Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-01-21
MISCEL L A n Y
The Money Kings.

MIS- L A n Y.
The Money Kings.
CONDENSED SKETCH OF THE RoTHsoHILDs, FROM
THEIR RISE TO THE PRESENT DAY.
The season was September, 1898. The Land
grave of HeSse- Cassel saw the French revolu
tionary bands approaching his donlinons, and
waving at his very frontiers. Hastily he pack
ed up his Jewels and valuables, together will
between two and three millions of thalers, ant
took the way to the ancient city of Frankfort
hoping to find means of placing his wealth and
the Jewels of his house in security.
Arrived at the city which had, for centuries
sent forth the rulers of the "holy Roman Em
pire," the fugitive Landgrave Knocked at the
door of an humble Jewish banker, Meyer Roths
child, richer in children than in thalers, but
withal a distinguished and experienced archeol
ogist and numismatologist.
The sovereign, who himself was an expert in
these sciences, paid much respect to the knowl
edge of the Jew banker, and had actually, few
wears before, bestowed upon him the distinction
of the title of "Medailleur to his Court"
"Meyer," he began, as he handed him hi
well-flled case, Il know you to be honest ant
conscientious Here is all possess; take it, ant
return it to me when this tempest shall have
blown over, and when better times dawn upor
us"
s.Sucb vast confidence does me great honor,
repied the Hebrew, "but your Highness must
not forget that the republican army is almost be-
fore our doors"
"We are in the hands of Providence" replied
the Iandgrave 81 ask for no receipt"
The Prince re-entered his vehicle and hurried
off. without listening to the renewed protesta
tions of the man of business
What Meyer Rothschild had anticipated, duly
came to pass Before week was over, Frank
fort was in the possession of the French troops
and the banker, who had been denounced as ar
anti-revolutionist, and an ally of the tyrants
found his domicil sacked, and his cash-box plum
dered in the name of liberty and the people.
No sooner, however, had the victors lef
Frankfort, than Meyer Rothschid re.opened his
banking-hou finding at first credit among the
Jews, and ultimately with all the business world
and soon was reputed richer than ever. In 1906
he was once more considered as one of the most
reliable bankers in Germany.
About this time there came short period o
rest for the crowned heads of Germany. TIE
princes of the Rhenish Confeleracy rested under
the high and forced protection of Napoleon
Raised by the will of the great commander tG
the dignity of an Elector of the German Empire
the Landgrave of Hesse received permission t.
return to his dominions On his way he passet
through Frankfort The journals had before in
formed him of the plundering of Rothschild'
house, and he naturally believed his own wealth
long since prey to the Jacobins. Still he de.
termned to visit his numismatic friend, if only
to assure him of the continuance OF his conn
dence.
Good morrow, Meyer" said the Elector
with frank and hearty shake Of hands. "A
last we have peace, old friend, but it costs u:
dear enough. Before you stands ruined man
as poor rs job"
"Whatl you poor, your HighnessS"
"Certainly, for have not those confoundet
sans culottes stolen my wealth along with yours
If do not now too much Inconvenience you,
should like to borrow small advance upon The
indemnity which shall receive in HeSse- -Cassel.
"Au advance is not needed for your Highness
for all that you confded to my care is safe anC
untouched"
What" exclaimed the Prince, sand were
you not plundered, thenl"
.'The French have taken everything had ,ant
was very careful not to excite them by resist
ance otherwise they would have searched more
thoroughly and might have found your diamonds
and money where they were hidden in my Gel
lar"
''How is it possible!"
"Yes, my surrender was stratagem. They
never found what had hidden. For the last
nine years, in order to indemnity myself for the
moneys | had lost, | have taken the liberty o
using some of yours. All my enterprises have
proved successful, and without embarrassing my
self in the least, can now return you the entire
sum with five per cent interest"
The Prince was deeply moved.
Meyer" he said, ''you are the most honora-
bic Jew have ever heard of. Keep my money,
and continue to operate with it. From to-day
two per cent. interest"
And thus Rothschild became millionaire.
Old Meyer died in 1912. Before he died he
had his five sons, Anselm, Solomon, Nathan,
Charles and James, called to his bedside They
received his blessing, and swore TO him to be
true to the law Of Moses, never to separate from
each other, and never to undertake great en-
terprise without having first obtained the coun-
sci and advice of their mother.
"Observe well these points, and you will soon
be the richest among the rich, and the world
will belong to you"
The old Hebrew proved prophet. A fnan-
cial Pentarchy was founded at his grave, land soon
erected its thrones in the five principal cities of
Europe Frankfort, Vienna, Naples, London and
Paris
The deposit of the Elector of Hesse Cassel con-
tinued to produce rich harvests to the heirs of
Meyer Rothschilds.
In 1914, at the Vienna Congress, the Elector
related to the assembled sovereigns the story of
the Frankfort invasion, and of the integrity of
the old Jew. At once the house at Frankfort
obtained the custom of the "Holy Alliance
It was commissioned with all the important
oans which at that time were negotiated by the
Emperors of Russia and Austria, and the Kings