CONFIDENCE BEGETS CONFIDENCE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2696, 9 November 1881, Page 3

CONFIDENCE BEGETS CONFIDENCE.

A 'well-known Paris banker^ last autumn fell a victim to this business principle. At Royat, where he went to take the waters, he met the most absent-minded of the Academicians. While the banker was tranquilly reading a newspaper in the casino, the philosopher fixed his eyes upon

his neighbour’s white duck trousers and began fidgetting with the inkstand. The result was that the inkstand, toppling over, emptied its contents over the snow-white ducks of the unsuspecting banker. The banker jumped up and insisted that the pantaloons must be paid for. The philosopher said that he would send the money to the banker’s room in less than an hour. The banker, suspecting that the shabby little man wanted to avoid payment, demanded thirty francs then and there. The philosopher asked for a receipt and paid the money. Then, turning to the bystanders, he said, “ Now, gentlemen, you are witnesses that I have paid for the trousers, and I trust you will support my reasonable request that the article of dress that I have purchased may be at once placed in my possession.” The wearer of the ducks promised to deliver within an hour, but the philosopher would not trust him. The banker was finally compelled to retire to a private,room, take off the trousers, push them out to the purchaser, and remain in seclusion for an hour while his servant was despatched to his lodgings to fetch another pair. The banker is now known at the Bourse as “ SansCulottes.”