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diff --git a/old/60189-0.txt b/old/60189-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index e6a5697..0000000 --- a/old/60189-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6705 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, From the Heart of Israel, by Bernard -Drachman, Illustrated by A. Warshawsky - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: From the Heart of Israel - Jewish Tales and Types - - -Author: Bernard Drachman - - - -Release Date: August 27, 2019 [eBook #60189] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FROM THE HEART OF ISRAEL*** - - -E-text prepared by Richard Tonsing, Richard Hulse, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images -generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org) and -the Google Books Library Project (https://books.google.com) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 60189-h.htm or 60189-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/60189/60189-h/60189-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/60189/60189-h.zip) - - - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/fromheartofisrae00drac - - -Transcriber’s note: - - Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - - - - - -[Illustration: - - THE VILLAGE - - _Frontispiece_] - - -FROM THE HEART OF ISRAEL - -Jewish Tales and Types - - -[Illustration] - - -by - -BERNARD DRACHMAN - -Illustrated by A. Warshawsky - - - - - - -New York -James Pott & Company -1905 - -Copyright, 1905 -by Bernard Drachman - - - - - CONTENTS. - - - PAGE - - APOLOGIA PRO LIBRO SUO, v - - THE VILLAGE KEHILLAH, 1 - - Nordheim, 1 - - Schnorrers, 28 - - Gendarmes, 37 - - Reb Shemayah and other Nordheim Worthies, 49 - - THE LITTLE HORSERADISH WOMAN, 84 - - THE GENERAL, 95 - - TOO LATE, BUT ON TIME, 128 - - THE PROSELYTE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 142 - - ISAAC AND ALICE, 168 - - THE SCISSORS-GRINDER, 186 - - THE SHLEMIHL, 211 - - A VICTIM OF PREJUDICE, 244 - - THE RABBI’S GAME OF CARDS, 268 - - GLOSSARY OF HEBREW AND OTHER NON-ENGLISH TERMS 291 - - - - - APOLOGIA PRO LIBRO SUO - - -“Is Saul also among the prophets?” With my mental ear I hear thus -exclaim those in whose view the teller of tales stands immeasurably -higher than the rabbi, minister, preacher, scholar, or whatever else may -be called he whose vocation it is to disseminate Hebrew religion and -wisdom, when they see that one of the latter class has dared to intrude -among those who take fiction as their exclusive and legitimate field, -and has also ventured before the public with a book of tales. “What -would the priest in the house of graves (cemetery)?” I hear, on the -other hand, indignantly ask those who deem the wisdom of the Torah alone -worthy of attention, and who think it degradation and sin to turn away -even for a moment from the study and the teaching of Holy Writ and the -words of the sages to waste time with the telling of empty tales. Both -agree in their application to the present case of the Latin and English -proverb “_Ne sutor ultra crepidam_” (“Let the shoemaker stick to his -last”); and that they are not right is not for the one who is -responsible for the present effort to say, but must be left to the -decision of an impartial public, which will not fail to tell truthfully -whether it has found aught of pleasure or profit in the stories of -Jewish life hereinafter contained. But it may be permitted to the writer -to say that, in his humble opinion, both of the criticisms quoted above -are based on erroneous conceptions. The telling of tales is neither -independent of nor contradictory to the Torah; that is to say, it may be -a most excellent method of inculcating pure and noble lessons, and has -always been used for such purpose by the great teachers in Israel. - -Indeed, the putting before the world of truthful pictures of Jewish life -is in itself a good and useful work. It is extraordinary, considering -that the Jews have lived in the midst of all civilized peoples for -almost twenty centuries, what ignorance concerning the teachings of -their religion and their characteristics as a people still prevails. -They have sojourned in the midst of mankind and have wandered from land -to land, stamped everywhere with the seal of mystery, looked upon by all -not of their creed and kin as a “peculiar,” enigmatical, -incomprehensible people. The fact that their Book, which most thoroughly -reveals their innermost spirit, has become the cherished property of the -world, should have made such misconception impossible; but it has not -done so. Whatever, therefore, helps to show Jewish life in its true -aspect, to reveal the poetry and the romance, the sorrow and the -wretchedness, but also the joy and the beauty, the glory and the heroism -of Jewish existence even in the unheroic present, performs a most -useful, truly religious work. Nothing can do this more effectively than -fiction, which appeals to multitudes to whom works of formal learning, -of profound and scholarly research, could never find access. This is the -excuse of the writer for departing for a time from those domains of -Jewish learning which should, perhaps, more properly employ his -energies, and becoming, in a measure, a rival of those who have in -recent years tilled the field of Jewish fiction. In a ministry now of -many years’ duration he has naturally had the opportunity of becoming -acquainted with many interesting types of Jewish character, and with -many incidents which speak eloquently of the trials and tribulations -which still form a part of Jewish experience, of the evils and good -which result therefrom, and of the influence of Jewish teachings working -under such conditions. It has seemed to him desirable to present some of -these to the world in this easily grasped and popular form in order to -assist in the attainment of that comprehension of the Jews and their -life which is so necessary, if they are ever to cease from their present -abnormal state of mystery and be recognized in their natural relation to -the general life and religion of mankind. Whether he has performed his -task properly his readers shall judge. - - THE AUTHOR. - - NEW YORK, Ellul, 5665—September, 1905. - - - - - LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS - - - PAGE - - THE VILLAGE, _Frontispiece_ - - THE VERY SPIRIT OF SABBATH PERVADED THE NOISELESS AIR, 20 - - THERE THEY SAT AND STOOD, IN VARIOUS ATTITUDES, WHILE - THE DEEPENING SHADOWS MADE THEIR FIGURES EVER VAGUER - AND MORE INDISTINCT, 21 - - THEY HONORED THE COMMUNITY FREQUENTLY WITH THEIR VISITS, 28 - - REB. SHEMAYAH AND PERLA, 49 - - THE LITTLE HORSERADISH WOMAN, 84 - - THERE IS SOMETHING COMMANDING, SOMETHING INDEFINITELY - MILITARY AND AUTHORITATIVE ABOUT HIM, 96 - - AS THE CAVALCADE PASSED A CORNER THE GENERAL HEARD A - CRY, 111 - - HE WAS NOTHING BUT A COMMONPLACE, EVERY-DAY PEDDLER, 131 - - A GROUP OF STREET-IDLERS WERE AMUSING THEMSELVES AT THE - PLIGHT OF A SHORT, DARK-COMPLEXIONED MAN WHO STOOD IN - THEIR MIDST, 142 - - NOTHING PLEASED THEM BETTER THAN A “HORSEY-BACK” RIDE, 172 - - THE SCISSORS-GRINDER, 186 - - I WAS LEFT BEHIND, GAZING OUT OF THE WINDOW AT THE - FUNERAL PROCESSION, 196 - - THE MAN WAS A WOE-BEGONE SPECIMEN OF HUMANITY, WITH - HUNGRY EYES GAZING AT YOU OUT OF A CARE-WORN, FURROWED - COUNTENANCE, 212 - - IT’S ONLY BECAUSE YOU’RE A JEW THAT YOU HAVE ANY - TROUBLE, 252 - - THE GAME WHICH ENSUED WAS HIGHLY INTERESTING, 287 - - - - - FROM THE HEART OF ISRAEL. - - - - - THE VILLAGE KEHILLAH. - - - NORDHEIM. - -Many persons, perhaps the majority of the readers of a certain kind of -Jewish literature at present in vogue, led astray by the revival and -improper application of the term Ghetto, have an idea that the great -mass of the Jewish people on the continent of Europe have their -habitations in filthy, noisome slums of the great cities, and that it is -only in such secluded reservations, away from the contact or observation -of the Gentile, that Judaism in its ancient, traditional form and -pristine vigor, is or can be, maintained. In the imagination of such -persons, deceived by prejudiced or sensation-seeking writers, Judaism is -a feeble, pale, cellar plant which leads its anæmic existence in -darkness and slime, but which withers and fades when exposed to the -fresh, strong breeze and the bright, warm sun of heaven. These notions, -however well they may suit the requirements of ambitious story-tellers, -are incorrect both as regards the alleged facts and the inferences drawn -therefrom. In the greatest part of the civilized world the Jews are not -confined, whether by compulsion or choice, to particular sections of the -cities, but dwell freely among their Gentile fellow-citizens everywhere; -nor is the law of Moses forced to flee for refuge to darksome purlieus, -where the humblest and lowliest of Judah’s strain drag out a wretched -existence as unwilling neighbors of the vicious and the criminal, but -finds multitudes of sincere upholders and adherents in the high places -of the lands among the happy possessors of what mankind esteems highest, -culture and wealth. In fact, it is not to the great cities at all that -we should look for the best examples of a living, earnest Judaism. -Scattered broadcast through the Old World, particularly through the -lands of central and southeastern Europe, may be found to this day -thousands of Jewish communities in villages and rural towns which are in -very truth “wells of purest Judaism undefiled,” and living refutations -of all the pet theories of the modern Jewish (?) novelist. Our brethren -in those little rural communities breathe the purest, health-giving air -that nature gives forth over mountain, field, and forest, and have never -found in the keen ozone any faith-destroying, heretical qualities. They -dwell side by side with the Gentile and meet him continually in all the -commercial and social relations of life, but they have never found in -the free intercourse any dread influence subversive of Judaic beliefs -and practices. Indeed, few of them are aware, except in a hazy and -indirect manner, that Judaism is in danger in this modern age of ours. -They live as their ancestors did before them, honest, simple, earnest, -sincere Jewish lives; happy in their state of moderate wealth or -endurable, light-pressing poverty; keeping their Sabbaths and their -holidays, fasting and feasting in the prescribed seasons, laying -Tephillin on week-days and eating only permitted food at all times, -giving freely of their means to assist the poor and afflicted, and -accepting misfortune with resignation as the will of God, and not -doubting but that this Judaism will continue to exist for all time to -come. - -Of such a little _Kehillah_ in a German village, Nordheim, in the Rhön -Mountains of Bavaria, and of some of the quaint and interesting persons -that composed it, my tale shall be. - -When, as a child, I made my first studies of the world around me, one of -the objects which chiefly attracted my childish gaze was a picture which -hung on the wall of the parlor of my home. It was a crude and inartistic -picture, awkward in delineation and barbarous in color; but it was full -of interest to me, for it spoke to me of a place far across the sea, a -place which oft-told but never wearisome tales had surrounded with a -bright halo of romance, and which my eager imagination had glorified -into a veritable fairyland; it was a picture of a village in that -Germany which seemed so far away and so unreal, my mother’s native -place, Nordheim _vor der_ Rhön. These sentiments were not entirely, nor -even mainly, due to the picture itself, but to the descriptions with -which mother ע״ה used to accompany it; for mother dear, God rest her -soul, among her other good qualities, had a most vivid and emphatic way -of impressing her ideas upon her auditors. She was not only in loving -tenderness and devotion the ideal of a Jewish parent, but a most -charming and entertaining _raconteuse_, full to the brim of -reminiscences of her youth, an animated chronicle of persons and events, -and capable of describing both the humorous and the pathetic in an -inimitably touching and taking manner. In addition to all this she was a -living refutation of the favorite anti-Semitic calumny, that Jews have -no sentiment of patriotism. She cherished in her heart the warmest and -most unquenchable love for her native land, while her attachment to the -memory of her birthplace, its ties and its traditions, approached the -dignity and sincerity of a religion. No wonder that from such a stirring -and enthusiastic source I imbibed the liveliest interest in all that -concerned Nordheim before the Rhön, its inhabitants and its welfare. I -would stand for hours at a time before that crude little picture on our -parlor wall, gazing at the array of houses with startlingly red roofs -and dazzlingly white walls, at the fields of brilliant green and the -trees with trunks as straight as ramrods and mathematically elliptical -foliage, and at the tin-soldier-like _gendarme_ whom the rustic artist, -who must have inclined either to realism or militarism (I could never -determine which) had depicted marching, with martial air and projecting -bayonet, along the country highway. - -But I saw none of these things. My imagination gazed beyond these -externals and saw the quaint and touching figures of those who had their -abode in this secluded retreat, and I found myself wondering whether it -would ever be my privilege to see the spot where mother’s cradle had -stood, and to sojourn there where life flowed on in such pure and -peaceful and virtuous channels, far away from the crush and the turmoil, -the evil and the anguish of the great world, where the peasants were -simple, honest folk and the Jews all faithful to their ancestral -religion, where old age was venerated and childhood obedient and -respectful, where such things as violating the Sabbath and eating -_Trefoth_ were unknown. - -My opportunity came in my twenty-first year. Circumstances, the nature -of which need not be dilated upon here, made it my privilege to spend -several years in Europe in study. But while I awaited, in joyous -anticipation, the day when I should enter upon my course at the North -German University and Seminary, at which I was to prepare for my life’s -vocation, it was with an absorbing interest, I might almost say with a -passionate longing, that I looked forward to actually seeing Nordheim, -and actually knowing the persons and conditions of which I had heard and -dreamt so much. Never shall I forget the day when, having crossed the -stormy Atlantic and travelled by train a day and a night southward from -Hamburg, I alighted at Mellrichstadt, the railroad station nearest to -Nordheim—four English miles—and saw upon the platform, waiting for me, a -pleasant-faced, dark-complexioned youth, whom I had never seen before, -and yet whom I at once recognized, for his features appeared in more -than one counterfeit presentment in a well-worn family album, over which -I had often pored more than three thousand miles away. It was Cousin -Solomon, and he had come to the station, having been notified by letter -of my prospective arrival, to meet his American relative, and to conduct -him to Nordheim and the bosom of his family. Then and there I recognized -the reality and the value of sentiment. Here were two persons, born in -different and widely separated lands, speaking different mother tongues -and citizens of different nations, who had never seen each other before; -and yet so powerful were the ties of kinship and the remembrance of -common blood and a common origin, that they sufficed to bridge over all -that yawning gap of separation and to bring heart to heart and lip to -lip in a union of truest love and affection. Our recognition was mutual -and instantaneous. We pronounced each other’s names, fell upon each -other’s necks, and a moment later were chatting as intimately as though -we had met daily during all our previous lives. Three years long I spent -my summer vacations at Nordheim, and I came to know and to love it and -the surrounding region so well that when the hour of final parting came, -it cost my heart more than one pang and drew more tears from my eyes -than I should like to confess. What a charming ideal life of sentiment -and pleasure we led there, Cousin Solomon and I. We seemed to be -hovering in a dream world, far too sweet and beautiful to be real. We -were at once students on a holiday, friends of nature, children without -a shade of care or anxiety, and sincere, devout worshippers at the -shrine of Israel’s God. We climbed together the steep and lofty -mountains which abound in that region, and when we had reached the -summit we gazed with delight at the dazzling panorama spread out before -us and inhaled deep draughts of the pure, cool, health-giving air. We -wandered for hours through the dense pine forests or undertook long -trips on foot to distant villages or spots that were interesting for -some historical or other reason. Once we made a long trip, in company -with Aunt Caroline, to the village of Burghauen, on the other side of -the Rhön Mountains, to visit some relatives there. We travelled in a -carriage belonging to the Duke of Weimar. We had hired it from the -duke’s manager, who was not above turning an honest penny with his -master’s property when occasion offered. The carriage bore the ducal -escutcheon, and our coachman and footman wore the duke’s livery; and as -we rolled through the various villages in grand style, the peasants and -their wives and children all came out and made deep and reverent -obeisance. I was quite astounded, but Aunt Caroline and Cousin Solomon -were so amused that they could hardly keep straight faces. Both they and -I bowed to the right and to the left and answered the salutations right -royally, at which the people seemed highly gratified. - -“What is the reason of all this,” said I (to whom this unexpected -enthusiasm was extremely puzzling) to Solomon. “Do they make so much -fuss about everybody?” “Why, no!” said Solomon, laughing heartily. “They -recognize the carriage and the lackeys, and they take us for members of -the ducal family. They think mamma is the duchess, and you and me they -take for the young dukes.” - -But, altogether, everybody was extremely friendly in Nordheim and -vicinity, Jew or Gentile, peasant, merchant or teacher, acquaintance or -stranger, without exception. It was “_gruesse Gott_,” and “_guten -Morgen_,” and “_guten Tag_,” and “_lebe wohl_,” and “_auf Wiedersehen_,” -and “_schlafe wohl_,” and “_angenehme Ruhe_,” and any number of other -kindly and sympathetic phrases, and all said with such evident sincerity -and good intentions as went quite through one and left one feeling warm -and charitable and kindly disposed toward humanity in general. And then -the eating, so abundant in quantity, so excellent, and more than -satisfying in quality. At first Aunt Caroline wanted to feed me all the -time. Six or seven times a day she would spread the table and invite me -to partake until I protested, and by dint of hard pleading induced her -to