the directors of the bank, and they concluded it might be wise to investigate the accounts of such an epicure. Plain water was all they could afford for their hams, so the champagne lover was called up and subsequently relegated to the pen, where he had to forgo his pet dish for many, many weary days. — Louisville Times.


Human Nature

It is human nature to deride what we cannot possess, to deny what we cannot understand and to insult those we envy. — Chicago News.

Ireland Is a Paradise, Says Returned American

1920

Most Prosperous Country in World

NEW YORK, N. Y., Jan. 1. — "I've been from Pekin to Constantinople within the last three years, and I found Paradise in Ireland," said S, S. McClure, publisher, on his return from a three months' visit to Ireland on the Mauretania. He continued:

"Ireland is the most prosperous, comfortable and law-abiding country in the world. The people are well dressed and well housed. One has to read outside papers to learn of the troubles and unsettled conditions there.

"I have nothing to say regarding politics in Ireland, as I went there for the purpose of studying the country's economic side. I found that Irish banks had deposits of more than £100,000,000 and have been forced to form alliances with English banks in order to find an outlet for their money."

Criticism of American Potatoes

1910

"Perhaps better potatoes will be raised in this country some day," said a man from Europe, seated in the Knickerbocker dining room. "At present many dinner menus are arranged without potatoes, In fact they are not highly prized, and I believe it is because the best kinds are not cultivated here. The soil may have something to do with it, but I tell you there is nothing to compare with the 'blue mouse' and the 'red mouse' raised in the Rhine country. There are many others kinds, with the flavor of nuts, mealy, and — well, I am often homesick for them." — New York Herald.


Easy Money at Great Parisian Banks

If you present a letter of credit at one of the great banks of Paris, like the Credit Lyonnais, an usher in livery receives you in a splendid parlor, like the salon of a palace, and bids you be seated in a sumptuous chair. Presently he brings you a check, made out for the amount you demand, for your signature. A quarter of an hour later he brings you the cash on a silver tray. You do not come in contact with the clerical force, or see the inner workings at all.

Many Powers of Intuition in Life

1910

By Lyne S. Metcalfe

A surface motorman awakened a train of thought not long ago when he stopped his ear shortly at a crossing. There was apparently no one there waiting to get on; a woman was standing on the curb not even looking toward the moving car, yet when the car came to this corner the motorman brought it to a standstill and sure enough the women hurried out of the crowd and clambered aboard.

"How'd you know that woman wanted to get on?" he was asked as the controller was thrown on again and the car started with a jerk.

"Just felt it," he laughed, "didn't know it. A fellow's affected that way in this business. How many people nowadays signal the motorman when they want him to stop? It's some sort of power, I guess, that tells me. I can't explain just what it is."

The patient knight of the motor voiced one of the most bewildering psychological truths found in the entire downtown propaganda, where about every nip and tuck of the human habit, custom or peculiarity finds a shining place. Taking metropolitan humanity as a whole, there are few who do not use intuition in the course of the average workday.

A certain teller in a large Chicago bank recognizes intuition so a faithful and valuable ally, one that can be put to good uses, though one that is not infallible. A "J. Rufus Wallingford" may stroll into this man's bank, toss a thousand dollar check over the counter in a blasé manner and something may "tell" the teller that the check isn't any good.

"I just feel it," he explains this strange power at intuition.

And the check may be turned down or, on the other hand, something may "tell" the cashier that the man is good — he just feels it.

Scoffers are referred to the average policeman.

Does the city detective always know a crook when he plucks him out of a downtown crowd, when the man's back perhaps is turned to the officer of the law?

He feels that the shoulders and neck ahead of him — the head crowned with a battered derby — is wanted. Often he does not know the crook's name and could not tell why he arrests him until the man is hauled back to the station and his photo is found gracing the limelight in the rogues' gallery some months or years back, the intuition in a case of this sort being extremely strong, as records prove amply.

Pointed Paragraphs — Carpenters Are Counterfitters

1900

The telescope lens enchantment to the distant view.

An egg in hand is worth more than a hen in the bush.

When a woman is in love it is very apt to increase her sighs.

Woman is the only tyrant that some men are not inclined to resist.

You can always bank on finding a well-filled pocketbook interesting.

Some people evidently go to the opera just to hear themselves talk.

When a man becomes a chronic loafer he begins to prey upon his neighbors.

Every time you avoid doing wrong you increase your inclination to do right.

The police should keep an eye on carpenters; many of them are counterfitters.

It's safer to be ignorant of a secret that's dangerous to keep than it is to know it.

Age is venerable in man — and it would be in woman were she to become old.

Sometimes a man has no confidence in other men because he has none in himself.

Medicine and advice are two things that it is always more pleasant to give than to receive.

Joseph's brethren probably cast him into the pit because they thought it was a good opening for a young man.

