Rothschild

ros'child, a famous European banking house. The founder was Mayer Anselm of Frankfurt-on-the-Main. He was of Hebrew ancestry and was born in the Jews' Alley in 1743. His father desired him to become a priest, but he preferred the business of a money changer. He had a reputation for honesty and ability and rose from poverty to affluence. When Napoleon was marching on Cassel, the elector sent for Mayer Anselm and intrusted him with the treasure in his vaults, valued at $5,000,000. The Jewish banker and his friends succeeded in concealing the treasure, thus saving it from the grasp of the French. The prince permitted him to use the money for some time without interest. The safe return of so large an amount gave the banker a world-wide reputation.

The family name of Rothschild was derived from a red shield or armorial bearing over the door of the building in which he did business. Mayer Anselm Rothschild set up five sons in the banking business in the five capitals of Europe: Anselm in Frankfort; Nathan in London; Solomon in Vienna; Jacob in Paris; and Karl in Naples. Under his instructions they formed a general partnership, which controlled speedily the largest aggregate of capital known in ancient or modern times. The London house is said to have made a million dollars in a few hours by acting on private advices and buying up English securities at a low price before the news of the battle of Waterloo became generally known. The house of Rothschilds has maintained its financial strength by admitting successive members of the family into partnership and by close intermarriage between cousins, thus keeping the wealth all in the family.

It is said that during the Napoleonic wars, the house raised and loaned to the various nations a sum not less than $500,000,000. The larger public loans managed by the firm since that date have been for Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, France, Italy, Russia, and Brazil, aggregating, it is said, $2,345,000,000. The firm holds a large amount of United States bonds. During the late war between Russia and Japan, the Rothschilds controlled practically the monetary situation. The firm controls so large a part of the world's wealth that nations are practically unable to go to war without its permission. In 1868 a Rothschild died in Paris worth $400,000,000. The firm controls the precious metals of Mexico. A Rothschild was the first Jew ever admitted to the English Parliament.