Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-08-26
ROTHSCHlLD.

FOunOeO.
This famous firm of Hebrew bankers
and capitalists which is known
throughout the world, originated in
the city of Frankfort, Germany.
In the Judengasse, or Jews alley,
short distance from the chief thor
oughfare, one hundred and forty-two
years ago, lived dealer in old clothes
who had red shield for sign, which
in German reads roth schild. It was
in 1743 that son was born to this
lsraelite. The name given to the boy
was Anselm Meyer, who also became
clothes dealer and pawn-broker, sue
ceeding to the business of his father.
BY degrees he extended his business,
lending money at high rates of inter-
est during the wars of the last century,
managing his affairs with such skill
that Prince William the Landgrave
made him his banker. When Napoleon
came across the Rhine in 1906 this
clothes dealer was directed to take care
of the treasures of the Prince, amount
ing to twelve million dollars, which he
q
large increase to the owner and es-
pecially to the manager.
This banker died in 1912, leaving an
estate estimated at five million dollars
not very large sum these days-but
he left an injunction upon his five sons,
which was made binding by an oath
given by the sons around his death-bed,
which has had and still has a powerful
influence upon the world. The sons
bound themselves by an oath to follow
their fathers business together, hold
ing his property in partnership, extend
ing the business, that the world might
know but one house of the red shield!
(Rothschild.)
The sons were true to their oath.
The eldest, Anselm, born 1878, and
who died in 1885, was his fathers part
ner and successor at Frankfort. The
second, Solomon, born 1774, died in
1856, was established as the representa-
tive of the house at Vienna. The third.
Nathan Meyer, born 1774, and died
1886, settled at London and was the
leading member and ablest financier of
the firm. The fourth, Charles, born
1888, died 1855, went to Naples, and
James, born 1893, died 1869, to Paris.
The five brothers thus occupied great
financial centers, and were geograph-
ically located in excellent positions to
use their financial power and skill to
the best advantage. Nathan, in Lon
don, amassed money with great rapid
ity, and the same may be said of all
the others, the wars of Napoleon being
favorable to the business of the house.
Nathan went to the Cont nent to wit
ness the operat ons of Well ngtOn in
his last campaign aga nst Napoleon,
prepared to act with the utmost en-
ergy, let the result be as it might. He
witnessed the battle of Waterloo, and
when assured of Napoleon's defeat,
rode all night, W, tn RELAYS of horses. to
Ostend; went across the channel IN a
fishing smack-for it was before the
days of steam-reached London n adj
vance of all other messengers. and
spread the rumor that Well ngton and
Butcher were defeated. The Goth of
June in that memorable ear was dis
NAL day in London. The battle was
fought on the 18th; Nathan Meyer. of
the house of the red shield, by hard
riding, reached London at midnight on
the 18th. On the morning of the Goth
the news was over town that the cause
of the allies was lost, that Napoleon
had swept all before h m. England
had been the leading spirit n the strug-
gle against Napoleon. The treasury
of Great Britain, it Will be remembered,
had supplied funds to nearly all of the
allied powers.
If their cause was lost what hope
was there for the future? Bankers
flew from door to door in eager haste
to sell their stock. Funds of every des-
cription went down. Anselm Meyer
was besieged by men who had funds
for sale, but he was not in the market;
He had no desire to buy. He. too. had
stocks for sale. What would they give?
But meanwhile he had scores of agents
purchasing. Twenty-four hours later
Wellington's messenger arrived in
London; the truth was known. The
nation gave vent to its joy; up went
the funds with rapidity. the general adj
vance pouring, it is said, $4,000, 900 into
the Golfers of this one branch of the
house of the red shield!
The house of the red shield is the
greatest banking house of the world
the mightiest of all times, and has
made its policy felt the world over--in
the Tuileries of Paris, in the ministe-
rial chamber of Berlin, the Imperial
palace at ST. Petersburg, the Vatican
at Rome, in the Bank Of England, in
Wall street, State street and by every
New England freside. The house of
the red shield, by the exercise of its
financial power, can make difference
in the yearly account of every man
who reads these words of mine!
Though Anselm Meyer has been half a
century dead-though several of his
sons have gone down to the grave
the house is the same The grand
children have the spirit of the children
The children of the brothers have in