Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-08-16
TnE Paris Correspondent of the London .stur

THE Paris correspondent of the London Star
furnishes a most interesting and instructive
account of the rise and progress of the great
financial house of the Rothschilds. This ac-
count was written out by the correspondent, in
view of the assurance given in financial circles
of the approaching retirement of the Rothschilds
from business. The reasons of this retirement
furnished by the correspondents letter are, that
Nathaniel Rothschilds, the head of the London
house, has been suddenly struck with paralysis,
and also that the uncertainty Of financial affairs
US we'll us the unsettled state of matters generally
IN Europe, Shave made money operations too haz
suPposes that the real reason is that there is no
longer any use for such houses rs that of the
Rothschilds: that the governments have com.
menced the practice of borrowing from the peo
pie, as in France, and that the willingness of
the people, generally, to take up loans has taken
away the ruling prestige of such house as that
of the Rothschilds.
According to the London Stars account, this
house had very humble origin. 1t seems that
the propagator of the famous house and family,
was born about the middle of the last century,
of poor, humble, but honest Jewish parentage,
at Franfort-on the-Main. He was boy of fine
capacity-as he must have been, indeed, TO have
been left an orphan at eleven years of age, and
still worked out SO great destiny for himself.
One of the leading circumstances of his early
career, which materially tended to shape his
growing power and fortune, was this:
The Prince of Hesse Casscl, it seems in fly-
ing from the approach of the republican armies,
aQh e Sa1 ooh TO
rid of large amount in gold and jewels in such
n way us might leave him chance of its recov-
cry after the storm had passed by. With this
view, he sought out the humble money changer,
who consented reluctantly to take charge ofthe
treasure, burylDg it in the corner of his gar
den just at the moment when the republican
troops entered the gates of the city. His own
property he did not conceal, for this would have
Occasioned a search; aud cheerfully sacrificing
the less for the preservation of the greater, he
re-oPened his office as soon as the town was
quiet again. and recommended his daily routine
Of calm and steady industry. But he knew too
vel! the value of money to allow the gold to be
idle in his garden. He dug it forth from time
TO time, as he could use it to advantage; and, in
tine, made such handsome profits upon his capt.
tai, that on the dukes return in 1902, he offer.
ed to refund the whole with five per cent inter-
est This of course was not accepted. The
money left to fructfy for twenty years
longer, ut the almost nominal interest of two
per cent; and the dukes Influence was used,
besides with the allied sovereigns in 1914, to
obtain business for "the honest Jew" in the way
of raising public loans.
snouIuJuuge that RothSchId was model man
in every respect He seems to have been a
sort ola Benjamin Franklin, in the simplicity
of his life, and in the rules which he laid down
for the government of himself and his business.
One of the great secrets of his success, and Of
that Of his heirs after him, has been the uudrvi.
ating practice of never assuming riches to real.
ize large profits. Their house would never trust.
anything thatwas not we'll assured by all the re-
quirements which the first Rothschd had laid
down as preliminary to business transaction
We are told that
They affected no master strokes-no cou12
6etdt. They would have used the lamp Of
Aladdin, not to summon genii, but 10 light their
steps as they tOiled on in the path of the genii
The only secrets by which they obtained their
choice OF innumerable offers of business were
the moderation of their demands. the punctual
iG!hllment OF their engagements, and the sim
plclty ana clearneSS OF their system. In short
the house of Rothschild became erent because.
its affairs were conducted upon the most perfect
system of mercantile tactics, and because the
character oil It's members, partaking largely of
mat OF the original banker of Frankfort, comb.
ned many of those amiaSlc qualities which SC.
lure popularity without torteltlng respect
They sought to make money by Skill and in.
dustry, not parsimony; they gave liberal share
of their profits to all whose services were Of
use in attaining them; and their hand, t'open
MS day to melting charity" doubled the value of
the gift by the grace with which it was presen.
1ed-the grace impressed upon the external
manner, by simple and kindly heart
In union-the fable as well as our every day
experience, teaches us-there is strength. The
founder of.this great house was we'll aware of
This fact, and he accordingly, at his death, laid
upon his five sons and i've daughters, the in
junction of preserving IN inviolablo union of
their capital. We are told that
This is one ofthc grand principles to which
the success of the family may be traced. The
command was kept by the sons with. religious
fidelity. The copartnership to which they were
left, remained uninterrupted; and from the mo.
ment Of their fathers death, every proposal Of
moment was submitted to their Joint discussion
and carried out upon an agreed plan, each Of
the brothers sharing equally in the results
Such record as that, of this remarkable fam.
lily, carries with it n fine example. It shows
how it is possible for young man, who sets
out with tho determination 10 ,vorl, .t,o I;ll