Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-12-12
The Banker Of the Faubourg Saint
...l 8onores
BY P. OUNCE. yR.

What | nm about to relate occurred
during the reign of Louis XVI, some years
before the revolution. Notwithstanding
tile satire of Rousseau, the austere coun-
sells of Turgot and the pithy sayings of
Poor Richard, the people of those DAYS
were not a whit behind the nristocrats of
our own time in luxury and extravagance.
Woman, as is generally the case, were the
prime movers in the foolish extrayagances
of the age, and fortunes were laVished in
supporting the claims Of rival beauties.
In such an evil time fiourished Jacques
Gorgeon, a well-to-do banker in the Eau.
hourg Saint Honore. From being sim
pile errand boy, at the Hotel des Fermes,
he had, after the manner of all self eleya-
ted young men, attained his present situa-
tInn, which, as usual with his class he
fully appreciated. Bat our friend Cor
geon was so occupied in amnssing his
lrtle fortune, that he had no opportunity
Of marrying; and as he desired above all
things, To perpetuate the race of Gorgeous,
henow turned his mind towards securing |
a wife worthy to assist him in attaining |
that laudable ambition.
No common woman would satisfy our
pargenu; OIL no; the lady to suit him
should possess more than ordinary accom-
pIisIlments; as to wealth, why, he had
enough for both. '1'is easy to forsee that
our pompous Jacques will probably catch
a Tarter. The 'Almanack des Muses.
the leading journal of that day, contained
several bouquets des verses, addressed to
MdIle. Diana s.; this lady il was
whom Jacques Gorgeon proposed to
marry.
The bankers suit was successful, and
the peerless Diana became mistress of the
mansion in the Faubourg Saint Honore.
Intoxicated with joy, was the worthy
banker, and Diana failed not to take
advantage Of her opportunity. Splendid
dresses, of the most costly fabrics, mag
nifcent shawls, pieces of jewelry, a new
house Of the best style and in the most
square, a carriage aud horses
unrivaIled, in fact. everything woman,
RsRseIf possessed of boundless
wealth, could fancy, was sported by Mas
dame Gorgepn, regardless Of expenditure.
sWha is that in that spleadid coachl'
would one dandy say to another.
why, that is the wife of a small bank
u, one Jacques Gorgeon formerly steward !
IF the Hotel des Fermes; and then the
elegant friends would sneer derisiVely. !
On the day of his marriage Gorgeon
counted his money and found he pos :,
essed just four hundred thousand Evres,
lnice little sum, but not second Peru; i;
gnld pieces, you know, are round, and !
will, therefore, roll away very easily, ac-
,ordingly, he had moi been married year
ire he was involved in debt. The honey &
noon was past before he thought of the :,
rate at which the pieces were1
One morning in looking i
'Ver his accounts, he discovered an aps Il
'aiing deficit almost all his capital was = =
waliowed. {
Diana makes a brave show, thought re
q, 'hat then she is so handsome; yet ]
annot help it, my credit must be pre-
arved; this extrayagance must come 20 y,
n end
Diana, however, would listen To no ar in
ament; SO jacques yielded, caring not az
hat happened after he had his day. But,
las! his day came full soon; for on going a
bis treasury one morning he was pet az
ned with astonishment 70 see ii empty; ID
had not a cent Of his own, there, how.
per. were the funds Of his depositors. He gr
'oked at The money awhile and then bes hli
20 to count il. Two hundred thousand lal
ffes, besides notes and bonds to d much
Fger amount. All! thought he, if it were kil
llY mine. The wish is father % che siT