The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-01-27
The Founder Of the Rothschilds.
BY JAMES PARTON.

BY JAMES PARTON.
There used to be conuudrum cur
rent in Europe, which was something
like this: -,.-s -
"What is the difference between
ancient and modern times? Answer
In ancient times, all the Jews had on,
king; in modern times, all the king
have one jew" ~ 2a~
| The Jew referred to in this conun
drum was Maier Amsei Rothschilds
the founder ofthe great banking -hous.
SO famous throughout the world. The
history of this remarkable person
which I shall now briefly relate, is 6
striking illustration of the well-knowr
truth that every great and permanent
success in business is founded upon
the rock Of honesty.
A hundred years ago, there lived in
the German city of Frankfort a Jew.
ish money-chahger namnd Amsel
Moses Rothschild, who gained a mo.
derate livelihood by buying and sell.
ing the coins of hundred little sove.
reignties into which Germany was
then divided. Frankfort being place
of great trade, merchants resorted to
it from most'of these sovereignties,
each of which had its own coinage and
its own standard of the purity of the
metals of which its coins were COM
posed. Hence, there was consider
able, though not very profitable, bust,
ness done in Frankfort in buying,
selling and exchanging coins. Moses
Rothschild, though very honest and
respectable man, appears to have no
particular talent or audacity in bust
ness, and he acquired, therefore, only
that ''modest competence" which ev-
erybody extols, and with which no
one is content. ~, ..s.,s..-- ST. ~ ~
The founder of the clearinghouse
was the eldest son this worthy Israelite.
He was accustomed from his youth up
to assist his father in his business of
ney-changing. He counted and
sorted the coins, computed their value.
procured SUPPLIES from other money
changers of such coins as were needed
carried deposits to the bank, and thus
obtained a most familiar and exact
knowledge of the coin system of the
whole whole. He became acquainted,
also, with the artificial values which
some coins possess as specimens and
curiosities. This knowledge was the
beginning of his fortane. While still
a youth, he was in the habit of close
ly examining the bags of coins in his
fathers Golfers, and selecting from
them such as he could sell at pre-
MUM to collectors. 1t sometimes
happens in " all street, in. our. own
day, that coins of great value are
found in a bag of miscellaneous
pieces :, but Wall street men and bows
are too busy to pick them out, las
any one may see who will go into the
Office of Wall street bullion dealer,
and see the rapidity with which the
clerks do their work. But they took
business more leisurely in Frankfort
ninety years ago, and the boy. Mseer
Rothschid, found many a prize
his fathers store.
It was not the intention Of his faith.
er to bring him up to business. On
the country, he ne meant to make a
Rabbi of him, and with that intent,
sent him to an institution in which |
voting Jews were fitted for the eccle- |
siastical Office. The youth remained
for many months at the establishment.
Nature, however, will have her way
with all of us, in spite of our fathers
and in spite of ourselves; and so this
young Rothschild laid aside his books
Of theology, and took the place, of
clerk in a bank ing hunse in Hanover.
1t was Immediately evident that
finance was his true vocation. As a
bankers clerk he was diligent, pru-
dent, faithful and skilful in the high
est degree, and was trusted by his EN-.
ployers with operations of the first inn
portance.
Men destined to great career, /
have observed, generally serve a long
and rigorous apprenticeship to. it of
'ome kind. They try their forming
powers in little things before Crap
pliDg with great. / cannot call to
mind a single instance of man who
achieved a success of the first magni-
.ude who did not first toll long in
,bscnrity.
Maier Rothschid remained bank
sr's clerk for several years before at
,empting to set up for himself. Att
ength he returned to his native city,
md there established small business, |
similar in character that of his father.
Besides being a money charger, he
bought and sold curious coins, jewels,
plate and other precious objects. His
znowledge and long training gave him
'uch advantages that, by the time he
vas twenty seven years of age, he was
/ banker Of some note and consider
,ble wealth. He was married man,
90. and was, Ia every respect, an es-
ablished and prospectus citizen.
From this time he increased with a
.apidity remarkable for that day; SO
hat, in the year 1880. when he was
,ut thirty-seven years of age, be was |
llready living in the style Of an opu-
ent banker, and hid already remov-
M into tha u1ar1ssrrs IN u,b;ob H. .,,,x.t