Omaha daily bee., 1892-02-01
Graphic Pen Pictures of One Of the Oldest
Cities in Germany.
BIRTHPLACE OF THE POET GOETHE
The Home OF King Chariemagnc, Martin
Luther. Mayer Anselm Rothschiid-
Great Railway Ccnter-Exquisite
Statucs-tiistoric Buildings.


to mold ia those days took place within its
walls
In tho twelfth century 1t became what was
called a free city. that is, one that held
sovereign rights Of its own, Independent OF
any ruler, aud its was presented in the
German confederation.
Some of these free cities still retain many
privileges Hamburg, Luoec and Bremen
notably, but Frankfort now belongs to the
German empire.
Tho first surprise ut Frankfort Is the
superb railway station that is, with only ore
exception, the handsomcst in the world and
is said TO have cost s., ,50O,0 900. Frankfort is
great railway center, but compared with a
number OF the centers OF railway traffic In
the United States, it strikes one Us Of little
Importance nnd the wonder grows that SO
much money will be expended where 1t is
not absolutely necessary
1t shows the Importance that the Europeans
attach to the railway service of their coun-
tries.
One of the first places to which ones eager
curiosity takes us is the house where Goethe
was born, and we see the little garden where
he played as a child, and above 1t, the small
used to sit and watch the boy.
Frankfort has intense pride In claiming as
its own this powerful genius, and one OF the
parks has tine statue erected to him, while
represented.
Goethe spent few OF his after years in
Frankfort for his time was claimed by
princes and mobiles and all parts of Europe
serv ed as his homo for successive wears. 1t
will be remembered that he lived to the ripe
age of S3, not dying till 1882.
Not far from Goetne's home is the Roemer,
the town hall really, where the banquet used
to take place after the emperor was elected
and crowned. And, by the way, before we
come to the Roemer, we stop bit at the
cathedral to see the chapel where all the
early emperors were elected, and to stand
before the grand altar, on the spot where all
these were crowned.
At this great banquet the emperor was
waited upon by kings and princes, and in the
square before the building an OK was roasted
whole-for the people and a fountain ran
wine The emperor crossed to the square
upon piece Of carpet spread before him and
ate slice of the roast OK. The people were
allowed TO cut away the carpet ana keep the
pieces as souvenirs after he had walked over
it, and it is recorded that his imperial heels
were in danger of being SLICED off by the
eager crowd.
Near the cathedral is the house formerly
occupied by Luther and as we look upon its
long steep roof and queer, odd little windows
everywhere, the wonderful history of this
man comes clearly before us as 1t never did
before.
We remember the young student of 22
years VINO w tue SuuuSu ueutu Vi lellOW
ciassmate-kiled at Luther's side
by q stroke Of lightning-was so
shocked ana impressed that he
sought the life in the bosom of the
church, and AT "a years became aspriest We
remember how his mind became unset
philosophers, and about this time the pope at
Rome offering to sell indulgences to defray
the expense OF building st. Peters church,
and this sale giving occasion to many for dis
~, Il Iii hAp natfn sbn.,t
this occasion TO come out against the power
of the pope.
How he went to Rome, it is SAID, to
strengthen his faith, and how he became
more strongly opposed to the doctrines of
the church, and ally how he threw off all
The control of the pope and the church and
married nun who had also renounced her
vows.
We soc him the father of three sons, busily
waging war against the powers at Rome, and
wrote over four hundred books-ttll his
death came.
He was only SO years when he died, and
the amount of work he crowded into those
years is almost beyond conception.
One of the other most interesting carts of
Frankfort is tho old portion of the city form :
erly inhabited by the Jews.
Wherever was found city In Europe
that had become wealthy and crowded with
the nobility and fashion, there also was to be
found decline and decay; and with all this
there was sure to cone the Jew, sent for in
order to replenish the purses emp.ied by ex-
travagancc and idleness.
Every advantage was taken Of the wealth
he had accumulated by years of frugallty
and purity of life and in return he was for
hidden to own property within the city, to
dwell tzcre and was obliged to live in u cer-
tain section outside the walls, the gates of
which section were locked at night.
Thank God. those days of ignorance are
gone, and today we find all nations and all
people free-except in one dark spot--hold-
ing the places they win in tho world with
honor and distinction
Here III Frankfort, among the mer-
chant princes, we find very many
Jews, and here also we find the mag
nificent home Of one OF the great Rothschild
family, the founder of which family saved
the credit Of the landgrave of Hesse, and SO
became power In the financial world, a
power ever since held Ds his descendants.
Ia the former Jews quarter we visited the
humble home of Mayer Anselm Rorhschiid,
the founder Of the great house. IL IS small
and obscure, but 1T Is visited by every person
that comes to Frankfort,
Young Rothschild was intended for tho
Jewish ministry, but his tastes rather in
cIined to commerce, SO his father placed him
Ia a counting house. and FROM this he rose
till the lsndgrave OF Hesse appointed him
his banker.
At the time that Napoleon l. was sweeping
all over Europe and swallowing up all the
lesser powers, it came to pass that the whole
fortune of the landgrave was threatened.
And here we have the rare sight of loyalty
and gratitude for confidence reposed in an
other BY wonderful management careful
investment. and devoted interest to his pa
trons' affairs, the whole property and fortune
of the house WAS saved and materially aug
mented.
five sons were left to follow IN tn foot
steps OF their faithful father and the posi-
tions they have occupied in the financial
world, the good they have accomplished and
the unsullied name they have borne, has
proved of what good stock they came.
The one solemn INJUNCTION their father left
to work together-has been
rigidly obeyed; and when crisis in fnan-
cial affairs comes IL has ever been found in.-
possible 10 affect the credit OF the Roths-
chiids.
One brother went TO London, one to Pars,
one to Vienna one TO Naples, while The old
est son stayed ut Frankfort.
We drive out past the Frledberg gate and
the monument erected by the king OF Prus-