reduce the number of meals to four, with an occasional extra bite in -between. It makes my mouth water yet to think of the “_gefüllte -Flanken_,” and the “_gruenkern Suppe_,” and the “_eingelegte -Gänsebrüst_,” and the “_Zwiebeltätcher_,” and the “_gesetzte Bohnen_,” -and the “_Shabboskugel_,” and the thousand and one other delicacies with -which dear Aunt Caroline used to regale us, and to which healthy -appetites and youth gave a zest compared with which ambrosia must have -been poor. And, oh, the beer! Such magnificent stuff! So different from -the wretched pretence which we call by that name in America. I quite -lost all my temperance principles in Nordheim and have never recovered -them since. - -But along with this joyous physical life there went a spiritual life no -less joyous and satisfying. We were Jews there in Nordheim. The Sabbath -was a guest whose arrival was looked forward to with the most eager -anticipation, and which seemed to cast a magic, sacred glamour over all -the Jewish houses in the village, transforming the prosaic, work-a-day -appearance of persons and things into an aspect of dignity and holiness. -All day long on Fridays until about an hour before nightfall, a -tremendous bustle of preparation was going on. Such cleaning and -scrubbing and polishing, such baking and boiling and brewing! It seemed -as though every house was being turned topsy-turvy. On that day, too, -the men folks came home several hours sooner than usual, and then there -was added the turmoil of the taking of baths and the polishing of shoes, -and the taking out of clean shirts and Sabbath suits, and dressing and -getting ready. But about an hour before nightfall all the noise and -clamor and turmoil ceased and Sabbath stillness began to settle over the -village. The quaint old seven-cornered Sabbath lamps were taken out and -the Jewish housewives lit them, pronouncing at the same time the -prescribed benediction. How charming and yet impressive Aunt Caroline -looked as she stood with uplifted hands and reverential mien before the -sacred lamp, the Sabbath cap of dainty lace and ribbons surmounting her -refined and regular features of purest Hebrew type, while from her lips -issued in the holy tongue the words of the benediction, “Blessed art -Thou, O Lord, our God, King of the universe, who hast sanctified us with -Thy commandments and bidden us light the Sabbath lamp.” - -A half-hour later all were assembled in the little synagogue, which was -filled to the very last seat, for the Nordheim synagogue was not built -on the American plan. In our progressive country we build great and -imposing synagogues and temples for the benefit, not of the people who -regularly attend—for them a very small edifice would suffice—but of -those who pay the Almighty the honor of a visit only once or twice a -year. But the Nordheim synagogue had accommodations only for its regular -members and attendants, and these were expected to be in their places on -every occasion of public services. Sometimes somebody would be missing -at service, and then it used to amuse me to notice with what anxious -solicitude inquiry would be made of his family as to the cause of his -absence. It appeared to be taken for granted that only illness or some -other equally grave reason could induce any one to be absent from -synagogue at time of worship. I could not refrain from smiling when I -thought how pointless such solicitude would be in America, where, on the -contrary, the question addressed to any average Jew, should he present -himself in the synagogue on any but two or three days of the year, would -be, “What brings _you_ to _Shool_ to-day?” - -The services in the synagogue at Nordheim were intensely interesting to -me, not, indeed, because of the artistic rendition of the ritual or the -technical excellence of the singing, but because of the spirit of -devotion and earnestness by which they were pervaded. I have listened to -numbers of cantors who certainly rank higher in their profession than -the humble individual who acted in the capacity of village teacher, -_Chazan_, and _Shochet_ in Nordheim, and the musical performances of -trained and paid choirs are undeniably superior to the untutored though -vociferous efforts of a rustic congregation. But all these have -something perfunctory and mechanical about their efforts which deprive -them of real charm and of power to touch and move the spirit. One -remains coldly critical in listening to them, and judges them solely -from the standpoint of professional ability and artistic merit. Not so -in Nordheim. There was an all-pervading sense of earnestness and reality -in the worship which made one forget the _how_ of the prayers and hymns -and think only of the _what_. Faith, deep and firm as the rocks, -ingrained into the very tissue and life of the spirit, looked forth from -those simple, earnest faces, shone forth from those sincere and -expressive eyes. This spirit gave the familiar ritual an entirely new -vividness and impressiveness. The worshippers seemed to be speaking -directly to their heavenly Father, and when, at the close of the _Lecho -Dodi_, the hymn of welcome to the Sabbath, all rose and faced the -entrance, I half expected to see Queen Sabbath herself, clad in bridal -robes of celestial purity, enter through the portals of that humble -house of God. - -The prayers concluded, the worshippers greeted each other with hearty -“Good Shabbos” salutation and wended their homeward way. The scenes in -the homes were in some respects even more impressive than in the -synagogue. Uncle Koppel’s house particularly was resplendent with a -blaze of glory. The dining-room, which also served as parlor and best -room, was brilliantly lighted, and in the midst of the effulgence shone, -with especial radiance, the Sabbath lamp. The table was covered with a -linen cloth of snowy whiteness and laden with the finest porcelain, -glass, and silver that the household could boast, while at the head of -the table, opposite the seat sacred to the master of the house, stood -the two Sabbath loaves covered with a beautifully embroidered satin -cover; and at their side the silver _Kiddush_-beaker and the decanter, -from which the wine of blessing was to be drawn. Before _Kiddush_ Uncle -Koppel “marched” with the youngest of the children, and presented a -picturesque sight indeed as he paraded up and down the room, carrying -the infant of the family upon his right arm and leading the next -youngest by his left hand, chanting meanwhile the hymn of welcome to the -Sabbath angels. Then came the solemn benediction when the children all -presented themselves with bowed heads before their parents, and were -blessed by them in the words pronounced by Aaron of old over the tribes -of Israel, with an added invocation in the case of sons that the Lord -might make them like Ephraim and Manasseh, and of daughters that they -might become like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah. Then came Kiddush, -and the formal washing of hands and breaking of bread, and then the -Sabbath meal. - -Oh, the pleasure of that Sabbath meal! Everybody had a magnificent -appetite on Friday evening; which was really no wonder, seeing that -every one had worked and hurried all day in preparation for the holy -evening; and that, in accordance with the religious precept, no one had -eaten any substantial meal all day in order that he should be able to do -justice to the first meal of the Sabbath. The dishes were various and -all excellent, for they were seasoned with that finest of spices—the -Sabbath—which gave them a flavor all their own, and which the most -famous _chefs_ of European or American hotels would strive in vain to -rival; but the _pièce de resistance_ was undoubtedly the fish. Trout of -the finest quality, speckled beauties, which had only been drawn a few -hours before from the icy waters of some one of the mountain streams of -the Rhön _gebirge_, they made their appearance at the table cold, from a -sojourn of several hours in the rock-hewn cellar, which served the -purpose of our modern refrigerators, and with a sweet-and-sour sauce of -the consistency of jelly. They were consumed with an avidity which boded -ill for their speckled _confrères_ of the mountain streams and shady -pools. After the meal and the formal pronouncing of grace, in which all -joined with a volume of sound which attracted the attention of the -village boys in the street outside, each one followed his or her own -sweet will. Some conversed, some read devotional books, some dozed until -the flickering of the lights betokened their approaching extinction and -warned all that the hour of retiring had arrived. Then with pleasant -“good-night” wishes, each sought the shelter of his or her couch. - -On the morrow the observance of the Sabbath was continued in a manner -worthy of its inauguration. The morning service, which began at eight -and was over at half-past ten, was followed by _Kiddush_ and the second -of the three prescribed Sabbath meals. Here the chief feature was the -“_gesetztes Essen_,” or dishes which had been cooked on Friday and kept -warm in a special kind of oven known as “_Setzöfen_,” in which they were -surrounded by a gentle heat which neither burned nor dried them, until -they were served at the Sabbath meal. Some persons assert that food -cooked a day previous to being consumed is injurious to the health, but -to judge by the favor in which it was held in Nordheim, such can hardly -be the case. Of course not all food is capable of being treated in this -manner; but that which is, acquires a special taste and a mellowness -which makes it peculiarly palatable. - -On our Sabbath menu we had “_gesetze Bohnen_,” the dish of whose glories -Heine has sung, and “_Shabbos-Kugel_,” to whose merits even a poet could -hardly do justice. After dinner visits were in order. The younger -members of the _Mishpochoh_ went to pay their respects to their seniors, -and the children of the community called at the various houses without -distinction of relationship and were treated to fruits and sweetmeats. -What impressed me on the part of the children was their extremely -respectful and bashful behavior, amounting almost to timidity. They -would knock timidly at the outside door; and on being bidden to enter -would step in on their tip-toes, timidly utter the Sabbath greeting, and -then stand in a row without opening their mouths until they were told to -be seated. They would not touch anything or do anything without -permission, and when given fruit or sweetmeats would modestly utter -words of thanks and eat them in silence. Their actions were typical of -the German-Jewish standard of child behavior. The children who were old -enough to receive tuition were also examined on the Sabbath in the -subjects in which they had been instructed during the week. Great was -the joy of parents whose son translated with fluency the _Sedrah_ of the -week, and the capable lad always received his reward in the shape of an -extra portion of fruit or sweetmeats. - -After the visits and the examinations came the Sabbath nap. The Sabbath -nap! Let no one speak of it in tones of levity or disrespect, for it -stood in high esteem indeed in Nordheim and other communities of the -same type. Every one deemed it an absolutely indispensable feature of -correct Sabbath observance; and though few of the people were learned in -Hebrew lore, yet nearly all were able to quote in defence of their -practice the cabalistic interpretation that the letters of the word שבת -(Sabbath) are equivalent in meaning to the sentence שנה בשבת ת, which -may be parodied as “Sleep on _SaBBath_, the heart delighte_TH_.” - -Between the hours of 1 and 4 P.M., the Nordheim _Kehillah_, to use a -heathenish illustration, lay locked in the arms of Morpheus. On sofas -and beds or in arm-chairs, within the house or before the doors, the -worthy _Baale Batim_, their spouses and children slumbered, dozed, and -reposed. The cat slept under the stove, the dog dozed peacefully before -the door, the very horses and cattle stood motionless as statues within -their stalls and seemed to slumber. It was a most peaceful, somnolent, -soporific scene. Not a sound disturbed the quiet of the village streets, -for the Gentile peasants were all abroad in the fields. The very spirit -of Sabbath pervaded the noiseless air, and everywhere were rest, repose, -and tranquillity universal. I, too, who had never been accustomed to -sleep by day, could not resist the drowsy influence of the general -example, and after the first week or two took my Sabbath nap as -regularly as any, and found it most agreeable. At four all were awake -again and then the third Sabbath meal, which was usually light, and -consisted only of coffee, cake, and fruit, was partaken of. The -congregation then gathered in the synagogue for afternoon service, at -the conclusion of which the Chazan “learned _Shiur_”—that is to say, -read to the assembled auditors extracts from a Hebrew devotional work, -in German translation, accompanying them with a running commentary of -his own. His diction was poor, his expressions the reverse of elegant, -and his train of thought in absolute disagreement with most of the pet -theories of the age; but I doubt whether the most eloquent and -scientifically trained of modern preachers ever had as attentive and -sympathetic a congregation as he. Now came the charmed time known as -“between _Minchah_ and _Maariv_,” the period most attractive and -pleasing to the Jewish heart of all the Sabbath day. As the light of the -sun is most beautiful and glorious just before it sets, so the Sabbath -seems sweetest and most delightful when it is about to depart. The -afternoon prayers and the _Shiur_ were both concluded; the day was -beginning to grow dark, but almost an hour must still elapse before the -Sabbath would be over and the evening prayer of the first day might be -recited. Some of the people went for a brief stroll in the fields; -others went into the inn where they were furnished with beer and other -light refreshments without payment; for the Gentile innkeeper knew well -that the observant Jew bore no money on his person on the Sabbath day, -but most remained in the synagogue or gathered in the court-yard before -the sacred edifice and passed the time in pleasant conversation or the -relation of anecdotes. There they sat and stood, in various attitudes, -while the deepening shadows made their figures ever vaguer and more -indistinct, and enjoyed the freest opportunity for unrestricted -conversation and interchange of thoughts that all the week afforded. - -[Illustration: - - THE VERY SPIRIT OF SABBATH PERVADED THE NOISELESS AIR - - _Page 20_] - -[Illustration: - - THERE THEY SAT AND STOOD, IN VARIOUS ATTITUDES, WHILE THE DEEPENING - SHADOWS MADE THEIR FIGURES EVER VAGUER AND MORE INDISTINCT - - _Page 21_] - -All possible subjects came up for discussion “between _Minchah_ and -_Maariv_.” The politician of the Kehillah discoursed learnedly on the -European situation and the various problems of statecraft involved in -the relations of the great Powers to each other, the philosopher shed -the light of his wisdom on the great scientific movements of the day and -the wondrous inventions which are revolutionizing civilization, while -the Talmudist elucidated knotty and interesting questions of rabbinical -law or lamented the downfall of religious sentiment in these evil days -and contrasted these with the unyielding fidelity and loyalty of yore. -They all found attentive and eager listeners, to whom their words were -as the very revelation of the Urim and Tummim; but they did not arouse -the same degree of enthusiasm as the story-teller. This accomplished -narrator of witty tales and humorous anecdotes held the hearts of his -auditors in his hands; and when his turn came and he began to draw upon -his apparently inexhaustible stock of _Mesholim_, an immense enthusiasm -took possession of the entire audience, and there was no limit to their -enjoyment of the numberless good points he made. They were indeed -amusing, those tales of impecunious rabbis, and still more impecunious -_Bachurim_, of awkward bridegrooms and homely brides, of witty Poles and -scheming _Schnorrers_. But they were more. They were instructive, for -they reflected the inner life of the Jewish people, and showed, even if -from a humorous point of view, the many trials and difficulties by which -they were encompassed. - -But now the shadows had deepened into night, and the _Shammas_, who had -the privilege of reading the service before the rest of the congregation -in order that he might be permitted to perform the work-a-day task of -lighting the lights, interrupted the pleasant tales of the story-teller -by a brief notification that the time for prayer had arrived. The -evening service was brief, lasting in all hardly more than a quarter of -an hour. Its chief feature was the _Havdoloh_, in which the Chazan -pronounced a number of benedictions over wine, spices, and a peculiar -braided wax candle, and thanked the Lord that He makes a distinction -between light and darkness, between Sabbath and week-day, and between -Israel and the nations. The service concluded, the worshippers greeted -each other with hearty “_Gut Woch_” and repaired to their homes, but not -yet to resume work-a-day tasks. - -It was an unwritten law in Nordheim that the Saturday night was not to -be given over to labor or business, except in cases of emergency. The -women were particularly zealous in following this rule. Instead -sociability reigned supreme. The men indulged in friendly card-play, the -married women sat together in groups and gossiped, the youths and -maidens played musical instruments, sang, and danced. These pleasant -occupations were continued several hours, so that on Saturday nights the -worthy Jewish burghers retired much later than usual. - -The sincerity and thoroughgoing consistency which marked the observance -of the Sabbath were characteristic of the religious life of the Nordheim -community throughout the year. It would be inconsistent with the scope -of this sketch to go into all the details of religious life and -practice; but suffice it to say that Jewish piety, as illustrated in -Nordheim, was eminently earnest, emphatic, and genuine. The very -children possessed the spirit of martyrs. They would have endured -tortures rather than eat forbidden food or violate the Sabbath or any -other of the holy days. Some of the manifestations of this piety were -quaintly humorous or pathetic, according to the viewpoint from which -they are regarded. The children of Nordheim, like children the world -over, were very fond of fruit and berries. Had they been permitted to go -into the orchards and gardens and gather their sweet products -unrestrained, there can be no doubt that as much would have disappeared -down their throats as they brought home. But the Nordheim mothers struck -upon a shrewd scheme for circumventing the appetites of their -sweet-toothed offspring, which did equal credit to their ingenuity and -their psychological knowledge. They would send the children to gather -fruits or pick berries upon a fast