Connecticut western news., 1878-05-30
The House of ROthschild.

The founder of the house of Roths-
 child, Meyer Anselm Rothschild, Baron
 of the Austrian Empire, was born in
 1743 in the Judengrasse or Jews Alley,
 of Frankfort-on-the-Main. He started
 in life for himself in Frankfort, becom-
 ing . money changer. The Landgrave
 of Hesse Cassel, William K, who af-
 terward became Elector under the title
 of William l., seeking banker with
 whom to deposit the vast sums of money
 inherited from his father, Frederick H.,
 sent for Rothschild, who had been rec commended to. him by Baron Estorff, the latter having learned the bankers worth
 while he was yet clerk. On reaching the palace and entering the apartment of the Prince, Rothschild found him and the Baron engaged in game of chess.
 Taking up position behind the Land grave'e chair, the future millionaire watched the board closely and silently.
 The game was against William, who, at length in doubt what move to make,
 turned to the banker and suddenly asked him if he understood chess. Well enough, your Highness," he replied, "to induce me, were playing, to castle on the king's side." The Prince acted on the suggestion of his visitor, and turned defeat into victory. Placing his hand on Rothschild's shoulder: "You are a wise man" said he, "and if you are so good a chess-player, you must have 8 very clear head for business" Trihing as this incident was, 1t was the com mencement of friendship between the Prince and Rothsohild, who was soon appointed the royal banker, to the no small surprise of his competitors, who all wondered. why William should pass them by and select the Hebrew for so re- sponsible and confidential a position. About $40, ,0OO, 900 were thus transferred to the keeping of the banker. He proved worthy of the great trust, for he served the Landgrave through his later troubles with zeal and fidelity, and was the means of saving his wealth from falling into the hands of the French. Napoleon, after the battle of Jena, in 1906, pronounced the forfeiture of the Landgrave's estates, and ordered his army to march on the capital. William, who had in his palace vaults about e1,OOO,OOO in silver, to- gether with other valuable treasure, sent, in his extremity, for Rothschild, and offered him the free use of all this property, without interest, if he would but remove it to place of safety. This, with the aid of his Jewish friends, the banker succeeded in accomplishing, and it is said that during the hostile occu- patton of the city by the French, the treasure was concealed in 1aree-wine casks in the cellar of Rothschild's house. When, however, eight years afterward, William returned as Elector, Meyer Anselm was dead, but his eldest son, Anselm, accounted for every kreutzer, and furnished the Elector with full statement of his wealth, to which was added the interest. This latter, how ever, William declined to receive, on the ground that he would have lost every thing had it not been for the fidelity of the father. The full amount was just ready for delivery when the news ar- rived that the great Corsican had escaped from Elba. This so alarmed William that he begged Anselm Rothschild to continue to keep the money at 2 per cent. interest per annum. For 8 period of no less than nine years this large de- posit continued to remain with the firm, at the expiration of which time it was | delivered to Williams successor, every penny thereof being strictly accounted for.