The Indianapolis journal., 1896-04-26
HIRSCHS MANY GIFTS
HE HAD s15o.ooo.ooo, AND GAVE s15,-
ooo,ooo YEARLY FOR CHARITY.
Had Vast Schemes for Immigration tn
the United States and the Ar
gendne Republic.


IN
has been at various times the subject OF
greater praise and the object OF more con-
tumely than Baron Maurice de Hirsch de
Gereuth. who died on Monday. Men who
have claimed personal knowledge OF him
have described him as modest. vainglorious.
despicably selfish. sincerely generous, re-
nned. ill-mannered. intelligent. ignorant.
grasping, lavish.
His name is ebsent from most of the lead
inx works OF biography OF great men, per-
haps because II Is only within few years
that he has come forth like another Monte
cristo. and possibly because most OF the In
formation about him Is so contradictory In
the most essential particulars.
Baron Hirsch was born In Munich sixty
three years ago. His father was originally
a wealthy cattle merchant, and was en-
Bobled by the King OF Bavaria for services
to the State. These consisted mainly in lend
Ing large sums 10 the king when ne was In
financial straits and IN advising him shrewd-
~ and wisely in financial matters.
Young Hirsch went TO Brussels when he
was only thirteen years old. His career at
school was not marked by any peculiar prom
ise. and at seventeen ne went into business.
1t was not long before his capacity as
financier became evident. The moderate sum
OF money given to him by his father at the
outset OF his career soon doubled itself, and
he entered the great European banking house
Of Bischoffsheim a. Goldschmidt In a respon-
sinle position.
His advancement was steady, and, although
he never actually became a member OF the
firm. his personal influence was greatly in
creased by a matrimonial alliance with Mile.
Bischoffsheim. daughter of the leading pare
ner. who was also a Belgian Senator.
In 1866 occurred the commercial collapse OF
81. Langrand Dumonceau, which shook the
money world OF Belgium to its foundations.
They gave the. rising young finan1er an OPP
portunity. which he quickly grasped. He Sc
cured the rrost valuable OF the assets, in
eluding Turkish railway contracts. With
these he butt up a fortune. which has been
estimated as high as si5000O,0O0, and which
put him ON an equal financial footing with
the Rothschilds.
CONCERNING one of the Turkish railroad
transactions, a very characteristic story is
told. The work on a certain contract had
been completed and Baron HiFsch received
x50o0.0c0 In a single payment. There fol-
lowed a public outcry. The contract had
been altogether too favorable to him and
there was some talk OF canceling further
contracts unless portion of the money was
returned.
Baron HIrsch lost no time in going straight
20 the Sultan. whom he told, according TO
the story, that he had made the contract in
!. question with the Grand Vizier. and I'm some
iDexplicable way the Grand Vzier had made
mistake. He said he had been paid
$4,000 900. whereas the amount should really
have been s50.000.O00
What was he TO do with the extra
100000? He said he was perfectly willing
To make restitution. but was only in doubt
as TO whom he should give the money so
that u should reach It's proper destination.
The Sultan thought moment and then said
that II the 100000 were paid TO him he
would see that II did not go astray.
offices OF the Sultan at once and paid the
money TO him. Thereafter he heard no
further talk OF canceling the contracts or OF
demanding further restitution.
WON WHERE OTHERS LOST.
Baron Hirsch was one of .three contractors
for the Bulgarian Constantinople line. a
great undertaking. The result OF this ven-
ture proved his shrewdness and ability. 1t
was agreed that the work should be divided
into three parts. and that the contractors
should draw lots to see which section each
should take. To the Baron fell the worst
Yet. while his two colleagues each lost
money. the Baron frlhlled his contract In
every particular anu made profit OF
sl000000
1t Is said that he attributed his success in
this undertaking to a careful mastery OF
detail to economy I'm small things and to his
foresight In employing only the most COM
prises proved equally successful, and when
ne retired fron active participation In busi-
ness his fortune was colossal
1noush his great wealth served TO make
him conspicuous in the European world. ii
was BY his works OF charity that he was
Drought into worldwide prominence. No
man with such vast riches at his disposal
ever used them to better purposes His pub-
lie charities began in Germany and Austria
about ten years ago and soon became in
Vulnerable.
Baron Hirsch was Hebrew of the
Heorews and the greater part OF the char
HaDie work OF himself and his wife was de-
voted TO their co-religionlsts. But religious
toiefance was always a part OF the H.aron's
creed, and the cures OF The Austrian VII
.asss on MS vast estates were often seen
The men and women of his own race
round In HIM the most generous OF benefac-
tors, but his purse was always open to all
good causes. He probably received more
appeals for assistance than any other man
char. -'''" ''''
For instruction in Galfcia he gave s. 600.
up placing II at the absolute disposal of
the educational authorities To Russia he
made the muniicenS offer of sl0.OoOoo0 for
psonc instruction, with this sole proviso
that In the application Of the funds no dis
tinction should be made as 70 race or re-
hgion. The Russian government declined,
20 ne gave NoOoo TO the Empress for char
8 she devoted the money, under the advice
OF NJ. PooiedonOstkef. TO the education of
most rabid enemies of the Hebrews some
OF the Baron's friends demonstrated with
him for having put his money in the hands
OF the enemies of his race Yet, when the
Baron in May, 1891, sent Arnold White to
s. Egssia I TO Int interesde with the government in
ne gave 10 Mr.. White was a letter 10 M.
Pobiedonostzeff. The latter. It is said. was
not ungratefal and the Car was induced
by him TO mitigate the rigorous laws
Cscar 8. Straus, ex-minister 20 Turkey.
who knew Baron Hirsch well, SAYS OF him:
In order to understand the Barons char
table operations IL was necessary to know
the leading theory of all his actions That
ts, that men who have wealth are respon-
fble to mankind for its proper use He firm
~ believed It 10 be his duty 10 use his vast
wealth for the ameloratiop OF the ills OF
man. Like all others who attempted to give
money intelligently. he found II no easy
task. He was one OF the busiest men / ever
knew, yet practically all his time was de-
voted to charity"
IT is estimated that since 1890 Baron
Hirsch's expenditures for charity have
amounted 10 not less than $f5.OWO00 annual
". In that year he formed In London a
fund OF So,oo0ooo for the special assistance
Of Russian Hebrews. He formed a stock
company with twenty Thousand shares an