day. The plan was as effective as it -was beautifully simple. The children brought home all that they -gathered, for no Jewish child in Nordheim would have even thought of -committing such a heinous sin as tasting food on a _Taanis_. Think of -applying such a rule to American children! It would be about as -effective as trying to restrain a bull with a piece of cotton thread. - -It is recorded of a worthy Nordheim _Baal Habbayis_ that he once saw -some flies rise from his boots and settle upon some hay, which was later -on eaten by his cows. Now that in itself is a trifling and insignificant -incident; but it so happened that the boots, in accordance with German -village custom, had been smeared with tallow, which, from the viewpoint -of the Jewish religious law is _Trefah_—that is, ritually unclean, and -forbidden to be eaten. Our worthy Nordheimer at once felt himself -burdened in his conscience and despatched a special messenger post-haste -to the rabbi at Gersfeld with an inquiry as to whether the milk of those -cows might lawfully be drunk. This pious scrupulosity did not, however, -as might be thought, involve any gloomy or dreary harshness of -sentiment. What we are accustomed to call the Puritanical frame of mind -was utterly unknown in Nordheim. On the contrary, a cheerful and -pleasant disposition, which made the tone of social intercourse -extremely agreeable, was the all prevalent mood. In individual instances -this mental tendency was emphasized into pronounced joviality, and the -happy possessors thereof became the “_Spass macher_,” the jesters and -fun-makers of the community. Woe betide the unfortunate individual who -acquired a reputation for sourness and unsociability. He was considered -a legitimate victim for the gibes and jests of the official jokers, and -small indeed was the meed of sympathy which he received. - -Another instance of the prevailing jocoseness was the custom of -attaching nicknames to persons, which were then used instead of their -proper appellations. It was rarely that any one was referred to in -Nordheim by his given name, the nickname being so universally used as -almost to displace the real and legal cognomen. These nicknames were -derived from some personal characteristic or some peculiarity arising -from vocation or experience in life, which had struck the village wags -as humorous. It was “the black Elias,” or “the long Moses,” or “the bold -Isaac,” or “the gentle Sarah,” the last two appellations being, of -course, mildly ironical. One individual, who had an undue amount of -audacity in his psychological make-up, was known as “der _Baishan_,” -that is, “the bashful or timid one,” while another who had failed in -nearly everything he had undertaken was universally dubbed “der -_Mazzeldige Shmuel_,” that is, “lucky Sam.” A family, some remote -ancestor of which had once been imprisoned in a tower and escaped -therefrom by leaping from the window of his cell, was generally known as -“_die Thurm hüpfer_,” “the tower-hoppers,” while six brothers, all of -whom were over six feet tall and stout in proportion, bore the -strikingly apposite designation of “_die Kinderlich_,” that is, “the -babies.” The swineherd, who called his charges together by means of a -long tin trumpet, from which he emitted shrill and piercing, though -hardly melodious notes, was styled by the Jews “_der Baal Tokea_,” that -is, the blower of the Shofar or ram’s horn trumpet used in the services -of the New Year; while the village constable, who was an extremely pious -Catholic and always walked around through the village streets on Sundays -with a prayer book in his hand, from which he read with strait-laced -mien and ostentatious devotion, was dubbed “_der Baal Tephillah_,” that -is, the cantor or reader of the synagogue services. - - - SCHNORRERS. - -The two banes of village life and at the same time the most diverting -figures therein were the _Schnorrers_ and the gendarmes or rural -policemen. The first-named gentry, wandering Jewish mendicants, who -believed in the socialistic doctrine that the world, or at least that -part of it which professed Judaism, owed them a living, were a most -interesting set and worthy of a special study in themselves. They -honored the community frequently with their visits. Some were usually -visible in the streets at all seasons of the year, and the services in -the synagogue were generally graced by the presence of two or three. In -most instances they professed intense piety and then their _Tephillin_ -were larger, their _Talethim_ longer, and their prayers louder and more -ecstatic than those of the rest of the congregation. They came from -anywhere and everywhere. Most of them were of Russian or Polish origin, -but there was a goodly sprinkling of individuals of German birth and -occasionally a Sephardi from Jerusalem or some other Eastern region, -clad in Oriental robes and with a majestic turban upon his head, -relieved the monotony of Schnorrerdom and added interest and diversity -thereto by his strikingly alien and picturesque appearance. They came in -the most diverse guises. Some appeared in the rôle of venerable rabbis -with flowing beards, and anxious to display their learning in the law to -whomsoever they could induce to listen; others professed to be merchants -who had lost their all in ill-starred commercial ventures; while others -were wandering apprentices—_Handwerksburschen_—temporarily out of work. -Sometimes they were accompanied by their wives, who were always more -voluble and eloquent than their husbands. Sometimes an entire family, -grandparents, married sons and daughters and children of all ages, -including infants in arms, made their appearance and then the resources -of Nordheim charity were severely strained adequately to provide for -them. - -[Illustration: - - THEY HONORED THE COMMUNITY FREQUENTLY WITH THEIR VISITS - - _Page 28_] - -These Schnorrers were not beggars in the ordinary sense. They certainly -had no humble or suppliant air. They came into the house with the air of -calling upon old personal friends, and seemed to think it an entirely -self-understood and axiomatic matter that their co-religionists should -take upon themselves the duty of caring for their needs. Among them -many, no doubt, were genuinely unfortunate and deserving individuals, -but there was more than a suspicion that a large proportion had taken up -the pursuit of Schnorring as a peculiarly pleasant and profitable -vocation. Their reliance upon the charitable disposition of their -brethren in faith was well grounded. The Nordheim Jews were guided by -the eminently humane and noble principle that it is better that -ninety-nine undeserving persons should be aided than that one deserving -person should be refused the assistance he required; and, consequently, -every applicant for charity, unless it was positively known that he was -unworthy, received the help he craved. This help usually took the form -of food, lodging, and some money or clothing. A sort of system -prevailed. The Schnorrer would first call upon the _Parnass_, or -president of the congregation, who would then give him a ticket, called -_Plett_, a corruption of _Billet_, upon some member of the congregation, -entitling the stranger to food and lodging. These tickets were issued in -rotation, and were usually cheerfully honored. Some of the members even -had a predilection for entertaining these destitute brethren, and would -rival each other in the numbers they accommodate. It was amusing to hear -one boast that he had harbored, let us say twenty-seven, Schnorrers -during the year, only to be told by another, with triumphant mien, that -the number of his non-paying guests had been thirty-five. The most -celebrated hostess of this kind was a widow named Hannah. This -warm-hearted daughter of Israel strove to fulfil literally the precept -of the sages, “Let the poor be the children of thy house.” The days were -few when her house did not contain some “_guest_”; and she would give -him of her best, and wait upon him as though his presence was the most -distinguished honor. When asked once how it was that she, although not a -woman of means, was always ready to receive needy strangers, far more -so, indeed, than persons of far greater wealth, Hannah answered: “Why, -that is a very simple matter. All that one needs is a _Lef_ and a -_Loeffel_.” - -Altogether, the mental attitude of the Nordheim Jews toward their needy -and mendicant co-religionists was very different from that which -prevails to-day; at any rate, in America. At present the unfortunates -who depend upon the aid of their supposedly sympathetic brethren are -considered a nuisance; an unsightly excrescence upon the body social to -be abolished by all means, if possible. The wretched applicant for -relief is rigidly scrutinized and interrogated by lynx-eyed committees -until he is made to feel as though he were a criminal on trial for his -life. A domiciliary visit is paid to his home by some surly -“investigator,” whose efficiency is measured by the number of -unfavorable reports he makes. And woe betide the miserable one whose -habitation shows some traces of neatness and gentility, and where some -humble ornaments, relics, perhaps, of happier days, have been suffered -to remain, and have not found their way into the pawnshop. Such a one is -at once declared an “undeserving case”; for does not his dwelling show -that he is still possessed of means, and his application is at once -summarily and without mercy rejected. But Nordheim knew nothing of such -uncharitable charity, such inhuman humanity. The disposition there was -truly charitable in the kindlier, and hence nobler, sense of the word. -Poverty was looked upon as a necessary and inevitable feature of human -existence, as, indeed, a part of the Divine order of the world; for had -not He said in His law, “The poor shall not cease from the midst of the -land”? - -The unfortunates who had been selected by some mysterious dispensation -of Providence to bear the hard burden of poverty were the objects of -real and genuine commiseration, and every effort was made to alleviate -their sad condition. And if some of them did occasionally resort to -deception or petty misrepresentation in order to secure a larger -benefaction than would otherwise have fallen to his share, there was no -horror-stricken outcry, no show of virtuous indignation, such as our -high-salaried or amateur charity experts would indulge in; but people -merely shook their heads, rather pityingly than otherwise, and would -say: “Poor fellow! he has little enough in this world, God knows. No -wonder that he tried to get a little more.” Indeed, if the Schnorrer was -really a shrewd fellow and his trick a well-devised one, he was far more -apt to arouse amusement than resentment, and would actually profit by -his nimble wit. This I saw well illustrated shortly after my arrival in -Nordheim. One day a Schnorrer presented himself with an expression of -utter woe upon his countenance before Uncle Koppel, and in -heart-breaking accents informed him that he had just received news that -he had become an _Ovel_. “Alas, woe is me,” he wailed. “My poor, dear -wife in Poland is dead! What shall I do without her? Who will care for -my poor, unfortunate orphans? How shall I keep the _Shivah_ for her, as -is due to her memory, I who have no home and no means?” It need hardly -be stated that the sad case of the stricken widower aroused the most -profound sympathy among the Jews of Nordheim. Uncle Koppel at once -placed his house at the disposal of the unfortunate man in order that he -might properly observe the seven days of mourning, and most of the -members of the congregation offered to attend the mourning services -morning and evening. Aunt Caroline looked well after his comfort, -provided him with four or five square meals daily and a good bed at -night. At the conclusion of the seven days a substantial purse was made -up for his benefit and he departed, showering blessings upon the heads -of all the Nordheim _Kehillah_, and vowing that he would never forget -their kindness and their true spirit of brotherliness. - -A few weeks later Uncle Koppel had occasion to make a trip on business -to Römhild, a somewhat distant town in the grand duchy of Meiningen. As -he never ate dinner when away on these trips, it was customary to keep -his dinner for him, and all the household would remain up until his -return. It was rather late before he returned, after nine in the -evening. As soon as he had strode through the door we all noticed that -something unusual had befallen him during the day, and that that -something had been of an amusing nature. His face was wreathed in smiles -and he was silently chuckling to himself. We all became, of course, -curious to know the cause of his amusement, but none, except Aunt -Caroline, ventured to ask. “For goodness’ sake, husband,” said she, -“what is the matter? Let us know.” “Give me my meal first, wife,” said -Uncle Koppel. “I need strength before I can tell you.” All during the -meal Uncle Koppel sat with sides shaking with ill-suppressed laughter, -while curiosity and impatience consumed us all. At last, his meal -concluded and grace recited, Uncle Koppel began his story. “I heard -something in Römhild to-day of our Schnorrer,” said he; “the one who -kept Shivah in our house.” “Indeed,” we all vociferated, “what was it?” -“I called first on Moses Rosenbaum,” he resumed, “in reference to some -cattle that I wished to buy of him; and after we had finished our -business, he said to me: ‘By the way, Koppel, there is a very sad case -in town at present, and it would be a real _Mitzvah_ for you to help us -a little in relieving it.’ ‘What is it,’ said I. ‘A poor man,’ said he, -‘has suddenly received news that his wife died, and he is so destitute -that he cannot support his orphans without help, or even keep Shivah. We -have helped him some and he has been keeping Shivah in my house during -the week.’ ‘Aha,’ said I, beginning to smell a rat, ‘this is strange. We -had just such a case in Nordheim a few weeks ago. I think I shall go -over and see your man.’ We went over to Rosenbaum’s house, and, sure -enough, it was the same fellow. The Shivah-keeping business in Nordheim -had suited him so well that he was trying it again in another place. -When I saw him I said: ‘My friend, I believe I have met you before.’ He -looked at me, not in the least abashed, and said: ‘Oh, yes, in Nordheim, -a few weeks ago.’ ‘What do you mean by this brazen-faced fraud,’ I -asked, ‘pretending to have lost your wife and swindling people into -charitable gifts by pretending to keep Shivah?’ ‘Oh, my good sir,’ said -he, with great pretence of earnestness, ‘it is no deceit at all. The -first time it was a false report. My wife had not died. But this time -she is really dead, really indeed; and if you don’t believe me you can -go yourself to Pitchichow in Poland, my native town, and convince -yourself. You can, indeed.’ We all laughed heartily at the fellow’s -impudence, and warning him to be sure that his wife was dead before he -sat Shivah for her next time, we bade him begone. He went off with great -alacrity, evidently glad that he had fared no worse.” - - - GENDARMES. - -The gendarmes or rural policemen were the second bane of village life; -but while the Schnorrer was looked on with charitable eye, for these -latter gentry no one had a good word. They were detested, thoroughly and -intensely. As a rule they well deserved the detestation in which they -were held, for they were pompous, insufferable individuals, egregiously -proud and conceited because of the little authority they possessed, and -over-eager to display their power; in a word, petty tyrants of the worst -kind. They were equally hated by Jew and Gentile, and were not popular -even with the judges and magistrates, who were often liberal-minded -gentlemen, and who knew well the tyrannical disposition of their rustic -retainers. The multiplicity of laws and regulations in the German -statute book, particularly those referring to trade and commerce, gave -the gendarmes the much-desired opportunity for the display of their -power; and as the Jews were the chief element engaged in commercial -pursuits, they were also the chief victims of these rustic arbiters of -weal and woe. To defeat or discomfit a gendarme was a highly meritorious -deed, and all the community rejoiced in concert when one of these -potentates had been made the victim of some particularly ingenious -trick. - -An incident which had happened some time previous to my arrival in -Nordheim, and which all the community were highly enjoying at the time -of my arrival, will illustrate this disposition. There lived in Nordheim -a poor, half-witted Jew named Meyer, an unfortunate fellow without -relatives or home or means of subsistence, who depended for his support -on the charitable gifts of the kind-hearted villagers. Despite his -mental infirmity, Meyer possessed, as is not seldom the case with the -weak-minded, quite a stock of humor; and as he was always cheerful and -pleasant, and was continually doing odd and amusing things, “Shoteh -Meyerle,” or “Little Meyer the fool,” as he was called, enjoyed -considerable popularity. Everybody, rich and poor, high and low, Jew and -Gentile, knew him well. Everybody had a friendly greeting for him when -met on the road; nobody, not even the most unruly boys, would harm him -in any way or permit him to be harmed by others. He had free access to -every house, and enjoyed altogether liberties and privileges not -possessed by any other member of the community. One day it chanced that -Shoteh Meyerle determined, in accordance with his wont, to visit the -adjoining village of Willmars to obtain some gifts. The day was hot, the -road was long and dusty, and Meyer soon felt that rest and recuperation -would be agreeable. These could not be had on the dusty road, and he, -therefore, stepped aside into a field where there was a fine tree, in -whose cool shade he sat him down and reposed. This act, it is true, was -illegal, for the agrarian regulations of the Bavarian state strictly -prohibit the stepping upon cultivated fields on the part of others than -the proprietors, or those to whom they give permission. But what recked -Meyer for that; he was, in a measure, above the law. He could violate -the solemn enactments of the code with impunity, for the light in which -he was viewed by the community enabled him to say, like a celebrated -American politician of later date, “What’s the Constitution between -friends?” Meyer, therefore, sat him down on the cultivated field of -Farmer Dietrich without having obtained his formal permission, but -without the least fear of consequences. This time, however, he was in -error. A new gendarme had recently come to Nordheim, a stranger from a -different region, unacquainted with the people and their ways, but with -a soul longing to acquire distinction by making some brilliant arrests. -His reputation as a surly and churlish fellow had preceded him, and -every one had scrupulously avoided him and taken particular care not to -come into conflict with any of the numerous statutes