The Portland daily press., 1896-04-25

ly his Egeria, but also his financial
backer, until he became emperor. On
marrying Eugene de Montiio, Napoleon
made this chateau the cause for confer
ring upon his fair friend the title OF
Comtesse de BeaureRard. On her death,
Miss Howard bequeathed the place to
her son by the emperor, who bore the
name of Comte de Bechevet. and the lat.
ter sold 1t in 1870 to the eccentric Duchess
de Beautfremont When financial dis
aster overlook the duchess she sold it to
Baron de Hirsch for ], ZOO, 600 francs, al
though the estate was valued then at ten
times that amount. The most charming
apartment of the house is the cabinet de
toilette of the baroness, copied exactly
from that of the empress of Austria at
Vienna.
The superb mansion occupied by the
baron at Paris has likewise strange his
tory. Built originally for the Duchess of
Alba by Empress Eugene, the former
died few months after entering into
possession thereof. Ili-luck has attended
each of its numerous possessors since
then, including the Duo de Mouchy, who
lost couple of daughters there, and q
famous financier, who came to grief and
committed suicide Baron dc Hirsoh
himself lost his only son, Lucien, the
very apple of his eye, and the idol of his
mother, within three weeks of taking up
his residence there
Baron de Hirsch began to send funds
to tn United States for the purpose of
ameliorating the condition Of the Rus
sian and the Rumanian Jews about six
years ago. "He had seen the objects of
his solicitude in their native country,
and knew that they had degenernted be-
cause OF centuries of persecution said
A. s. Solomons, the general manager of
the Baron de Hirsch fund in this city,
and the money was sent here to hel p
the people along in country where, he
thought, their efforts would not be
hamperea by intolerance The remit.
tances came in sums of $780, at first,
but grew larger as it became evident that
the money could be put to good uses.
AS soon as the funds began to come a
board of managers was formed of the fol-
lowing officers: Meyer S. Isaaos, presi
dent; Jacob H. Sohiff. vice president;
Jesse Seligman, treasurer; DR.. julius
Goldman, secretary; James II. H. Hoff-
man, Henry Rice, Oscar S. Straus and
A. S. Solomons, general managers.
James II. Hoffman, Henry Rice and Os-
car S. Straus of New York, and Judge
Meyer Sulzberger and William b. Hack
enburg, of Philadelphia were also on the
board. The board has never been
changed, except that Emanuel Lehm
man was elected to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of Jesse Seligman.
The fund was Increased from time to
time by Baron de Hirsoh, until now 1t
amounts to 50, 500, 600, Of which $500, 900
has been invested in farm land in New
Jersey and Connecticut, and the balance
In bond and mortgage. the proceeds of
which are being used for educational pur-
poses. The managers spent no money to
bring people to this country and their
Efforts have always been directed sim
ply toward botternig the condition of
those who came of their own accord.
Twelve rooms in the Educational alli-
ance building were taken, where gradu-
ates of the normal college prepared the
children .of the primary grades. of the
pubic schools. There are now about $50
also ten English classes, conducted In
| the evening, where workinRmen and
women are taught English. Louis
| Sohnabel is the superintendent of these
schools. The fund has established also q
mechanical training school at Nos. 22t
and 227 East Ninth street, in a building
| containing all the necessary machinery
and appliances for the practical study OF
carpentry, plumbing, turning, house,
| sign and freSco painting and working in
| iron. The term here is six months, and
at the end of that time the graduates are
| furnished with the implements of their
| trades. In this department j. Ernes
Gyalden, c. E., is the superintendent.
| There Is one place where the Baron
Hirsch fund has been used as direct
charity, and the money used has been ex-
pended by the United Hebrew charities.
The fund ise used to help such immi
grants for whom places have been Sc
cured in the interior, but who have not
the funds to buy transportation. The
fund also has an agent at Ellis island,
who looks after the interests of the inn
migrants who come under the jurisdic.
| tion Of the fund.
In 1891 public baths were established
at Henry and Market streets, where there
are 90 rain baths and many tubs in sepa.
rate apartments, each apartment having
its dressing room. At these baths from
800 to zoo people are accommodated every
| day. Herman Moeller is the superin-
tendent, and matIon has charge of the
women's department..
1n.1S15 100 acres of land WAS purchased
at Woodbine, Care May county, N. J. 1t
was then out into 6 farm plots of 81 acres
| each and 2300 town lots, a house. barns
and outhouses on each farm. Seventeen
miles of streets and roads have been laid
out. Four large factories give young
men and women of the place steady and
lucrative epmloyment, and for the more
sturdy workers there is brlckyard and
kindling wood factory. The o ace is
| LIZ ubou Wy cIooufiCIGys III LttS IL BUOr0S anu
a fine schoolhouse. The farming popu.
lation of Woodbine is now about 900, and
1 there are about $50 other residents in the
town. There.is a spacious hotel in the
place at which the visitor to the Hirsct
colony can find good accom- modations
Although bent on worldly affairs the
colonists did not forget their faith when
they came TO Woodbine, and they have
always had house of worship. A brick
synagogue is now in course Of construc-
ion, which when completed will seats
| about 400 persons. The lower part of the
| building will be used as school.
Many of the deserted farms OF New
England are being reclaimed by means
| of the Hirsch fund. Emigrants who ha6
small capital, and who were farmers
we're assisted by the fund in securing
these cheap farms, many of which are at
Chesterfield, near New London, Conn.
Jacob II. Sehaff said that the death
of Baron de hirsch would not affect the
workings of the Hirsch fund, and that
its work would go on upon the same
line as heretofore. Mr.. Sohaff spoke
with enthusiasm of the good which had
been done through the trades school, from,
which about 5 pupils are graduated eve.
ry year. and said that fully 5000 colo
nists has been aided by the fund.
S0TVH PORTLAND