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About The American. (Omaha, Nebraska) 1891-1899 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 25, 1898)
HE AMERICAN THE WANDERING JEW. b v e uqenc ue. CHAITKH XVIII. 1BIUT AND CKHOIT. For some seconds. Samuel and )Uthheta remained nioUtmlmu. with tlM-lr fled In far ami uueasintM on the seven luminous points, which shown throiiKh the darkness of the nlfht from the summit of the blvl dere; while, on the horltou. behind the house, a palp, rosy hue announced the dawn of day. Samuel wan the drat to break the ailenre. and aaJd to hit wife, a he irw his hand arross hla brow. "The grief caused by the remembrance of our poor child hna prevented u from rfriortlng that, after all, there should be. nothing to alarm us la what we see." "How no, Samuel?" "My father alwaya told me that he, and my grandfather before him, bad -n Bii.-h lights at long Intervals." "Tee, Samuel but without belns; nbl wiy mum ilian ourselves, U et Ulaln the cause." "Uke my father and grandfather, we can only suppose that some sec ret passage give admittance to per sons who, like us, have some myster ious duty to fulfill In this dwelling. Ifcwldes, my father warned me not to Im uneasy at these appearance, fore told by him, and now visible for the second time In thirty years." "No matter for that, Samuel, It does strike one as If It was something su pernatural." "The days of miracles are over," raid the Jew, shaking his head sor rowftily; "mnny of the old houses in this qnarter have suuterrajnootm rommunlcntlona with distant places no trie extending even to the Seine and the Catacombs, Doubtless, this house is so situated, and the persona wlio make these rare visits enter by some such means." "Put that the belvldere should be thus lighted up?" "According; to the plan of the build ing, you know that the belvldere forms a kind of skylight to the ap pnrtmenl called the Great Hall of Mourning, situated on the upper story. As it Is completely dark, In consequence of the closing of ail the windows, they must use a light to visit this Hall of Mourning a room which Is said to contain some very Ptrange and gloomy things," added the Jew with a shudder. But.bsheba, ns well as her husband, gazed attentively on the seven lum inous points, which diminished In lrlghtness ns the daylight gradually increased. "As you say, Samuel, the mystery may be thus explained," resumed the Hebrew's wife. "Besides the day is so important a one for the family of Rennepont, that this apparition ought not to astonish us under the circumstances." "Only to think." remarked Samuel, "that theee lights have appeared at several different times throughout a century and a half! There must therefore, be another family that like ours, has devoted Itself, from generation to generation, to acoonv Mih duty." "But what is the duty? It will per baps be explained today." "Come, come. Bathsheba," suddenly exclaimed Samuel, as if roused from bis reverie, and reproaching himself with idleness; "this is the day, and tefore eight o'clock our cash account must be In order, and these titles to Immense property arranged, so that they may be delivered to the rightful owners' and he pointed to the cedar wood box. "You are right, Samuel; this day does not belong to us. It Is a solemn day one that would have been sweet, oh! very sweet to you and me if now any days could be sweet to us," Baid Bathsheba bitterly, for she was thinking of her son. t Bathsheba, said Samuel mourn fully, as he laid hla hand on his wife's; "we shall at least have the tern satisfaction of having done our duty. An has not the Lord been very favourable to us, though He has thus severely tried us by the death of our eon? Is it not thanks to Hia orovl dence that three generations ot my family have been able to commence, continue and finish this great work?" "Yes, Samuel," said the JewesB af fectlonately, "and for you at least this satisfaction will be combined with calm and quietness, for on the stroke of noon you will be delivered from a very terrible responsibility." So saying, Bathsheba pointed to the box. lively, and Samuel, taking up his pen, ocriipliHt himself once more with hla calculations. His wife, In spite of henielf, again yielded to the aad thoughts which that fatal date bad awakened, by reminding her of the death of her son. Iot. ua now trace rapidly the his tory, in appearance ho romantic and marvoioua, In