Pelham Continuation School - Pelham Pnyx (Fenwick, Ontario Canada)

Page 65 text:

46 THE PELHAIVI PNYX ESSENTIALS FOR COMMERCIAL STUDENTS 1111 Annie Dalybozyk Miss Edwards, who was a' student of the Northern Vocational School in Toronto, is the winner of a contest sponsored by the Underwood Typewriter Company. This contest was to take the form of an essay, giving a descrip- tion of the attainments of an efficient secretary. She has given us a very good account of what a thorough and efiicient secretary should be. As students of the Commercial class, it should be our aim, if we wish to become of value to a business oflice, to strive for all those essentials which Miss Edwards gives us in her essay. We print the essay that it may be a guid- ing light for every past, present, and future commercial student: Neat, accurate work, quickly and efiiciently completed, is undoubtedly essential in the making of a good secretary, but aniemployer looks for more than this when selecting an assistant. A young man or woman neatly and tastefully attired, with clothes brushed and pressed, shoes shined and hair tidily arranged, will: attract the attention and admiration of an employer and his clients and is an asset to any office. In choosing a secretary, the prospective employer looks for one who is not content merely to carry out his duties in a machine-like manner, but who endeavours to make each piece of work an improvement over the last-al- ways striving to get ahead. The secretary who has a definite interest in her work, who is anxious to please her employer and assist him to the best of her ability in all matters pertaining to the business, who uses initiative in the execution of her duties and is self-confident and tactful when dealing with clients and ofiice assoc- iates, has accomplished a great deal towards making a success of her position. The conscientious worker who does every assignment, no matter how small or unimportant it may seem, with the same thoroughness and care she would give to work of the greatest importance, has achieved one of the chief requisites of the model tecretary. Trustworthiness is appreciated highly by any employer. The secretary who can intelligently discuss the business of the firm with her superiors and yet who will not carry confidences out of the office to her friends and relatives, will win tl'e -greatest esteem and is always eligible for promotion ' By no nieans the least important item in the make-up of the good sec- retary is a sense of humour and a pleasant disposition. THE RISE OF BANKING By Edward Guinn .Q , n , K The bank as we know it to-day is a fairly new institution, but that prin- ciple of business for which it stands, that is, the taking of interest for money loaned, can be traced back to antiquity. About gooo B. c. the temple served as the bank of a community and it was not until about Goo ra. c. that private individuals began to set up in op- position to the temple. It is interesting to note the origin of the money chang- ers of ancient Athens. Many and varied systems of coinage existed in the old barbarian world. It is needless to say that great confusion arose when a man of one country tried to transact a business deal with a man of another. They had no way of knowing when they had arrived at a fair adjustment. Thus, men set up in the business of selling foreign coins to travellers. The money changers charged a commission in order to make a living. This was only

Page 64 text:

THE PELHAM PNYX 45 ufacture of sulphuric acid by the contact process. Platinum or, better, iridium- platinum alloy is the most suitable anode material for electrolysis of all kinds. It is used extensively for some surgical instruments, such as needles, for it can be sterilized easily. Canada is the leading country to-day in the production of platinum. It was first found in Russia but its supply is not as great as Canada's now. Colombia in South America also produces some platinum. COMMERCIAL XI N E-15 -f Seated Cleft to rightl -Annie Dalybozyk, Dorothy Martyn, Evelyn Kelly, Doris Dalybozyk, Annabel Hicks, Marjorie Berg. Standing-George Misener, William Peacock, Edward Guinn. OUR NEW COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT By Doris Dalybozyk Qurre A change has taken place in our Commercial Department. Pre- viously, as you may remember, the balcony was open with a railing along the side which kept the students from falling over with a typewriter. This year an addition has been built out over the gymnasium, and a wall with three windows has been erected making it a proper room. What a relief! Now we can have all the space we want. Last year's classes were so cramped for room they could hardly move. Nobody has to worry about the typewriters falling over the ledge and as a result killing some- body below. The members of the School Board have had cupboards built in which to place them. The lighting system has been improved a great deal. If you can recall your public school days, you can probably remember that we are supposed to read with the light over our left shoulders, Well, we have that system up in the Commercial Department now. May we extend our warm thanks to the members of the School Board for their efforts in having the improvements made.

Page 66 text:

THE PELHAM PNYX 47 the beginning of the Athenian banking system. This banker became in time a master of credit and capital. He soon found that the making of loans was a more profitable occupation. Rates of interest charged we.e outrageously high. Bankers of Rome, before the death of Caesar, followed all lines of banking. They conducted auctions, changed foreign money, accepted deposits, loaned money on security, made loans for customers and bought and sold real estate for customers. When the Roman civilization was wiped out, all branches of business degenerated throughout vvestern Europe for several centuries. From 1157 until 1979, the Bank of Venice, which is the oldest public bank in Europe, carried on a thriving business. Much of the money that was de- posited in the bank was used to carry on wars, and the owners vve.'e paid a certain rate of interest. ln the later middle ages, povserful financial firms ruled in the held of banking. Some of the most famous names include the Per- uzzi, the Medici, and the Fuggers. Banking in London was instituted by the goldsmiths, who were persons dealing in precious nietals. The e men kept strong boxes and soon people came to ask permission to leave their surplus money in his keeping. Then cheques vs ere introduced and used very much as they are to-day, though per- haps for diHierent purposes. Often people used cheques to avoid being robbed of their money in the streets. Soon it came about that actual cash was seldom withdrawn from tlie goldsmiths strong box, and tlie goldsmith found it necessary to devote all cf his time to this new business. ln order to secure more deposits he began to pay interest to those who left their money with him, rather than to charge a fee for his services. In 1694 the Bank of England was founded by William Paterson. He wanted to obtain for the government a better method of raising money, and therefore instituted a company having a Governor, a Deputy-Governor, and tvventy-four Directors. They were to receive eight per cent on their money and the right to start the business of banking. The Bank of England was the cnly joint stock bank in England and their notes soon became used as money. ECHOES FROM THE BALCONY Can you imagine: Marjorie Shantry at school every day? George not winking at the girls? Bill not saying sarcastic things? Annabel not being late? Ted having his spelling correct? Glenna attending all shorthand classes? Evelyn not laughing at something not funny? Doris and Annie not quatrelling? Marjorie Berg liking Agriculture? Bill, Bud and John not telling stores? CConfucius sayD June not chewing gum? Anne not combing her hair? Dorothy and Anne not together? Business Practice Question: You married Mr. James Smith. A cheque came to you made to Mrs. James Smythe. Show the proper endorsement. Ken H.: What do we boys do? Miss Blake: The same thing. Good practice for you.