Departure from France

Memories of Toulouse at the time of my departure for Argentina with my wife and 2 year old child on October 28, 1888.

With our passports in hand, signed by Dr Lamas (Argentine Foreign Minister in Paris), we arrived at Bordeaux the next day and arrived at the steam shipping company to make inquiries about the “Belgrano” steamer. The departure took place on November 1st at 3 o’clock in the afternoon from the old port.

Brief summary and narration of our whereabouts before the departure.

We had lived in Toulouse for the past 11 years. At the age of 17, I departed from Ceret after my 3 year apprenticeship with my patron Vincent Cortis (musician and carpenter). My father paid 300 francs for the 3 years despite the fact that my work was not remunerated.

I arrived in Toulouse to work as a labourer for several employers and to continue learning as I attended the School or Art and Professions from 20:00 hs to 22:00 hr after a 10 hour day work, 5 days a week. Fortified by the schooling and my desire to learn, I was quickly identified as a good worker. A happy man, I started to have access to the ebony companies in Toulouse. I had the good fortune of getting a low number in the military service lottery which allowed me to serve for only one year in Perpignan in the 12th Regiment. Once finished with this stage and having spent my vacation at my parent’s home, I returned to Toulouse and went back to my job at Casa Savignol that worked exclusively for Paris. In addition to this, Casa Souleillan hired me as foreman. This company had 20-25 workers and built furniture for the royalty. At the time I was 23 and the position became intolerable as the workers called me “el mierdoso” (shit guy).

A few months later, I quit the position and spotted a shop and retail store for sale, which up to then had sold mid-quality wicker chairs, bird cages, etc. Attracted by the prospect, I found myself at the age of 24 suddenly settled into the business without having foreseen the challenges of production and sales. Mr Souleillan used to contract me to build luxury chairs in my shop. In the meantime, my neighbours would advise me to marry and due to my precarious situation, this seemed like a good idea. Having a considerable social network, I met who would later become my wife, Leonie Casagne, very good in every way. The wedding took place on September 25, 1885 at the age of 25. My wife was 22. We spent three very happy years, but sales in our shop which was run by my wife, were very slow, as was my work as a carpenter and builder of chairs.

In those days and from time to time, we were visited by a relative of my mother who used to bring magazines and publications about a new country; the Argentine Republic. This Mr. Auzeill was planning to go to this country encouraged by the information he read.

Then suddenly, an unexpected coincidence; an encounter with Mr Durrieu who had just arrived from Argentine a few days ago. The said gentleman, originally from Toulouse and having made a fortune in Argentina, consented to meet with me and provide me with some pointers. He was an ebonist and had been living in Buenos Aires since his arrival in 1871. His wife was into artificial flowers and over the years her business proved to be more successful than her husband’s. Mr Durrieu had returned to his country of birth to collect interest on his capital in Argentina which was 300,000 francs (well deserved, as he used to say).
After this first interview, I was convinced I could depart to Argentina without fear and I tried to talk to my wife, who’s answer was pretty abrupt: “This man wants us to go and mix with savages!, no way. . .”

At that time I was to do my 28 days as an army reservist, leaving my wife alone attending to the business, which made her change her mind as that year (1888) there was talk of a war with Tunisia. Upon my return she told me: “OK, if you want we can depart for that far country for two years and try to make a fortune like this man who was so successful. But we’ll have to sacrifice everything we have and sell off everything”

This task was accomplished over a period of one month. Shortly after, we spent a week in Ceret to see all the family, and suddenly we found ourselves ready to leave with our son Augusto who was in magnificent health at the age of two. Monsieur Durrieu provided me with all sorts of written information to make our arrival easier. He told me about the walnut Louie XIV furniture that was in such demand in Buenos Aires and also provided me with the address of wood trading companies together with a list of translated key words. Above all he advised me not to work as a labourer, but rather as an exclusive dealer of traditional French styles. He also gave me the addresses of French shops that introduced these luxury items in Argentina; Ader, Griet and others.

On my part I was equipped with two photo albums of my product line; one with chairs and the other with furniture, which served me well in the beginning. Monsieur Durrieu, age 69, widowed for a few months, abstained from giving us his family’s address in Buenos Aires and years later we found out about his daughter’s existence, married to her cousin, tailor by trade, specialized in uniforms and the owner of a shop located on 551 Tucuman street. They had two sons; a doctor in science and a distinguished veterinarian in Cordoba.