reality so simple, of the fifty thouaand crowns, which thanks to the law of accumulation, and to a prudent. Intelligent and faithful Investment, had naturally, and neces sarily, been transformed. In the space of a century and a half. Into a sum far more important than the forty millions estimated by Father d'Alg rlgny who, partially Informed on thU subject, and reckoning the dis astrous accidents, losses, and bank rupted! which might have oecured during so long a period, believed that million might well be considered enormous. The hlAory of this fortune being closely connected with that of the Samuel family, by whom It had been managed for three generations, we shall give It again In a few words. About the period 1670, some years before his death, Marlus de Renne pont, then travelling In Portugal, had been enabled, by means of powerful Interest, to save the life of an unfor tunate Jew, condemned to be burnt alive by the Inquisition, because of hia religion. This Jew was Isaac ftamuel, grandfather of the ipresent guardian of the house In the Rue Saint Francois. Generous men often attach them selves to those they have served, as much, at least, as the obliged parties are attached to thoir brow actors. Having ascertained that Isaac, who at that time carrlod on a petty brok er's business at Lisbon, was Indus trious, honest, active, laborious and intelligent, M. de Rennepont, who then possessed large property In Franc, proposed to the Jew to ac company him, and undertake the rrmnagoment of his affairs. The same hatred and suspicion with which the Israelites have always been followed, was then at Its height. Isaac was therefore doubly greatful for this mark of confidence on the part of M. de Rennepont. He accepted the offer, and promised from that day to de vote his existence to the service of him who had first saved his life, and then trusted implicitly to his good faith and uprightness, although he was a jew, and belonged to a race generally suspected and despised. M de Retinopont, a man of great soul, endowed with a good spirit, was not deceived in his choice. Until he was deprived of his fortune, it prospered wonderfully in the bands of Isaae Samuel, who, gifted with an admir able aptitude for business, applied himself exclusively to advance the In terests of his benefactor. Them came the persecution and ruin of M. de Rennepont. whose property was confiscated and given up to the reverned fathers of the Company of Jesus only a few days before his death. Concealed In the retreat he had chosen, therein to put a violent end to his life, he sent secretly for Isaac Samuel, and delivered to him fifty thousand crowns In gold, the last remains of his fortune. This faithful servant was to invest the money to the best advantage, and. If he should have ft son, transmit to him the same obligation; or, should he have no child, he was to seek out some relation worthy of continuing this trust, to which would moreover be annexed a fair reward. It was thus to be transmitted and perpetu ated from relative to relative, until the expiration of a century and a halt. M de Rennepont also begged Isaac to take charge, during his life, of the house in the Rue Sal n)t-Francois, where he would be lodged gratis, and to leave this function likewise to his decendants. If It were possible. If eves Isaac Samuel had not had children, the powerful bond of union which exists between certain Jewish families, would have rendered prac ticable the last will of De Rennepont The relations of Isaac would have be come partners In his gratitude to his benefactor, and they, and their suc ceeding generations, would have re ligiously accomplished the task im posed upon one of their race. But several years after the death of De Rennepont, Isaac had a son. This son, Levy Samuel, born in 1869, not having had any children by his first wife, married again at near- had perished under the Russian knout, at the age of thirty-sis. Having established this humble genealogy, we easily understand how this successive longevity of three members of the Samuel family, all of whom had been guardians of the walled house, by uniting, as It were, the nineteenth with the seventeenth century, simplfled snd facilitated the execution of M. de Rennepont' will; the latter having declared his desire to the grandfather of the Samuel, that the capital should only be aug mented by Interest at five per cent. so that the fortune might