New-York tribune., 1909-03-29
JEW VINO WAS A RUSSIAN NOBLE.

JEW WHO WAS A RUSSIAN NOBLE
Whenever hear OF the Intolerance Of the Cars
government With regard 20 the Jews l always call
70 mind old Baron Horace Gunzburg. who has just
been gathered TO his fathers the age OF nearly
eighty The baron. although a processing Jew
of the most orthodox type, not only a knight
Grand Cross Of the Order Of st Stantslas. but also
possessed the Grand Gordon OF the infinitely more
important and exclusive Order of St Anne. which
had been bestowed upon him by Alexander III. and
which ipso facto endowed him with hereditary
Muscovite nobiliJy-that is say. invested him
with the right a in the provincial assembly
Of MOBILES Of the province of Minsk lie was also
member of the municipality OF ST Petersburg. a
member Of the Council OF Railroads OF the I'm
perial Treasury Department and a member OF the
Imperial Commission Of Commerce and Manu-
features. OF the Department Of Commerce Born
In the province Kief. and Russian by birth. his
title Of Baron bestowed upon him by Grand
Duke Louis III OF Hesse, at the instance OF the
atter's sister the late Empress Marie in recosni-
ton Of his munificent contributions 10 the many
charitable enterprises which she was Interested
and Alexander II gladly accorded to him the Tlsht
accept IT and to bear It in Russia.
Some time ago. when Baron Horace celebrated
his golden wedding. all the principal digntaries OF
the government several members OF the imperial
family and many members OF the old huscoFl'e
arstocr2cy visited the baron and baroness at their
beautiful palace the Horse Guards Square at ST
Petersburg the purpose Of rendering him their
good wishes and congratulations. He belonged to
a family which since the sixteenth century mas
produced succession Of famous Tahbis and philan-
thropsts, and which IS not unknown in the Uhlteo
States The name was first adopted from the
Bavarian town Of Gunzburg in which the Rabbi
Simeon Gunzburg achieved fame as a merchant
and 5 a Talmudist during the sixteenth century
His name is still conmemorated In speciaI
prayer by the Jewish synagOgues of Borgau' IN ba-
varia The late Baron Horaces father and grand
father were both renowned for their patriotism aho
charity: the grandfather. after building great
hospital at Simferopol, being granted the title Oh
Honorary and Hereditary Citizen by Nicholas /
Baron Horace's father. Try Gunzourg, was an
army contractor. who made fortune at the time
Of the Crrnean War and then settled down IN 81
Petershurg where he founded the great banking
firm that bears his name, and which is the MUS
covite counterpart Of the RothsChi!2s hTm III
Western Europe Baron Try betook himself TO
Paris toward the close Of the second Napoeonic
empire. for the purpose Of enjoying his wealth
there. and played q prominent role at the Tuil-
leries. his entertainments his palatial mansion
in the Rue de Tilst exciting amazement by their
inordinate luxury. even in that OF insane ex-
travagance. The Gunzburg house in those
DAYS the most gorgeous in Paris. and the mag
nificent GobeIin tapestries, representing scenes
from the life Of Don Quixote, we're celebrated
throughout Europe and source Of intense envy
Empress Eugene
Il was through Baron Horaces Intervention
with Emperor Alexander II that all obstacles
were removed to the erection Of the magnificent
synagogue at St Petersburg. the cost Of which
he almost entirely betrayed He the chief
link between his coreligfonists and the imperial
government. and i'm his quiet way was able TO
secure far more concessions for them than were
obtained by foreign Intervention. which latter
only served 70 exasperate people in Russia
Baron Horace. who when in London was pro
sented az court with his wife by the Russian
An1ba ssador and his wife, is succeeded by his
only scr. Baron David Gunz5uTE. distinguished
nrIe Rar sisters.
the elder Of whom IS the widow Of Joseph Sas-
soon, member Of the well known AngIo-Indan
family which IS headed by Sir Edward Sassoon.
MARQUISE DE FONTENOT.