The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1881-04-01
Eur ope's Biggest Family.

1 A1N~AAs~SsAOAA
last day of September. It was recon
structed on the same day for twenty-five
years. Its capital is fixed at SO, 900, ,0OO
francs ($10, ,0O0, ,00O) contributed equally
by the three partners, Mayer Alphonse
James de Rothschild, No. 2 Rue Saint
Florentin; Gustave Samuel James de
Rothschild, No. % Avenue Marighy,
and Edward James de Rothschi1d, No.
% Rue Lafitte.
The Rothschilds, when they received
their patent of nobility, adopted as their
device the words 'sIndustria, integri-
tate, ct lahore" More than three-quar-
ters of century have elapsed since they
assumed this motto, and they have al
ways acted up to it. Each member of
the house not only works for the COM
mon good, but is remarkable for his per-
sonal merits.
The head of the French branch of the
family is Baron Alphonse de Rothschild,
He is the fanancier of the family, and
the faith Jul continuer of the traditions of
his father, the late Baron James. He is
an indefatigable worker-up earlier than
most of his clerks, and one Of the first to
enter the Office. He takes his lunch in
the bank, and never leaves it till the
doors are closed. He possesses an intel
lect at once cool and luminous; he sees
situation at a glance, and all the adj
vantages to be derived from it. He has
not only the temperament of fnancier,
but the science of finance. In Paris he
is fond of walking about the streets, and
he may be seen on foot, not only when
he leaves the bank, but after dinner, or
after leaving party. He does not care
for show, and no passer-by is attracted by
the splendor of his equipages. In the
country he hunts and shoots, more for
the sake of his health than from any pas
sion for the chase. His wife. beauty,
with temperament of an English woman,
is more ardent follower of the sports
than he is; is constant in her attendance
at race meetings, and may. be seen in the
spring mornings, however late she may
have left the ball, galloping insthe Bois.
She is devoted patroness of the thea
tire, and is one of the grandes of Pari-
sian high life. But while associating
with them she never initiates their lux
ury of dress or their pretensions to
originality. Her dresses are always
simple, and her jewels never indicate the
treasure of which she is mistress.
Baron Alphonse has three children.
The eldest, Bettina, passed her 'sexam-
ems d'institutrice" at the Hotel de Vile
when she was in her sixteenth year. She
is the wife of her cousin, A. Rothschild,
of Vienna. The second daughter, Beatrix,
is said to promise both grace and beauty.
The son is still young. 4
Baron Gustave looks after the external
relations of the banking house. He is
less cold and reserved than his brother
Alphonse, and is conspicuous member
of Jockey Club where he is a most deter
mined player. His wife said that her
husbands losses at the club for one year
was 10O, 900 crowns "Be thankful" said
the old lady whom she was addressing,
"a passion for the queen OF spades will
not disturb the house of Rothchllds."
Baroness Gustave, like all other ladies of
the Rothschild house, is well acquainted
with the larger transactions of the
house. The late Emperor once visited
the chateau of FAIRIES, celebrated now as
having been the Prussian Kings head
quarters The male members of the firm
received their guest, and Baroness Gus
tave had for that day the firms signature.
Baron Edward cared little for the fuc
tuations of Bouse. He is a bibliophile
enrage. The rivalry between him and
Duke d'Aumale for possession of rare
works has raised the price of curious or
ancient editions. With such buyers in
the market, there is no chance now of the
humble bibliomaniacs finding treasure.
Baron Edward is not selfish collector.
He supplies means and encouragement
for publication of rare editions, and he
is great connoisseur in bindings. His
wife, Adelaide, was one OF the Prusslan
Rothschilds.
Charlotte the sister of these three
brothers, was. by a custom not unusual
among continental Jews, married to her
uncle, Baron Nathaniel. Her eldest son
James. who is married to another cousin
Terese. has been called lately to the bar.
He has even held brief in Court, and
he lost his case with the best grace in
the world. He is usually regarded as
the probable successor of his uncle Al
phonse, whose industry he shares, and
whose teachings he follows. A younger
brother, Arthur, is man of generous
and lively disposition. He values his
wealth for the pleasures it procures for
bim and his friends. He tries his hand
at everything. He is an officer OF artll-
lery in the territorial force, a post OBJ
tanned only by severe examination; he is
q passionate hunter and an ardent yachts
man. He has the finest yacht in France.
Two years ago he projected an expedition
20 the East, and enrolled as companions
of his travels number of artists. He
has written Historic de Ia Poste, an
excellent monograph, and he has formed
a collection of postage stamps valued at
$20, 900.
The mother of the two Rothschilds
Just mentioned, the Baroness Charlotte,
and her mother, the Dowager Baroness
James, are really the greatest figures IN
the family. The latter held Q considera-
BILE place in society during the reign Of
Louis Philippe. Her grace and tact
brought the Foubourg st. German into
the Salons of the Rue Lafitte, and opened
the door of the most aristocratio man
sions to her children. Her personal
attachment to the Queen Marie Amelie,
and her devotion to the House OF
Orleans prevented her from ever coming /
to terms with the Court of the Tailer1es
under the Empire. She underwent last
wear an. operation for cataract, and the /
expressions of sympathy which she re-
ceived from all quarters prove the
esteem in which she is held. AL the
grand traits of her character are found
IN her daughter Charlotte. For fifteen
Years she was the devoted nurse OF her
blind and paralyzed husband. As
widow she consecrates herself to her
children. She is lover of art, and no
mean artist. Some of her water colors
exhibited at the Salon were much ad-
mired, and her house is always open TO