corns to his decendants free from all taint of usurious speculation. The fellow men of the Samuel fam ily, the first inventors of the bill of exchange, which served them In the Middle Ages to transport mysterious ly considerable amounts from one end of the world to the other, to con- real their fortune, and to shield It from the rapacity of their enemies the Jews, we say, having almost the monopoly of the trade In money and exchanges, until the end ot the eigh teenth century, aided the secret tran sactions snd financial operations ot this family, which, up to about 1820, placed their different ed the old man proudly. "Doubtless, securities, ray grandfather, my father and myself. which had become progressively im- have all been exact and faithful In the menae. In the hands of the principal management of these funds; doubt- Israelltlsh bankers and merchants of Europe. This sure and secret manner of acting had enabled the present guardian of the house in the Rus Salnt-Francols, to effect enormous In vestments, unknown to all; aad It was more especially during the per iod of his management, that the cap ital sum had acquired, by the mere fact of compound Interest, an almost positive demands of M. de Rennepont, given to my grandfather; nor is there In the world a fortune that has been obtained by purer means. Had it not been for this disinterestedness, we might have much augmented this two hundred and twelve millions, only by taking advantage of a few favorable circumstances. "Dear me! is It possible?" "Nothing is more simple, Bath sheba. Every one knows, that In four- Incalculable development Compared with him. his father and grandfather had only small amounts to manage. Though It had only been necessary to find successively sure and Immedi ate investments, so that the money might not remain as It were one day without bearing interest, it had ac quired financial capacity to attain this result, when bo many millions were in Question. The last of the Samuels, brought up In the school of teen g a capital will b6 doubled. his father, had exhibited this capacity by the mere accumulation of interest in a very high degree, as will be seen d compound interest at five per Immediately by the results. Noth- cent Now reflect, that in a century ing could be more touching, noble and and a haf there are ten tlme8 fourteen respectable, than the conduct of the year8i ana that these one hundred and members of this Jewish family, who, nfty thousand francs have thus been count and investment of Interest every six months, producing, ss by annexed vouchers - - 2I5.50,0M Less losses sustained by failures, expenses of com mission and brokerage, and salary of three gener ations of trustees as PT statement annexed - - 15,775,000 218,175.000 Francs 212.175.000 "It is quite right." said Samuel, af ter examining the papers, contained In the cedar-wood box. "There remains in hand, at the absolute disposal of the heirs of the Rennepont family, the sum of two hundred and twelve mil lions, one hundred and seventy-five thousand francs." And the old man looked at his wife with an expression of legitimate pride. "It Is hardly credible!" cried Bath sheba, struck with surprise. I knew that you had Immense property In your hands; but I never could have believed that one hundred and fifty thousand francs, left a century and a half ago, should be the only source of this immense fortune." "It Is even so, Bathsheba," answer- less we have required some sagacity in the choice of Investments, in times of revolution and commercial panics; but all this was easy to us, thanks to our relations, with our brethern In all countries and never have I, or any of mine, made an usurious investment, or even taken the advantage of the lecal rate of Interest. Such were the i wicket, and saw three workmen, in the 'Why not open all the windows garb of masons, accompanied by a asked the clerk. young man dressed In black. I 'Because, sir, as guardian of this 'What may you want, gentlemen V said the Jew, before opening the door, as he wished first to make sure of the Identity of the personages. 'I am sent by M. Dumesnil, the notary.' answered the clerk, 'to be present at the unwilling of a door. Here is a letter from my master, ad dressed to M. Samuel, guardian of the house.' 