BANKS AND BANKING

Before the passage of the present strict banking laws in Wisconsin,
starting a bank was a comparatively simple proposition. The
surprizingly small amount of capital needed is well illustrated by the
story a prosperous country-town banker told on himself, when asked how
he happened to enter the banking business:

"Well," he said, "I didn't have much else to do, so I rented an empty
store building and painted BANK on the window. The first day I was
open for business a man came in and deposited a hundred dollars with
me; the second day another man dropped in and deposited two hundred
and fifty; and so, by George, along about the third day I got
confidence enough in the bank to put in a hundred myself!"

A negro bank was opened in a small town in Georgia, and Sam deposited
ten dollars. Several weeks later he returned to draw out his
money. When he presented his check the colored cashier looked at it
doubtfully and said: "Sam, you ain't got any money in dis here bank,
but I'll look on de books an' make sure." In a minute he came back and
said: "Yes, you did have ten dollars; but, nigger, de interes' done
eat up dat money."

"Father," said Nellie, "that bank in which you told me to put my money
is in a bad way."

"In a bad way?" returned her father. "Why, my child, that's one of
the strongest banks in the country. What in the world gives you that
idea?"

"Well," said Nellie, "it returned one of my checks today for $30
marked 'No funds.'"

A Buffalo man stopped a newsboy in New York saying: "See here, son, I
want to find the Blank National Bank. I'll give you half a dollar if
you direct me to it."

With a grin, the boy replied: "All right, come along," and he led the
man to a building a half-block away.

The man paid the promised fee, remarking, however, "That was a
half-dollar easily earned."

"Sure!" responded the lad. "But you mustn't fergit that bank-directors
is paid high in Noo Yawk."

HE--"We'll have to give up our intended summer trip. My account at the
bank is already overdrawn."

SHE--"Oh, John, you are such a wretched financier. Why don't you keep
your account in a bank that has plenty of money?"

A Hebrew by the name of Cohen went into a bank one day and asked the
cashier to discount his note. The bank cashier said:

"Mr. Cohen, I can't discount that note unless you get some one you
know, a responsible man, to indorse it."

Cohen said to the cashier: "You know m