The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-07-05
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T
Mayer Amschil Rothschi,d, the
founder Of the Rothschild family, corn.
menced life as q bankers clerk at Han
over; when he started Tor himself, II
was as a dealor in curiosities, coins
and works OF art. Such dealers often
do q little business In money, and
Mayer Rothschild soon devoted himself
entirely to this most profitable Of the
articles Of commerce. Some service
rendered to the Landgrave--authori-
ties differ as TO the precise nature.
was tho turning. point Of his fortunes.
He was found to be capable and hon
est, and he had largeness OF concep-
.tion and boldness Of execution which
soon raised him to the front rank of
fnanciers.
, But Il was the first Rothschild's
policy, bcqueathed as e dying injunc-
tion to his sons, that made the fort
unes Of his house. Mayer died in 1912,
and within few years his Eve sons
were at the head OF great financial es-
Establishments In five OF the European
capitals. The eldest retained COM
mand Of the Frankfort house, Nathan
went to London, Carl to Naples, Salo-
mon to Vienna and James to Paris.
Nathan, the ablest, though not the
eldest OF the brothers, had the general
management Of the affairs OF the fami-
ly. Personally, Nathan was not an
attractive character. One can have
nothing but admiration for the courage
which took him to the field Of Water
loo, and which carried him, when he
was satisfied Of the victory, across a
stormy seq that only heavy bribe
could induce the sailors to brave. But
to appear tho next morning on
Change with look Of de-
spair, which was enough to
send down the funds, which
all the while his agents were eagerly
purchasing, was discreditable. Nathan
Rothschild is said to have cleared
f1,0OO,0OO by his journey to Belgium.
Sixteen years afterward he gained a
vast sum by "corner" in quicksilver.
James, the Parisian brother, makes
much more agreeable figure. He
had oil the characteristic courage OF
his race. For financier to settle in
Paris in 1912 was itself a step OF some
boldness; TO have piloted the bark OF
his fortunes unhurt through all the
storms of the eighteen years between
1912 and 1880 proves at least an equal
skill. Some Of his operations seem,
indeed, to have been audacious almost
beyond belief. Tho London brother,
for instance, is said to have contracted
with the British Government to furnish
supplies to the armies in Spain, and
the Paris one actually contrived to con-
vey these supplies through France.
To play of the two bitterest enemies
in the world, and to make this double
profit out of them was. indeed, mas
ter stroke Of policy.
Eugene Delacroix. dining ono day in
Baron James de Rothschild's house,
fixed his eyes repeatedly on his host in
so searching manner that the latter
could not help asking his guest, when
they left the dining-room, what 1t was
that had to such a degree rivited his
attention. Delacroix acknowledged
hat, having for some time been vainly
searching for q head such as no would
like to have for prominent beggar in
his new picture, it suddenly occurred
to him what splendid model the
Croesus would make who was enter
tanning him ut his table.
Would 1t be too great favor to ask
the Baron to sit for beggarp Roths-
child, who was fond OF art, and not
displeased to be reckoned among its
chief protectors, gracefully assent
ed to act part probably never
performed before by millionaire, and
appeared the next morning in the cele-
brated painters studio. Delacroix
hung q tunic on his shoulders, placed
q small staff in his hand, and assigned
to him o posture as II he were resting
on the steps OF an ancient Roman
temple.
In this attitude he was discovered by
a young friend and pupil Of the paint.
er's who alone had the privilege oi
being admitted to the studio ut all
times. Surprised by the excellence ol
the model, he congratulated his master
at having at last found exactly what he
wanted. Not for moment doubling
that the model had just been beg
| ging at the porch OF same church
or at the corner Of bridge
and much struck by the features, the
young man, espying moment wher
the artists eyes were averted, slipped
q twenty-franc pieoe into the models
hand.
Rothschild kept the money, thank
ing the giver by look, and the young
man went his way. He was, as th'
banker soon found out, from Delacroix
without fortune, and obliged to Civ
lessons In order to eke out his living
Some time later the youth received
letter, mentioning that charity bear
interest, and that the accumulated in
terest on 20 francs, which he, prompt
ed by generous impulse, had givei
to man In appearance a beggar, wa
lying at his disposal in Rothschild's OF
Gee to the amount Of II, 900 francs, hav
ing borne 500 fold, like the seed In tn
parable. Iyd-Bits.
L