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THE CHICAGO BANKER
July 31, 1909]
“Ever Occurred to You”
“Has It Ever Occurred To You?” is the title of a book edited and compiled by Robert T. Givens that should be in the hands of every man who likes to have questions of everyday life brought face to face with him. “Has it ever occurred to you that it’s the narrow and not the broad-minded man who usually wants more room? You have to keep your ears pretty well keyed to hear money talk. The ante in the poker game makes many a man pay unpleasant visits to his uncle. Your reputation and your character might like an introduction to each other. If you pray for rain you should have an umbrella handy. Your enemies have just as many friends as you. A man would rather have fruit when he is sick than flowers when he is dead.” The above gives an- idea of the rare treat that is in store by perusing the book. New York: Givens & Bailey.
South Omaha a Reserve City
Washington, July 30.—The comptroller of the currency to-day announced the selection of South Omaha, Neb., as a reserve city for the deposit of government funds. The selection ends a long contest for the honor between Omaha and South Omaha.
There are forty-seven such reserve cities including South Omaha. The law permits reserve city banks to act as reserve agents for country banks, which are required to keep 15 per cent of their total deposits in reserve. Of this reserve, three-fifths may consist of balances from approved reserve city agents and the other two-fifths must be in their vaults.
A reserve city bank must keep 25 per cent of its deposits in reserve, of which 123/2 per cent may consist of balances due from approved reserve agents, and the other 12% to be in their own vaults. There are three central reserve cities, New York, Chicago and St. Louis. The reserve feature gives the country banks the advantage of keeping balances with the reserve city banks, which they may count as in their own reserve fund.
. Omaha, Neb., July 30.—The designation of South Omaha as a reserve city never had strong-opposition from Omaha, according to local bankers. Omaha has long been and still is, a reserve city and the wisdom of having two reserve cities so close together was questioned, but no decided effort was ever made to prevent it.
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Texas Bankers Visit Spokane
Members of the Texas Bankers Association and their ladies were entertained by officers of the chamber of commerce during a stay of four hours in Spokane the afternoon of July 19th. Following a “Seeing Spokane” trip in special cars and automobiles, in charge of George B. Dresher, assistant secretary, the party visited Natatorium park and the permanent exhibit in the chamber of commerce rooms, where refreshments were served. The visitors were highly pleased with the arrangements for their brief stay in the city. Several registered for Indian lands in the Spokane reservation to be drawn for beginning August 12th.
The party came west by the southern route, traveled up the coast from California to Vancouver, B. C., and is now returning home by way of Yellowstone park. The bankers left Austin July 4th, and will reach home on July 30th or
Some “Silly Season” Logic
The Trusts—High tariff duties have nothing to do with building up trusts. That is why we are against reduction of the tariff.
The Brewers—We can prove that we sell more liquor in prohibition states than in states which do not prohibit our business. For that reason we are opposed to prohibition.—Kansas City Times.
The New Kuhn Book Out
The Life Publishing Co., New York, rarely disappoint the public in a new book. This time it is “A Little Bird Told Me” by Walt. Kuhn and includes his series of pictures and underlines from Life printed on heavy paper with wide margins and tastefully bound. In !this series the little feathered creatures are shown in just such predicaments and situations as are generally thought to be the sole property of human beings. The little scraps of text which accompany the illustrations become delightfully comical when applied in their unwonted way. For instance, one bird, standing on the ground and observing a measuring worm inching his way up a tree toward a limb on which his mate is resting, calls up “Be patient, dear. Breakfast will be up in a minute.” Another bird, alighting in a discarded hat belonging to a man, inquires of its mate, “Say, Bill, how do I
OLD NATIONAL BANK BUILDING Spokane, Washington
look in a Derby?” And there are a hundred or more other similar pleasantries. Of course, it is the conjunction of pictures and text which makes the thing amusing. The workmanship is all first
The Country Gentleman’s Handbook
Every man who owns and cares for a country place should have a copy of “The Balance of Nature and Modern Conditions of Cultivation,” a practical manual of animal foes and friends for the country gentleman, the farmer, the forester, the gardener, and the sportsman, by George Abbey. This is an English book, as the title plainly enough indicates. It is illustrated by 150 excellent drawings. In its 275 pages it contains an immense amount of authentic information. It is an exhaustive study of the wild and semi-wild animals, including birds and reptiles, considered specially in their varied relations to the cultivation of crops.
No one could produce such a book who did not possess an ardent love of birds and animals of all sorts, and the whole is the matured result of many years of study and close observation. A capital book to be in every family where there are bright minded boys and girls, whether in the city or in the country.
May be had of booksellers or of E. P. Dutton & Co., New York, direct.
Some of the Latest Summer Novels
Among the latest of the summer books is “Mrs. Gramercy-Park by A. R. Goring-Thomas. Mrs. Gramercy-Park is a woman who will appeal quite naturally to American readers. She is a Britisher by accident, seemingly, since she does all the things that a woman shouldn’t—in England. She goes into business and thinks for herself, and in the end, she arranges a marriage between herself and the man she wants in the most adroit fashion. Her women acquaintances are scandalized— but the reader will not mind them. There is so much that is likable in the lady that the public will be on her side almost without exception. Her affairs are very cleverly described by Mr. Goring-Thomas.
Published by the John Lane Go. at $1.50. Another is from the pen of Mabel Osgood Wright, entitled “Poppea of the Post Office.” It is a story of the Civil War, a time which Mrs. Wright is too young to remember vividly, though as a small girl she saw the funeral procession of Lincoln pass through Union Square. She was lifted up to see the catafalque as it passed.
Mrs. Wright uses two letters from London in this book, which are genuine, though she incorporates them as part of her story. Oliver Gilbert, living in a small New England town, was up as postmaster, and when he found that letters had been written to Lincoln backing his claim, he also wrote to the president, explaining to him that it was not all money need that made him want the office, as he had a little business, but, he wrote: “I was lonesome with only the dead and gone people in books for company, and I wanted something to do that would keep me near to my fellowmen, without which age is souring.”
To this letter Lincoln replied under date of Washington, D. C., April 2, 1861: “Your letter is in my hands. I have been lonely and have lived in books. I was once a postmaster and I understand.”
This lonely old postmaster adopts a lonely little girl, who becomes “Poppea of the Post Office,” but later, when old Gilbert is no longer alert and active, becomes a postmistress herself.
Mrs. Wright has written a pretty story, yet it is all fiction, with perhaps a touch of fact. It is not one of her nature stories, but whenever she touches upon nature we realize she is on her own hunting ground.
Published by the Macmillan Company, New York, at $!:.50.
“By Right of Conquest,” a new tale by Arthur Hornblow, proves to be a busy thought producer, even in the summer time. It raises a wonderful question and fully answers it.
“Suppose a ship were wrecked and the only two persons who survived the disaster—a woman cabin passenger and a common sailor— found themselves on a desert island?
“What will be this man’s and woman’s attitude to each other?
“Separated under normal social conditions by the widest gulf imaginable, on the desert island they are thrown together in the closest intimacy.
“The sailor begins to cast covetous, lustful eyes on his involuntary companion. He insists on ties the very suggestion of which overwhelm her with horror.
“Will he drag this delicate, highly nurtured girl down to his own animal level, or will she by sheer force of character, by her fine mentality and spiritual power, be able to tame the beast and lift the sailor up to her own level?” The book gives the answer.
Published by the G. W. Dillingham Company, New York, at $1.50.
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The Tennessee Valley Bank of Scottsboro, Ala., will erect a building.