Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-22
BARON DE HIRscH At MONTE CARLO.
The History of His Munifioent Gifts to
A,,.,,orate the Condition of the Jews.

The History OF HIS muhiiceh' "iit' !"
AmelIorate the Condition of the Jews.
A Monte Carlo cable to the New York
Iz..oI savs. Baron de Hirsch's whole at
fections were centred in his only child,
Baron I,ucien de Hirsch, who died some
few wears ago after very snort illness.
This cruel affection caused MN 10 retire
from all active business. Being possessed
Of enormous wealth and having no direct
heir he after mature consideration decldea
10 emplov or devote a portion OF his tor-
time 10 the alleyiation Of the suferlngs OF
he faliow-men. Notwithstanding his Jew
isb descent Baron de Hirsch Is a man OF
ioroe and liberal ideas on religious matters,
,r,aS,v nosrbers of his family being Chris
tianS Furthermore his adoption OF two
Fnglish children, who are being brought
mn in the Christian religion, IS sufhcient
moot that mis- unequalled hberallty Is not
limited TO his own people.
BEFRIENDNG THE JEWS OF RUSSIA.
For several wears past he has seriously
occupied himself with the miserable con-
dition of the poor Jews IN Russia, and ne
determined TO take all possible steps to
come TO their assistance. lie at once
entared into negotiations with the Russian
Govsrnment to this effect, and proposed
10 devote the sum of G2,0O0,0OO to that
obiect. II can be easily imagined that this
ofer was not lightly refused by the Rus
s;ar authorities. but certain stipulations
imposed by the donor, though of kind
nsuol in such cases-such as that the money
should be invested IN the hands OF
trustees-not being in accordance with the
desire of the Russians, who wished to have
fine whole and sole handling OF the money,
Baron de Hirsch was obliged to withdraw
UP He tbereupon decided to take other
stane This however, did not prevent
biTp~as proof that he had no religious
nreiudices-from handing to the Chief of
the HOLY synod, NJ. de Pobledonoslzew,
Gift of $40, 900 for the orthodox Russian
schools. II NAV not be undressing 70
the Herdlds readers to know that generally
i'm Russia-as it was in many other coun-
tries of Europe till few years ago-Jews
are no longer allowed to farm or till land,
and this. with their increasing population,
was one of the principal causes Of their
poverty. -
Being bafied in his efforts to help them
in this way. Baron de Hirsch deter
mined to do so in another, and began to
encourage and help Russian Jews TO emil
grate Enormous sums have been given
bv him for this purpose. America was the
first country looked to, and to provide
funds for the emlgrantS ana LOT tue tuucd-
ton of their children was the prime OBJ
iect of his muniGcent gift of 1900
0OOf But the persecution OF the
Jews still continuing IN Russia,
il became necessary to hnd some
other outlet than the United States, and
he sent a commission composed OF three
Competent men-an English officer OF en-
gineers. a Belgian, and a German-to the
Argentine Republic for the purpose OF re-
porting on the agricultural prospects OF
that country. Their report being tayora-
BILE. further important sum will be pro-
yided by Baron de Hirsch for the purpose
of enabling Russian Jews TO emlgrate TO
that country, and for the purchase OF land
there for their benefit.
1t has been the general beliefthat the Jews
are extremely opposed to manual labor,
but Baron de Hirsch assured me that this
is not so, he having had indisputable proof
to the contrary. And this fact Is the prln-
cipal cause of his proposed action IN their
favor in the Argentine Republic.
MORE BUNIFICENcE.
BESIDES these different sums, Baron de
Hirsch has just given $4,000, 600 francs for
Gallcian schools. This latter gift probably
gave rise to the erroneous statements
which appeared in the papers that he had
given the said sum second time to the
United States, whereas he simply handed
over to the American trustees the capital
of his former gift.