Ice cream and bon-bons may be the food of love, but bread and meat occupy important positions on the matrimonial bill of fare.

Intuition is something that tells a woman her husband is lying when he comes home at 2 a.m. and begins to explain the whys and wherefores. — Chicago News.

Just Wanted To See Her Money

1908

And The Little Old Lady Had Her Confidence Restored

She was a little old lady, so little and so old that with considerate friends she would never, never have been allowed alone in the hurried throng on the busy streets. She was such an old little lady that she had only just learned that there had been trouble in the banks, and she had made such haste as she could to be sure that her money — all the money she had saved — was safe.

"Have you got my money?" she asked tremulously when she finally reached the teller's window.

"How much did you have?" asked the teller kindly. No one could help being kind to such a little old lady.

"Twenty-five dollars," she answered. "Two tens and a five. I didn't wish to take it out," she continued apologetically, "but I should feel better if you could just let me see it."

So they showed her carefully "two tens and a five." Her faded eyes brightened, and with a grateful "Thank you," she left, every line of her bent little figure showing happy contentment and confidence, for she had seen her money.


Has Good Opinion of Women

"Men have no organization in the world that is doing as much for the world at the present time and for civilization as the National Federation of Women's Clubs," said Prof. Zeublin of Chicago in an address at Minneapolis. He said that woman is not only stronger mentally, but she is superior to man physically, and the day of her equality with man is at an end as she is in every respect his superior

Patriotic Creed of the Good American

1920

Patriotic Creed of the Good American for the Welfare of Everybody

Composite by Federal Reserve Savings Directors

I believe in the United States of America.
My opportunity and hope depend upon her future.
I believe that her stability and progress rest upon the industry and thrift of her people.
Therefore, I will work hard and live simply.
I will spend less than I earn.
I will use my earnings with care.
I will save consistently.
I will invest thoughtfully.
To increase the financial strength of my country and myself I will buy government securities.
I will hold above barter the obligations my country thus incurs.
I will do these things to secure the greatness of America's future.
Let us have no financial slackers in this battle.

Wife of Mexican Millionaire's Curious Hiding Place for Money

1915

Really Odd "Savings Bank"

With the coming of the pay envelope for women has developed the evolution of the broken-nosed teapot as a savings bank. Many and varied are the methods women have worked out to save money, although it is only within the last fifty years that the average woman has had to consider the problem individually. With their "going to business," however, questions of finance and investment have come to them.

Many amusing incidents of the broken-nosed teapot as a savings bank have come to light. There is a story of Pedro Alvaredo, the peon millionaire of Parral, Mexico, whose mines yielded silver so fast that he could not spend it, though he bought pianos and ponies by the carload, and all the metal work in the palace that stood where his old adobe hut had once been built was of silver.

Alvaredo had no faith in banks and kept great quantities of cash in his house. Naturally, much of this came into the hands of Senora Alvaredo. The senora had a special bed quilt which always covered her at night and was never far away in the day time. When the senora died her maid went to Alvaredo and asked for the quilt. But Alvaredo was superstitious and disliked to give away anything to which his wife had been so much attached. He offered the woman money instead and, though dollars were no longer flowing in at the rate of 30,000 a day, he was generous in the matter. But the girl insisted that she would have no memorial of her mistress but the quilt.

Finally Alvaredo's suspicions were thoroughly aroused and he ripped the quilt to pieces. It contained $30,000 in $1,000 pieces. Among them was a letter from the senora saying that she had saved the money for her two sons and directed that it be put in the bank to their credit. And now the young men are being educated in an American college upon the interest of their mother's savings. — From the Business Woman's Magazine.

His Own Banker — Kept Barrels of Money

Wisconsin, 1898

A Merchant who Kept Barrels of Money In His Store

George Hiles came down from Wood county, where he had a store, saw mill, large tracts of pine and other interests which later made him several times a millionaire. At that time and for many years before, Mr. Hiles was his own banker. He kept his money loose in flour barrels. It was not an unusual thing for him to have a barrel of silver and gold and another of paper money in the back room of his store, says the Chicago Times-Herald.

Later he became an official of a Milwaukee bank and put aside his Dexterville methods of banking. It was always the boast of Mr. Hiles that be never lost a dollar by his old-time banking ways. Once, however, he had a close call. A rough river man who had heard of the barrel of bills in the back room hung about the store until it was time to close and all had gone but Mr. Hiles and a boy.

The rough customer knocked the boy down and made a rush for the president of the bank. Mr. Hiles was something of a rusher himself in those days. He met the river man more than half way and in less than two minutes the would-be bank robber was in the middle of the road with two broken ribs, minus several teeth and blind of one eye. No one else ever attempted to rob that bank. Hiles died in Milwaukee two years ago.

The Jollier (humor column)

1922

A big wheat crop is predicted. Say it with flour.

