Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 98, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 April 1914 — No More “Spooning” Via This Bank’s Telephone [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

No More “Spooning” Via This Bank’s Telephone

ST. LOUIS, MO. —Cupid was blocking the right of way of Mammon, so the doors of the public telephone booths in the National Bank of Commerce were removed. When the bank building was erected special booths were

constructed on both sides of the Oflive street entrance. They had large glass doors and were sound proof. They were meant for the use of persons who had confidential communications tor their financial agents. Courting couples took possession of the marble-lined, glass-doored, soundproof booths. Famous financiers, with large interests in stock and bonds, would seek instant communication with their brokers. They might be on the “bull” side of

a falling market. Every moment meant the loss or gain of thousands of dollars. _ .Vainly the men of Mammon walked nervously up and down the tessalated corridor of the bank, or pounded at the glass doors. l«ove laughed, at bankers even more uproariously than it laughs at locksmiths. W. B. Cowen, vice-president of the bank, said that no doubt it was true that “love makes the world go round.** "But love clogs the “wheels of businessi*’ said Mr. Cowen, “so we had to take the doors off the booths. “Now the boys and girls do not take up much time exchanging soft nothings and a poor hanker can get a chance to make himself some money by .putting through a deal by phone once in a while."