The Portland daily press., 1883-05-24
Gambetta's Money Matters

IEuis LetteI W tne LuHuen Stdnudru.
Although NJ Gambelta's memory is fad
ing rather more rapidly tina usual, even ia
this age of ingratitude, yet the very interest
ing details respecting his inner life, now for
the first time published by the voltaire, viii
he read with general interest. His pubic
career vas remarkable but it " as not geael-
orally known, save by his friends, that his
private life was poetized by tinge Of ro-
nance From the particulars given by NJ.
Jules Latitte, /. seems that NJ Gambetta,
though bred to the law, was conspicuous by
an Ignorance of business, an indifference as
to money matters, and by dishterestedness
which is not usually ranked among the lead
ing characteristics of lawyers. Yet, NJ. La
little tells us that he died rich man through
no fault of his own. He left, 1t seems, for
tuue of some $4,000, and it is entirely
through the prudence of his friends that he
kept 1t. When he entered public life, and
after the war had brought him 10 the pima
Gle of fame, he was poor man, decidedly
in needy circumstances, and 1t was only
when some OF his friends started the Repub-
llque FRANCHISE and the Petite Repubique,
and assigned him a certain number OF shares
that thelr realization became the source of
his fortune. BY the realization of these
shares nj. Gambetta would have secured ov-
er A5o,00e,Ibut before his friends could lie
mp the money so as to prevent his dipping
into the capital he had run through, Nj. La.
htte tells us, no less sum than from el2,-
900 to $4,000.
nj. Lafitte accounts for this by saving that
he had good deal to pay, and he was never
able TO refuse an appeal for assistance.
When NJ. Charles Bertrand, the Manager of
the Theatre des Nations, committed suicide
rather than face his creditors, it transpised
that Nj. Gambetta had lent him, first, $1,000,
and few days later e400, to try to enable
him to tide over his difficulties. The Vol
talre also gives details of his relations with
lady who was devotedly attached to him.
Ills conduct during the war had kindled her
admiration. For II years the secret of their
attachment was so well kept that only his
most intimate friends knew of it. He had,
It seems, obtained her reluctant consent to
marry him when the illness seized upon him
which carried him off. Had he not died,
says NJ, Latitte, the marriage would have
taken place. During their long acquain-
lance this lady and Nj. Gambetta correspond
ed frequently. He never retired TO rest
without unfolding in a letter to her his in
most thoughts, and the correspondence, ex-
tending over II years, comprises no fever
than $4,000 letters. IL is sad to think that
in his indifference to money matters NJ.
Gambetta should have made no provision
for the woman who devoted IL of her best
years to cheer his life. The Figaro gives
the name of this lady, her address, and a
description of her personal appearance.
Mile. Leonee Leon is at this time in her
thirty-third year, and lives in modest lodg-
ings with her mother near the Pantheo !,
their means of livelihood being the mothers
pension as Colonel's widow l gather from
the Noltaire and the Figaro that NJ. Gam
betta's friends all agree that his letters show
how much he was indebted 10 the sound
sense and prudence of this lady As they
are raising subscriptions to erect a monu-
ment to his memory, 1t is reasonable to sup
pose that they will spare it the stain of al
lowing her to starve.