The San Francisco call., 1905-01-15


morning throughout the year a stylish
automobile spins rapidly through the
" narrow overpopulated streets of the
Montmartre district in Paris. The
passers, working men and women. cast
friendly glances after the car, some
times bowling to its occupant.
It's our little DOCTOR" they say.
Little doctor?" the chance visitor
to the neighborhood is apt to think.
''He may be a doctor, but l should call
him decidedly large and stout" Then
one remembers the meaning of endear
ment that the word little may convey
in France. where children, when they
wish TO be particularly affectionate,
speak of their little father" and little
mother
The man in the automobile is an idol
of the Montmartre populace, and the
reasons for this alteration could be
given by any one you might stop, pro-
vided he were poor and unhappy.
Who is hep" will come the answer.
''He is Monsieur the Baron de Roths
child, who takes care of our wives and
children, and Who has built a hospital
on purpose for us. Go up in the Rue
Marcadet and you will see. And
there, indeed, you will see the results
of work which should stand as a
model for the millionaire philanthro-
pists of all nations
USES WEALTH FOR POOR.
1t is not often that a member of
family world-famous for wealth comes
to earn the genuine affection of the
Oh 1rie ,oI
by those suffering from all the ills of
The flesh against those who know no
privation is apt to overrule sentiments
Of gratitude even for great services
rendered By this work among the
lower classes. the Baron Henri de
Rothschild mas really come to be one of
the most sincerely beloved men in the
French capital. Remarkable as this
result is. he has attained it by means
more remarkable yet.
Before he was 20 years of age he de-
cided that ordinary means for helping
the poor-contributing to charities, CIV
ing aims, distributing soup tickets
were insufficient and even inefficient.
He saw that diseases of all kinds. re-
: sulting from improper nourishment and
deplorable conditions of existence, re-
. He saw wretched babies condemned
from the very beginning of life by
hereditary or acquired taints. And he
dreamed Of helping to raise humanity
by relieving these sufferings. Contented
with the wealth which he had. refusing
to go into business like the rest of his
family, the Baron Henri de Rothschild
studied medicine with the intention of
or
{. Graduating at the early age of %
years, the Baron started in at once on
his career. But he found serious obsta-
cles in his way. At the public hospitals
he was baffied by the instructive dread
which the poor have of such institu-
tions, and he was regarded suspiciously
as one trying TO make experiments on
. them. In their homes the breach was
perhaps even wider, and he was, fur
thermore, exposed to calls from i'm
posters who sought a pretext for levy
ing money. Even where his kindness
was not abused it rarely seemed to
profit. To get into close touch with the
poor and remain so appeared impossi-
BILE under such conditions.
Then came to the Baron the idea to
which he owes all his success He de-
cided to have hospital of his own,
where he should see every one who de-
sired his medical assistance and give
treatment gratis. Starting quietly with
a modest establishment in the Picpus
district, he soon found the calls upon
him multiplied. The Montmartre poor
attracted his particular attention. and
in their midst he continued his work.
To-day his magnificent private hos
pital in the Rue Marcadet, known as
the Polyclinique H. de Rothschild, has
between 5000 and 1000 persons depend
ent upon it for regular medical attend
ance, without counting the numerous
others who go thither in an emergency
No less than ten physicians and spe-
cialists Of all kinds are attached to the
hospital, paid by the Baron to devote
themselves to the service of the poor.
GIVES PERSONAL SERVICES.
Although his Polyclinique has now
been running several years, the ardor
of the Baron is in no way dulled; per-
haps it has rather increased. for he Is
beginning to see the beneficial results
arising from it, Every day from 10
a. nj. until noon, he. is at his consulting
room. receiving his patients. examin-
visiting the inmates of the hospital. 1t
is perhaps in the consultations that the
Baron takes the keenest interest: for
he has realized that 1t is not only In
the extreme cases requiring absolute
quiet and constant care. but more often
In local affections demanding relief
which is rarely obtained, that the
working classes want help. Clad in
. the lonS white blouse OF a hospital
physician, the Baron walks rapidly
from room to room, questioning the
patients. prescribing, and giving in