DRAPER'S ASSISTANT TO MILLIONAIRE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 165, 6 August 1909, Page 3

DRAPER'S ASSISTANT TO MILLIONAIRE

irom £1 a week to over £500,000 a year. So might the growth in the fortunes of M. (Jhauchard, France's greatest shopkeeper, who died recently be summed up. The total value of' the fortune lie has left is estimated at lt>0,0()0,000f., (-17,200,000), and this enormous sum was built up entirely bv •Al. Chauehard's business •cneri'v and cn* terprise.

lie began life as a messenger boy, and then became an assistant in a draper's shop at a monthly salary of -t4. Then he decided to strike: out for himself. lie had succeeded in about £IOOO, but this was not sullfcient to build the establishment he had ill his mind's eye. Therefore he went into partnership with two others, and they founded the famous du Louvre, the immense drapery emporium which now employs close on five thousand hands. | GOOD ADVKRTJSJvMEXTS. Such was their success that when one jof the partners died thirty year* ago he left between two and three millions sterling. M. Chauchard retired from active participation in the business more than twenty years ago, and devoted himself principally to adding to his art' treasures, which are worth one million , sterling. Originality was the keynote i of .M. Chauchard's success. He was re- j sponsible ifor thci present system in ; vouc in the onorinous drapery eiupori- ! urns for which Paris is so famous, it! was ho who introduced the system of marking the prices in plain figures on I all the goods; that of .selling goods on j approval; that of giving away as adver* 1 tiscineuts the tiny lK;r»oons which have delighted the hearts of so manv children in Paris; that of the free buffet, a much appreciated innovation; and the practice of periodical sales. This trade genius was always a man of curious fads and fancies, however, and he was by no means five from tho superstitious and the quaint ays and ideas of tho humble folic among whom he was born. Tnvariably he carried a chestnut and two small potatoes in his pocket, the former for luck and the latter as a protection from disease. I'lien lie spent C4OOO on a gorgeous tomb. i:2ooft upon :l eolVin. and "gave instruction thai a rich vest wiiii iui,ttons of real pearls, costing moiv than (V'O.OOD, should be buried with him. together with the Cra;id ('rose; ol I.K Legion of Honor—the highest decora tion bestowed by tin- French Government—and an enamelled cro<-< set witu diamonds, -,\ jewel on which he set great store, lie was very proud of the Grand < ross and sent photographs of himself wearing it to all the crowned heads of Kurope. lie was greatly disappointed that none of them ever acknowledged the gift. Needless to say, such a man was the recipient of many begging letters, the requests for one month amounting to t£24o,flfl(); but lie was always generous'heartcd, and his enipployees receive! manv benefits.

Tie has left £1(10,000 to be divided amongst them, while a lady who nursed the inilHonajire tradesman for years will be tho lucky recipient of 110 less than £2,000,000.