My Financial Career

By Stephan Leacock

Stephen Leacock was a Canadian humourist and economist known for his witty and satirical writings. His most famous work, “Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town,” humorously portrays small-town life. Leacock’s sharp wit and engaging style made him one of the most popular humourists of the early 20th century.

“My Financial Career”  is a humorous short story about a man’s anxiety and confusion during his first visit to a bank. His nervousness leads to a series of comical misunderstandings, highlighting the absurdity of financial institutions and human behavior.

Questions and Answers

Q: What light does the following expression throw on Leacock’s state of mind when he entered the bank: ‘looked timidly round’, ‘shambled in’?

Ans. The expressions ‘looked timidly round’ and ‘shambled in’ clearly indicate that he is not in his normal self and is quite nervous. The very sight of bank staff and money rattle his senses which is evident from his nervous steps and confused looks.

Q: Why did the manager come to think that Leacock had an awful secret to reveal?

Ans. Mr. Leacock asked the manager if he wanted to see him ‘alone’. His body language and his mysterious and secretive manner make the manager suspicious that he might be a man from Pinkerton (a private security guard and detective agency) and is about to reveal some awful secret.

Q: What was the attitude of the manager towards Leacock when he came to learn that he only wished to deposit 56 dollars in the bank?

Ans. When Mr. Leacock told the manager that he wanted to open an account, the manager thought that it would be some large account as Leacock had asked him to meet alone. But when Leacock told the manager that he wanted to open an account with 56 dollars and would deposit 50 dollars monthly, the attitude of the manager completely changed. All his courteousness disappeared and he suddenly became cold. He rose from his seat and called the accountant to deal with him

Q: What other blunders did Mr. Leacock commit after leaving the manager’s office?

Ans. Mr. Leacock was completely at a loss about what to do or how to behave. He threw all his money shaped in the form of a ball in front of the clerk and told him that he wanted to deposit it. After depositing, he remembered that he needed some of it. He asked the accountant if he wanted to draw some of the deposited money. The staff gave him a cheque and also guided him on how to fill it. He wanted to draw 6 dollars but by mistake wrote 56 instead of 6. When the accountant inquired if he wanted to draw all his money, he realized his mistake. But now it was too much for the writer, he said that he wanted to draw all his money and would not deposit any money in the future.

Q: After this misadventure in the bank where did Mr. Leacock keep his money?

After the misadventure in the bank, Mr. Leacock decided that he would never use the bank again to deposit his money. He decided to keep his money in his trousers’ pocket and his savings in the form of silver dollars in a sock.