New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-07-28
How to Pay a Debt.

4 .
Over the left you know.
How to Pay Debt.
The following laughable fact was translated
from French journal, and we beg to call the
attention Of our readers to it:
One Of our most notable contemporaries, q man
of considerable talent and expensive habits,
often, in consequence, sorely pushed for the
means Of supporting his extravaganza, lounged
about the BsslerdTd des Iaiie,sS, revolving in
his mind the most probable means Of procuring
the tolerabIy round sum of which he stood in the
most pressing need. He thought Of borrowing
it from one Of his friends, rich capitalist at the
head of a literary establishment with which he
had formerly been connected; but, to induce
him to lend his assistance in this new scrape, it
was necessary to enlist his sympathy by what
he termed q dramatic situation, and our hero
swas planning his scheme in his fruitful and in
yentive brain, when he accidentally met on the
sidewalk, . few PAGES from the Cafe Iorto'ai,
an artist Of his acquaintance.
The painter in question is person gifted with
an extragagantly ill-favored eountenance; his
wrinklSd and inevery way fantastical looking
Textures present On expression Of roughness,
$pnrness and ferocity which would do him credit
AMONG, the Cossacks of which the Gaite Theatre
aMekMa every evening so amusing an exhibition.
Din borrower accosted the artist, exchanged
with him friendly grasp Of the hand, and after
contemplating him for moment with manifest
satisfaction, and ss if his ugiiness inspired him
with q new and brighter idea: g Par6lest! my
dear FRIEND" said he, ssyou could render me q
great SERVICE
g should be most happy to render you any
service in my power. But what do you find in
my countenance to observe with such marked
and evidently pleased attention? Do you find
any thing very extraordinary in the appearance
of my face this morning." said the artist, adj
justing his neck tie, and smoothing down the
bristiing hairs of his moustache with evident
self-complacency.
1t is necessary for us to state, by way of pa
renthesis, that the painter SO extraordinarily
ill-looking is altogether ignorant Of his defect
indeed, SO far from suspeeting it, he is, on the
contrary, D great pretender to good looks. He
prides himself on having distinguished features,
an original physiognomy, q distinguished coun-
tenance-noble and severe, and stamped with
the indelible seal Of genius. He assures us that
no woman beholds him without an unmistak-
able emotion. And the remark ia by no means
hard to be believed, for his countenance is posi-
lively frightful
81 find nothing extraordinary there. Your
eountenanee appears to me as usual, and if Il
regard you with smile, it is, i repeat, because
You have it in your power to render me a
Weighty service
With all my heart 7"
g It is an affair Of pressing necessity, and one
which will admit Of no delay
s My time and services are altogether at your,
disposal
Gould you allow me half an hour of your
valuable time %
g Any thing you could ask"
4s Well, come with me-
Our hero called hackney coach, got in with
the artist, and gave the driver the address Of
the capitalist, who lived in ighboring boule-
ward. When they arrived before the door, he
descended, requesting the artist to remain in
the carriage The capitalist he found in his
office, busy with his writing. ssAh, you again ~
he exclaimed to his visitor, s'what fair wind
blows yon here' 4"
&C A stormy wind, my friend, q frightful tenn
pest which must overwhelm me irretrievably
unless you come to my rescue-now-instantly.'
oh, mon Dieu what can it be'''
am arrested am about to be conducted
to Glichy'
.sAh, the devil!'
The hack is below; my creditor is in it, and
his bailiffs watch every entrance to the house.
him twas the only chance he had of being paid
And said truly, for you are the only hope left
me in this deplorable position"
g But, what Is it -
You could not refuse me! You certainly
would not see me taken to prison. l know too
well your excellent heart, and long tried friend
ship for me. You are already my creditor, and
know it, but will settle it altogether soon
On my word of honor, intend to work for you
exclusively, and before long you shall be REIN
bursed: But first deliver me from this misera-
BILE embarrassment
Well, be it 500
IS You save my life!'' h
<tAnd what is the sum for which you are
arrested"
ssSix thousand francs, with the costs"
stLe didbiet six thousand francs! that is a
tremendous sum! 70
ssYes''
But we may make a conpromise-pay an
installment, and obtain time for the balance -
Impossible! am in the hands of an un-
manageable man.
Suppose | undertake to speak to him'"
Absolutely useless, You are a physiogno-
mist. Look at him, and see If he is man to
treated with.
On saying these words he opened the window,
and called to the man in the hack.
The painter thrust his distinguished looking
head out Of the carriage door, and turned his
face toward the window of the house.
6 Heb! what do you say to that" rejoined
the borrower, making sign to the artist To
remain perfectly still.
/" You are right; You have no mercy to hope
from such an object as that Here, take the
six thousand francs"
!" And here is your receipt-a thousand
thanks. Good-by, for the present"
This done, he regained the hack and said to
the driver: no the Boulevard des Haliens
opposite Tortenis.''
Arrived at the spot from which they ha6
started, ne put down the artist, took out his
watch, and said: g requested half an hour d
yonr time, and | have detained you but twenty.
i've minutes. / put you down where took you
up, and have only to offer you my boundlesl
and unqualified thanks
But the service that was to have rendered
you?''
+" 1t is rendered"