Volume 2 - ElectricCanadian.com

CHAPTER V.THE ROMANCE OF BANKING.In an institution which has its agencies not merely inthe snug towns and cities of Canada, but also at manyoutlying points on this continent from the Arctic circle to thetropic of Cancer, the life of a member of the staff is subject toconstant changes, not infrequently involving abrupt contrasts.The bank officer one year shares the wild life of the newlyopened mining camp, and perhaps next year is in the midst ofa revolution in Latin America; he may encounter earthquakeson the Pacific Coast, and later the perils of forest fires inanother part of this vast continent. If he is married, hiswife goes with him; so that the life of a girl who marries abank officer in the earlier years of his service is apt to be oneof continuous change, of bidding farewell to old friends andof making new ones. This is a condition peculiar in NorthAmerica to the great Canadian banks and probably no othercalling save that of the officials of great railways is subject tosuch vicissitudes.Mr. F. C. Whitehouse, manager of one of the branchesof The Canadian Bank of Commerce, has depicted the variousphases of this wandering lifein a little brochure, Songs of theService. The following verses are from "The New Recruit:' 9What makes the Manager's heart to penk, whatmakes him to perspire,It isn't being always broke, nor t' Superintendent'sire;It's the everlasting juniors, in an everlasting stream,As stupid as they make them, and most uncommongreen.