The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-06-17

I difficult WI ere all the curious paSSeFE
BY stared in amaze at the great eOacl
near the door. half filling the narrov
and unclean stTeet-a vehicle bearin.
the arms of no less a person than tina
august and INSCRIPTIONS representa-
tive of the French nobility. the Prime
de Cont. No less person than tn
prince himself. thin-faced. aquiline an,
naughty, sat at this table, lookin.
about him like any common crimina
to note whether his speech might bc
overheard. Next TO him sat a hook
nosed Jew from Austria. Fraslin by
name, one of many of his kind gathered
so quickly within the last few weeks
in Paris. even as the scent of carrion
| fetches ravens to the feast Another
/ OF the p1r'y was man of middle age.
| of handsome. calm, patrician features
and an unrufled mien-that De Ia
Chaise, nephew OF the confessor OF
Louis the Grand, who was later to rep
resent the young king in the provinces
Of Louisiana.
Near by the latter, and indeed the
central figure of this gathering, was
one less distinguished than either oil
the above, evidently neither of church.
" ancestry nor civic distinction
Henri Varenne, sometime clerk for
the noted Paris Freres, farmers of tbs
national revenues. Varenne, now serv-
ing but as clerk in the new bank OF
Las ct Compagnie, could have been
called man of not great standing;
yet 1t was he whose presence had called
hither these others to this unusual
meeting. In point of fact, Varenne
was spy chosen by the jealous Paris
Freres, to learn what he might of the
internal mechanism of this new and
startling institution which had sprung
into such sudden prominence.
"As to the bank of these brothers |
Las" said the Prince de Cont, rap |
ping out emphasis with his sword hilt |
on the table. lit surely has much to
commend it. Here is one of it's notes,
and witness what it says. The bank
promises to pay to the bearer at sight |
the sum of fifty livres in coin of the
weight and standard of this day. That
.. |
Following these, are the words value
Now, my notary tells me
that these words make this absolutely
safe, SO that | know what it means in
coin to me at this day, or year from
now. Is it not so, Monsieur Fraslin?"
The Jew reached out his hand, took
Ao ncte, and peered over it in close
crutiny
Ills no wonder, Monsieur lie Prince"
aid he, presently, "that orders have
)een given by the government to re-
GIVE this note without discount for
he payment of the general taxes
Jpon my reputation, | must say to you
hat these notes will pass current bet
er than your uncertain coin. Tbs {
pecie of the king has been changed
vice in value by the kings orders.
let this bases itself upon a specie !
alue which is not subject to any
hange. Therein lies its own value"
1T is indeed true" broke in Var +
rne. mot day goes by at this new I,
ank but persons come to us and de- II
land our notes rather than coin of !,
he realm Of France" 9
Yes, yes broke in the prince, 1--WE =
re agreed as to all this, but there IS :,
luch talk about further plans of this -
Ionsieur Las. He has the ear of his q
race the regent, surely. Now, sir, a,
ii us what you know of these future :,
fairs" !,
"The rumor is, as l understand it, hi
lswered Varenne, that he is to take 81
5er control Of the Company of the hi
-est-,to succeed, in short to the shoes lie
Anthon Crozat There come Gu oil
GUS stories of this province of Louisi- D;
la" 90
"Of course" resumed the prince, gI
it'll easy wisdom, 1--WE all of us know
the voyage of L'Huillier, who, with
S four ships, went up this great river
and who, as is well known,
und that river of Blue Earth, de- l.
ribed by early writer's as Astounding L
gold and gems" "a
Aye, and there comes the strange
rt of it, and this is what l would lay -,
fore your lordships, as bearing up Il
nix, since it is taking over the char
Of the Company of the West. 1t is
WIS not yet known upon the street
lie story goes that the half has not
en- told of the wealth of these prov ,
ces. ex
Now, as you say, L'Huillier had In
tn him four ships, and it is well thi
own that his gentlemen had with in,
EN- certain ladies of distinction, >
long these mysterious dame re- at
rted to have earlier travelled in por sin
ms of New France. The name OF by
IS mysterious female is not known, wi
ye that she is reported to have been adj
good friend of sous-lieutenant OF lily
} regiment Carignan sometime sui
eller at Quebec and Montreal and tia
o later became lieutenant under ha.
Iuillier 1t is said that this same pla
sterious fair, having returned from esr
lerica and having cast aside her mo
ltenant, has come under protection dul
no less a person than his grace ing