West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-02-24
THE RoTHscHILDs.

FRANK carpenter III of'1iiei n"i'
The Rothschilds are said to b.
the richest family in the world
They have banks in the leading cap
itals of Europe and Kings and gov
ernments are among their customers
The Paris branch of the banking
firm is said to keep capital o
$500, 100000 at its command, anG
hardly a war is begun in Europe fol
which the funds arelnot furnished
by this family. Still five genera
tions ago the blood which now rules
these millions was selling old cloth
es in the Jewish quarter of Frank
fort-on- the Main, and when Madi
son was President the first million.
aire Rothschild died leaving only
$5,OOO,OO0.
once visited the home of all the
Rothschilds at Frankfort, and look.
ed at the little banking house where
years ago Anselm Meyer Rothschild
began to take articles on pawn and
to shave notes for so much per cent.
1t is in the dirtiest part of Frank
fort, and it has about the same sur
roundings as Five Points, New
York. The street is dirty, its in
habitants are secondhand clothiers,
and it bears much the same aspect
now as it did when the mother OF
all the Rothschilds gave birth to
the financier who laid in the foun-
dations of this immense wealth.
The Rothschilds own their old prop
erty here to-day and their bank still
has branch here.
When Anselm Rothschild died
leaving this $5,00O,0OO to his five
sons he made them promise to keep
the fortune in the family, and to
carry on the business together.
They kept their oath and it is this
policy that has been the handspring
of their success. Through genera
tions they have worked together,
married together. and their millions
have bred faster than their families.
One of these boys stayed at Frank
fort, another went to Paris and es-
tablished bank there, a third, Ma
than, settled in London. fourth
settled in Vienna, and the fifth
opened a bank in Naples All of
them made money very rapidly, and
Nathan at London made his mill
ions breed faster than Australian
rabbits. He went to the continent
during the Napoleonic wars and
from the knowledge there gained
speculated on the rise and fall of
stocks. He witnessed the battle of
Waterloo and by relays of horses
and fishing snack reached London
in advance of all other messengers.
The telegraph was then unknown
and his news was the first brought
in. The news he gave out was that
Napoleon had conquered, or at least
this was the news that was spread
all over London after his arrival.
Stocks went down like II shot, and
Nathan was offered loans of them.
He refused 80 buy, but had his
agents quietly purchasing all the
time. The next day the true news
came and stocks jumped upwards.
Nathan Rothschild made, it is said,
$5,000,000 by the deal.
The Rethschilds hold social po-
sitions in the various countries of
Europe. They have mobiles among
them and their money has brought
them Titles. They are family
of intellectual and artistic tastes,
and with all their wealth they have
been somewhat charitable. The
idea prevails among the Israelites
that it is their intention Mt some fu-
ture time to buy Palestine and give
it back to the Jews, and they have
already established hospitals at Je-
rusalem. Some of them have been
horse lovers and Baron Rothschild
owned Favoni, one of the famous
horses who won the Derby. They
believe in enjoying their wealth, and
like to have nice things about them.
One of the Frankfort Barons not
long ago paid 100000 for a silver
cup which he wished to use as cen
ter piece of table service which he
was making up, and one of the Wen
ma Baron Rothschilds has stable
which cost $4,000. This stable
has marble floors, encaustic tiles
painted by distinguished artists, and
its walls are frescoed with scenes
done by well-known painters. The
rings, chains and fittings for the
stable are silver, and one box stall
for favorite horse cost, il is said,
$4,000. The income of the owner
of this stable is about $4,000 day.