and police -regulations; so that hitherto no one had fallen into his clutches, and -his ambition for distinction had as yet had no opportunity to be -gratified. This particular morning he was walking along the road, -meditating upon his ill luck (as he considered it), and cursing the -people of Nordheim and vicinity for an absurdly law-abiding crowd. What -especially grieved him was that no Jew had yet fallen into his hands, -for he was a true anti-Semite; and to haul up one of the accursed -Semites on some good and heavy charge was incense to his soul. While -thus marching along the highway and meditating, he beheld a man sitting -upon a stone in a field, whose appearance clearly indicated that he was -not a peasant nor a field laborer, and who, therefore, had probably no -right to be there. It was, of course, our friend Meyer; but our doughty -gendarme knew him not, and was not aware of the peculiar status of -immunity which he possessed. “Aha!” thought the gendarme, his soul -filled with joy at the idea of at last making an arrest. “A law-breaker! -Probably a wandering apprentice (_Wandersbursch_) or itinerant merchant -(_Handelsman_) who does not know that I, the zealous and faithful -watchman of the law, am in the neighborhood, and who has therefore dared -to invade the sacred precincts of the fields! I must approach cautiously -lest he see me while still afar, and escape.” Thus thinking, he began -cautiously to draw near to the neighborhood of the suspected violator of -the law, slinking behind bushes and walls so as not to reveal his -presence until he should be in the immediate vicinity of his intended -victim, when he would pounce upon him as the tiger springs upon his -prey. - -But, cunning as the gendarme was, Shoteh Meyerle was still more cunning. -He had seen the bright uniform and shining musket of the pompous -champion of the law when they first appeared at the distant turning of -the Ostheim _chaussée_. He at once understood his intention when he saw -him first pause and afterward slowly advance, seeking cover behind -bushes and walls and, with the instinctive cunning of the half-witted, -he at once resolved to baffle his elaborate plan and to have some sport -with his would-be captor. He remained quietly sitting upon his stone, -apparently in entire ignorance of the gendarme’s approach until just -before the latter came into too uncomfortable proximity, when he arose -and began to move leisurely across the fields in the direction of the -Sommerberg, a forest-crowned hill situated somewhat to the northeast of -the village. At this the gendarme was compelled to show himself. He -burst forth from his covering of bushes, leaped upon the field and -called upon the intruder, as he considered him to be, to stand and -submit to arrest. Instead of doing so, Meyer continued to move on at a -somewhat more rapid pace. To realize the meaning of this action, one -must remember that in Germany a person when called upon by the police is -expected at once to stand and give an account of himself, and invariably -does so. Only one who has the gravest of reasons for not desiring police -attention would dare to attempt to evade them when their attention had -once been called to him. - -Our worthy gendarme was now convinced that he had a dangerous criminal -to deal with, and his soul thrilled with the hope of making a brilliant -arrest; one that would secure him favorable notice from above, rapid -promotion, and perhaps immortality in the annals of criminalistic -achievement. He shouted to Meyer at the top of his voice to halt, -breaking at the same time into a run and dashing toward him. But Meyer -did not halt. On the contrary, he too began to run, and was soon -speeding over hill and dale, hotly pursued by the now thoroughly enraged -officer. - -Who can fitly describe the terrors and the glories of that extraordinary -race? Meyer was thin and light and active, possessed of splendid wind -and as fleet as a deer. He led the gendarme a merry chase, indeed, over -hills and down into valleys, through forests and over brooks, through -corn-fields, meadows, and gardens. But the gendarme was a strong man and -game, though rather heavy from overmuch eating and beer-drinking; -weighed down with his heavy musket, and sadly out of condition through -lack of exercise. Filled with rage and determined to make a prisoner of -this extraordinary criminal, he panted and toiled on in pursuit, despite -weariness and perspiration. Meyer could easily have distanced him, but -had no intention of doing so; and therefore so controlled his pace as to -remain always in sight of his pursuer, and not permit the latter to lose -hope and give up. - -Thus the chase continued until hunter and hunted, having covered more -than four miles of country, found themselves at the gates of -Mellrichstadt, the chief town of the district and the seat of the -district court, which at that time, as Meyer well knew, was in -session. Here, Meyer pretending to have grown weary, gradually -slackened his pace and permitted himself to be seized by his panting -and perspiration-bathed pursuer. “Aha, accursed Jew! Aha, thou -rascal!” hoarsely exclaimed the latter, as he seized Meyer roughly by -the collar, “at last I have thee! Now thou shalt pay bitterly for thy -villainy and thy audacity. I shall drag thee straight to court, and -the honorable judges will know well how to deal with an audacious -wretch, such as thou art, and who undoubtedly must have committed some -great crime or else he would not have thus fled from me.” Meyer -vouchsafed no answer and offered no resistance, but meekly followed -the gendarme to the courthouse, which was but a short distance away; -although the triumphant officer in his wrath at the unprecedented -chase he had been forced to make, literally dragged him thither in -most ungentle manner. - -The district judge, clad in his silken robes of office, and with his -velvet cap upon his head, was seated at his elevated desk at the upper -end of the court-room, at either side an assessor, when this remarkable -pair, the stout, hot, perspiring gendarme, with face red as fire, and -the comical, well-known figure of the half-witted Jewish beggar entered -the room, the former holding the latter with an iron grasp and with an -expression of intense excitement upon his countenance; while the latter -was perfectly cool and self-possessed, and was smiling all over with an -expression of perfect content, as though a run of four miles and -apprehension by the constabulary were every-day and quite pleasant -experiences in his life. An interesting case was going on at the time, -and the court-room was crowded with a mixed multitude of peasants, -working-men, Jewish merchants, and landed proprietors, among whom the -arrival of this singular pair created a lively sensation, especially as -the mischievous propensities of Shoteh Meyerle were well known and -curiosity was rife as to what he was up to now. - -When the gendarme entered the court-room, he at first hesitated for a -moment, being undecided as to whether he had the right to appear at once -before the judges or not; but the supreme judge, who knew Shoteh Meyer -perfectly well (as did also the assessors), and was himself consumed by -curiosity concerning the meaning of this extraordinary arrest, at once -signalled him to advance, which he immediately did. No sooner had the -gendarme brought his prisoner before the bar than the latter made a deep -bow to the court; and, smiling affably at the judges, said in a voice -audible all over the room: “Good morning, _Herr Gerichtshof_! Good -morning, my _Herren Assessoren_! How are you all feeling to-day? I trust -you all slept well last night!” This, in a court-room, extremely unusual -salutation was accompanied by an extraordinary smirk and a comical -flourish of the arms, and was greeted by an outburst of hearty laughter -on the part of the audience; in which the judges joined, a proceeding -extremely disconcerting to the gendarme, who detected in it a note of -friendliness to the prisoner, which he could not understand, but which -boded ill for the success of his charge. - -The gendarme was then ordered to tell his story, and gave the facts with -which we are already familiar, laying particular stress on his suspicion -that the prisoner was guilty of other grave crimes, based on the -desperate manner in which he had endeavored to avoid arrest. This story -was listened to with evident amusement, which added greatly to the -embarrassment of the valiant captor, who began to feel very cheap, -though he knew not why. - -Meyer was then called upon for his side of the case. “Why, most honored -judge and assessors,” said Meyer, with a most engaging smile and -ingenuous air, “I do not know why I have been arrested, or why the Herr -Gendarme is so angry with me. I am only a poor, humble man, and I have -never done any one any harm in all my life. I was resting a little in -Farmer Dietrich’s field this morning, and afterward I took a little -lively run to Mellrichstadt and I saw the Herr Gendarme a few times on -the way. Hardly had I reached Mellrichstadt when he fell roughly upon me -and dragged me here, and that is all I know.” - -“But why were you in Farmer Dietrich’s field?” asked the supreme judge, -trying to assume a severe air. “Do you not know that is against the law, -and that you make yourself thereby liable to severe punishment?” “That -may be, your honor,” answered Meyer; “but I did not think I was doing -any wrong. All the people hereabouts are very kind to me, and willingly -permit me in their fields; and I thought it would be the same this time -as always.” - -“But why did you run all the long way from Nordheim to Mellrichstadt, -and in this hot weather, too?” asked the judge, suppressing by a great -effort his amusement. - -“The reason I did that,” said Meyer, with a most innocent expression of -face, “was for the benefit of my health. I have been suffering a great -deal lately from constipation, and the doctor recommended me exercise in -the open air.” This answer was greeted with a shout of laughter from all -sides. - -“But,” continued the judge, still endeavoring to conduct the inquiry in -a judicial manner, “when you saw the gendarme running after you, you -should not have kept on without noticing him. You should have stopped to -see what he wanted of you. Why did you not do so?” “I should gladly have -done so, your honor,” said Meyer in a tone of perfect frankness, “but I -did not have the least idea that he wanted anything of me. I thought -that he, too, was probably suffering from constipation, and that the -doctor had also recommended him exercise for his health.” This answer -literally “brought down the house.” Amidst a storm of merriment, which -utterly defied the usual restraints of court discipline, the case was -dismissed and the crestfallen gendarme was overwhelmed with a flood of -ironical compliments on his zeal as an official and his ability as a -runner. Shoteh Meyerle was more popular than ever after this incident, -but it was many a day before the gendarme could muster up courage to -look any one in the face. - -[Illustration: Reb. Shemayah] - -[Illustration: _Page 49_] - - - REB SHEMAYAH AND OTHER NORDHEIM WORTHIES. - -O sweet Nordheim! Though thy inhabitants, particularly those who -professed the ancient faith of Israel, were but few, how numerous, -comparatively, were those whose characters for one reason or other were -interesting and noteworthy. Let me pass a few of these in review before -the eye of the reader before I close this insufficient though veracious -chronicle. Without a doubt the most important and significant of these -persons was Reb Shemayah. He was my grandfather, although it was not my -privilege to behold him in the flesh, for he had passed to the better -world some years before my visit to the village. He was a perfect type -of the old-time, sincere, loyal, and devout German Jew. He was the son -of an old family of high repute and standing, which had been settled in -Nordheim for several centuries; and one of his ancestors, whose picture -appears in an old village chronicle, had enjoyed the unique distinction -of being the only inhabitant who owned a saddle horse. Like all the sons -of the better class of Jewish families in former generations he received -a thorough training in Hebrew and Talmudic studies. At the _Yeshibah_ in -Fulda, to which he had been sent to study rabbinic lore, he attained -such distinction by the keenness of his intellect and the rapidity of -his progress that the venerable rabbi became warmly attached to him, and -declared that he alone should be his successor and his son-in-law, the -husband of his youngest daughter. - -Just as Reb Shemayah was about to attain the loftiest pinnacle of Jewish -ambition in those days, to become a rabbi and to take as his wife the -beautiful, dark-eyed daughter of the Fulda Rav, an event occurred which -destroyed his hopes in both these regards, but gave occasion for the -display of his noble idealism. The Bavarian Government issued a rescript -to the effect that in order to wean Jews from the petty forms of trading -to which they had hitherto been addicted, and to induce them to take up -agriculture, the law prohibiting Jews from owning land, which had been -in force for centuries, was repealed, and it would henceforth be -permitted them to own and cultivate land, the same as all other -citizens. - -The beneficent intentions of the new law were evident, but the Jews -hesitated to take advantage of it; indeed, they were loath to do so. The -centuries of unfamiliarity with agriculture were partly to blame for -this reluctance; but then, again, there was also a strong prejudice -against the farmer’s vocation, which was considered low and rude and far -inferior in social value to that of the merchant or scholar. Reb -Shemayah did not share these views. His soul was all aflame with -enthusiasm when he heard of the new law which, in his opinion, first put -the stamp of real citizenship upon the Jew. Not only did he consider -agriculture intrinsically ennobling and the only vocation in consonance -with true Jewish, Biblical precepts, but he also held that the landed -class are the real foundation of the state, while all others are but -floating parasites. When he saw that his brethren were hesitating, and -that none appeared willing to purchase land, he determined to give them -a good example and himself became a tiller of the soil. He invested his -whole fortune in the purchase of a farm near Nordheim, which he himself -began actively to cultivate. Thus did Reb Shemayah renounce the -rabbinical vocation and become a peasant. It was a tremendous sacrifice -to make; but what was worse was that he had to renounce his sweet bride -too, for the old Fulda rabbi was obstinate and had no liking for these -new things. “A peasant shall not have my daughter,” he said; and though -Reb Shemayah loved sweet Miriam well, he loved Israel better, and for -the sake of his ideal he sacrificed a piece of his own heart. Encouraged -by Reb Shemayah’s example, many other Jews invested in land and -endeavored to learn the art of agriculture; and at present Jewish -tillers of the soil are no longer rarities. - -In the Nordheim community and the entire surrounding country Reb -Shemayah enjoyed the highest possible reputation. He was universally -loved, respected, revered. And right well did he deserve his high -repute, for a character of such singular purity, sweetness, and nobility -belongs to the rare things of earth. He was profoundly and exceptionally -devout, even for those days when piety and religious strictness were -usual and ordinary in Israel. The Torah, the divine law, he considered -God’s most precious gift to mankind, and Israel’s mission he held to be -to practice this law and to show its excellence to the world; and by -lives of utmost virtue and beneficence to be _mekaddesh Ha-Shem_, -_i.e._, to sanctify the name, and to bring honor and glory to Him whose -servants were thus righteous and good. He lived up to his ideal, and his -life thus became one long record of kindly words and noble deeds. Jews -and Gentiles alike had in him a sincere friend and a trustworthy -counsellor, and were equally glad to seek his wise counsel and ready -assistance in their hour of need or distress. The Schnorrers had in him -a particularly warm sympathizer, so that, after his death, they lamented -that Nordheim, although charitable beyond the average, had lost its halo -of glory in their eyes. He always believed any tale of woe told him by a -suppliant stranger and never wearied of assisting, for the thought of -deceit or fraud never entered his guileless mind. The learned wanderer -had his especial sympathy, and he would always welcome such a one right -royally to his home and listen with kindliest interest to his erudite -comments on Biblical or Talmudic passages or new solutions of old -difficulties; and after entertaining him with unstinted generosity, -would dismiss him laden with blessings in substantial form. - -It was not because Reb Shemayah was wealthy that he was able to do all -these things, by merely sparing a little from his abundance. On the -contrary, he gave thus liberally as a matter of principle, of religious -duty, and his charitable gifts often involved great sacrifices on his -part. During the greater part of his life he lived in rather straitened -circumstances, and rigid economy was necessarily the strict rule of his -household. His entire fortune had gone to the purchase of his -_Bauerngut_; and as he was neither a trained agriculturist nor a keen -business man, his finances might have fallen into great disorder but for -the iron rule he had set up for himself, and from which he never -deviated, never to contract debts which he could not see his way clear -to pay. In addition to his ordinary difficulties he met with several -misfortunes, which would have sufficed to break down the courage of an -ordinary man; but his sublime faith enabled him to bear all these trials -cheerfully and resignedly, and, like Rabbi Nahum of old, he would repeat -whenever any tribulation came upon him: “This also is for good.” - -A striking illustration of this trait was given after he had been for -quite some years actively engaged in his chosen vocation, had found his -chosen life partner, and had already a family of several daughters. In -the middle of a bitter winter night a fire suddenly broke out in Reb -Shemayah’s dwelling; and, quickly assuming dimensions which rendered it -impossible to check it, the family were driven forth half-clad into the -icy night. The house was burned to the ground and hardly anything of its -contents was saved, but the barn had escaped, and there Reb Shemayah and -his nearly frozen wife and family found refuge. There, too, his wife, -Perla by name, who had for some time been expecting the advent of a -little stranger, gave birth to a beautiful black-eyed boy, the first -male child. It was a heartrending conjuncture. His home a mass of -smoking ruins in the intense cold of a Bavarian mountain winter, nothing -saved but a few quilts and articles of clothing, his family huddled -together