Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet., 1868-05-14

i
again in the presence of the ban
ker
"Do you have the goodness" said
Jacques, "to comply. with my re.
quest 7"
"What makes you so decided r.
replied the banker.
"From the fact that you have re.
called me-" was the answer. II
believe you would not have done
it if you had not wished to accept
my application
Quick powers Of observation,
love of order, and economy" replied
Mr.. Perregaux, in friendly way,
will make a good business man
Go into my counting house; ! will
descend as soon as possible, and
give you little business to attend
to-"
From this hour young Lafitte was
in Perregaux's counting house. His
industry and fidelity helped him in
every respect. His punctuality won
him the confidence Of his employer.
His zeal and progress increased
from day to day, so that he soon
excited the attention and admira-
tion Of his companions. In few
years he became book keeper and
afterwards cashier.
The French revolution broke out,
and the new order Of things which
called Perrageux to the Senate com.
PEELED him to submit his business
largely to the hand of some cola
borer. He took Lafitte in as his
partner, and as the sphere Of the lat
ter was now larger he had more OPP
to exhibit his business tact
and energy. In the last years of
the empire new sphere Of life
opened to him. Ia 1909 be was ap-
pointed director Of the Bank ofl
France. After that he was made
President OF the Chamber of Com
merce, and thus he came into init
mate relations with tie most inhuen.
tial people OF the country.
The decline of Napoleon's power
brought him into honorable political
positions. He acquired the conf.
ience OF the entire city, and, indeed,
u the entire country, in consequence
# his wise and judicious counsel for
he government Of the city. His
lear parents in Bayonne were still
wing, and he supported them all the
ime in the most handsome way pos
ible; and after his mother became
widow he took her to his house in
'arls. Many young men Of talent
wed their prosperity to him, as he
ad started them in business. He
great many in their
tudies at his own expense
When Louis XVIII, was com.
elled to flee before the advance of
'apoleon, at the beginning of the
Hundred Days" he committed his
ntire private funds to Laftte; and
'apoleon too. placed his fortune in
.afitte's hands. Thus, the great
anker had for some time in his own
eeping the property Of both rivals
, the French throne.
Alter Paris was captured, in the
ear 1873, he advanced two millions
francs to the State, which was
to give that much to the
lied hosts. One hundred thousand 1
ancs We're. appropriated TO him as
rector of the Bank of France, but
afitte refused to receive it during
g laborious years Of his admins
alton.
Nearly the whole time of the
he was member of the v '
amber of deputies, and one of the
ost worthy of the number. His
rilamentary activity was distin- 4
ished by his warm patriotism, no. y
ity of character, and acute under. =
lnding. lie always subjected his 8
n interests to the general good =
spite of the displeasure in which
} family of Marshal Ney were, be .
rmitted his only daughter to marry = =.
US son, the Prince of Modena.
He reached the climax of his DO ]
cal prominence in the July revo- A
ion. Without him Louis Philippe q: &.
uld never have assembled the
one. His political opinions were q,
y decided, and, if we cannot ap-
we of some of them, we certainly n
mot help admiring his honor and : !
egrity. He was member of
us Phillippe's ministry, and had A
'rge of the finances of France ~
this lasted but short time, as trn
views did not agree with those
he King. lie offered his resigna- "a
J, and retired with dignity as a u