The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-17

unexampled in the history the world. In the
middle of the last century there lived in tue
town of Frankfort-on-the-Main, husband and
wife of the Hebrew persuasion, who lavished
all their cares upon son, whom they destined
Tor the profession of schoolmaster. The boy,
whose name was Meyer Auselm Rothschld, and
who was born at Frankfort in the year 1749,
exhibited such tokens of capacity that his
parents made every effort in their power
to give him the advantage of good
education; and with this view he
spent some years at Furth, going through such
d curriculum of study rs appeared TO be proper.
The youth, however, had natural bent towards
the study of antiquities, and this led him more
especially TO the examination of ancient coins,
in the knowledge of which he attained to
considerable proficiency. Here was one step
onwards in the world; for, in after years, his
antiquarian researches proved the means OF ex-
tending aud Tamiiying his connections IN
society," as well as OF opening up to him a source
of immediate support. His parents, however,
who were noted as plous and upright characters,
died when he. was yet boy in his eleventh
year; and on his return to Frankfort he set
himself to learn practically the routine OF the
counting house. After this we find HIM in
Hanover, in the employment of a wealthy bauk-
Jog house, whose affairs he conducted for several
years with care and ddelty; and then we see
opening out under his auspices, IN his native
city, the germ of that mighty business which
was destined to act so powerfully upon the
governments of Europe. Before establishing his
little banking house Meyer Anselm Rotnschild
prepared himself for the adventure by marry
ing; aud his prudent choice, there is no doubt,
contributed greatly to his eventful success in
the world. Subsequently he returned to Frank
tort, where after having eDgaged in the bant-
ing business on his own account, he became the
barker of William TX, the Landgrave OF Hesse.
Meyer Apselm first became known as a negO-
tator of Government loans in 1892, by procur-
ing from the Landgrave an amount OF money
sufficient to pay the ransom imposed by the
French General Custine upon the people Of
Frankfort, as an alternative of the sacking of
their city. This incident caused his services to
be afterwards frequently in demand among the
smaller German potentates. In 1906 Napoleon
decreed that the States OF the sovereigns of
Hesse Cassel and Brunswick were forfeited, aud
sent an army TO enforce the decree. The
Elector of Hesse decided on fleeing, but being
the possessor OF So 600 600 in silver, which he was
unwilling TO give up to Napoleon, he was In
quandary as to whatI be should do with it.
Sending for RothsChild, he offered him the use OF
the money without interest if ne would remove
it TO place OF safety, The offer was accepted,
anu the great sum was enjoyed. by the banker
and his two sons until the Punishment of
Napoleon to Elba, when the ElectOr gave notice
that he would withdraw it. The return of
Napoleon, however, caused the EleCtor so much
alarm that he urged the Rohschilds to keep his
treasures at the interest of two per cent. per
annum which they did until 1928. The faithful
and able management of the Rothschilds won
Tor them the confidence OF courts aud fnanciers
Meyer Anselm had ten children, five of them
sons, all of whom survived him. The eldest
Anselm, who became his fathers partner and
successor at Frankfort, was born June IL, 1893
and died December 6, 1866. The second,
solomon (born September 8, IVA, died
July, 1860, was the head OF tue Vienna
branch OF the firm. The ird, Nathan
Mayer (born September 16, 1777, died at
Frankfort July 2S, 1856, settled in London in
1898, and after wards Obtained the reputation of
being the ablest tinancier of the family. The
fourth, Charles (bern April "a, 1888, died March
10, 1860, settled in Naples in 1921. The i've
brothers constituted but one firn in which each
had pQuHl interest. hut transacted buSinpsS
under five branches, each being in the charge OF
one of the brothers. Nathan Rothschild is said
to, have realized 81 900, 900 by knowing the re-
suit of Waterloo eight hours before the British
Government. For many yearI the house have
been the takers of the loans of the European
Governments, and have in more than one in
stance prevented war by refusing to furnish it's
sinews. Between the years 1850 and 1862 they
furnished in loans, 5000, ZOO, 900 to England
$50, coo, 600 to Austria, $40 900 900 to Prussia,
$50, 100000 to France, $50 0O0, 900 to Naples
various smaller amounts 10 minor States. The
leading active partner for the past fe years has
been the Baron Nathan Lionel de Rothschild of
London, son Of Nathan, born in London in
1903, and succeeding his father us head of the
London branch in 1885, In l847 he was elected
10 Parliament, but refusing 10 take the oath of
Office ION the true faith of a Christian" did
not take his seat, although regularly elected,
until 1858, when the disa btlites were removed.
As the members of the family have generally
intermarred, their immense wealth will in all
pIOOdUlllty Ttuldlu III lutlT MINUS IOr mtt0y
years. The Baron James was born at Frank
fort, May l5. 1892, and established himself at
Paris in 1872. few years subsequently, for
eminent services rendered TO Austria, he
received the title OF Consul-Genera of the
Austrian Empire in France-an honor which he
held until his death. After the restoration OF
the Bourbons large numbers of the scIons of
the dnclPnne mob eSSe had recourse to him for
financial relief. in 1880 he presented for the
relief OF the wounded during the three days of
revolution the sum of IL, 900 francs. After the
cons truction of the ST. German Railroad, to
which he mainly contributed, he engaged in
and completed the construction of the great
Northern Railroad. In 1917, when provisions
were scarce, numerous pampheteers hurled
their shafts at him, and so great was the popular
feeling against him that hls apologsts could do
but little 10 influence public opinion IN his
favor In the following year the pillage OF his
country seat at SuIesnes was one OF the first acts
of revolutionary violence. He remained, no "
ever, at Paris, under the protection OF nj. Caus-
sidiere, and having contributed $4,000 francs
for the relief OF the wounded, the angry feel
ngs became appeased to such degree that he
could again engage IN his banking affairs. The
change in the public mind, however, was of
such a ch lracter that, under the empire of Ma
state was not so important as during the reign
of Louis Philippe and his predecessor. Among
the many orders with which he was decorated
the Grand cross of the Legion of Honor Is per
haps the greatest. In early life he was married to
the daughter of his brother Solomon. A large
numb Der of Syuagogues and Israclitish establish
ments, such as the Hospital OF the Rue PtcpUS,
owe their erection to his munidcence.
The King nF EIaIn