for refuge in a barn, through the chinks of whose wooden walls -the chill blasts blew keenly; and most heartrending of all—to see his -dear wife forced to undergo, under such circumstances, the pains and -dangers of childbirth. It was a situation which would have broken the -courage or destroyed the faith of another man. But Reb Shemayah lifted -his eyes to heaven, and in all sincerity and truth uttered the words: “I -thank Thee, O Master of the universe, for Thou art good. With one hand -Thou smitest, but with the other Thou healest. Thou hast destroyed my -habitation, but Thou hast also fulfilled the prayer of my heart and -given me a son.” And, indeed, the terror and the suffering were soon -over. Kind Jewish neighbors hastened to open their homes to the -afflicted family. Neither mother nor child was any the worse for the -harsh exposure, and the black-eyed boy became subsequently the Uncle -Koppel, whose hospitality I enjoyed. If anything in the whole incident -distressed Reb Shemayah keenly, it was the necessity of accepting, if -even temporarily, the assistance of others. Himself ever ready to assist -the needy, he entertained an intense aversion to receiving himself such -assistance. - -Though Reb Shemayah was, as we have seen, an ethically noble and exalted -character, he was by no means gloomy or austere. On the contrary, he was -natural and unaffected in his ways, accessible to every one, dearly fond -of a joke, and a capital story-teller. Despite his readiness to accept -as true tales of distress, he was, nevertheless, an excellent -psychologist, and had no difficulty in thoroughly reading the characters -and motives of those with whom he was thrown into contact. This ability -once enabled him to baffle an attempt which was made to victimize and -blackmail him, and to turn it into a humorous triumph for him. - -Nordheim, as regards the majority of its inhabitants, was an intensely -Catholic village. The feasts and fasts of the church were celebrated -there with great pomp and unction, and the numerous religious -processions were particularly solemn and, according to rural standards, -magnificent. In these the Jewish inhabitants, of course, took no part, -and, indeed, usually remained secluded in their houses during their -continuance. For this there were several reasons. The Jews being, from -the Catholic standpoint, heretics and unbelievers, were _eo ipso_ -excluded from participation in these Christian solemnities; and their -presence in the streets on such occasions was apt, even in these more -tolerant times, to rouse the slumbering embers of religious animosity -and bigotry. Besides, the Jews themselves, warm adherents of their own -monotheistic creed, would rather have suffered martyrdom than to have -participated in practices which they looked upon as closely akin to -idolatrous. - -Shortly after Reb Shemayah had become a Nordheim peasant and citizen, -the village priest who happened at the time to be presiding over the -spiritual affairs of the community conceived what appeared to him a most -brilliant idea, by means of which he believed he could press a -substantial contribution out of the learned and pious new Jewish -householder. A great holiday of the church was approaching—the indulgent -reader will kindly excuse the author for his ignorance of Catholic -theology, which prevents him from specifically stating which one it -was—of the celebration of which a particularly great and splendid -procession was the leading feature. In this procession substantially all -the Gentile villagers took part, and at its head a splendid effigy of -the crucified one was borne. The office of carrying the image was -performed by a citizen especially selected by the priest and burgomaster -conjointly with the council; and to be chosen for this duty was deemed a -high honor, and was eagerly coveted by the good Christian burghers of -Nordheim. Our priest’s idea was as follows: The honor of carrying the -image should be bestowed, with flattering words and honeyed compliments, -upon Reb Shemayah as a prominent and universally respected citizen of -the village. Of course the cunning ecclesiastic did not seriously mean -that Reb Shemayah should actually perform the office, for it was -entirely out of the question that any Jew, however worthy, should -actually take a leading part in the solemn ceremonies of the church; but -our worthy theologian knew well that the aversion of the Jews to -participating in such observances was even greater than the -disinclination of the Christians to permit them so to do, and he had no -fear that Reb Shemayah would, under any circumstances, consent. What he -imagined would happen was that Reb Shemayah, on being informed of his -selection for the honorable task of image-bearer, would decline the -honor on the ground that his religion did not permit him to participate -in such functions; and when he would be further informed that it was not -possible for a citizen to refuse an honor to which he had been duly -appointed by the constituted authorities, would beg and implore to be -let off, and would finally offer a good round sum to be released. This -sum, after various difficulties and objections, would be graciously -accepted as a mark of special favor, and thus the little comedy would -find a pleasant and profitable end. Filled with this splendid idea for -“spoiling the Egyptians” this time in the form of a Hebrew, the priest -hastened to the burgomaster and confided his plan to him. That worthy, -also, not at all averse to having a little innocent sport and gaining -some filthy lucre from the unbelieving Jew, at once gave the plan his -most hearty approval, and it was resolved to put it forthwith into -execution. Accordingly Reb Shemayah was astounded that evening, when -sitting in his room resting after the labors of the day, to hear first a -resounding knock with the old-fashioned knocker on his front door and -afterward from the lips of his Perla, who had gone to answer the -summons, and who returned with an expression of amazement not unmingled -with anxiety upon her face, the words, “The priest and the burgomaster -are here and desire to see you.” - -Reb Shemayah at once felt that this visit betokened something unusual. -He had often met and conversed with the priest and the burgomaster, -singly and together; the one and the other had also been casually within -his four walls, but neither had ever visited him formally, and this -special visit by the two leading men of the village together he knew -must have some particular and unusual reason. He at once determined to -reflect ripely on whatever proposition they should make him, and to act -upon it in accordance with his best judgment and wisdom. He rose and -received them with great politeness; and after they had seated -themselves, in accordance with his request, he inquired to what he owed -the distinguished honor of their visit. The priest, in view of the -deference due to his holy calling, acted as spokesman and explained the -mission which had brought them thither. - -“We have come, dear Reb Shemayah,” he said, “as a deputation from the -church and secular community of Nordheim, to show you how free from -prejudice or bigotry our village is, and in particular how greatly we -love and honor you. You know, of course, that it is a fixed rule with us -never to confer any of the honors connected with the rites and -ceremonies of our holy church upon any one but a true believer, in full -communion with and good standing in the church; but so greatly do we -love and esteem you that we have resolved for your sake to depart from -this time-honored and otherwise invariable rule, and to honor you as -greatly as we would the best of our true Christian burghers. We have -therefore come as a delegation to inform you that you have been selected -for the high and solemn office of bearing the Holy Image at the great -procession of ——mas next, and at the same time to congratulate you upon -this rare honor, which has never yet been attained by any Jew.” Reb -Shemayah listened to this smooth speech with external calmness, but with -the most violent internal agitation. The priest had understood well his -true feelings. His very blood ran cold at the thought of the proffered -_honor_(?). What! he, the scion of a long line of martyrs who had died -at the stake rather than prove recreant to the command thundered forth -amid Sinai’s flames, “Thou shalt not make unto thyself any graven image, -or any likeness of anything which is in the heaven above, or in the -earth beneath, or in the waters beneath the earth; thou shalt not bow -down to them nor worship them”; from whose dying lips had issued the -cry, “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One”—he should march -in the procession of an alien cult and himself bear an image for the -idolatrous adoration of the multitude! He felt his very soul sicken at -the thought. But his keen mind and his shrewd, intuitive perception of -the fitness of things helped him out of his difficulty. He missed the -note of sincerity in the priest’s smooth words; he noticed that neither -his demeanor nor that of his companion, the burgomaster, was exactly -such as is characteristic of persons desiring to confer honor upon -another; besides, he knew full well how utterly contrary to all Catholic -rule and precedent it was to permit heretics to participate in church -ceremonials, and he could not conceive that an exception should be made -for him, and in a flash the whole devious machinations were revealed to -him, and he realized that it was only a cunningly thought-out plot to -extort money from him as the price of exemption. He resolved to baffle -the ingenious scheme with equal ingenuity, and to give the plotters no -opportunity to narrate later on, with vociferous hilarity, how shrewdly -they had victimized and blackmailed the Jew. His first step was to -express his sense of unworthiness of the proffered honor. “I feel -greatly honored, indeed,” he said, “by this proof of the esteem in which -my fellow-burghers hold me; but how can I accept such a distinction? I -am only a young citizen. There are others, older and better known than -I; besides I am not even of your faith. I am a Jew whom you deem an -unbeliever; and how, then, can I aspire to an honor which should be -conferred only upon a true and undoubted co-religionist of your own?” - -“We have considered these things well, Reb Shemayah,” said the priest; -“and you need not hesitate to accept the honor on account of them. If we -esteem you so much that we are willing to overlook them, surely you need -not be troubled on that score at all.” - -“But surely you know,” said Reb Shemayah, “that my religion also forbids -me to take part in such ceremonies. Judaism teaches me that the -fundamental ideas which you solemnly proclaim by your processions and -other such observances are not true; and I may not lend my countenance -to them by participating personally in services held in recognition and -affirmation of them. It is not lawful for me, as a Jew, to adore an -image, or to assist in its adoration by others. I am sorry; but, while -appreciating, indeed, the high honor you would bestow upon me, I feel -that I must decline it as not suitable to one of my faith.” - -“My dear Reb Shemayah,” said the priest in a somewhat harsher manner, -while the burgomaster sustained him with a threatening shake of the -head, “I am sorry to hear you speak thus. Permit me to say that your -words are displeasing, not to say offensive. To decline on such grounds -the distinguished honor offered you is to scoff at our holy faith; is, -indeed, to insult our entire Christian community here in Nordheim. -Furthermore, let me remind you that it is a matter of civic obligation, -and that it is not feasible for a citizen to decline the honors or -refuse the functions which the community may see fit to confer upon him. -If such were permitted, our civic honors might go begging and all -authority would fall into contempt. You have been selected, as an -honored citizen, to take a leading part in a great public ceremony, and -it is expected that as a loyal burgher you will overlook your religious -scruples and perform your public duty. Both as a Jew, who needs to live -in peace with the inhabitants of other faiths, and as a true citizen of -this community, we expect, nay we insist, that you will at once declare -your willingness to perform the duty assigned to you by the constituted -authorities of the community.” - -These words made a deep and evident impression upon Reb Shemayah. He was -visibly agitated. The choice the priest had given him was a hard one. -Either recreancy to his so ardently loved faith, or the disfavor of his -fellow-townsmen, and perhaps punishment as a scoffer at the established -religion, or a contumacious rejector of civic honors. - -The priest and burgomaster gazed at him with triumphant eyes, thinking -in their hearts that now they had the Jew on his knees, and that -presently he would be begging and pleading for mercy, and offering to do -anything or give any amount if only they would release him from the -dreaded and abhorred “honor.” The priest was already considering the -amount he should ask as the condition of release; and the burgomaster, -foreseeing that the unselfish (?) disciple of other-worldliness would -want the lion’s share, was resolving in his mind that he would insist on -a fair and equitable division of the spoils, share and share alike. But -Reb Shemayah had prepared a little surprise for them. - -“Your reverence,” he said when the priest had concluded his remarks, “I -beg your pardon for my hasty words, uttered without a true comprehension -of the importance of the privilege bestowed upon me. Your lucid -explanation has fully convinced me that I was in the wrong. I see now -that it is my duty as a good citizen to accept with gratitude any duty -which the community may assign to me, even if it does not agree with my -religion. I accept, therefore, the honor you have conferred upon me, and -I desire you to express my thanks to the worthy councilmen for the high -privilege which I have received at their hands.” - -It was the turn now of the priest and the burgomaster to be agitated. -They could hardly believe their ears. Reb Shemayah, the Jew, the -heretic, to be the leading figure in the great——mas procession! The -thought was horrifying. They realized that their brilliant plan had -failed, that the Jew had triumphed, that they had gotten themselves into -a pretty pickle out of which they would have vast trouble to extricate -themselves; for, of course, Reb Shemayah had not been really invited by -the councilmen, and the matter had never been even broached to them by -the cunning schemers. They were beaten, disconcerted, crushed. Worst of -all, they had to dissemble, to pretend that they were delighted. - -“Do I understand you, then, Reb Shemayah,” said the priest, suppressing -by a great effort his discomfiture, and forcing his countenance to -assume a pleased expression, “you are willing to accept the honor and -will bear the image at the procession?” “Yes, your reverence,” answered -Reb Shemayah. “Your eloquence has convinced me and induced me to do so.” - -“Such being the case,” answered the priest, “we may consider the matter -settled and will now bid you good-by.” The priest and burgomaster -thereupon took their departure. When they were gone, the members of Reb -Shemayah’s household, who had heard with amazement, not unmixed with -horror, his declaration of willingness to bear the image, besieged him -with questions as to how it was possible for him to think of such a -thing. But Reb Shemayah only smiled and answered not a word. In the -meanwhile the priest and the burgomaster had a heated and angry -discussion. Each blamed the other for the extremely embarrassing -position in which they were placed; but the priest smarted most under -the reproaches of his colleague in iniquity, for the fact was -indisputable that the plot had originated with him, and it was -particularly mortifying to him, as a man of presumably superior wisdom, -to have committed such an egregious blunder, and to be in danger of -ignominious exposure. The upshot of their debate was that Reb Shemayah -must be induced to change his mind and withdraw his acceptance of the -impossible honor which they had tendered him, and that knowledge of -their scheme, and the manner in which it had been frustrated, must be -kept from the councilmen and the people in general. - -But who should undertake the difficult and unpleasant task of -undeceiving Reb Shemayah, a task which, they clearly foresaw, would -involve confession of their guilty purpose and practically throwing -themselves on the mercy of the Jew, whom they had deliberately plotted -to torture and plunder, and who had so cleverly turned the tables upon -them? Each desired the other to undertake the disagreeable mission; but -finally the burgomaster yielded to the urgent pleadings of the -humiliated cleric and consented to visit Reb Shemayah and endeavor to -alter his unexpected resolution. Accordingly at a very early hour the -following morning—the burgomaster called intentionally so early in order -to forestall any attempt of Reb Shemayah to disseminate the news of the -distinction he had received—the burgomaster appeared again in Reb -Shemayah’s dwelling. Our friend was not in the least surprised to see -the burgomaster; in fact, he had expected that either he or the priest -would appear, but expressed, as in duty bound, great astonishment at his -early visit. - -“To what do I owe the honor of this very early call, good friend -burgomaster?” he said, with voice and countenance expressive of -surprise. “Is there any other service, perhaps, which the community -requires of me?” - -“No, good friend Shemayah,” said the burgomaster, with halting voice and -embarrassed manner; for, in good truth, he felt very cheap indeed. “In -fact, I have come to tell you that his reverence, the priest, and I -discussed the matter of your acting as image-bearer on our way back from -your house last evening, and we came to the conclusion that we had not -given enough consideration to your Jewish prejudices; and that we really -ought not to insist on your performing an act which is against your -conscience. I have, therefore, come to tell you that you are released -from the function for which we had selected you, and that you need not -act as image-bearer.” - -“Aha,” thought Reb Shemayah, “so this is the direction from which the -wind blows! Well, you shall not get off so easy. You and your reverend -companion must first be taught a little lesson of consideration for the -feelings of others, and be discouraged from similar financial ventures -in the future.” Then he spoke aloud and in a tone of the utmost courtesy -and deference to the burgomaster. “I thank you, most worthy burgomaster, -for the delicacy and consideration for my conscientious scruples which -your words display, and which are no doubt felt also by his reverence, -the priest. But I have also reflected well on the matter, and I shall -ask no special privilege as a Jew. As his reverence so well explained -last