Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-22
A MAMMON MUSEUM.
The Bank of France-How it r. Con-
Quoted and Protected.


mond Philipesux de la yrilliere from plans
furnished by the renowned architect Francois
Mansard The building was purchased a CEN
fury later by the Comte de Toulouse. when it
was enlarged and took the name of Hotel de
Toulouse. This count. the bastard son of Louis
XIV and Nine. de Montespsn. invested
with the rights of q lawful heir by his royal
father, who, not satisfied with this, must needs
also make his son an admiral of France when
still in petticoats. In course Of time the counts
hotel, or rather palace, became the rendezvous
OF all the fashionable courtessns and danglers
OF the day. When the Hood-gates of the French
revolution broke loose it was found to be occu-
pied by the Duke de Penthievre and the IN
fortunate Princesse de Lamballe, who shortly
afterward fell victim to the September massa-
cres. Gluck, Rameau. Adrienne Lecouvreur,
Pompadour. Luliy, Miles. Favart and Clarion
and the amiable captain of Dragons FloriRn
| were among the guests Hospitality received in
nightly revelry at this Princely mansion. Its
| spacious apartments were then gorgeously dec
GRATED, and the ceiling of the salerie doree-
now used as meeting room by tie board of
directors-still displays some excellent paint
ings by Francois Perrier.
When the Hotel de Toulouse became natl onal
property ii was turned to better albeit less
| romantic, account for the government print
Ing presses were set up under its roof until
March 6, 1908, the date of the decree which
| gave possession of the hotel and it's belongings
to the bank of France for the sum of $500 O00
The bank took up its headquarters in Mansard's
handsome structure but only four years later,
in 1912. when il abandoned it's old quarters. the
Hotel Massiac, at the corner of the Rue d Abon-
kir and the Rue dArgout Since that time the
old Hotel de Toulouse has undergone various
important alterations which have considerably
enlarged and gradually fitted il for the mani
| fold requirements of its present colossal share
of monetary business throughout France and
the rest of the world.
On reaching the bank we were deferentially
received by the governor, sub-goyernor and
regents. Before visiting the vaults-by far
| the most remarkable portion of the building
| We were led through the various departments
and cast rapid glance at the banks internal
arrangements
We came across a studio. where the painter
| in ordinary to the Bank of France transfers TO
an immense canvas the subject adopted for the
bank-note engraving. This work, in oil colors
is reduced by Photographic process to the
right size and handed over to the engrayer.
BY this means the bank is able to obtain that
clearness OF outline characteristic of its
notes. Next door Is the photographers ROOM
where the first design of the bank note is OBJ
| tanned; this design is afterward given as a
model to the artist who engraves the plate
wherein are printed those beautifully crisp
| and pinkish. pale blue leaflets SO eagerly
sought after by all.
The paper. We are told. is furnished by the
Papeterie du Marias. The pulp is made and
the manufactured article perfected in presence
of a special commissioner. who counts the
| sheets, takes away the plates which transfer
the water mark and gives his receipt This
paper consists of two superposed sheets. each
made with different pulp; the inside facing
| Is Of fine rag and the outer of green pulp. the
produce OF virgin hemp, that considerable
| resistance is obtained Notwithstanding the eX-
IRENE thinness of the sheet The printing
takes place inside the bank by means of a hand
press and the notes glazed with special
varnish to prevent their reproduction by
| photographic process. Prior to 1868 the notes
| were printed on both sides, but the vignette
was the same; the two faces were made to cor
respond exactly, as if the impression had pene-
trated the paper. Counterfeiters alone knew
the secret of this double facing; since that time
| the notes are printed with blue and red ink
forming violet tinctnre-and bear two dis
tlnct designs, one on the diverse and the other
| on the reverse OF the sheet.
On entering the vaults We were met by Sc
| of doors furnished with locks that are proof
against the az and crowbar Of the most skill
| full burglar. The first door is of steel and has
| lock fitted to receive three separate keys,
which are severally powerless to open it. One
| OF the keys is in the hands of the governor
another remains in the possession of the head
| cashier and a third is committed to the censor
| on duty. The concOurse Of three persons was
| therefore necessary to penetrate into this most
retired recess OF Piutos dominions.
The steel door was opened, and the safe in
use for the current operations of daily business
| disclosed. This safe is a formidable piece of
! furniture. 1t is full of secret tricks and con-
| trivances, SO that if you are not thoroughly
| acquainted with its mechanism YOU have barely
| to touch it to bring about a wholesale and
world-wlthout-end ringing and iinging of de-
| moniac alarm bells, quite deafening to the by
| stander and the unearthly noise OF which is
transmitted TO various parts of the building.
| especially the night pOrters lodge. the gov
| ernors apartment and tine lodge OF the
| cierge. Every precaution has been taken 10
betray the presence of a stranger in the vaults
In one of the walls Of this first cellar there is
another door much after the same pattern. but
of iron, through which We passed as soon as
| the three gentlemen were willing TO let us ia
| by means of three other separate KEYS. This
| second cellar Is of semi-eircuar shape and is
| called the SeI-re or safe deposit room. 1t con-
tans incalculable wealth in the shape of securi-
| ties, precious stones, &c, which are handed to
the bank for safe keeping. All around were
iron doors, each having private key and Sc
cret continuance. In one of these places of Sc
curity had been stored Frances regaiia and the
crown Jewels before they were sold and dis
persed; in another the Duke of Brunswick de-
posted his magnificent collection of diamonds
and his family papers whenever he travelled.
The bank charges five cents for every twenty
dollars worth OF money or valuables committed
to its care.
We shortly after came to the door OF the
vaults properly speaking. This door is so
neatly fixed in the wall as to be utterly invisi-
bic to prOfane eyes. Three more keys were
produced by the three gentlemen and the pom
derous door swung round, disclosing a narrow
! anu winding Staircase, which is accessible only
to persons of ordinary embonpoint.
This staircase, to make things a trifie more
sure, is in turn divided into four separate COM
partments by means OF three iron doors, each
requiring three other. new keys. and conse-
quently closed to all except that three headed
monster, the official Cerberus, who guards this
palace Of hades.
counted forty-three steps before reaching a
last door, iron-cased like the rest, and which
opens-as above.
We now enter the vaults, the sdnctun sdnctO-
ram of Pluto's tabernacle. which, like the old
Pagans, our modern Christians have so bent
tngly located in the bowels of the earth. Its
huge galleries measure over 40 yards in extent
On either side rise tall iron chests, furnished
with lids and handles, and lined internally with
lead. This leaden coating is a further pre-
caution, as it affords a ready means of her
medically closing the chest in case of danger
Each chest bears an inscription relating its
contents. The twinkle In Obrenovitchs eyes
here took on venemous glitter, as pointed
| to one of the labels, on which he read ''Pieces
du VfnSt francs, Monndie de Paris, 1885, 2
n.,tltOns," followed by a series of figures and
letters that have reference to the book keepers
accounts upstairs. The clerk whose business