Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1883-05-30
An Anec lots OF Gamb,ttat xs.A.

An OLD acquaintance N Gar certA
contributes an important anecdotal pa
per to the March Century containing
the following account Of rather un-
scrupulous ruse by which Gambetta's
mother got the means to send her son to
the law school in Paris. A portrait Of
Ganbetta is the frontispiece of the
number, and portrait of his father &C.
companies the article.
AS the "Bazar Genois" was in the
market-place its business lay in great
degree with rustics. Leon got sick
of dealing with haggling rustics. and
prayed to be removed from behind the
counter to the desk. As he was quick
accountant, and wrote in neat, legible
and flowing hand, this was granted.
He did his best to give his mind to the
business, but failed. and his health
sank under the tedium Of uncongenial
pursuits. No device to which the
watchful and tender mother r.sorted
could get the better uf his splcnetic
state. He had fixed ambition which,
as it appeared to him chimerical 0ns.
made him restless. discontenfaCl. aud
miserable; II was to study law, and be-
come teacher to Legal Faculty in .
provincial city. One day his mother
called him to her. She said she had
been unhappy in witnessing his growing
depression, and she handed him bag
of money which she had saved unknown
to anybody-enough to defray the cost
of his journey to Paris and enable him
to study law there for some time. A
trunk full of clothing had been pre-
pared, and was at the Office of the
stage-coach, where a place was booked
for him to the nearest railway. Mad-
anne Gambetta instructed him to slip
quietly away, in order to avoid \ pain.
ful scene with his father, who was de-
termined that his son should succeed
him in the business. This communica-
ton was SO unexpected and delightful
that for the rest of the day Leon was in
state of bewiderment. He rose be-
times next morning. and stole off as in
structed. Before Madame Gambetta
had instructed her son to follow his vo-
cation, she had taken steps to keep him
ont of misery when the hoard placed in
his hands should be exhausted. In
1856, the year in which Gambetta left
Cahors, NJ. Emile Menier went there on
u DuSiiltSs touE. he Hau just oftHctt
the chocolate factory at Noisiel, anl
traded in medcated biscuits and sweet
stutls. Calling at the ..Bazar Genois," !"
he was received by Madame Gambetta
In answer to his proposal to sell his
goods on commission she, with tears in
her eyes. met it with another. II was
in the nature of the one enunciated by
the unjust steward. Il have a son of
great promise" she said, 'whom l
want to send to Paris. againsth his father, /,
will. to study law. He is good lad
| and no fool. But my husband, who
wants him to continue lis business here,
will, know. try tn starve him into sub
! mission. What am about to propose
is that if ] buy your chocolate at the
rate you offer it. and buy it outright in.
stead OF taking it to sell on commission,
yon will say nothing If enter it at a
higher price, and you will pay the diff
ference to my sonpr NJ Menier, from
whose lips had this anecdote, agreed.
and for seme years carried out the ar
rangement