Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-04-20

thorough partner in his work, for much
of her own personal inheritance of
$2O,0OO,OOO was devoted to charitable
purposes. Since the death Of the
Baron she had carried on the work of
putting into execution his plans, and
had in many ways added to their scope
and made them more effective.
Baroness Hirsch was a member of
the family of Bischoffsheim, with
which Baron de Hirsch had been asso-
ciated in many business operations.
She was a daughter Of a member Of
the great banking firm of Bischoffs-
helm & Goldschmidt, which was long
a power in European financial circles.
1t was in 1888, when the Baron gave
up the business of making money and
retired from the active management of
his railroad and other enterprises, that
he married Miss Bischoffsheim. Her
own fortune, large though it was, was
only small factor as compared with
his, and it was separately invested and
used for separate purposes.
The Baroness was strong, sympa-
thetic and self-reliant woman. While
her benevolence did not at all points
coincide with those of her husband, in
the most important matters the two
were as one. Considering how fully
the lives Of the two were bound up in
these various undertakings for the
good of humanity, it can be truly said
that the biographies Of these two peo-
pie from 1888 to the dates of their
deaths can be written from their chart
ties and from them only. What great
means they had to support them in
their work is well known. The Baron's
fortune, when he stopped building new
railways from central Europe to the
far east, was considered the only pri-
vate fortune in Europe that approach
ed that of the Rothschilds, and was es
timated at about $200,OOO,OOO.
Some Great Benefactions.
After the Baron's death the Baroness
retained active connection with the va
rious European charities, which she,
with her husband, founded, but became
better known than ever in America
through the extension of her benevo-
lence for the special benefit of the jew
ish poor of New York. The work took
three phases. First, there was the de-
yelopment of the Baron Hirsch trade
schools, which were planned on unique
lines, and have already done untold
good in New York. Second, there was
the Claire Hirsch Home for Working
Girls. an institution which has recently
been copied in other American cities,
including Chicago. Lastly, there was
new Baroness Hirsch fund of 81 100000
created for the removal of the unfor-
Inmates from the New York Ghetto, and
the transplanting of them in suburbs
and agricultural communities, where
their hard labor and willing work
would accomplish good both for them
selves and for the Industrial COM
munity.
The Working Girls Home had per-
haps the stamp of the Baroness indi-
viduality most fully impressed upon it.
The idea arose from letters which the
Baroness received in Paris in regard to
the sufferings and wretched surround
ings of Jewish working girls in New
York City. After much thought she hit
upon the right plan, to her mind, and at
once made arrangements, through her
American agent, to carry it out. She
provided funds for the erection Of fine
building as home on 63d street, be-
tween I'd and Sd avenues, Immediately
back of the Hirsch Trade Schools, and
added $4,000 year for running ex-
penses. Before this building was erect
ed she provided a temporary home on a
smaller scale, so that there would be
no delay in having the work begun. The
plan was to give girls the benefits of
home, with pleasant and elevating sur
roundings, at the least possible expense
to the inmates. Not charity, but a
place where poor girls could get the
worth of their money and more, too,
was desired. Arrangements are made
so that girls out Of employment can do
Homework for their board and room.