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

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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 Soon it came about that actual cash was seldom withdrawn from tlie goldsmiths strong box, and tlie goldsmith found it necessary to devote all cf his time to this new business.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.

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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

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THE PELHAM PN YX POETRY SECTION MY HOUSE ON THE HILL By Marguerite Shaughnessy, GRADE ix. A quaint little house on the brow of a hill, Vklhere everythings quiet, and peaceful, and still, With nothing around me but flowers and bees, And birds nesting high on the boughs of tall trees A little grey house with shutters of blue, And everything shining, and everything new, A gay little porch where roses entwineg The sweet scent of flowers, and odour of pine. A little blue door that is always ajar For old friends to enter from near and from far, A path winding far to the valley below Where often I wander to banish my woei Far oil in the distance there bubbles a brook Where fish swim and play in a shady green nook Now, oft times I wonder ifI ever will Own a quaint little house on the brow ofa hill A BLACKBOARD Hy Marguerite Shaughnessy, GRADE ix. I am hard, and black, and cold, I'm not young, nor am I old, Such a life as I must lead, Pains and sorrows I must heed. I-lere's the story of my life, Filled with laughter, ioy and strife: In the morning I arise, Wipe the chalk-dust from my eyes. Patiently I stand and wait For the day, when comes my fate. In come all the girls and boys, Bringing gladness, cares, and joys. Then they look at me and frown, I-low they wish that I'd burn down! Teacher writes upon my face Of all peoples, names and race, And the children at me stare, Oh, what tortures I must bear. Though I may seem grufl' and bold, I possess a heart of gold, When the children 'round me stand, I give them a helping hand.