THE COLLAPSE OF THE BANK 39 
southern states, and as a result, money to the amount 
of millions flowed into its vaults. 
With the usual effect of sudden wealth, the managers 
felt like making a little display of their prosperity. They 
accordingly erected on one of the most desirable and ex- 
pensive sites in the national capital, one of the most costly 
and splendid buildings of the time, finished on the inside 
with black walnut and furnished with marble counters and 
all modern improvements. The magnificent dimensions of 
the building bore testimony to its flourishing condition. 
In passing it on the street I often peeped into its spacious 
windows, and looked down the row of its gentlemanly and 
elegantly dressed colored clerks, with their pens behind 
their ears and button-hole bouquets in their coat-fronts, 
and felt my very eyes enriched. It was a sight I had never 
expected to see. I was amazed with the facility with which 
they counted the money. They threw off the thousands 
with the dexterity, if not the accuracy, of old experienced 
clerks. The whole thing was beautiful. I had read of this 
bank when I lived in Rochester, and had indeed been 
solicited to become one of its trustees, and had reluctantly 
consented to do so: but when I came to Washington and 
saw its magnificent brown stone front, its towering height, 
its perfect appointments and the fine display it made in 
the transaction of its business, I felt like the Queen of 
Sheba when she saw the riches of Solomon, that “the half 
had not been told me.” 
After settling myself down in Washington in the office 
of the New Era, I could and did occasionally attend the 
meetings of the Board of Trustees, and had the pleasure 
of listening to the rapid reports of the condition of the 
institution, which was generally of a most encouraging 
character. My confidence in the integrity and wisdom of 
the management was such that at one time I had entrusted 
to its vaults about twelve thousand. It seemed fitting to 
me to cast in my lot with my brother freedmen and to 
help build up an institution which represented their thrift 
and economy to so striking advantage; for the more 
millions accumulated there, I thought, the more consider- 
ation and respect would be shown to the colored people of 
the whole country.