The Washington herald., 1913-03-09
By A. ID. JACOBSON.

THE ROMANCE or THE RoTHSCHILDS. by
Isnatirs BaIls. New York: q. Z. Putnam's
Sous Publishers
The great banking house of Rothschild
Brothers, which had its seat in three
capitals of Europe and has dominated
the European world of finance for three
generations, had its rise, Mr.. Balla tells
u.s. in a very humble way. A century
ago a Jew, known as Amschel Moses, was
A small tradesman in the Ghetto OF FRANK
fort To distinguish his dwelling, which
was also his place of business. he placed
over his door distinguishing sign. In his
case this was a red shield-in German
"Rothschild," hence in the course OF time
the ..house of Rothschild." The son Of
Amschel Moses was called Maier AMI
schell and so, when through their sign
the family attained a surname. the son
was known as Maier Amschell Roths-
child.
The first of this name, the son OF the
Jewish peddler. first attracted attention
by his knowledge of numismaucs,
science in which he had been self-tansht.
He began his career as a financier In a
very small way. His skill in numismatics
was brought to the notice of Landgrave,
of Hanau Qater William l of Hesse),
who employed him to negotiate bills or
exchange received from London in pay
ment of soldier supplies to the English
king. This was in 17S5 and We, of this
country, have a vivid recollection of Hes
sian soldiers being supplied to King
George III few years previous to this
for operation against his rebellious Ameri-
can colonies.
From these beginnings Maier Amschel
Rothschild became a power in the finan-
ciaI world of Europe, while he still re-
manned a dweller in his small house IN
the narrow street of Frankfort. When
he died, in September 1872, the wealth or
the family already had become proverbiaL
AS he felt death approaching. he called
about him his five sons and eXhorted
them to work in unison and to discuss
and carry out in common all their affairs.
He charged them never to abandon the
religion of their fathers and to ask ad-
vice of their mother SO long as she lived
In order to preserve the family unity in
coming generations. he advised them 10
make marriages within the family.
Some of the sons were already at the
head of banking houses in other cities,
and after the death of their father five
houses were established in five European
financial centers. The eldest, Anselm, re-
mafned at the head of the original house
in Frankfort Solomon founded the house
I'm Vienna, Nathan that in London, Karl
that of Naples. and James that of Paris.
In compliance with their fathers injunc-
tion. these houses established and have
continued to the present day a system of
unity of operation that has proved the
greatest factor in their marvellous sue
cess From small beginnings, by mastery
management and unquestioned honesty.
this house has grown until il has become
the greatest financial power in the world.
with an acknowledged foundation of four
hundred million pounds sterling or two
billion dollars.
The house of Rothschild has been for
many years the chief tduciary agent Of
the British government. and it has been
the chief source from which the other
European states have obtained needed
loans 1t has been maxim of the house
III there is question of a loan. let it
be TO a state" The wisdom of this sys-
tenn is shown in the fact that they have
not been content with the mere interest
on the capital advanced, but they have
engaged in very extensive speculations