Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-01-23

Every man was broker in stocks. Bub- bles, bubbles, dreams, fantasies-these were the things all carried in their hands and in their hearts. These made the object of their desire. of their pursuit unimaginably passionate and frenzied.
 With leap from the somberness of the reign of Louis, all France went to the extreme of levity. Costumes changed. Manners, but late devout, grew debonair Morals, once lax, now grew yet more lax. The blaze and tinsel, the music and the rouge, the wine, the flowing, uncounted gold-all Paris might have been called golden brothel of delirious delight, tenanted by, people utterly gone mad
 It was house made of bubbles. It's domes were of bubbles. It's roof was Of bubbles, and it's walls. It's windows were of that nacreous film. Even it's foundations had naught in them more substantial than an evanescent dream of gauze-like web, frail as the spiders house upon the dew-hung grasses.
 Yet as to this latter there should be SOMCWudL OL QudllllCdllCA. AO WfAoAo who created this fairy structure saw it swiftly grow beyond it's original plan, saw unforeseen results spring from those causes which were first we'll within his comprehension.
 Berated by later generations as an adventurer, a schemer, a charlatan, Law originally deserved anything but such verdict of his public Dishon- est he was not, insincere he never was; and as a student of fundamentals, he was in advance of his age, which is ever to be accursed. His method was but the forerunner of the modern com mercial system, which is of itself to- day but tougher faith bubble, as may be seen in all the changing cycles of finance and trade. His bank was but a portion of nobler dream. His sys- tenn was but one vast belief, one glori- ous hope.
 The Company of the West-this it was that made John Laws heart throb. America-its trade-its future! John Law, dead now and gone-he was the colossal pioneer. He saw in his dreams what we see to-day in reality; and no bubble of all the frenzied Paris streets equaled this splendid dream of re- newed and revived humanity that is fact to-day.
 But there came to this dreamer and doer, at the very door of his success, that which arrested him even upon his entering in. There came the prelim- mary blow which in flash his far seeing mind knew was to mean ulti- mate ruin. Tn a word, the loose prin- ciples of dissolute man were to ruin France, and with it one who had once saved France from ruin. lm
 Philippe of Orleans found it ever difficult to say no to friend, and more so if that friend were a woman; and of the latter sort, none had more than be- Men and women alike, these could all see only this abundance of money made of paper. What, then, was to prevent the regent, all powerful, from printing more and yet more of 1t, and giving it to his friends? The regent did so. Never were mistresses better paid than those of Philippe of Orleans, receiving in effect faithlessness in re- turn for insincerity.
 The notes of the private bank of Law were an absolute promise to pay certain and definite sum, not change able or indefinite sum; and Law made 1t part of his published creed that any banker was worthy of death who issued notes without having the specie wherewith to pay them. He insisted that the payment should mean specie in the value of the day on which the l note was issued This item tho re- gent liked little, as being too irksome for his temper. Was 1t not of record how Louis, the Grand Monarque. had twice made certain millions for. him.