Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-06-28
CRAFTY FlNANclERS.
The Founder or the R0thschild Family
and His Successors.

Mayer Amschil Rothschild, the
FOUNDER OF the Rothschild family, COM
menced life as bankers clerk at Ham
over; when he started for himself, it
was as dealer in curiosities. coins
and works of art Such dealers often
do little business ii 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 the turning point of his fortunes.
He was found to be capable and hon.
est, and he had q largeness of concep-
ton and a boldness of execution which
soon raised him to the front rank OF
financiers.
But it was the first Rothschild's
policy, bequeathed as dying injunc-
ton to his sons, that made the fort
unes of his house, Mayer died in 1872,
and within few years his five 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-
~. 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
stormy sea that only heavy bride
could induce the sailors to brave. But
to appear the 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
81, OOO,O0 by his journey to Belgium.
Sixteen years afterward he gained
vast sum by corner in quicksilver.
James, the Partisan brother, makes
a much more agreeable figure. He
had all the characteristic courage Of
his race. For financier to settle in
Paris in 1912 was itself step of some
holiness; 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. The 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 off 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 one day In
Baron James de Rothschild's house,
fixed his eyes repeatedly on his host in
so searching a manner that the latter
could not help asking his guest, when
they left the dining-room, what it was
that had to such degree rivited his
attention. Delacroix acknowledged
that, having for some time been vainly
searching for head such as he would
like to have for prominent beggar in
his new picture, it suddenly occurred
to him what splendid model the
Cresus would make who was enter
tanning him at his table.
Would it be too great favor to ask
the Baron to sit for beggarp Roths-
child, who was fond of art, and not
IN 1,. ,ol 70
chief protectors, gracefully assent
ed to act a part probably never
performed before by millionaire, and
appeared the next morning in the cele-
brated painters studio. Delacroix
hung tunic on his shoulders, placed
small staff in his hand, and assigned
to him posture as if he were resting,
on the steps of an ancient Roman,
temple.
In this attitude he was discovered by
young friend and pupil of the paint
er's who alone had the privilege Of
being admitted to the studio at all
times. Surprised by the excellence OF
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 a BRIDGE.
and much struck by the features. the
young man, espying moment when
the artists eyes were averted, slipped
a twenty -franc piece into the moderl
hand.
Rothschild kept the money, THANK
ing the giver by look, and the young
man went his way. He was, as the
banker soon found out, from Delacroix.
without fortune, and obliged to, give
lessons in order to exc out his living.
Some time later the youth received q
letter, mentioning that charity bears
interest, and that the accumulated ins
terest on 20 francs, which he, prompt
ed by generous impulse, had given
to man in appearance a beggar, was
lying at his disposal in Rothschild's of
fee to the amount of 1O, 900 francs, hav-
ing borne 500 fold, like the seed in tho
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