Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-04-25
Cambetta's Money Matters.

Paris Letter to the London Standard.
Although M. Gambetta's memory is fadin O
rather more rapidly than is usual, even fn this
age of ingratitude. yet the very interesting de-
tails respecting his inner life, now for the first
time published by the VoHare will be read with
general interest. Hispubllc career was remark
able, but it was not generally known save by
his friends, that his private life was poetized
Oy tlnge OF romance. From the particulars
given by NJ. Jules LATTE, it seems that NJ Gam
BETA, though bred to the law, was conspicu-
Gus by an ignOraDce of business, an indifference
as to money matters. and by disinterested
ness which are not usually ranked among the
leading characteristics of lawyers. Yet NJ Lafitte
tells US that he died rich man through no fault
OF his own. He left, IL seems, fortune of some
$4,000 and it is entirely through the prudence
OF ms friends that he kept it. When he eutered
public life. and after the war had brought him
TO the pinnacle of fame, he was poor man,
decidedly in needy circumstances and 1T was
only when some OF his friends started the Rep,tb-
aque Franchise and the Petite Republique. and
assigned him certain number of shares, that
their realization became the source of his for
tune. By the realization OF these shares NJ.
Gambetta would have secured over ESQ, 900, but
before his friends could tie up the money so as
to prevent his dipping into the capital he had
run through, NJ. LATTE tells us, no less sum
than from el2, 900 to E16OOO.
N. Latitte accounts for this by saying 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 Theater
deS Nations, committed suicide rather than fa ce
ms creditors. it TRANSFERRED that NJ. Gambetta had
lent him, first, Fl 900, and few days later f4OO
to try to enable him to tide over his difeuities
The Pohdire also gives details of his relations
with lady who was devOtedly attached to
him. His conduct during the war had kindled
her admiration. For twelve years the secret of
their attachment was SO we'll 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. saws
NJ. l4a1tte, the marriage would have taken
place. During their long acquaintance this
lady and NJ. Gambetta cOrresponded Frequently
He never retired to rest without unfolding in a
letter to her his nmost thoughts. and the cor
respondence, extending over twelve years, com
prises no fewer than 10000 letters. It is sad to
think that in his Indifference as to money mat
tiers ~ Gambetta should have made no pro-
vision for the woman who devoted twelve of her
best years to cheer his life. The Figaro gives
the narae OF tits lady, her address, and a de-
seriptton Of her personal appearance. Mile
Leonce Leon is at this time in her ::}3d wear
and lives in modest lodgings with her mother
near the Pantheon, their means of livelihood
being the mothers pension as a cOlOners widow
1 gather from the IOh1irc and the FIGARO that
NJ. Garnbetta's friends all agree that his letters
show how much lie was indebted to the sound
sense and prudence of this lady. As they are
RAISING subscriptions to erect monument to
his memory, it is reasonable to suppose that
they will spare it the stain of allowing her to
StarYe.