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which last they tried to imitate in melancholy cadences that at
times degenerated into a howl。 To my thinking the noise was
hideous； but it produced a great effect upon my companions； who
professed themselves much moved。 As soon as the singing was over；
the ladies requested me to stay where I was while they went inside
the place from which it had seemed to come。
During their absence certain reflections forced themselves upon me。
In the first place； it struck me as strange that the building
should be so nearly empty； I was almost alone； and the few besides
myself had been led by curiosity； and had no intention of doing
business with the bank。 But there might be more inside。 I stole
up to the curtain； and ventured to draw the extreme edge of it on
one side。 No； there was hardly any one there。 I saw a large
number of cashiers； all at their desks ready to pay cheques； and
one or two who seemed to be the managing partners。 I also saw my
hostess and her daughters and two or three other ladies； also three
or four old women and the boys from one of the neighbouring
Colleges of Unreason； but there was no one else。 This did not look
as though the bank was doing a very large business； and yet I had
always been told that every one in the city dealt with this
establishment。
I cannot describe all that took place in these inner precincts； for
a sinister…looking person in a black gown came and made unpleasant
gestures at me for peeping。 I happened to have in my pocket one of
the Musical Bank pieces； which had been given me by Mrs。 Nosnibor；
so I tried to tip him with it； but having seen what it was； he
became so angry that I had to give him a piece of the other kind of
money to pacify him。 When I had done this he became civil
directly。 As soon as he was gone I ventured to take a second look；
and saw Zulora in the very act of giving a piece of paper which
looked like a cheque to one of the cashiers。 He did not examine
it； but putting his hand into an antique coffer hard by； he pulled
out a quantity of metal pieces apparently at random； and handed
them over without counting them； neither did Zulora count them； but
put them into her purse and went back to her seat after dropping a
few pieces of the other coinage into an alms box that stood by the
cashier's side。 Mrs。 Nosnibor and Arowhena then did likewise； but
a little later they gave all （so far as I could see） that they had
received from the cashier back to a verger； who I have no doubt put
it back into the coffer from which it had been taken。 They then
began making towards the curtain； whereon I let it drop and
retreated to a reasonable distance。
They soon joined me。 For some few minutes we all kept silence； but
at last I ventured to remark that the bank was not so busy to…day
as it probably often was。 On this Mrs。 Nosnibor said that it was
indeed melancholy to see what little heed people paid to the most
precious of all institutions。 I could say nothing in reply； but I
have ever been of opinion that the greater part of mankind do
approximately know where they get that which does them good。
Mrs。 Nosnibor went on to say that I must not think there was any
want of confidence in the bank because I had seen so few people
there； the heart of the country was thoroughly devoted to these
establishments； and any sign of their being in danger would bring
in support from the most unexpected quarters。 It was only because
people knew them to be so very safe； that in some cases （as she
lamented to say in Mr。 Nosnibor's） they felt that their support was
unnecessary。 Moreover these institutions never departed from the
safest and most approved banking principles。 Thus they never
allowed interest on deposit； a thing now frequently done by certain
bubble companies； which by doing an illegitimate trade had drawn
many customers away； and even the shareholders were fewer than
formerly； owing to the innovations of these unscrupulous persons；
for the Musical Banks paid little or no dividend； but divided their
profits by way of bonus on the original shares once in every thirty
thousand years； and as it was now only two thousand years since
there had been one of these distributions； people felt that they
could not hope for another in their own time and preferred
investments whereby they got some more tangible return； all which；
she said； was very melancholy to think of。
Having made these last admissions； she returned to her original
statement； namely； that every one in the country really supported
these banks。 As to the fewness of the people； and the absence of
the able…bodied； she pointed out to me with some justice that this
was exactly what we ought to expect。 The men who were most
conversant about the stability of human institutions； such as the
lawyers； men of science； doctors； statesmen； painters； and the
like； were just those who were most likely to be misled by their
own fancied accomplishments； and to be made unduly suspicious by
their licentious desire for greater present return； which was at
the root of nine…tenths of the opposition； by their vanity； which
would prompt them to affect superiority to the prejudices of the
vulgar； and by the stings of their own conscience； which was
constantly upbraiding them in the most cruel manner on account of
their bodies； which were generally diseased。
Let a person's intellect （she continued） be never so sound； unless
his body is in absolute health； he can form no judgement worth
having on matters of this kind。 The body is everything： it need
not perhaps be such a strong body （she said this because she saw
that I was thinking of the old and infirm…looking folks whom I had
seen in the bank）； but it must be in perfect health； in this case；
the less active strength it had the more free would be the working
of the intellect； and therefore the sounder the conclusion。 The
people； then； whom I had seen at the bank were in reality the very
ones whose opinions were most worth having； they declared its
advantages to be incalculable； and even professed to consider the
immediate return to be far larger than they were entitled to； and
so she ran on； nor did she leave off till we had got back to the
house。
She might say what she pleased； but her manner carried no
conviction； and later on I saw signs of general indifference to
these banks that were not to be mistaken。 Their supporters often
denied it； but the denial was generally so couched as to add
another proof of its existence。 In commercial panics； and in times
of general distress； the people as a mass did not so much as even
think of turning to these banks。 A few might do so； some from
habit and early training； some from the instinct that prompts us to
catch at any straw when we think ourselves drowning； but few from a
genuine belief that the Musical Banks could save them from
financial ruin； if they were unable to meet their engagements in
the other kind of currency。
In conversation with one of the Musical Bank managers I ventured to
hint this as plainly as politeness would allow。 He said that it
had been more or less true till lately； but that now they had put
fresh stained glass windows into all the banks in the country； and
repaired the buildings； and enlarged the organs； the presidents；
moreover； had taken to riding in omnibuses and talking nicely to
people in the streets； and to remembering the ages of their
children； and giving them things when they were naughty； so that
all would henceforth go smoothly。
〃But haven't you done anything to the money itself？〃 said I；
timidly。
〃It is not necessary；〃 he rejoined； 〃not in the least necessary； I
assure you。〃
And yet any one could see that the money given out at these banks
was not that with which people bought their bread； meat； and
clothing。 It was like it at a first glance； and was stamped with
designs that were often of great beauty； it was not； again； a
spurious coinage； made with the intention that it should be
mistaken for the money in actual use； it was more like a toy money；
or the counters used for certain games at cards； for；
notwithstanding the beauty of the designs； the material on which
they