These June nights are even better than the famous Arabian nights.

Nineteen seniors at an Ohio girls' college are engaged. And yet people ask: "Does education help?"

A success is a self-starter. A failure is a self-stopper.

Hint to Ireland: An alley-apple a day won't keep the doctor away.

At the time of going to press another movie star was married.

In Indiana, a janitor stole $80,000 from the bank. This was the best he ever cleaned up.

An optimist is a man who plants an orchard near a school house.

Thanks to radio broadcasting sermons, a man can stay at home and claim he has been at church.

One way to keep a daughter at home is to feed her on onions.

A school of politics for women has opened. First lesson should be smoking bum cigars.

It's an unlucky angler who doesn't even catch one to lie about.

Americans in Germany say they are charged too much. Germans want them to feel at home.

This business revival could stand a little more shouting.

The only objection to living in the country is you have to go to town for your vacation.

No girl buying clothes wants the most she can get for her money.

In Detroit, a madman whipped his landlord and escaped. But all mad men can't do that.

We will investigate Turkish atrocities. The Turks will be glad to give a demonstration.

—The Coshocton Tribune, Coshocton, Ohio, June 19, 1922, page 4.

Ohio Bank Bandits Get $12,000

1920

Hold Up Cleveland Cashier and Flee in Auto

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Two armed bandits entered the Lorraine avenue branch of the Cleveland Trust Company, when the bank opened in the morning, held up Cashier George Travnika while he was making up a payroll, secured $12,000 in cash and escaped in an automobile.


Steal Booze From Courthouse

OMAHA, Neb. — Liquor thieves took 300 pints of whiskey evidence form the basement of the courthouse. They filed through a locked steel chain to gain entrance.


Woman Seeks High State Office

LINCOLN, Neb. — Miss Anna E. Yockel, of Beatrice, according to state officials, is the first woman candidate in Nebraska for an executive state office. She filed as a candidate for the Democratic nomination on April 20 for Secretary of State.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, March 27, 1920, page 2.

Wooden Leg, False Teeth Are Taxable

1920

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- The cost of wooden legs or false teeth may not be deducted form the gross income in making out Federal income tax returns. This was the ruling of deputies in the income tax office. A man wanted to deduct the cost of a wooden leg, and a woman thought she would be permitted to deduct the cost of a new set of false teeth. Neither deduction was permitted.

When a north St. Louis business man made his return for this year he was questioned about his return for the year before. When asked why his tax return showed a smaller income from his business than did a statement he made to a bank when seeking a loan, he replied:

"A bank statement is one thing and a tax return is something entirely different."

--The Saturday Blade, Chicago, March 27, 1920, page 5.

Depositor Present When Bank "Busts"

1920—

Depositor Present When Bank "Busts"

Had Heard of Such Blow-ups, but Never Saw One

A negro who had some money to invest decided to put it in a savings bank. He picked out what he thought must be the best bank in town, because it had a huge crowd in front of it.

After a lot of trouble he fought and fought 'till he pushed his way to the steps and through the crowd and got at last inside the bank.

Up he went to the desk and the cashier turned around very quickly and said: "What do you want?"

"I want to put some money in the bank," replied the Negro.

"Hurry up, then; hand it to me," snapped the cashier.

The cashier took the negro's money, deposited it safely in his hip pocket, handed over a receipt and said, "Now get out!"

The negro protested.

"Ain't I a depositor in dis hyar bank?"

"You're that all right," grinned the cashier, "but it don't do you any good. The bank is busted!"

The negro, in great surprise, cried, "What!"

"Busted. Come up. Didn't you ever hear of a bank busting before?"

"Yaas," said the negro sadly, "but not right in a man's face!"

--The Saturday Blade, Chicago, May 22, 1920, page 9.

Little Girl Pays 1000 Nickels For Bond

Just after the doors of the First National Bank swung open this morning a pretty, little girl walked up to the window and said she wanted to buy a $50 Liberty Bond. She had something heavy in her hand. As the receipt for the bond was handed to her, she lifted the heavy bundle to the window and the teller was surmised to find within the sack 1,000 Buffalo nickels, enough to pay for the bond. They represented the saving of over a year, all poured out on the altar of her country.

The little girl is Jala Guin, daughter of Z. R. Guin, who is in business on East Main street.

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Follow the Good Road.
Follow the good road, and it will lead to a good town and by many a good farm.

Dragging Public Roads.
It is not difficult to prove that dragging the public roads regularly at the proper time probably is the most economical method of highway improvement.

Road Dragging Up Ahead.
Even at maximum costs road dragging is ahead of other maintenance both as to result and for economy.

Use Full Width of Road.
Let the traffic to use the full width of the roadway.

--The Ada Weekly News, Ada, Oklahoma, April 11, 1918, page 10.