The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1859-09-14
Expected Retirement of the Rothschilds
from the Financial World

Expected Retirement of the RothschildS
from the Financial World.
The Paris correspondent of the London
Star. under date of the 25th of July, re-
fcrs to a very distinctly enunciated rumor
that the Rothschilds' House in Paris is to
be closed in December bv the withdrawal
from business of Baron James ROthschild
and his sons, Gustavc and Alphonzo. 1t
is very doubtful whether the rumor has
foundation in truth. The reasons suggest
ed in the letter in the Star are by no
means sufficient to warrant the conclu-
sion. The first assigned is, that Nathan
icl ROthschild has. in the flower of his
age and strength. been suddenly struck
down with paralysis: the second, the un-
certainty of financial operations in the
present unsettled state of Europe.
third fact is referred to, but not in CON
nection with the idea of their retirement
from business, namely-their utter fail
ure to effect the loan proposed by Aus
tria a short time prior TO the breaking
out OF the war in Italy. Taking all these
causes, they certainly do not seem ade-
quate to produce result so vast and
deeply affecting the governments and
commerce of Europe. The correspond
ent, however, has availed himself of the
rumor for the purpose Of reproducing a
memoir of that extraordinary family. In
the middle of the last century there lived
in Frankfort on the Main, Hebrew and
his wife. to whom was born, in 1888, a
son-Meyer Anselm Rothschild-whom
they destined for the pI oiession of a school
master. When old enough to be sent
from home, he was placed in a school at
Furth. There, however, his mind turned
to the study of Antiquities, and he became
particularly curious about coins. While
he was in his eleventh year, his parents
died, and he had to return to Frankfort,
where he entered counting house. and
obtained a practical knowledge of mer-
camille business. As first step in the
world, he went from Frankfort to Hano-
yer, and obtained employment in a veal
thy banking house, of which he became
the confidential conductor. In this situa-
tion he obtained some means for going in
TO business on his own account. He re-
turned to Frankfort, made a iudicious
marriage. and established a small banking
house He was in fact a meney-changer.
He must have acquired the confidence of
the business community in a comparative
" short time. for when the republican ar
mics of France approached Frankfort,
/ the Prince of Hesse Cassel, made him the
/ depository of Ej0,00O and a large quanti-
4 ty OF iewelry. This property he con-
/ cealed, while he allowed his own TO be ex-
/ posed as usual, when the troops entered
/ the city. The Princes money he used
! from time to time, so that when he re
/ turned. in 1902, Anselm was ready to re-
| store him all his property, and to tender
| him five per cent, for the use of the mon
/ ev This interest the Prince refused, and
| allowed the fifty thousand pounds to re-
main in Anselm's hands, at p per cent,
/ in trust for twenty years. The reputa-
/ ton Anselm acquired by his fidelity to
the trust conided to him by the
Prince. proved of more value than capi-
tai. 1t was the foundation Of the mighty
fortune which. upon his death in 1872, he
! left to be divided between his ten chill
/ dren-fve sons and five daughters.
The sons had been associated with their
father in his business and continued it af-
ter his death, but they spread themselves
over Europe like net work. Anselm,
| born in l1I3. fixed his residence at Frank
fort; Solomon. born in IVA, chiefly at
! Vienna Charles, born in l11S, at Naples;
and James, born in 1872, at Paris. The
fifth brother Nathan, born in 1877, resi-
ded in London, and died at Frankfort in
1887. The house was thus ubiquitous
As early as 1913, the loans negotiated by
them, and managed by them as agents,
amounted to five hundred millions of dol
lar~-the indebted nations being England,
Austria. Prussia, Russia France, Naples
and Brazil But this was the beginning
of their business as the general bankers
of the governments of Europe. In 1915
the brothers were appointed counsellors
of finance to the then Elector of Hesse !;
and in 1896, by the next Elector, privy
counsellors of finance. In 1918 they
were elected to the royal Prussian privy
council of commerce. In Austria they
, received in 1915 the privilege of being he
reditary landholderS. and in 1922 were
onnobled in the same country with the IL
tie of Baron.
The brother established in London was
appointed imperial consul and afterwards
consul general and the same year (ls22l
the same honor was conferred upon the
brother resident in Paris The latter, the
: Baron James, has the reputation of being
! the ablest financier in France, and it was
| mainly through his assistance and inf1u-
encc with other capitalists that railways
now intersect the length and breadth OF
. the land. Nathan, the brother who resi-
ded in England. left four sons. three of
: whom rank among the most distinguished
, aristocracv of the British capital; the
D eldest. Lionel de Rothschilds, is privileged
: as a British subject to bear the title of an
Q Austrian baron: the brothers being barons
4 only by courtesy. The second was crea
/ ted baronet of England, as Sir Anthony
Il de Rothschild; and third, Baron Never
I was High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire.- -
Il Baron Lionel de Rothschild was in 1858
u invited by the Reform Association L
u stand as candidate with Lord John Rus
/, sell for the representation of London il
i Parliament and was returned third oil
Is the list consultation was held by tn,
'' Chancellor of the Exchequer of that da,
\ with him, before ministers ventured upol
a. their celebrated letter authorizing tn
n Bank of England to extend its issues.
u Most of the members of this family
@ have married and live in great splendo
n in England or on the continent of Eu
! H. rope. In London, where they are bes
~ known, the widow of Baron Nathan ha
n always been held in great esteem for he
~ charity, and among other things she h9
lt contributed largely towards the formatio
et OF an educational institution for chi
NJ drcn of the Christian faith Her siste
Us the lady of Sir Moses Montehore, is Dol
o. ularly known for her philanthropy. :
re The sister of Baron Nathan, widow
Is the brother of Sir Moses Montehore, h,
likewise been well known for her liberalit
IL and more especially for the large funt
M she has bestowed on the establishmel
id of schools open to all religious denomin
m. tions.
fa- While her children were rising in veal
IN and influence throughout Europe, Il
IN. widow of the original Meyer Ansel
,ir- Rothschild continued to occupy his hun
no bic house in the tabooed Jews quart
= in Frankfort, which she regarded not @
Of ly as the cradle of her children. but
- their fortune, and which she always &
vas clared she would never quit except I
ell the tomb
co. ------------$ - $----