Greene County herald., 1899-11-17
FIRST ROTHSCHILD.
AEWAs A scRUPULOUsLY HON.
EST MAN.
An Act of Fidelity on Ills Part Lod to
His Becoming an International Bank
er-saved the Treasure of the Prince
of Hssse Cassel.

At the time Of the French revolu-
ton, there lived at Frankfort-on:- the
Maine in Germany, Jewish banker,
of limited means, but good reputation,
named Moses Rothschild. When the
French army invaded Germany. the
Prince of Hesse Cassel was obliged to
hy from his dominions. AS he passed
through Frankfort, he requested Moses
Rothschild to take charge of large
cum of money and some valuable Jew
els, which he feared might otherwise
fall into the hands Of the enemy. The
charge; but the prince was 30 much
at loss for the means Of saving his
property, that Moses at length con-
sented. He declined, however, giving
a receipt for 1t, as in such dangerous
circumstances he could not be answer
able for its being safely restored. The
money and jewels. to the value Of sew
eral hundred thousand pounds. were
conveyed to Frankfort; and just as
the French entered the town, Mr..
Rothschild had succeeded in buryins
the treasure in corner of his garden.
He made no attempt to conceal his
own property, which amounted only to
six thousand pounds. The French ac-
cordingly took this. without suspect
ing that he had any larger sum In
his possession. Had he, on the con-
trary, pretended to have no money,
they would have certainly searched,
as thsy did in many other cases, and
might have found and taken the
whole. When they left the town, Mr..
Rothschild dug up the princes money,
and began to make use of a small
portion of 1t. He now thrived In his
business, and soon gained much wealth
of his own. A few years after, when,
peace came, the Prince of Hesse Cas-
sci returned to his dominions. He was
almost afraid to call on the Frankfort
banker, for he readily reflected that,
IL the French had not got the money
and Jewels. Moses might pretend they.
had, and thus keep an 70 tS himself To
his great establishment, Mr.. Rothschild
informed him that the whole OF the
property was safe, and now ready to
be returned, with per cent interest
on the money. The banker at the
same time related by what means he
had saved it, and apologized for break
ing upon the money, by representing
that. to save it, he had had to sacrifice
all his own. The prince was so I'M
pressed by the fidelity Of Mr.. Roths-
child under his great trust, that he al
lowed the money to remain In his
hands as q small rate of interest. To
mark, also, his gratitude, he recon-
mended the Jew to various European
sovereigns as a moneylender. Moses
was consequently employed In several
great transactions for raising loans, by
which he realized vast profit. In
time he became immensely rich, and
put his three sons into the same kind
of business in the three chief capitals
Of Europe-London, Paris and Vienna.
All of them prospered. They became
the wealthiest private men whom the
world has ever known. He who lived
In London, left at his death $35, ,000, 900.
The other two were created barons,
and died not less wealthy. Thus q
family, whose purse has maintained
war and brought about peace. owes all
its greatness to one act Of honesty un
der trust.