Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-21

The Origin and Nature OF His Munificepc.
for the Benefit OF Poor Jews.

The Origin and Nature Of His Muninosncs
for the Benefit OF Poor Jews.
Special Cable Dispatch to the New York Herald.
had the pleasure Of being received by Baron
de Hirsch at the Villa Cariotta, Monte Carlo,
when he kindly gave me the following interest
ing particulars respecting his numerous mu-
nifcent gifts to the poor:
Baron de Hirsch's whole affections were cen.
tered in his only child, Baron Lucien de Hirsch,
who died some few years ago, after . very
short Illness This cruel affection caused him
to retire from all. active business. Being pos
sessed OF enormous wealth and having no
direct heir, he, after mature consideration, de-
cided to employ or devote portion Of his for
tune to the alienation of the sufferings Of his
Fellow men. Notwithstanding his Jewish
descent Baron de Hirsch is a man of large and
noeral ideas on religious matters, many mem.
oers or his family being Christians. Further
more, his adoption of two English children.
VINO are being brought up in the Christian re-
ngion, Is sufficient proof that his unequaled
hberaiity is not limited to his own people.
BEFRrEND1No THE JEWS OF RUSSIA
For several years past he has seriously occu-
pied himself with the miserable condition of
the poor Jews in Russia and he determined to
take all possible steps to come to their assist
ance. He at once entered into negotiations
with the Russian government to this effect and
proposed to devote the sum of e. 900 600 to
that object. 1t can be easily imagined that
this offer was not lightly refused by the Rus
sian authorities, but certain stipulations i'm
posed by the donor, though Of . kind usual 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 the whole and sole handling Of
the money, Baron de Hirsch was obliged to
withdraw his offer.
He thereupon decided to take other steps
This however, did not prevent him-as proof
that he had no religious prejudices-from hand
ing to the chief Of the Holy Synod, NJ. de
Pobiedonoslzew, gift of E4O, 600 for the ortho-
aox RUSSIAN schools. 1t may not be uninterest-
ing to the HerdfS readers to know that gener-
any In kussia-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.
HELPING EMIGRATION.
Being baffied in his efforts to help them in
this way Baron de Hirsch determined to do
SO in another and began to encourage and help
Russian Jews to emigrate. Enormous sums
have been given by him for this purpose.
America was the first country looked to, and to
provide funds for the emigrants and for the
education of their children was the prime OBJ
ySSe VI ME SlIt VI 1Z,UtU,UOO
But the persecution of the Jews still continu-
ing In Russia it became necessary to find some
other outlet than the United States, and he
sent a commission Of three competent men-nn
English officer of engineers, a Belgian and r
German-to the Argentine Republic for the
purpose OF reporting on the agricultural pros
poets of that country. Their report being
favorable further important sum will be pro-
vided by Baron de Hirsch for the purpose of
enabling Russian Jews to emigrate to that
country and for the purchase of land there for
their benefit.
1t has been the general belief that 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 con-
trary. And this fact is tine principal cause of
his proposed action in their favor in the Argen-
tine Republic.
MORE MUNIFICENCE.
Besides these different sums, Baron de Hirsch
has just given Il, OOO. 0OOf for Galician schools
This latter gift probably gave rise to the erron-
eous statements which appeared in the papers
that he had given the said sum the second time
to the United States, whereas he simply handed
over to the American trustees the capital of his
former gift.