Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-05
THE RoTHsCHILDs.


may still gaze upon as its stands protected
from impious hands by light iron railing in
front OF the old church in Cannon street.
narrow lane runs northward, connecting the
busy highway with King William street. Half
way up this lane of st. Swithin, an unpreten-
tious thoroughfare some two hundred Yards in
length, with a ten-foot roadway and narrow
sidewalks, vide arclway. protected by hand
some iron gates. gives eatry to a noble court
yard. A well-kept drive, daily rolled and often
reiaid with the brightest of red gravel. sweeps
in circle round the open court. embracing
centerpsece the jaded Londoners moving up or
down the lane will ctten pause a moment to
look upon.
In the rear of the courtyard stands sub.
stantial bat somewhat 'soinbre-lookipr building
three stories high. 1t Is built of gray stone,
and. unlike the somewhat fIord gateway of the
COURTYARD, boasts oil no architectural pretentioas
whatever.
But few years have passed away since
Baron MEYER. the uncle CT the three present
members OF the Ensiish house. re;gned SUI
prelne In st. Swith.ns lanc. He Was possibly
the bost able tinaHcier of all the Rtthschilds,
past and present. TO write OF the petty princes
he saved NON financial annihiiation by timely
loans OF the European governments whose
promises to pay he negotiated when vast
amounts hau 10 he raised at short notice on the
security or revenue or the railroads lie CAPITAL
lied. or the enterprises he foated would be to
Ill book OF portertous volume. For many
years past British investors have had complete
coiin'ience IN aay loans. bonds or enterprises
noated by the ROthsc.ids and as thi, confidence
mas never been abused by the great Anglo
dutch Hn6nclera, the magic name OF kothschild
~ to-day all powerful TO secure unlimited
nhanc.4t backing fer any new venture to which
it may be.ent.
BARON MEYER.
Potent as has been the name of the house In
London financial circles for century and more.
the late Baron Meyer during his reign in ST.
Swithln's laue largely extended its operations
and II possible enhanced its credit. Easy to ap-
proach ana simple in manner, without trace of
haugntiness or mpatience in his demeanor. this
daily handler OF billions afforded striking con-
trast TO the average London banker, who is to-day
as In the past as difficult of access save to those
provided with git-edged introductions. as tine
emperor OF China or the lord lieutenant OF Ire
iand The baron was very regular in his attend
ance at the banking house and daring business
hours was accessible to all Corners whether on
business bent or seeking his aid or advice His
charity VIZ unbOnaded and he was at times alb
so1uteiy 00rrun by the penurious, to whom If
deserving, his purse-strngs were ever OPEN His
one relaxation from the cares and worriment of
business was an almost lavish indulgence in the
sport OF horse-racag, out his interest was con-
lined to the pure elements of the sport the trials
OF speed and endurance of the thoToughbreds:
Baron kothschiid was an extensive and In
hls1ater years. a higher successful breeder of
thoroughbred stock. He was staunch in his
devotion to his fayorte sire, King Tom. horse
ne retained as lord of his equine harem for
years with most disheartenng results. But the
reward OF perseverance, came at last and the
victory of his colt Favornius in the Derby of
1871 and OF his fly Hannah, named after his only
child, the present countess of Rusebery. in the
oaks two days later, placed the great fnancer
IN the proud position of owner and breeder
OF the best colt and the best FLY of tine
season. Baron Rothschd also maintained at
MS own expense a magnificent pack of stag
hounds hunting in and around the Vale OF
Aylesbury. but the master by courtesy was no
great horsenan. and rarely took part in the
pleasures OF the chase. Nor d d the great fn-
ancler shine conspicuously In social life although
invitations TO the receptions at his grand house
In Piccadliiy were eagerly sought after. as ev-
eryDody who was anybody was sure to put in
an appearance at q Rothschild night English
royalty and the Rothschilds have always rot on
very well together, and one might be pretty
sure OF meeting two or three royal hignesses
whenever the salons of the great Hebrew finan-
cler were thrown open for a ball or dinner
Here, among the members of the British peer-
age. came the young earl OF Rosebery, Scotch
nople neither rich nor particularly azure as to
blood. for does he not trace his descent on the
male side from thoroughly plebeian Primrose?
But the glamour OF the young earls corOnet
coupled with comeiy face and FORM captured
the affections OF Hannah. the only daughter of
the house. and in due course the Christian earl
led the Jewish maiden to the altar and swore
to guard and cherish her and her million ster-
ing of dover for life
NATHANIEL.
Some ten wears ago the old baron passed
away full of years leaving behind him a gigantic
fortune. His three nephews Nathaniel. Leo
pold and Alfred, sons ,,of Baron Lionel Rotbs-
child, inherited the city business while his vast
riches in cash. lands. house property and secu-
rites were for the most part bequeathed to his
daughter. the Countess of Rosebery The three
London ROthschilds of to-day bear little resem-
blarce, either In face, torn or business habits, to
either their late father or uncle. The elder
Nathaniel, lately created Lord ROthschlld. is a
far-seelng man Of great business capacity, and
under his guidance the great house still main
tains Its supremacy in the world of London
finance. DE is. however, man who devotes
his attention only TO great enterprises and con-
sequently vast amount of minor business of
very profitable nature that used to be executed
by tile Rothschilds has of late flowed into other
channels
His lOrdship eXces as diplomat and his re-
iations with Gladstone's government turing
the Egyptian affair were close and invaluable to
his house. Simple British taxpayers. who paid
any attention to the part England was playing
In the khedve's affairs for year or two pre-
vlous to the Strengthening Of the heroic Gordon
at khartoum, roundly asserted that her eXpen-
sive interference in Egypt would never have
been pushed so far but Tor the vast interests of
the Rothschilds and their clients there at stake.
The head of the firm does not inherit his uncIe's
love of sport; he neither breeds nor runs
thoroughbred race horses and rs rarely seen in
the hunting field, though in perfunc.ory man
ner he still keeps up the famed pack of STAG
hounds His counsel in financial matters is
highly esteemed by her majesty's government.
and his life like that Of his predecessor. is de-
voted to money getting. More Jewish In his
appearance than either of ms brothers. his
character and habits also more clearly Indicate
his Hebralc origin.
ALFRED.
Alfred de ROthschld is also very regular in
his attention to business in 1.-The lane" He is
not generally credited with any particular
aptitude for playing the great game OF finance.
but has charge of the routine business of the
firm. Almost any morning on the stroke of IL
his neat brougham may be seen pulling up at
the corner OF Cannon street and st. Swithn's
lane. whence its elegantly attired owner pro-
ceeds on foot to his office. He il a handsome
man. of medium stature and dark complexion.
and his features are only slightly Indicative Of
his Semitic origin. In private life he is some
thing of sybarite: his taste in works of art is
highly cultivated; he Is liberal patron of some
OF the first painters of the day, and an ardeRt
bric-a-brac.
Leopoldde RothschiId does not resemble his
brothers either in his features or mode of life.
The younger brother takes but little part in the