Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1896 — HAND ALWAYS OPEN. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HAND ALWAYS OPEN.

BARON DE HIRSCH'S BENEFACTIONS WERE BOUNDLESS. Hla Death Will Not Interfere with Manx of Hie Plana for the Amelioration of Hla Race—Hi* Fortune Wae Largely Self-Made. ‘13143 « - „ , Lived Like a Prince. The death ot Baron Maurice da Hlrs.-b will not put an end to his princely benefactions. Many millions of the fund dedicated to the amelioration 0 f the condition of the oppressed Jews la

Europe, and to other charitable pur poses upon the death of his son, still remain for disbursement in years to come. The Baron’s title was inherited from his father, not bestowed in recognition of his philanthropy, as many have supposed. The greater portion of his enormous wealth was won by his own efforts. It was while traveling through the rich countries bordering on he Black Sea that he conceived the idea of the vast enterprise which laid the foundation for perhaps the greatest individual fortune In Europe. This was the building of a railroad from Varna, on the Black Sea, to Buda-Pesth. It is roughly estimated that Baron Hirsch died worth $200,000,000. In 1883 he retired from the business of moneymaking and married Miss Bischoffsheim, the daughter of one of his partners, who brought him as a dowry 100,000,000 francs. This money was invested apart from the husband’s wealth. Husband and wife gave themselves up to the business of distributing their money among the poor, and vied with each other in good deeds. He founded free schools In Egypt, Asiatic Turkey, and in the countries of Europe. These charities were chiefly beneficial to the poor of the Jewish race. The Hebrews of Poland and the country of the Danube were his favorites. Four or five, years ago lie gave the Government of Austria 12,000,000 francs for the establishment of non-sectarian schools in that country. About the same time he donated a similar amount for the education and Americanizing of Russian Jews emigrating to the States, Baron Hirsch lived like a prince. He maintained In the most elegant fashion magnificent residences in London, Paris and Berlin. His country estates were rich and princely, more especially his largest estate in Moravia. He resided chiefly in Paris, and in that city he had a great office filled with recorders, clerks and managers, whose only occupation was that of carrying on the charitable work of the benefactor. Personally the Baron was a very handsome mnn. He was of medium height and gracefully but compactly built. Gentleness and Intellectuality were strongly marked in hts face. His eyes were large, dark and soft as a woman’s. His continental life gave him a thorough knowledge of most of the languages of Europe. He spoke English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Russian, and was familiar with many of the obscure tongues of Europe. He was a man of polish, and his knowledge of political, social and economic questions was broad and deep. It is said that his gifts to charity summed up more than £12,000,000.

BARON HIRSCH.