The record-union., 1892-09-21
ROTHSCHILDS WEALTH.
Enormous Fortune Possessed By
Members of the Family.
Millions Invested In American securi-
ties of Various Kinds from Govern
ment Bonds to Stocks-A Tale of
Riches Which Beats Anything in
the arabian Nights.''

''No one knows, it is true, how much
the Rothschild fortune is exactly, but it is
safe to say that it exceeds 81, 00O, zoo, 000,"
said banker TO a New York Globe re-
porter the other day. In times of severe
panic and trial its magnificent solidity
has been proudly pointed to as one of the
most enduring monuments of human
probity and industry.
In the great storm of 1857, when for
few days George Peabody's credit was
gone, when Barring Brothers were anxi-
ously surveying the wreckage all around
them, when a hundred leading mercan-
tile and banking firms of London were
scudding under bare poles, the Roths-
childs alone showed no distress. They
did Just as much during the panic as loan
contractors, dealers in bullion, stock pur-
chasers, sellers of securities, as ever be-
fore. Even when the Bank of England
had to cry to the Government for help
they swept on undismayed. Losses do
not seem to affect them. In 1913 they
lost $40, 100000 at one swoop. In 1870, at
the time of the Franco-German war, they
lost as much more.
Whence comes this mountain of wealth,
this purse without apparent bottom?
There is nothing in the Arabian Nights
more wonderful than the rise of the
Rothschild family; and yet there was no
magic in it-nothing but thrift and pa
thence, and the watching of opportuni-
ties. In the city of Frankfort there is
dirty, narrow lane called the Judengasse,
Jews lane. At the beginning Of the
present century it was simply a narrow
lane lined with tall, dilapidated houses,
crowded from floor to roof with human
beings living in a state of Squalor and
filth that is indeScribable. In this foul
smelling lane lived Mayer Anselm Roths-
child, the founder of the great firm. He
lost both parents at an early age, and was
destined by his relatives for the priest
hood. His taste for business was stronger,
however, than his relatives wishes, and
he entered a small clearinghouse in
Hanover. Steadily he rose in his en-
ployers' estimation, and was soon APP
pointed assistant manager. Having at
last amassed sufficient capital he returned
to the Judengasse and started as a mon
ey-lender under the sign of the Red
Shield. In 1872
HE DIED WORTH FIVE MILLION DOLLARS.
This fortune, which he intrusted to his
five sons, is now estimated at over 81 ,000,-
100000 and is still growing like a snow
ball. The harmony and union which
Mayer Anselm made his five sons swear
when they were assembled around his
deathbed has never been broken. Each
Rothschild's business and fortune is a
compact to protect the firms name.
How many partners are there in this inn
mense firm which does business with
empires and kingdoms every day? a few
years ago there was no less than twenty
of these partners, and the number goes
on increasing. These are the fourth in
descent from Mayer Anselm RotNschild.
The rule of intermarriage is still kept up
almost as vigorously as in the royal cir
Giles OF Europe, and lntermarriage seems
only to increase the brightness of these
phenomenally bright people.
The adventure of the unlucky GustaVe
de Rothschild brings the Paris branch of
the family rather prominently into view.
The first of these Paris Rothschilds was
Baron Solomon. Solomon'S brother
Baron James de Rothschild, took charge
of the Paris house in 1872. Baron James
carried on two-thirds of the great finan-
cial operations under Louis Philippe and
the second empire. Men called him the
prefe1t7' DIES TolS the kings money-lend-
err. He took the initiative in building
railroads in Paris-notably the Northern
of France. The Rothschilds to-day vir-
tually own this last mentioned road.
He never carried on his person more
than fifty francs $50 at time. 81 have
saved 100000 francs that way" he said.
lone lets himself be carried away by
CudAC6S 1OI luN6SIlutllG IL ne Carries ulOn-
ey with him." he used to say. Toward
the end of his life he was
LITTLE ECCENTRIC.
At his club, in the Rue Royal, people
laughed at his pocket-book, which he I'M
locked with little key when he wanted
to stake ten cents at cards. Baron James
had four children-Edward, Alphonse,
Nathaniel and Gustave-who recently
lost the much-talked of $25 zoo, 900.
FIo Ok, Dff 10 -
Rothschild estimates its wealth at what
in American coin would sum up fully
S70,000,0 900. Albert, the grandson of old
Mayer Anselm, is the head of the house,
which still bears the title one of the
five famous founders gave It's. Won
Rothschild." On the old stately build
ing in the Rennstrasse this sign, re-
gilded. is still to be seen. Albert lives
munificently, in what is known as the
besirk of Vienna, next to the palace of
Fuerst Schwartzenfeld. Six children
brighten the famous Rothschild palace in
Vienna, the youngest hardly 3 years old.
In the summer time the family live at
one of their four famous country houses
in the suburbs of Vienna. These are
kept up, however, throughout the entire
year, and the annual expense of each is
placed at 200,00 marks.
THE PARIS AND VIENNA ROTHSCHILDS
Stand high socially, but. perhaps, the
greatest eminence in the presence of most
serious obstacles has been obtained by
those members of the family who settled
in London. The story of old Baron Ma
than has been often told, but its romantic
incidents and the splendid financial ge-
MUS shown in his career are ever fresh
and striking. Baron Nathan was born
in Frankfort in 1867, and in ITS his father
sent him to London. Thence he went to
Manchester, where he began his career
wit oil fol
of $500. His genius is sufficiently shown
by the fact that in five years time he had
LOCO 0G0. Nathan was speculator.
What the Barings, the Goldsmids, the
Couttses and the Hopes did not dare to
try be had the nerve to undertake. Like
gains by supplying money to the armies
in the field. He purchased Wellington's
drafts, which England's treasury for
moment could not meet, and renewed
them To the Government. This gave him
his first pull on the Government bust
ness. On one occasion he is reported to
have outwitted the Bank of England. In
want of bullion he applied to the Gov
ernor to procure on loan a portion of the
superfluous coin. His request was agreed
to. The gold was supplied him, and
period was named for its return. Pune
tual to the appointed day Mr.. Rothschlld
entered, and with a twinkle in his eye
handed over the borrowed amount in
notes to the Governor. Reminded of his
agreement and the necessity for bullion
urged, the reply was-"V cry well, gen.
tlemen. give me the notes. daresay
your cashier will honor them with gold
from your vaults, and then can pay you
back in bullion"
NATHAN RoTHSCHILD
Did in his day all the feats which modern
newspaper correspondents have been SO
much praised for in our day. lie used