The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-04-22

an ordinary but prosperous shopkeeper in
Wurzburg, that old Franconian city of
Bavaria Previous to the revolution Wurz-
burg and a considerable portion of Fran
coma was ruled by bishops who had the
rank of princes Napoleon changed all
this, and many of the estates accumu-
lated by monks and nuns were seized and
sold. Among these was the Rottendorf
property near Wurzburg. This was Of
fered for sale, but no purchaser appeared
as many thought the title would not prove
good, and others had religious scruples.
So it went begging until Joseph Hirsch
bought it for q song. 1t proved extremely
valuable, as the purchaser acquired, be-
sides the real estate and houses, almost
priceless works of art and jewels. These
he sold and so began the Hirsch fortune.
His son, Joel Jacob, the father of the
philanthropist, became banker and also
an extensive dealer in cattle. He became
very rich as fortunes were reckoned in
the first half Of the Nineteenth century.
He was made baron by the king of Ba-
varia on account of his wealth and the ex-
tensive estates he owned as the heir of the
original Jacob. He was on friendly terms
with the king, and it Is related of the old
monarch that he once put these questions
to the baron:
How comes it that you are so richS
Your acquaintance with la haute finance
is perfect. How could you have made so
large fortune dealing in oattle?"
Easily enough, your majesty" was the
ready answer, Il dealt not only in cattle,
but with CATTLE"
When the first baron died, his son. who
was born in 1888, became member of the
-
Bischoffsheim & Goldsmidt, and also mar
ried Miss Bisohoffsheim, the daughter and
heiress of the head of the house. Baron
do Hirsoh was much bolder than his con-
servative associates in this house, and his
operations in railroads soon made them
fear that he would wreck them. He there
fore was compelled in his very largess en-
terprises, those from which he made q
princely fortune, to go alone To build
lines of railroads from central Europe into
the farther east seemed toe hazardous an
undertaking for the money kings of vi
emma, Frankfort, Paris and London.
Therefore, when Baron de Hirseh pro
jected line from Buda Pesth in Hungary
to Varna on the Black sea, he was COM
PEELED to do without the assistance of those
upon whom he would most naturally rely.
After years of incessant toll all obstacles
were overcome and the system of roads
finished. The building of these roads en-
riched De Hirsch beyond the dreams of
avarice. They also have done more than
any other agency to develop the resources
of the Austrian empire.
Some fifteen years ago Baron de Hirsch
had completed this great work, and found
himself at the aged of 45 with more money
than he knew what to do with. He had
no children to inherit his wealth. and he
and his wife were of one mind as to what
should be done. A man who has spent
twenty-five of the best years of his life in
conducting most exciting business VEN
lures cannot be idle, and so the baron
chose to keep busy in doing what good he
could find to do. In his railway operations
he had seen throughout the east how badly
off the people ewere for schools He there
fore established educational andindustrial
schools in Egypt ana in European and
| Asiatic Turkey. These he had since looked
after and maintained To the schools in
Gallacia he gave 81, 100000.
Years ago 10 saw the tendency to op-
press the Jews in Russia, and he made an
offer of SlO, 900, 900 20 the Russian govern
ment for schools, with the one proviso
that no distinction should be made as to
race or religion, This generous and mu-
nifcent offer was refused by the Russian
government, and shortly afterward began
that active oppression which is driving the
Hebrew peasants out of the czar's domin-
ions and to the four quarters of the earth
Large though his fortune was, itwas en-
tirely Inadequate to provide for all OF these
people, He therefore saw that he must en-
list the assistance of other rich Hebrews in
the cause. About this time he met In Con-
stantinopIe d wealthy American Hebrew,
Oscar S. Straus, then United States minis
ter to Turkey. After many and long con.
ferences it was decided that as many oil
these Russian refugees as could be pro-
vided with homes and made self supporting
should be assisted TO come 60 the United
States. To this end Baron do Hirsch gave
a fund of 81, 400 900, to be paid in monthly
ihstallments of $4,000.
OF this scheme the public in America
has heard much. IL has had successes and