Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1844-12-03
A FORTUNE MADE BY PICKING
UP A PIN.


Important results often fol!Ow from
the most lri0ing incidents. A rsmarka-
BILE case Of this kind isrelated in an Eng
Iish paper, respecting LSfilte, the French
(which was the foundation
orlhe immense forums he afterwards ac'
cumulsted. When he came 10 Paris, in
l7Ss, the extent of his ambition was to
find a situation 10 banking house. and
10. attain this object he called on NJ. Per
regsaux, the rich Swiss banker, 10 whom
l.e had a letter Of introduction. This
gentleman had just taken possession OF
Ihs ho,el Of Mad'lle GuarmaTd, which had
been put up in lottery by that lady and
ven by the fortunate banker. 1t was 10
this charming habitalion. which has since
been demolished, that M. LATTE paid his
first visit to PARIS, and, as it were, took
his first slep in the Partisan world The
young provincaI-poOr aSd modest Tin
id aud anx,ous-sntered BY that gateway
which had Witnessed so many gaystIes oil
the last century. He was introduced In
TO the boudoir Of the dsnseuse, then be-
come the cabinet Of the banker, and there
modeslly stated the object Of his visit
IL is impossible for me 10 admit you
into nv establishment, at least for the
prsse nj , replied the baRkOr, 'all my otil-
ces have their full compliment. 1t
require one at a future time, l will see
what can be done; but In the mean time
7 .Iy;se YOU 10 seek elsewhere, for dc
not expect 10 have a vacancy for some
line.'
With a disappointed heart tho Young
aspirant for employment left the sfhce,
and while with a downcsst lock he ira
vsr.ed the courtyard, he stopped !" pick
up pin which lay in his path, and which
be carefully stuck in the lapel o! his
co,t. Little did he think that this trivial
sctisn was TO decide bis future fate, but
SO it was.
Fr.m the Windsw Of bis cabinet M.
P.rrsOeaux had observed The action OF
the veunQ nan. The Swiss banker was
one fthoss keen Observers ofhumah &C.
tons who estimate the value Of circum
stances apparently lrifing in themselves
and which would pass unnoticed by the
majority Of mankind. lie was delighted
with The couduct of the Young stranger
In this simple action, he saw the rsVela>
lion of character, it was guarantee o.
a love Of order and economy, certain
pledgc ofaIl the qualities which should be
possessed by a finaAcisr. A young EaaI
who would pick upa pin could not ta'
10 make good clerk, merit the cSnh
dence of his employer, and obtain hgl
degree Of prosperity. In the evening o
tho sume day M. Latte received th'
following note from M. PerrSgsaux:--,
"A place is made for you in my oths'
+ which you may lake possession OF to'mor
row merning.'
The an,iCipations OF the banker wsr'
not deceived. The young LahIte pos
:; sesssd every desirable qualI'y, and eve
more than was at first expected. tro1
tsimple clerk lie soon rose TO be cashier
,bes nar,ner. then head Of the first bank
iuo heuse in Par's and afterwards, in raF
J., id succession, Deputy and President
/, the Council Of Ministers, Tho highei
= point citizen can aspire.
On what trife does the fortune
man sometimes depend. But fer tn
incident of the pin, M. Lafitte would pc
e bap. never have entered the house OF N
J, Perregeaux; another employer nisht n'
I. have opened to him SO wide field iG.
action, and his talents and Intelligent
It wonId not have led to such naguikcisl
=" results.
$ Little did M. Peregsaux think that II
It hsad which wsuld pick up Pl" was To
d Of man generous TO prOdigali'y in doIl
ID osod-a hand always open to succor no
is orable misfortune. Never were rich
II plsced in better hands: never did bank
ID or prince make more honorable use
: tbem.-Ex. paper.