'I am he, sir.' said the Jew; 'please to put the letter through the slide, and I will take it' The clerk did .n Samuel desired, but shrugged his shoulders at what he con sidered the ridiculous precautions of a suspicious old man. The housekeeper opened the box, took the letter, went to the end of the vaulted passage m order to read It. and carefully com pared the signature with that of another letter which he drew from the pocket of his lonr coat; then, after all these precautions, he chained up his dogs, and leturaed to open the gate to the clrks and masons. 'What the devil, my good man!' said the clerk .as he entered; 'there would not be more formalities In opening the gates of a fortress!' The Jew bowed, but without answer ing. 'Are you deaf, my good fellow?' cried the clerk, close to his ears. No, sir,' said Samuel, with a quiet smile, as he advanced several steps be yond the passage. Then pointing to the old house, he added: 'That, sir, is the door which you will have to open; you will also have to remove the lead and iron from the second window to the right.' house, I have received particular or ders on the subject.' 'Who gave you these orders? 'My father, sir, who received them from his father, who transmitted them from the master of this house. When I cease to have the care of It the new proprietor will do as he pleases.' 'Oh! very well," said the clerk, aot a little surprised. Then, addressing himself to the masons, he added: This is your business, my fine fellows; you are to unwall the door, and remove the Iron frame-work of the second window to the right' Whilst the masons set to work, un der the inspection of the notary's clerk, a coach stopped before the out er gate, and Rodin, accompanied by Gabriel, entered the house In the Rus Saint Francois. DmI Tuiurr fepit ana mwi Imr i.ln Asj. To quit tobaooo easily and forever, be ma netic. full of life, nerve and visor, take No-Ts-Bae. the wonder worker, that makes weak me a strong. All druggists, toe or II. Cure guaran teed. Boot't and sample tree. Addreas Bierllng He . j Co.. Coloaro or Kew York. AGENTS WANTED I am anxious to Ret agents to work putting un sates and s"Mrg rights and call your at tention to THE GRANGER GATE upon which I nave recently received letters patent. ThU gate belDK so simple, durable and cheap, It is bound to come Into quite general use. Being constructed from seven common fence boards, one 2i8 two feet long, one pound of wrought nails, and one good straight fence pott. It can be built on any farm by any man who can saw a Loard and drive a nail. There Is no trouble in selling eltner the gate or farm or precinct rights, and I want agents In every locality, to wham I will allow a liberal commission. If you have time to devoted to this work you can make it pay. Soliciting correspondence I am. Respectfully Yours, J. H. DUNDAS, AUHITKN. NEB. partners In the engagement of grati tude taken by their ancestor, devote themselves for long years, with as much disinterestedness as intelli gence and honesty, to the slow ac quisition of a kingly fortune, of which they expect no part themselves, but which, thanks to them, would come pure, as immense, to the hands of the descendants of their benefactor! Nor could anything be more honorable to him who made, and him who re ceived this deposit, than the simple promise by word of mouth, unaccom panied by any security save mutual confidence and reciprocal esteem, when the result was only to be pro duced at the end of a century and a half! After once more reading his Inven tory with attention, Samuel said to his wife: "I am certain of the cor rectness of my additions. Now please to compare with the account book in your hand the summary of the Investments that I have just en tered in the register. I will assure myself, at the same time, that the bonds and vouchers are properly ar ranged In this casket, that, on ths opening of the will, they may be pe- llvered in order to the notary." "Begin, my dear, and I will check you," said Bathsheba Samuel read as 'follows, examin ing as he went on, the contents of his casket: Statement of the account of the heirs of M. de Rennepont, delivered by David Samuels. DEBIT. 2,000,000 francs per annum. in the French 5 P. C, bought from 1S25 to 1832. at an average price ot 99f. 60c. - - 39,800,000 900,000 francs, ditto, in the French 3 P. C, bought during the same years, at an average of 74f. 25c - 22,275,000 5.000 shares in the Bank of France, bought at 1,900 - 9,500,000 3,000 shares in the Four Canals, in a certificate from the Comnanv.boucht at l,115t. - - 3.345,000 125,000 ducats of Neapoli tans, at an average ot 82. 