Bank clerks and officers are usually required to give bonds, that is, they must get some person to go their surety, thus guaranteeing faithful service, and agreeing to make good any losses caused by defalcation or carelessness. There are now several surety companies that give bonds for everyone and anyone whom they consider a "good risk" upon the payment of certain premiums as in insurance.

If a young man is an applicant, say, for a cashier's position in a mercantile house and the house requires that some one give a bond, that is, go his surety for $10,000, and the young man has no rich father or uncle to guarantee the house against loss, he applies to a bond insurance company and if his record and habits are good he has no difficulty in securing the necessary papers.

The amount of the bond required depends upon the importance of the position applied for. Presidents of banks do not usually give bonds.

The bonds of personal friends have always a good deal of moral weight and force and for this reason are considered superior to the bonds granted by a guarantee company. Such a bond is really a testimonial, and the last one that is likely to be violated. The record shows that marvelously few employees have violated such bonds.

Know all Men by these Presents,

That we,...Henry Brown.....as principal, and ........James Cars.....and Henry Johnson....as sureties, are holden and stand firmly bound unto

The Royal Exchange Bank, of New York, in the sum of.................Ten Thousand.............. dollars to be paid unto the said......Royal Exchange Bank........

Whereas, the said .....Henry Brown......has been duly appointed to the office of......Cashier......of the bank aforesaid, by the Directors thereof, and has signified bis acceptance of the said appointment:

Now the condition of this Obligation is such, That If the said......Henry Brown......shall faithfully discharge the duties of his said office and all other duties that are. or may hereafter be, prescribed by the President and Directors, for and during the term for which he has been so elected, and for and during such term of time as he may continue therein, by any re-election or otherwise, then this obligation shall be void, but otherwise shall remain in full force.

It is, however, understood, that in case of the death of either of the above-named sureties, or in case either of the above-named sureties shall at any time give notice in, writing, to the President or Directors, for the time being that he does not wish to be held any longer responsible on this obligation, thereupon both of the above-named sureties shall be discharged from liability on account of any default of the said principal which may occur after thirty days from and after the notice of such death, or of such wish to be discharged as aforesaid.

Signed and sealed in the presence of:

A Form of Surety Bond.

The guarantee companies look into a man's standing very thoroughly before taking the risk of becoming his surety. When an application is made three references are given and the company corresponds with the persons whose names are given as references and asks a great many very pointed questions. A young man with good social standing can secure bonds for five or ten thousand dollars by the payment of a small annual premium.