Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-07
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
I. C.. NJ.
THE RISE OF THE HOUSE OF
ROTHSCHILD Count Egon Caesar
Cnrti CnSmnnolitan Cnrnnratinn

COTbl. COSIHOpOllldll corporation.
A story of lowly beginnings is that
of the famous house of Rothschild
And to general readers this is the fact
paramount that Is calculated to waken
their deepest interest. For the uplift-
ing of the humble has ever been
matter of surprising personal appeal to
the great commonalty, since - who
knows! And, from time out of mind.
moralist and fabulist, romancer poet
and plain literalist, have wrought upon
this theme their best and most endur-
ing work. From a single point of view
the records of the Rothschilds belongs,
clearly, to the medium of saga and
romance. From It's chief substance and
effect however, the narrative is pure
fact In mood and purpose. in APP
proach and method. III general outlook
and intellectual equipment, Count Corfu
Is the historian, presenting an impor-
tant period of European politics by way
of this family group of f1nanciers.
Meyer Amschel Rothschild was born
in the ghetto of Frankfort on-the Main
late in the eighteenth century. Then,
as before and since, all sorts of re-
strictions were placed upon the Jews.
Only few occupations were open to
them. Wearing inhibitions upon the
personal daily life were many ami
burdensome. Handicaps and hardship
appeared to be invented merely to
thWart and defeat them. 1t Is interest :
ing, and stirring. to reflect that many
of the conspicuous business and civic
excellencies of the Jews today arc
sourced in those old impoSitions and in
the indomitable spirit of the Hebrews
themselves However. that is a long
story, and different one. Let lis go
back to Meyer Amschel who, as lad
of IL, was expert in money changing
that is. in exchanging gold and silver
for the appropriate amount of copper,
coarse" money. At that time Europe
was motley of petty kingdoms and
principalities. each with currency OF
its own. So at every frontier the
money changer was a person of inn
portance in the progress of any COM
mercial transaction whatever. The boy
Meyer Amschel was conspicuously
ready-handed in these dealings. With
the deft hand there went along keen
money wit. Besides, the boy became
something of an authority in the mat
ter of coins, many rare ones coming
his way. Even as STRIPPING he grew
to be recognized collector OF rare and
valuable coins. All the days and nights
so spent. either in action or dreaming,
gave nurture to Meyer Amschels deep
lying sense of money values and uses
and ultimate potencies. 1t was in such
small and matter-of-fact manner that
the house of RothSchild took seed and
sprouted and grew till it's branches
finally came to offer shade and ma
terial comfort to the hard-pressed coun-
tries of all Europe and beyond. q
financial concern known and respected
throughout the world.
Looking into this matter from the
historians point Of view. Count Cortl
appears to have reached the conclusion
that the story of political Europe
around about the Napoleonic period and
the story of the great banking concern
of Rothschild run along together at
many crisis in continental affairs
BY this time there are sons TO carry
on, four or five Rothschilds. peers OF
one another in the domain of Euro
pean financial affairs. Very mixed
affairs these we're, too. with pr1ncelings
as petty as they were generally impe-
cunious, all clamoring for the where
withal to continue each his own royal
existence. 1t was at these Junctures
that the great bankers were OF prime
Importance. During part OF this time
Napoleon was very special pest to the
little potentates, making and unmak-
ing Kingdoms to suit himself and his
brood of greedy ir-laws each hungering
for a realm all his own TO rattle around
In his pocket for the fine jingling
sound and the rich feel of the thing.
And with these swift map changes in
Europe of that period the Rothschilds
kept step, growing in finesse and
subtlety and power. growing in knowl-
edge of state affairs. till the political
opinions and judgments OF this famous
brotherhood became second In value 10
the soundness of their financial re-
sources and their financial statesman :
ship Money. power, prestige. united
ultimately to set the house OF Rotns-
child high in the deliberations OF the
great ones OF the earth. Along the
way storms assailed that which they
had so carefully built disaster threat
ened the house of Rothschilu. YET
always a clear foresight, coupled with
ready adaptability. served this famous
house, as 1t serves every enterprise,
great or small. A fine story, TO wnicn
It's author devoted arduous study Tor
several years before putting 1t into
nrint. His material was old letters and
documents. embodying many a transac-
ton of vital Importance and wide scope.
Among these Count Corti searched col
lecting and organizing them INTO
unit that sets out not only the story OF
this famous Jewish family OF hnah-
clers, but that sums as well TO record
of European diplomacy and intrigue
during the time when the continent
was, through many victSsitudeS, APP
nroaching the modern sense OF nation
aiity This q movement which re-
suited in the constitution Of Europe
ms 1t stands politically today. Here the
biography of an institution ana
family expands by Its own substance
To include a chapter in the develop
men of modern nationalism.
THE PORTRAIT OF A BANKER
James Stillman. Anna Robson Burr.
Duffield a. Co.
In a broad sense this Ia a study OF
group representing the modern system
of finance and banking~-that Is, except
for the feature of James Stiiiman which
Il portrayS In friendly intimacy. II
stands besides as a running account OF
The attitudes and behaviors OF several
OF the great bankers of the country,
Sort Of a composite, the study Is in its
general effect II Is this view of the
banking system as 1t is today which.
though sketehily presented rs 1t GER
tainly is, gives to the story It's widest
interest and usefulness. Like every
other department of knowledge, finance
and banking have within recent years
rounded into system taken on
special technic assumed powerful rela-
lions with every other sort of enterprise.
become the most potent of active In
I'll FaN itNtn hi
lion OF finance and banking remains to
the average man and woman mostly
bratadabfA~~sounds without meaning.
Any effort. therefore. TO open up the
mystery 70 common understanding
is a worthy effort. And III the measure
10 which this author does reveal,
through her subject, the foundations OF
banking, It's purpose, its procedure, its
benefits, To that extent the book Is of