night, it is a matter of civic obligation; and I do not wish, as a -Jew, to shirk any civic duty, or to have it said that my co-religionists -are unwilling to perform any task which the state imposes upon them. I -do not ask, therefore, for any exemption, but shall cheerfully perform -the task assigned me, and appreciate greatly the honor which I have -received in being selected for such a function.” - -The face of our worthy burgomaster was a sight to behold during the -delivery of these words, and his feelings would beggar description. He -was a picture of limp despair, of utter dismay and dejection. He saw -clearly that there was no other escape from the predicament than to make -a clean breast of it, which he accordingly resolved to do. It is -unnecessary to enter here into all the details of conversation, to -repeat the faltering words of the confused and embarrassed burgomaster, -and the indignant outbursts of virtuous wrath on the part of Reb -Shemayah. Suffice it to say, that the burgomaster made an abject -confession of the whole despicable plot, and begged Reb Shemayah to have -consideration with him and his companion in guilt and not bring disgrace -on them both; which Reb Shemayah, after his first outburst of wrath had -subsided, consented to do, but only on condition that the priest, as the -instigator of the plot, should visit him and personally ask his pardon. - -Both conspirators were glad enough to settle the affair in this way. The -priest appeared before Reb Shemayah the following evening with an humble -apology, which the latter accepted, but not until he had read the -abashed cleric a good lesson on the moral aspects of the priestly -vocation, and on the duty of respecting the feelings and scruples of -those who do not think as we do. Nothing ever became officially known of -the episode, but the facts leaked out somehow, as facts of this kind -have a way of doing, and became the common talk of the village for a -considerable time. The incident caused Reb Shemayah to be looked upon in -a somewhat different light than hitherto. He had previously enjoyed the -reputation of rectitude and piety; after this he acquired a name for -shrewdness and wit, so that the phrases, “shrewd as Reb Shemayah,” -“sharp as Reb Shemayah” vied in popularity in Nordheimer speech with the -other phrases, “good as Reb Shemayah” and “pious as Reb Shemayah.” - -And thus this good and noble man lived his allotted tale of years in his -rustic home, respected and loved; yes, revered by all. As the French -king said, “_L’Etat, c’est moi_,” so Reb Shemayah could have said had he -been egotistical enough to have thought of such a thing, “The Nordheim -_Kehillah_; I am it.” He was the one dominant, overshadowing figure in -the whole Nordheim community; so that Nordheim became known as the place -where Reb Shemayah lived. And Nordheim people, when away from home and -stating whence they came, would often hear in comment the words, “Oh, -that is where Reb Shemayah lives.” Some of the less appreciative members -of the congregation resented slightly this preëminence, which was shared -by no one except Reb Shemayah’s excellent wife, Perla. Indeed, the -story-teller of the congregation, who was also the communal wag and -humorist, suggested that as Reb Shemayah was equivalent to the whole -_Kehillah_, the text of the _Yekum Purkan_ prayer, in which the -blessings of heaven are implored on Sabbath mornings for the -congregation, should be altered so as to restrict the benediction to Reb -Shemayah and his worthy spouse. He actually proposed a new wording with -that purpose in view, which, as it is not devoid of a certain wit and -may be interesting to those acquainted with the synagogue ritual, I -shall not refrain from giving in this place. - - _Yekum purkan min Shemaya - Für die Perla und Reb Shemayah - In Nordheim vor der Rhön, - Ve-Nomar Omain._ - -Translated, this composition, a _mixtum compositum_ of Chaldaic and -Jewish-German, runs thus: - - My salvation arise from heaven, - For Perla and Reb Shemayah, - In Nordheim before the Rhön, - And let us say, Amen. - -But these rebellious murmurings did not dim even in the slightest degree -the brilliant radiance of Reb Shemayah’s reputation for learning, piety, -and benevolence. Ably seconded by his beloved Perla, who was on her part -also a model of olden Jewish wifely virtues, God-fearing, modest, hard -working, and tenderhearted, and who suffered from lack of recognition -solely through being eclipsed by the incomparable and exceptional merit -of her husband, he maintained an ideal home in which the traditional -principles of patriarchal authority and filial devotion, of strictness -tempered by gentleness and love, and of constant inculcation of lofty -ethical precepts were undeviatingly maintained. And when this gentle and -truly pious pair were laid away to rest—as they were within a few brief -days of each other—in the little Eternal House in Willmars on the other -side of the hill, tears flowed from the eyes of the many hundreds who -had followed them to their last resting-place; and all felt that the -words of the rabbis in the Talmud were but too true: “When the truly -righteous are departed from a place, gone is its glory, gone its -radiance, gone its splendor.” - -Yes, Reb Shemayah was the crowning glory of Nordheim’s history, his -life-time the golden age in the pages of its annals. And therefore we -shall glance but briefly at some of the other whimsical or touching -figures that lived and moved and had their being within its ancient -walls. There was old Eliezer, who was always praying, because he thought -it a sinful misuse of human speech to apply it to any other use than to -the worship of the Maker. He always restricted his worldly remarks to -the briefest possible compass, and was never known to grow angry at any -one except on one occasion. Then it was the writer’s sainted mother, at -the time a little girl of a lively and humorous disposition, who had the -misfortune to arouse his ire, and even to receive a slap from his holy -hand. That happened in this wise. Eliezer had no sons, but two daughters -who bore the appellations respectively of Simchah and Glueck, the -signification whereof in the English idiom is “joy” and “good fortune.” -These two daughters, contrary to the usual lot of the Jewish maidens of -Nordheim, remained unmarried for a long time, so that at last they -entered into that state most hateful even to-day in our age of “bachelor -girls,” but doubly hateful then, old maidenhood. Finally Simchah -succeeded in becoming betrothed to a very worthy man. Eliezer was -overjoyed; but Glueck, although outwardly joyous, was, naturally enough, -more than a little jealous and displeased. At this juncture mother, -peace to her soul, chanced to meet old Eliezer when returning from the -synagogue, where the happy event had been announced and the young couple -duly blessed and, yielding to a momentary mischievous impulse, accosted -him thus: “_Mazzol tov_, Eliezer! I suppose your Glueck must have a -great _Simchah_ that your Simchah has such a _Glueck_.” The joke was -good; but Eliezer did not appreciate humor, and a slap was the reward of -this humorous effort. Eliezer not only spoke little at any time, but on -Sabbath he eschewed the vulgar vernacular altogether and would only -speak Hebrew, which language he alone considered suitable, as the holy -tongue for the holy day. But as he was anything but a Hebrew scholar, -the results of his efforts at restoring to colloquial use the idiom of -ancient Canaan I will leave to the imagination of the reader. - -Then there was Asher, the _Chazan_, who was not really the Chazan or -official precentor of the synagogue, but a hard-working merchant in a -small way, who supported himself and his family by untiring and -unceasing labor and industry, but who was called Chazan because of his -remarkable knowledge of the traditional melodies of the German-Jewish -ritual. These melodies he could chant with much skill and a pleasant -voice; and his rendition of the services was so well liked by the -members of the congregation that they did not hesitate to say that Asher -“was a better Chazan than the Chazan.” Asher was a pleasant and friendly -individual altogether; but if one wished to gain his particular and -undying gratitude, there was no better way of doing so than by -communicating to him some new _niggun_ or Hebrew melody. It was my good -fortune to communicate to him some of the more modern synagogue chants -which I had heard in America, and which he, in his isolated village -life, had never had occasion to hear; and I do not doubt but he -remembers me gratefully to this day. Asher and his two brothers were -_Cohanim_—that is to say, of Aaronitic or priestly descent. As such it -was their prerogative, and that of their sons, to pronounce the -threefold benediction over the congregation on holidays; and it was -touching, indeed, to listen to their solemn and melodious rendition of -the ancient chant, and to notice the dignity and earnestness with which -they prepared to perform their traditional function. To gaze at them -while chanting the benediction was not permitted. - -Then there was Isaac, the _Schlemihl_, a well-meaning, earnest -struggler, but a perfect type of the _Schlemihl_ or Jewish -ne’er-do-well, upon whose undertakings no blessing ever seemed to -descend. He worked harder, probably, than any three other members of the -Kehillah; but in his hands the fairest projects seemed to receive a -blight, and the most promising business ventures turned to wormwood and -ashes, to apples of Sodom and grapes of bitterness. But the Schlemihl, -perfectly useless though he was to himself and his family, had one very -evident purpose in the scheme of life, namely, to open the hearts of his -brethren to impulses of kindness and benevolence. They certainly acted -toward him in the most sympathetic and brotherly manner, and permitted -neither him nor his family to suffer. At the time of my arrival in -Nordheim, Isaac had just managed, through one of his usual transactions, -to lose all he had, and to have his house, which he had received as part -of the dowry of his wife, seized in satisfaction of his debts. But the -Nordheim Kehillah, assisted by some benevolent friends from other -places, paid off his debts, redeemed the house, and furnished him with a -certain amount of capital with which to begin life anew. For safety’s -sake the Kehillah retained the title in the house; for, as Uncle Koppel -said to me in confidence, “We might otherwise have to buy the house -every year.” - -A peculiarly interesting character was David the horse-dealer, a jovial, -hale fellow, handsome too, and tall and strong as a lion, a very “mighty -man in Israel.” He was a stanch friend and reliable, and could be -depended upon to go through thick and thin for one who had once gained -his friendship. But David had one weakness, not unnatural, perhaps, in -those of his vocation. He knew no scruples of conscience in regard to -transactions in horseflesh; and some of his achievements in that line -had been, if report spoke truly, to say the least, extremely -venturesome. Thus he was credited with having once sold a Prussian major -who prided himself on his expert knowledge of the equine species, a -horse with only three hoofs. The manner in which David was said to have -done the trick was as follows: The deal took place in midwinter, when -the ground was covered with snow to the depth of a foot or more. The -horse was a fine animal, coal black and of handsome form, except that -the left front hoof was lacking. David led the horse out of the stable; -and as it stood in the deep snow before the Prussian major, who was -critically examining it through his eyeglasses, the absence of the hoof -was not noticeable. He then put it through its paces, cracking his whip -furiously, so that the horse leaped and dashed in a most fiery manner, -and the absence of the hoof was again not noticeable. The major was -charmed with the fire and grace of the animal, bought and paid for it at -once, and ordered it to be sent to his quarters. It is said that the -major was furious later, not so much on account of the money loss, but -because he, the expert, had been so neatly duped, and because he had no -legal remedy against David. Had David put a false hoof in place of the -lacking member, he would have been liable to a heavy penalty for fraud; -but he had not done so, and had made no false representation. And -therefore the major not only had no case against him, but could not even -demand the cancellation of the sale. Thus the story for whose veracity I -will not guarantee. But, however weak David’s conscience may have been -in matters of horsetrading, his conduct otherwise merited no reproach -and he was well liked. - -Many were the estimable and lovable characters in Nordheim’s Kehillah, -and I cannot attempt to describe or even mention them all. Of Uncle -Koppel and Aunt Caroline I have already spoken. Uncle Koppel was a -typical Jewish _Baal-Ha-Bayith_, or householder, a business man of -probity, whose word was as good as his bond, a faithful worshipper at -the altar of Israel’s God, and a worthy upholder, by character, if not -by learning, of the reputation of Reb Shemayah, his father. Aunt -Caroline was a true mother in Israel, loyal, conscientious, and devout. -Their able sons and charming dark-eyed daughters were imbued with their -spirit, and together they formed an ideal household. Nor must I forget -Aunt Gella, the only other child of Reb Shemayah who had remained in the -native village, a woman of noble parts, who, had her lot been cast -somewhere else in the great world, might have played an important part -in history. Her noble brow, which emerged so modestly from the recesses -of her _Scheitel_ and her mild and clear blue eyes, showed her the -possessor of a strong and well-developed intellect; and her wise and -well-considered conversation showed that the reality corresponded to the -indications. Her heart was as warm and good and her spirit as firm and -courageous as her mind was keen and clear; and she was, so to speak, the -combined oracle and Lady Bountiful of the village. Was any female or, -for that matter, any male villager in trouble, in want of counsel or -help, she or he would direct her or his steps to the neat cottage in the -Long Street where dwelt Aunt Gella, and there would find counsel or -comfort, or whatever help was required. A plague of dysentery came once -upon the village, and then it was that Aunt Gella showed herself the -veritable angel of help. While it continued she hardly ate or drank or -slept or changed her clothes. She worked with tireless energy at her -mission of mercy, going from house to house among the afflicted ones, -bringing the right medicine to one, the right food to the other, and -money to the third. Dear Aunt Gella: methinks I see her sweet, mild face -now, and hear the words of blessing with which peasant and Jew mentioned -her name. And besides those whom I have mentioned, there were dozens of -householders in which piety, probity, and loving kindness were the -constantly practised rule of life. - -Yes, Nordheim, I loved thee well, and I love thy memory. I loved thee -for thy simplicity, for thy natural goodness, for the true and -unpretentious way in which thou didst lay stress upon that which is pure -and noble, and didst reject that which is base and vile in human life; -for the picture which thou didst show me of the beautifying and -sanctifying effect of a simple, sincere, and honest Judaism, simply and -sincerely lived. Thou wast one of the forces which did lead me to love -and uphold the Torah, and to cleave to the faith which my and thy -ancestors received at Sinai from Sinai’s God. - -Oh, that this tale of thee might work likewise upon the hearts of others -like me, children of an unbelieving and irreverent age, and stir them to -love for Israel’s God and devotion to Israel’s sacred heritage! - - - - - THE LITTLE HORSERADISH WOMAN. - - -How many of my readers know the little horseradish woman? Many, I have -no doubt, are more or less acquainted with her; and those who are not -can make her acquaintance without any difficulty. Almost any afternoon -and late into the evening, except on Sabbaths or Jewish holidays, she -may be found at her post in one of the blocks of upper Third Avenue, New -York, standing behind her improvised little table, industriously rubbing -away at her acrid merchandise, with only occasional pauses to wipe away -with the corner of her snow-white apron the tears which her lachrymose -occupation forces from her eyes, or to give customers extraordinarily -liberal portions of her finished product. The size of the portions she -sells is quite astonishing to the customer; but the little horseradish -woman is scrupulously honest in matters of weight and measure, of mine -and thine, and would not think of giving less. - -[Illustration: - - THE LITTLE HORSERADISH WOMAN - - _Page 84_] - -Her tears, too, are quite remarkable. Indeed, I believe that horseradish -tears have not been appreciated as they should be, for they are a -species entirely _sui generis_, and not to be confused with any other -tears that are shed on earth. Ordinary, every-day tears indicate sorrow -and produce weakness; crocodile tears indicate hypocrisy and produce -disgust; but horseradish tears are born of industry, and their offspring -are energy and good-humor. Such, at least, is the case with our little -horseradish woman; for, no sooner has she wiped away one of her -periodical outbursts of tears, than she begins to rub away again with -the utmost energy and the best humor in the world. My observation of the -tears the horseradish woman sheds has made me their confirmed admirer. I -have no liking for the lachrymose ebullitions of love-lorn maidens, of -snivelling swains, or of wheezing or wheedling Pecksniffs. Give me -horseradish tears; they are the honestest, cheerfullest—I had almost -said—manliest tears in the world. - -Our horseradish woman is known by various names. Some call her “the old -Rebecca”; others, desiring to speak more formally or respectfully, refer -to her as “old Mrs. Levy”; but the appellation by which she is most -widely and popularly known is _das Meerrettich Weible_—the little -horseradish woman. It makes no difference, however, by what designation -she is known, she is popular under them all; for the little horseradish -woman is liked. Some like her for her courage in toiling so constantly -and industriously, and supporting herself at her advanced age; others -like her because of her unfailing cheeriness and good-humor; others, -again, because of her simple, trustful faith and earnest piety, for the -little horseradish woman is more than usually religious, and is to be -found in the synagogue, not only on Sabbaths and holidays, but also at -the early morning and evening services on week-days, and is one of the -most attentive listeners to the rabbi when he expounds the Sedrah on -Sabbath mornings, or “learns Shiur” on Sabbath afternoons or week-day -evenings. - -It is a truly pleasing picture which the little horseradish woman -presents