Show Old English Bookkeeping I Not so many years ago our na ilonnl system of bookkeeping was almost I al-most as clumsy as the primitive I method of counting on fingers says I the London Chronicle This was the exchequer way of keeping accounts by means of notched sticks of elmwood elm-wood called tallies a plan that strongly strong-ly I resembled Robinson Crusoes mode of keeping his calendar on the desert Island In the reign of George III an inquiry was mode by some revolutionary revolu-tionary spirit as to whether pen Ink nod paper could not bo substituted but the whole civil service rose against the Innovation It took many years to get the sticks abolished And whon they were privately aid con II dentlally burned in a stove at the houso of lords In 1834 the paneling ol the room caught fire and both houses were reducedwith the tally sticks to ashes Such is the dreadful thing that happens when the upper chamber cham-ber touches finance |