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Tne WEATHER YESTERDAY was cloudy and cool. THERMOMETER YESTERDAY 6 A. M., 66 9 A. M., 73: noon, 81; 3P. M., 81; M., 78; midnight, 67 Mean temperature. 74. Old-Time Banking. A GOOD STORY OF THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF STATE BANKS. [From the Detroit News.] Some funny stories are told of business methods in the olden time, one of which will bear repeating as an illustration of the advantages silver dollars possess as a bank reserve, and which, by the way, we especially commend to Secretary Sherman. The old Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank was established in Detroit in 1839. In 1845, owing to some disastrous operations in Ohio. it was temporarily badly crippled, and to tide over the erisis the directors lent their best energies. The bank had a large volume of notes outstanding, all redeemable in coin on presentation, and it was apprebended that the moment the condition of the institution became known a run would ensue, compelling the closing of their doors. Nowadays a bank officer would throw up the sponge under such circumstances, and suspend payment like a little man, but then bankers were both bold and fertile of expedient. The coin had run down very low, and there was no time to be lost. The services of a friend of the institution were secured, and he was privately sent to a large creditor (Lyell, the subscquently defaulting banker, by the way). to whom the critical state of the bank was whispered, and the wisdom of some measures for self-protection suggested. Lyell snapped at the bait, and, upon a hint from the officious visitor, rushed around to the nearest court and got out an injunction forbidding the bank to pay out any more coin pending the order of the court. This effectually saved the concern, for when note-holders subsequently presented the bank's papers for redemption they were politely met with the reply, " We should be very happy to oblige you, sir, but unfortunately we are for few daystied up by a process of the Wayne Circuit Court. We hope the injunction will soon be dissolved, when," &c. It was late in the afternoon when the injunction was served, and the stock of coin had some hours previously dwindled to 853. The cashier mean time was on nettles. the injunction did not come quickly the concern was ruined. At every opening of the door the poor man trembled in his shoes lest the new-comer should be a noteholder in quest of coin. One more demand would close the concern forever. Slowly the clock ticked off the minutes, full thirty of which must yet elapse before the hour of closing. Would that injunction never come At last the door opened, and nervous. bustling man burried to the counter. The cashier saw at a glance that it was all up with him, but while there was hope, be thought. Here, Mr. Cashier, I've got 8500 of your notes I want coin for." The cashier endeavored to preserve a placid exterior while he deliberately bethought bimself how he might delay a refusal of payment for a little while, until, perchance, an officer would come in with the boped-for injunction. So you want coin for your bills, do vou? suavely remarked the cashier, glancing with the corner of his eyes through the open window into the all too quiet street. Why, yes! I live in Dexter, and want to catch the 4 o'clock train; so please hurry up the specie." All right What's the news in Dexter How do the crops look? How's my old friend -? Is he living there still And, by the way, what in the world can you do with specie in that little country town that Farmers' and Mechanics' bills won't accomplish?" Oh, never mind. Give me my money, so that I can catch the train. The fact is. there is a little flurry out there about the safety of your bank, and I want to make sure of my money.' Ha! ha! ha laughed the cashier: afraid of our bank, are they ? Well, they must be getting pretty fastidious when the conservative old Farmers and Mechanics won'tsuit them. Why, my dear sir-' Never mind the pedigree of your bank, but give me my money, or I shall miss my train." Certainly, mv dear sir." (Another glance through the window, but still no sheriff in sight.) Aside: What shall I do?" There, I've got only ten minutes to catch my train. If you will assure me upon honor that it is all right, and that the bank is not going to bust, I won't wait now. but if you are going to shut up want my money. Come, how is it, old fellow Really, sir,' replied the polite cashier, " you place me in very delicate position. If I tell you the bank is safe, and anything happens hereafter, you will blame me; on the other hand, if I tell you it is shaky shall be unfaithful to my employers, and shall very justly be discharged. I prefer not to make any statement, but simply count out your thousand half-dollars. (Half-dollars were the principal coinage in circulation at that time.) Turning, screw-driver in hand. to strong :wooden box, apparently tightly screwed together, such as silver coin was usually packed in in those days, but which the eashier knew very well to be absolutely empty, be wiped off his brow and set himscif to work as if to an hereulean task. The man glaneed at the clock. then at the iron-bound coin box, then mentally ealeulated the weight of a thousand half-dollars, then burst out with: Never mind: see you have got the coin, and I'll d-d I'm going to pack a thousand half-dollars all the way to Dexter to-night. Never mind, Mr. Cashier, I won't trouble you,' and out of the bank he darted. The injunction was served soon after and the danger passed. But the old Farmers and Mechanics still kept up the habit of being short of coin, and did so till the last, when nearly twenty years later what was left of It was consolidated with a private bank, and became the now prosperous American National Bank, of Detroit. The worthy cashier still lives in Detroit, and finds a bonanza of enjoyment in recounting the amusing incidents of old-time tinanefering. The Comte de C. at the Cusino of Trouville beholds a gambler of the Greek order of architecture playing écarie with a gentleman. The latter loses and retires, and his place is taken by another gentleman. The Count: "Do you play honestly.