when she stands at her post ready for business. Her regular and -refined features, of the familiar Jewish type, are, it is true, worn and -wrinkled, and the hair which peeps out from under the cloth band and the -old-fashioned bonnet which surmount her head is whitened by the seventy -or more winters which have passed over her; but the light of -intelligence, of benevolence, and of pure and refined sentiments shines -in her countenance and makes it singularly attractive. Her clothing is -of the plainest. She wears a dress of some simple, dark material and -over it a long, white apron; but no patch, tear, nor stain is visible -anywhere, and we feel instinctively that we have before us a person who, -though in humble, even lowly circumstances, is naturally and -intrinsically refined. - -But as yet we do not know the little horseradish woman. It is only upon -entering into conversation with her that we really find out what she is, -and a great surprise awaits us then. For this poor, little, old woman -who stands upon the street in all weather and seasons, and toils so hard -to earn a few cents by the sale of her commodity, comes of excellent -family, has had, for her time, an exceptionally good training, and is, -in some respects, a remarkably well-educated woman. - -She was born as the daughter of a rabbi in a small provincial city of -Germany, and her father, besides instilling into her soul the seeds of -fervent Hebraic piety, saw to it that she received a thorough secular -and religious training. As a consequence her manners are those of polite -and well-bred circles, her German is pure and correct in grammar and -pronunciation, and what is most surprising and pleasing to the Jewish -scholar, she is acquainted with the entire Bible in the original Hebrew. -The Book of Psalms she knows by heart and quotes with amazing fluency; -and from her experience in her father’s house she has derived a large -number of technical Talmudic phrases, which she uses in her conversation -with entire correctness of expression and application. - -And the most remarkable thing of all is the entire lack of -self-consciousness on the part of the little horseradish woman. She is -entirely unaware that there is anything out of the ordinary in her life, -her characteristics, or her circumstances. She never comments upon the -different conditions that prevail to-day, never boasts nor condemns, is -simple, natural, and unaffected; a typical, humble, pious Jewish woman. -Oh, that you might come, you artificial, affected daughters of an -artificial, affected age, and learn simple refinement and natural -dignity from this lowly sister of yours! The lesson is needed and would -prove effective. - -Last Saturday night, after the “going out” of the Sabbath, my wife and I -also determined to go out for a stroll on Third Avenue. We often take -these strolls, and enjoy them. My wife loves the excitement of the -lights and the crowds, which make it doubly pleasant to meet an -acquaintance or make an occasional purchase; and I am equally fond of -studying human nature where it makes its most characteristic appearance, -in the busy throngs of men. We had not seen the little horseradish woman -for some time, for she had given up of late her habit of coming to our -house with her wares, and her stand was not on any of the blocks we -usually traversed. - -That evening we extended our walk a little further than usual. As we -neared —th Street, suddenly Mrs. —— exclaimed: “Look, there is the -little horseradish woman!” Sure enough it was she, and we immediately -went up to her. - -While she was returning our greeting with great cordiality and -friendliness, I noticed that she did not appear to be as well as usual. -Her movements were lacking in their customary vivacity, and her face -seemed thinner and paler than its wont. - -“How are you getting on, Mrs. Levy?” I said, while she was filling a bag -with our ordered portion of horseradish. - -“_Boruch Hashem_, quite well,” she responded with a smile. “My friends -are good and patronize me steadily, but I feel that I am growing older. -I was quite ill the other day. I nearly fainted here on the street; but -the people in the delicatessen store were very kind. They took me in and -gave me cold water, and kept me there until I recovered; and I am -feeling quite well now.” - -While listening to her words, I thought to myself how hard her lot was; -and I asked myself whether it really was necessary for her to stand on -the street and earn her living in such a trying manner. - -“My good Mrs. Levy,” I said, “don’t you think your life is too hard for -you? Would you not rather go to some institution where you would be -cared for?” - -“Oh, no, thank you,” she responded. “I don’t wish to go to a home. I -have a husband, although he is old and feeble, and good children who do -what they can for me; and I am glad that I still can earn something -myself. You know what King David says in the Psalms,” and she quoted -glibly, “_Yegia keppecho ki sochel, ashrecho ve-tov-loch_” (“If thou -eatest what thy hands earn, thou art happy, and it is well with thee”). -“I eat what my hands earn, so I am happy.” - -“Why don’t you come to our house any more?” broke in my wife. - -“Oh,” answered the little horseradish woman, “I heard that another woman -brings you your horseradish, and I did not wish to be _massig gevool_.” - -Our package was now ready and we departed. But my thoughts gave me no -rest. I was thinking continually of the little horseradish woman, and -whether it was not possible to devise some means of improving her lot. - -A few blocks down the avenue we met Mr. and Mrs. Bergheim. They are -friends and neighbors of ours, and our greetings were cordial. I soon -turned the conversation to that which was uppermost in my thoughts. - -“You know the little horseradish woman, do you not?” I asked. - -The Bergheims nodded assent. - -“Don’t you think something could be done for her?” I continued. “It does -seem wrong that such a worthy old person should be forced to stand on -the street and toil so hard for a livelihood.” - -The Bergheims smiled at each other peculiarly. - -“What would you do for her?” asked Mr. Bergheim. “She is much too proud -to accept charity; besides, she really does not need to work, as her -children supply her with all she requires for herself and husband. Her -horseradish receipts are so much extra income that she earns.” - -I must confess that this reply rather staggered me. There appeared to be -a mystery about the horseradish woman which was puzzling, to say the -least. - -“But why, in the name of common sense,” I demanded, “does such an old -and not overstrong woman toil on the streets, in rain and shine, by day -and by night, if she has all she requires and does not need to work? It -doesn’t seem reasonable. She isn’t touched in her upper story, I hope?” - -“Oh, no, not at all,” said Bergheim; “but you see, she has rather -unusual and exalted notions about duty. Since the requirements of -herself and husband are satisfied and she has some strength, she thinks -it her duty to labor for the poor. Every cent she earns by selling -horseradish she gives to the poor. It is quite an amount, for she has -many customers; and quite a long list of widows and orphans and feeble -old men who are regular pensioners on her charity. - -“Every _Rosh Chodesh_ there is quite a gathering in her humble flat. All -sorts of needy and afflicted persons, men, women, and children, crowd -her rooms, and she divides among them, with the most kindly sympathy but -with excellent judgment, all the money she has earned during the month. -The blessings she gets are innumerable, and she considers herself well -rewarded thereby for all her trouble. - -“I found this out by accident, as she never says a word about it to any -one. When I asked her why she went to all this trouble, she quoted a -passage from the Pentateuch: ‘Verily, thou shalt not harden thy heart -nor close thy hand against thy poor brother’; and in another from the -Ethics of the Fathers, ‘The poor shall be the children of thy house,’ -and said those were her reasons. - -“That, my dear ——, is why you cannot do anything for the little -horseradish woman, except to be her customer and patronize her -liberally. She wants no charity, and will take no gifts for ‘her poor,’ -whom she wishes to assist with her own earnings.” - -So that was the explanation of the riddle. The little horseradish woman -was emulating the work of the Master of the universe, was toiling early -and late to feed His hungry ones, to dry the tears of His afflicted, to -care for His poor. I was lost in admiration, both of the noble soul of -this humble daughter of Israel and the sublime glory of Israel’s law, -which put such thoughts into her soul. - -I have made up my mind that the next time I see the little horseradish -woman I shall pronounce over her the benediction which the rabbis ordain -to be spoken at the sight of kings and queens, for she is a real queen, -an uncrowned queen of mercy and love. “Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who -hast given of Thy glory to flesh and blood.” - - - - - THE GENERAL. - - -I have distinguished company in my study this morning. No less a -personage than Gen. Sergei Pavlowitz, late commander of the —th division -of the regular Russian army, has paid your humble servant the honor of a -visit, and is now seated in the rocking-chair opposite my desk. I must, -however, ask my readers not to strain their imaginations unduly in -summoning up before their mental vision a suitable picture of military -pomp and splendor. The general is not in full uniform heavily braided -and trimmed with gold lace, nor radiant with glittering epaulets and -buttons. No plumed helmet surmounts his head; no clanking sabre swings -at his side; he is neither gloved, booted, nor spurred. His appearance -would not dazzle the onlooker, nor overawe the most timid; in fact, no -one would, at first sight, think of connecting him in any way with -marching hosts or warlike scenes. As he sits there in my rocking-chair, -gazing at me with his mild blue eyes, upon his head a little black -skull-cap, his long, snow-white beard flowing down upon the front of his -shirt and his black broadcloth coat; in his hand a stout cane to assist -the steps which age has made somewhat uncertain, while he descants upon -a matter of purely synagogical interest, there is no suggestion about -him of martial glory, no hint of the groan and agony and heroism of -battle. He seems just a plain, every-day, elderly Russian Jew, diffident -and retiring in worldly affairs, but bright enough in matters of Jewish -concern, of Hebrew learning, and religious practice, such a man, in a -word, as may be found in any of the orthodox synagogues throughout New -York but particularly on the lower East Side, where the places of -worship and solemn assembly of his brethren and countrymen most abound. - -[Illustration: - - THERE IS SOMETHING COMMANDING, SOMETHING INDEFINITELY MILITARY AND - AUTHORITATIVE ABOUT HIM - - _Page 96_] - -But now my visitor has concluded the business which brought him hither -and rises to depart. Immediately one can notice a vast change in the -impression he makes. He does seem different now from the ordinary -so-called Ghetto type he appeared identical with a moment ago. There is -something commanding, something indefinitely military and authoritative -about him. Though feeble, he stands perfectly erect, and his figure and -bearing are thoroughly military. Military, too, is the almost painful -neatness which characterizes his attire, from his well-brushed hat and -coat down to his brightly polished shoes, a far-off reminder, as it -were, of the days when a dull button or a frayed coat sleeve meant -disgrace and the guard-house; but most military of all is his right -sleeve, for it hangs empty, with only a short stump filling the upper -part near the shoulder, a mute reminder of bloody Sebastopol, where a -British sabre cleft the arm to which it belonged in twain, and its owner -hovered for many a day ’twixt life and death. - -This is the General. Perhaps, strictly speaking, he does not deserve the -title, for he long since was stricken from the Russian army list, and -might even meet with condign punishment were he to return to his native -land; but once he bore it with full right and authority, and no military -shortcoming, no lack of loyalty or courage upon the battlefield was -responsible for its forfeiture. It is, therefore, only natural that his -friends and neighbors who know his history give him the title. So “the -General” he is, and “the General” he will remain, until death calls him -to his last long bivouac. What a tremendous change in state and fortune! -Once a distinguished military commander, whose slightest behest -thousands hastened to obey because of his heroism; beloved by his -countrymen and honored by his emperor; the husband of a renowned -general’s daughter, and with every prospect promising rapid advancement -and eventually loftiest rank; now the humble denizen of an obscure -street in the Jewish quarter of New York, his life in nowise different -from that of the other long-bearded habitués of the synagogue and the -Beth Hammidrash. - -How came this Jew, son of a proscribed and pariah race, to attain to -such distinguished rank in the service of the persecutors of his people? -How came he to lose it, and to sink back again into the lowliness from -which he sprang? It is a strange tale, showing what sombre romances, -what heartrending tragedies Jewish life is still capable of producing in -the empire of the Czars. I shall tell it you. - -Some seventy years ago there lived in one of the western provinces of -Russia a young couple. Israel Rabbinowitz was the husband’s name, and -Malka Feige that of the spouse. They were a pious and worthy pair. The -husband was a respected merchant, whose scrupulous honesty and -commercial rectitude were no less esteemed than his unswerving religious -fidelity, and the accuracy and extent of the Hebrew scholarship which he -displayed in the Talmudic debates of the circle of “learners” in the -Beth Hammidrash. Malka Feige was a worthy mate of such a husband. -Kindhearted, unwearyingly industrious, and devout, she was a typical -Jewish housewife. - -They had but one child, a blue-eyed, fair-haired boy of eight, whom they -loved with the passionate devotion of which parental hearts are capable -when they have but one object upon which to concentrate their affection. -He was literally the apple of their eyes. His father cared for his -intellectual welfare, and provided the best and most highly esteemed -_Melammedim_ to introduce him into the intricacies of the Jewish -education of that time; and the lad, who had a bright and acute -intellect, responded well to these efforts, and at eight was quite a -little prodigy of Biblical and Talmudical learning. His mother, on the -other hand, looked after his physical well-being, fed him on delicate -food, clothed him in a _jubitza_ of extra fine material, brushed and -combed his little _peoth_ until they shone, and set her pride upon -making him finer and brighter in appearance than his comrades. Like -Hannah of old, she had determined to dedicate her offspring to the Lord. -Already in imagination she saw him seated upon the rabbi’s seat, greeted -by the plaudits of admiring thousands; and so strong was her faith in -that future for her son that she rarely called him by his given name, -which was Saul Isaac, but always referred to him as “my little rabbi.” -Thus the love, the hopes, the ambition of these parents were all wrapped -up in this, their only son. - -Troublous times were just beginning then for the descendants of Jacob -living on Muscovite soil. Nicholas the First sat on the throne of the -Czars; and, like so many of the Russian potentates before and after him, -could find no more pressing task to perform than to convert his Hebrew -subjects to Christianity. He had no respect for the conscientious -scruples which kept the Jews faithful to their ancestral religion; he -could not appreciate the heroism with which they endured every -conceivable suffering and martyrdom rather than grow recreant to the -allegiance plighted to their God. In his eyes they were only a mass of -obdurate, stubborn, and pestiferous heretics, who refused to see the -beauties and accept the salvation of Christianity. He thought and -thought and cudgelled his brains to devise some scheme by which to -overcome the endless resistance of Judaism to its own dissolution, and -finally evolved a plan which for sheer deviltry and refinement of -heartless brutality would have done credit to the blackest fiend in the -legions of Satan; and this, too, in the name of the religion which -claims love and tenderness as its own special prerogative, and calmly -assumes all the progress of humanity and civilization as its doing. - -His plan, in brief, was to separate the parents and the children. With -the old Jews, he knew nothing could be done. They would go to the stake -or the dungeon, and would not recant; but if, he reasoned, the young -Jews could be removed from parental influence, could be caught, so to -speak, before their characters were formed, and be placed in charge of -priests or other Christian officials, they would be unable to resist, -but would succumb to the powerful pressure brought to bear upon them and -would become genuine Christians. - -This fiendish plan he proceeded, with icy deliberation, to put into -execution. What cared he for the cruelty or violent dissolution of -natural relations, for the tears of terrified children, for the -immeasurable woes and heart-breakings of bereaved parents. His tyrant’s -view of statecraft approved the plan and other considerations had no -weight. Then were legions of brutal emissaries sent into the provinces -reserved for the habitation of the children of Jacob. Their conduct -resembled that of brigands rather than of officers of the law. In -numbers so great as to defy resistance, they would fall upon some -unsuspecting Hebrew settlement, generally at dead of night; would burst -into the houses, and with utter disregard of all considerations of -justice or frenzied appeals for mercy, would tear the weeping and -terror-stricken children from the arms of their screaming and -frantically resisting parents, would throw them into the ready standing -wagons and would carry them off, never more to return. - -It would take the pen of a Dante and the brush of their own Verestchagin -fitly to depict the awful scenes which occurred on the occasions of -these visitations, the demoniacal brutality of the despot’s henchmen, -the helpless terror of the childish victims, and the unutterable, -paralyzed agony of the wretched fathers and mothers who saw their -beloved ones dragged away to that which for them was worse than death, -and could do nothing to save them from their fate. - -The same fate befell our Saul Isaac. It was a cold midwinter night. The -Rabbinowitz family were sleeping peacefully, all unsuspecting of evil. -Suddenly the sound of powerful blows upon the door caused them to awake -in terror. Too well they knew what