2.050.000 ducats, at 4f 400 9,020,000 5,000 Austrian Metal lies, of 1.000 florins, at 93 say 4.650,000 florins, at 2f. 50c. 11,625,000 75,000 pounds sterling per annum, English Consoli dated 3 P. C. at 88 say 2,218,760, at 26f. - 56,468.750 1,200,000 florins, Dutch 2V4 P. C. at 6028.860.000 florins, at 2f. 100 - 60.606.000 Cash In bank notes, gold and silver ... 635,000 "It is true." replied the old man; "I ly sixty years of age, and, In 1750, he had rather these immense riches were In the hands of those to whom they belong, than in mine; but, today, I shall cease to be their trustee. Once more then I will check the account for ths last time, and compare ths register with the cash-book that you hold in your hand." Bathsheba bowed her head afflrma- also had a son David Samuel, ths guardian of the house in the Rue Salnt-Francols, who, In 1832 (ths date of this narrative), was eighty-two years old, and seemed likely to live as long as his father, who had died at the age of ninety-three. Finally, Abel Samuel, the son whom Bathsheba so bitterly regretted, born in 1790, Francs 212,175,000 Paris, 12th February, 1882. CREDIT. 150,000 francs received from M. de Rennepont, In 1682, by Isaac Samuel, my grandfather; and Invested by him, my father and my self, In different securities, at Flvs per Cent. Interest,, with a settlement of ac- doubled and redoubled, over and over again. All that astonishes you will ap pear plain enough. In 1682, M. de Rennepont entrusted my grandfather with a hundred and fifty thousand francs; this sum, invested as I have told you, would have produced in 1696, fourteen years after, three hundred thousand francs. These last, doubled In 1710, would produce six hundred thousand. On the death of my grand father in 1719, the amount was already near a million; in 1724, it would be twelve hundred thousand francs; in 1738, two millions four hundred thou sand; In 1752, about two years after my birth, four millions eight hundred thousand; In 1766, nine millions six hundred thousand; in 1780, nineteen millions two hundred thousand; in 1794, twelve years after the death ot my father, thirty-eight millions four hundred thousand; in 1808, seventy- six millions eight hundred thousand; In 1822, one hundred and fifty-three millions six hundred thousand; and, at this time, taking the compound in terest for ten years, it should be at least two hundred and twenty-five mil lions. But losses and inevitable charges, of which the account has been strictly kept, have reduced the sum to two hundred and twelve millions one hundred and seventy-five thousand trances, the securities for which are in this box.' '1 now understand you, my dear,' answered Bathsheba, thoughtfully; but how wonderful Is this power of ac cumulation! and what admirable pro vision may be made for the future, with the smallest present resources! 'Such, no doubt, was the idea ot M. de Rennepont; for my father has often told me. and he derived it from his father, that M. de Rennepont was one of the soundest intellects of his time,' said Samuel, as he closed the cedar- box. 'God gTant his decendants may be worthy of this kingly fortune, and make a noble use of It!' said Bathshe ba, rising. It was now broad day, and the clock had just struck seven. 'The masons will soon be here,' said Samuel, as he replaced the cedar-box in the iron safe, concealed behind the antique press. 'Like you, Bathsheba, I am curious and anxious to know, what descendants of M. de Rennepont will now present themselves.' Two or three loud knocks on the outer gate resounded through the house. The barking of the watch-dogs responded to this summons. Samuel said to his wife: 'It is no doubt the masons, whom the notary has sent with his clerk. Tie all the keys and their labels together; I will come back and fetch them.' So saying, Samuel went down to the door, with much nlmbleness, con si d erlng his age, prudently opened a small if On ANDY CATHARTIC Vv m h K CURE CONSTIPATION awjswaanasana9S9?rl ALL DRUGGISTS I DO AT 1ITUI V rTTIBIHTTPn to rare anvcasenr constipation. Cawarrts are the Ideal Laxa-S ADJULUifiLl UUariflIliLUtiT,.nffrirripnrmi.hui.uMjBturmlrn.lts. eaavi l aad benklrt free. lit. KTFRMM1 REUKDt to.. him jo. HimtriMil. Can.. orfrw tors. !' CONVENT HORRORS AND SECRETS 9 CONFESSIONAL. BY R. L. KOSTELO. 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