who would naturally take
advantage of the free days, and then that the annual income is over
$75,000, one can form some idea of the attractiveness of this
institution. Mr. Corcoran's desire was to elevate the American taste in
the finer arts, and the thousands of visitors which the institution
attracts, indicates to what an extent he has succeeded. The lower floor
is devoted to statues and to the exhibition of sculpture. The second
floor is occupied by several hundred rare and costly paintings,
representing the advance of art during the past centuries. The gallery
is, probably, all things considered, the finest of the kind in the
country.

Another institution of wide celebrity is the Louisa Home, founded by Mr.
Corcoran in 1871. It is a magnificent building, conspicuously situated
in the most fashionable part of the city, the West End. This is a most
worthy institution, designed for ladies who have been reduced from
affluence to poverty, affording them a home where they can mingle with a
class of people congenial to their refined natures. This building is a
beautiful brick structure, four stories high, erected at a cost of
$200,000. Visitors are welcome every afternoon.

These are only two of the many gifts and enterprises which originated
with the venerable banker. George Peabody and William Corcoran were boys
together; how similar their lives have been. Would that there were more
Corcorans, more Peabodys. Mr. Corcoran has given several millions to
charity and art; how we envy him--not for his wealth, but his
reputation, or better, would that we could do as much good in the world
as did these two great men.

NATHAN MAYER ROTHSCHILD.

Who indeed is there who has not heard of the Rothschilds? But how few
there are who know much of them save that they are the richest bankers
in the whole world. The subject of this sketch was the richest and most
noted of five brothers. The father, Mayer Anselm Rothschild, sprung from
a poor Jewish family, and was a clerk in Hanover before establishing
himself at Frankfort. At Hanover it is claimed that his integrity and
ability became so marked in every position to which he was called that
the attention of the Government was called thereto.

After the great French victory of Jena, Napoleon decreed that the
Governor of Hesse-Cassel should have his lands and property confiscated.
The order was no sooner given than a French army was on its way to carry
the edict into effect. T