Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-15
Popularizirig the
"Nickef" IN France

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
PARIS. April 25 1906
HH PoINCARRE. the minister OF
MI finance in the new cabinet has
already given proof OF his
sourcefulness. When he assumed Office he
found that the new NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
nickel coin-which corresponds exactly TO
the American ''nicker'-was exceedingly
unpopular. 1t was in fact so unpopular
that there was serious talk OF calling It in
again. for the small tradespeople refused
to accept it. and there was a general feel
ing among the lower classes that st would
become valueless some day. and be as
difficult TO get rid OF as foreign coLpers
Various methods were discussed among
the departmental officials for pushing thu
circulation of the coin which had aroused
such unreasonable prejudice. II was grave
~ proposed that pamphlet should be pub
hshed for gratuitous distribution calling
attention to its advantages, citing its dem
onstrated utility In the United States and
appealing 20 the patriotism of the French
public to support Il. Just leave the mat
ter in my hands" said NJ. Poincarre. after
these suggestions had been laid before
him. and I'll guarantee that within 4
few weeks the nickel coin will be the most
popular coin IN Paris"
his colleagues they would probably have
rejected it as undignifed. unprecedented
and contrary TO all the red tape rules aud
regulations so dear to the official mind. He
said nothing TO them, however, about the
plan he had in view. Nobody knew who
started the rumor, or the means that were
adopted TO spread II, but one day all Paris
was whispering that in the issue Of these
coins were FIVE on which the magic word
''RothSChild' had been engraved in tiny let
ters And everywhere the story was told
that the first persons who took one or
these coins to Rothschilds bank In the Rue
Lafitte would receive 5000 FOR II, that for
the second nickel similarly inscribed $1,000
would be paid for the third and fourth
81 eco and $500 for the last Of the hve.
1t was said that Rothschild had a large
stock OF nickel on hand which he wanted
to get rid Of TO the government. and had
devised this sort of gratultous lottery
scheme In order TO create such demand
for the nickel coins as would force the
government to buy the metal OF him.
The credulous French folk who dearly
love anything that appeals to their gam
bling instincts. readily swallowed The story
Small tradesmeu who hao previously fought
shy of the coin were eager To obtain
IT. The lower classes insisted on getting
nickels with their change In a few days
the nickel twenty hve-centine was the most
popular coin in Paris. and the demand for
it exceeded the supply, Needless 10 say,
no one has yet got hold Of a coin on which,
even by the aid Of a microscope. the namo
"Rothschid' can be discovered But there
are still thousands Of people In Paris who
are convinced that with good luck they
may obtain 5000 for cents.
/ 1t must not be inferred from this that
NJ Poincarre belongs to the mounteDank
type of politicians. He is one Of the ablest
lawyers in France. His practice chiefly
lies in financial affairs of the first magni-
tude and brings him an enormous income.
He Is one of the hardest and most con-
scientious workers at the bar. But in his
younger days he was a journalist. In that
capacity he learned how easy il is to fool
the people. And he believes that in a
good ca use fooling the people is justifiable.
His colleagues are of the same opinion now
at least as far as regards the new French
nickel