those sounds meant, although there -had been no report that the “_chappers_,” as they were called, were -coming to their province. Hastily the agonized parents sought to find -some place of concealment for their son. A second later the door fell -beneath the shower of blows rained upon it, and several ruffianly -looking men, dressed in uniform, burst into the room. Without showing -any warrant or offering a word of explanation, they seized the shrinking -lad. Roughly they thrust aside Israel, who would have protested, and -flung off Malka Feige, who clung to them in a half-insane effort to -rescue her boy. The lad himself they tossed into the wagon, into the -midst of twenty or more other lads, who already cowered there, and drove -off. - -Let us draw a veil over the unutterable sorrows of that parent pair, -thus foully deprived of the beloved of their souls. Heaven alone has -power to right wrongs such as these, and to the mercy and justice of -heaven we must commend them. - -Let us follow Saul Isaac on the course which he was obliged to pursue. -His experience was not at first different from that of thousands of -others. He was taken to the convent of St. Sophia in the neighborhood of -Moscow. There a thorough Russian and Christian education was given him, -and every effort was made, by means of mingled kindness and severity, to -induce him voluntarily to accept baptism, for even the perverted and -tyrannical minds of his captors perceived that a compulsory -administration of the rite could have no binding obligation upon the -conscience. To be sure, their notions of voluntary action were rather -remarkably casuistical. Severe beatings, periodical starvation, and -longer or shorter terms of imprisonment were all considered legitimate -forms of missionary effort with which to persuade the cantonists, as the -abducted Hebrew children were called, of the superiority of Christianity -to Judaism, and to induce them _voluntarily_ to accept it. - -It is a glorious tribute to the power of Jewish teachings that most of -these helpless victims, despite their tender years and pitiful -condition, were by no means quick to yield to the maltreatment or -blandishments of their masters. Most of them resisted for years; some -never yielded. - -Four years were required to bring our Saul Isaac into the frame of mind -requisite for the acceptance of Christianity. At first he wept and -wailed constantly and would touch no food except dry bread and water; -and, young as he was, he refused to listen to the instruction of the -Russian monks. But as the weeks rolled into months and the months into -years, without seeing other than Gentile faces and without any word from -his parents or any other Jews, gradually his recollections grew dimmer -and his resolution weaker. Finally he no longer objected to the -Christian instructions, and in his twelfth year he was baptized with -great pomp and parade in the chapel of the monastery, receiving the name -of Sergei Pavlowitz. From this time on his advancement was rapid. After -three years of general education he decided to enter upon the military -career, and in his fifteenth year he entered the Imperial Cadet School -at St. Petersburg. - -The memory of his parents had quite faded from his mind; or if the -thought of them ever came to him, they seemed like ghostly figures of an -unreal world, entirely devoid of actuality or connection with his -present existence. - -Sergei Pavlowitz was one of the most popular students at the Cadet -School. His quick intellect, which had enabled him to comprehend the -abstruse debates of the Talmud, stood him in good stead in mastering the -details of military science, while his handsome figure in the neat -Russian uniform and his polite and obliging ways were universally -pleasing. In due course of time he graduated as a lieutenant of -artillery. - -His career in the army justified the expectations of his student years. -He combined the two most requisite military qualities, high capacity and -rigid fidelity to duty. He became in rapid succession a captain and then -a colonel of artillery. - -While holding the latter office he attracted the attention and then -aroused the love of Olga, the beautiful daughter of General Wladimir de -Mitkiewicz. Shortly afterward the General sent for him, and in due form -and in the most flattering terms offered to make him his son-in-law. -Such a distinguished honor could not be refused. To be sure, a momentary -pang went through the heart of the young colonel; and the shadowy faces -of his father and mother seemed to rise from the gloomy recesses of the -past and gaze at him reproachfully, but these sensations were too dim -and faint to have any effect. He accepted the offer of the venerable -General, which was, indeed, a most complimentary one, and because of -which he became the object of many congratulations and no little envy. - -In the magnificent cathedral of Kurski-Kazan the nuptials of the dashing -Colonel Pavlowitz and the beautiful and accomplished Olga de Mitkiewicz -were consummated with all the gorgeous ceremonial of the Greek Church, -and amidst an unprecedented display of wealth and luxury. The vast -edifice was crowded with representatives of the noblest and finest -families of the province, while the streets surrounding the cathedral -were thronged with a vast multitude of the baser sort; and the personal -interest and gratification which all displayed were quite extraordinary. - -It cannot be denied that the striking attentions and adulations of which -Colonel Pavlowitz became the recipient did almost turn his head. In no -other country are honors so much appreciated as in Russia; and those he -had received were quite exceptional, both in extent and in cordiality. - -He was happy, very happy; happy in the possession of the radiant, -beauteous creature he could now call his own, and from whose sparkling -eyes love and devotion, ardent and sincere, shone forth; he was happy in -the evident sympathy and admiration of all his associates, and he was -happy in the consciousness that his future was secure and that he was -destined to a brilliant and distinguished career. Very faint and dim, -indeed, were now the images of the ghostly past, and they did not affect -his actions in the slightest; but somehow or other they would not -forsake him, and he often found himself wondering with a peevish sort of -dissatisfaction and impatience, why they did not leave him to enjoy -undisturbed the pleasures and honors of his present station. - -Shortly after his marriage the Crimean war broke out. Russia was engaged -in a titanic struggle with the Western Powers, and Colonel Pavlowitz was -among those summoned to defend the fatherland. The parting from his -young wife was marked by tears and sobs; but still he heard the summons -to war with stern joy, for, like a true soldier, he longed to display in -actual combat the qualities he had gained in theoretic instruction; and -then he longed for action—intense, stirring action—to drive away the -shadowy, reproachful faces which tortured him by their constant -recurrence. - -He was one of the commanders in charge of the defence of Sebastopol. He -was personally engaged, and displayed the greatest gallantry in many of -the desperate conflicts of that bloody campaign. At Balaklava he was in -command of a part of the artillery, which received the world-renowned -charge of the Light Brigade; and it was while fiercely beating off that -attack that an unexpected blow of a British sabre took off his right arm -near the shoulder. - -For three months our hero lay in the hospital, the object of universal -sympathy and interest, for the good-will which had been previously -entertained toward him had been greatly heightened by the splendid -bravery and skill he had displayed in the war and the cruel wound he had -received. - -The Emperor himself had sent several times to inquire concerning his -condition, and the visits and inquiries of lesser personages were -innumerable. - -As soon as he was able to resume his active duties, the Emperor ordered -a review of the entire army. It was a glittering spectacle, a sea of -brilliant uniforms, shining bayonets, swords and cannons, interspersed -with magnificent bands of music, an ocean of deeply interested -onlookers. Our hero rode at the head of his regiment on a splendid black -charger, his empty sleeve hanging useless at his right side. As he -passed the grand stand where stood the Emperor and his brilliant retinue -of officers and aides, His Majesty ordered the parade to halt. Then in -the presence of the army and the serried throngs of spectators, the -Emperor addressed him as follows: - -“Gen. Sergei Pavlowitz, my good and faithful servitor. I have noticed -the courage and devotion with which you have served in my army. It is -always my wish fitly to reward virtue and fidelity, and I therefore -appoint you to the command of the —th division of my regular army.” - -Hardly had these words, which His Majesty pronounced in a loud and clear -voice, been spoken, than the entire army, breaking for a moment through -the restraints of discipline, and the vast throng of spectators, burst -into enthusiastic hurrahs and cheered again and again the name of Sergei -Pavlowitz. It was a glorious and inspiring moment. - -Our hero flushed with pride and gratification; but, obedient to the -rules of military etiquette, said no word, but merely saluted with -profound reverence, and a second later the stern command rang forth and -the host marched on. - -Words cannot describe the exultation which now filled the soul of -General Pavlowitz. He was fairly intoxicated with joy. Every ambition of -his life seemed gratified, and with rapture he thought of the delight -with which the news of his great advancement would fill the heart of his -beloved Olga, who had visited him during his stay in the hospital, and -had now returned to their home in Kursky Kazan. - -[Illustration: - - AS THE CAVALCADE PASSED A CORNER THE GENERAL HEARD A CRY - - _Page 111_] - -Little did he reck that a tremendous change was impending, that an event -was about to occur which would recall with irresistible force the events -of his early life and change the entire current of his military career. -But so it was, and the climax of his military ambition was also destined -to mark its sudden and complete end. - -The parade had been dismissed. The spectators had dispersed, and the -various regiments were marching back to their several barracks. - -Accompanied only by his staff and a small escort of cavalry, General -Pavlowitz was returning to his headquarters. Their road led through some -of the old streets of the town. As the cavalcade passed a corner the -General heard a cry. He alone of all the company noticed it, but there -was something in it that thrilled and chilled him and filled his frame -with violent agitation. It was a wailing, sobbing cry in a woman’s -voice, and its burden was made up of a few words, oft-repeated, in the -Russo-Jewish dialect: “Oh, woe is me, my little rabbi, my Saul Isaac! -oh, woe is me, my little rabbi, my little rabbi!” General Pavlowitz -heard the cry and understood the words. Though for more than twenty -years he had heard and spoken only Russian, yet those words came to him -as the far-off echoes of his own past, intelligible, familiar, sweet, -and unutterably sad. Like a flash there rolled away the many years of -Russian, Christian, and military training, and he saw himself again in -the happy days of his childhood, a little innocent Jewish boy, proudly -reciting his week’s lesson before a circle of admiring neighbors, while -father and mother beamed with satisfaction. Then, again, the memory of -the awful night when he was snatched from them, and he quivered again -with fresh horror and indignation. Turning his head as his horse trotted -on, he saw, standing at the corner an elderly Jewish couple, gazing -after him, with tears streaming from their eyes and an expression of -intensest anguish upon their faces, the woman wailing and sobbing as in -frenzy. He knew them at once. They were his father and mother. His -resolution was instantly formed. His parents and he should meet. Hastily -summoning a subaltern, who like himself was a baptized Jew, he bade him -leave the ranks unobserved, go back to the old couple and inform them -that the General would see them that evening at a certain quiet hotel of -the town. - -Faithfully the subaltern fulfilled his chief’s commission, ignorant, of -course, of the reasons thereof, but with his soul filled with an -indefinable sympathy with its object, which instinctively he felt was -noble. Quietly he dropped behind the troop, and in a few hastily spoken -words communicated to the aged couple the wish of the General, whereupon -he put spurs to his horse and speedily rejoined his companions, none of -whom had observed his action. - -That evening a young man in civilian attire inquired at the office of -the Narodski Hotel whether a certain Jewish couple were not at the -hotel, and was shown to the room where his parents (it was the General) -were awaiting him. The meeting was pathetic, almost tragic, in the -intensity of the emotions it aroused. The first sentiment was that of -great, overwhelming joy. The reunited parents and child wept and smiled -alternately, and embraced each other with a fervor only possible to -those whose hunger for love had remained so long unsatisfied. Especially -did Malka Feige clasp her long-lost son to her breast in a paroxysm of -maternal affection, and very, very reluctantly did she release him from -her embrace. But finally the first mighty ebullitions of emotion had -subsided somewhat and they began to discuss their eventful career and -the difficulties of their present position. - -The parents’ story was soon told. Their presence in Sebastopol was quite -accidental, or rather, as they devoutly believed, providential. During -all these years they had been unable to learn anything of the fate of -their boy. They knew neither the place where he had been kept during the -first few years after his abduction, nor anything of his subsequent -experiences; and all of their efforts to obtain some information had -remained entirely fruitless, so that finally they had despaired of -learning anything of him any more. A few days previous to the memorable -occasion of their reunion, Israel had received a favorable business -proposition which required his presence at Sebastopol; and as Malka -Feige did not care to remain at home in utter solitude, she had -determined to accompany him. They had not gone to the review, for they -had no heart for pageantry or splendor, and it was quite by chance that -they happened to be standing at the corner of the street when the little -company of cavalrymen with the general rode by. Gazing at the company in -a casual and apathetic way, Malka Feige’s sharp eyes had at once -noticed, despite the disparity of age and brilliant uniform, the -resemblance in the features of the leader to those of her own Saul -Isaac, and her mother’s heart told her that this was her stolen boy. -Then had she, in a sudden and irrepressible outburst of feeling, uttered -the cry which attracted the attention of the General and brought about -the meeting. - -Saul Isaac then told his parents the story of his experience, which, as -it is well known to my readers, need not be repeated. After he had -concluded, the conversation turned upon their future relations, and they -all recognized that it was a most difficult and dangerous one. - -“Ah, dear son,” said Malka Feige, “what shall our future be? I cannot -live without you, now that my eyes have seen you alive; but how can we -come together, since we are but a humble Jewish couple and you a great -general, and especially since you have become, alas for my sins! a -Christian? It is indeed impossible for us to live together. The Czar -would never allow it.” - -“Yes,” chimed in Israel, “and think what a disgrace it would be for us -to have it known in the _Kehillah_ that my son, the _Illuy_ and -_Charif_, was a _Meshummed_! I could never endure the shame of it. All -your glory would be no compensation.” - -It was indeed a knotty and thorny problem. But Saul Isaac had already -reflected upon the matter in all its aspects, and with customary -promptness of resolution had determined what he would do. - -“Dear parents,” said he, “be at rest. Never shall I forsake you more. -Now that God, the God of my fathers, has brought us together thus -wonderfully, we shall never be separated again. I shall stay with you -and be a Jew, a sincere, loyal Jew. I know that I must renounce my high -rank, to which the Emperor has just appointed me, and all my hopes for -the future, and leave this country; for, as a Jew, not only would every -avenue be closed to me, but as an apostate I would be sure of severe -punishment, and, perhaps, even of death. But what care I for that! I -have never been sincerely a Christian. I only became such because my -power of resistance was gone and there seemed no other prospect in life. -But now that I see you again, my resolution is formed, and is -unalterable. I love you; I love my poor, persecuted people; I love my -God. I shall return to you and to Him with all my heart and soul.” - -The parents shed tears of joy, not unmingled with grief and -apprehension, at this heroic announcement. - -“But how about your wife?” asked Malka Feige. “You are married to one -who is not of our religion, but who accepted you in good faith and -intention. Lawfully you may not abide with her, but honor forbids you to -leave her. What shall you do?” - -“Of that, too, I have thought,” answered Saul Isaac. “I love my Olga -dearly, but my faith and my God are more precious to me than the love of -woman. I shall go to Olga, tell her frankly of all the circumstances -which surround me and ask her to accept our faith and become a Jewess. -If she consents, we shall leave the country together and all will be -well. If she refuses, I shall tell her that it were better that we -parted, for true, God-pleasing marriage cannot exist between persons of -different faiths. But, under all circumstances, I am determined -henceforth to be a true Jew, to live and die as such.” - -The parents declared themselves satisfied with this solution of the -problem, and they separated with the understanding that Israel and Malka -Feige were to go home and Saul Isaac was to keep them informed of all -his movements. - -The first step of General Pavlowitz after the reunion with his parents -was to seek leave of absence from the army to visit his wife in -Kursky-Kazan. This was granted him without difficulty, in consideration -of his meritorious services and his natural desire to share the joy of -his advancement with his wife. With every external manifestation of joy, -but with a heart filled with secret misgivings, he set out on his -journey. He feared much for the result upon his wife of the revelation -that he had reverted to Judaism, and hardly dared to hope that she would -look with favor upon his proposition that she should accept the faith of -her husband. - -Knowing only too well the intense aversion with which his brethren were -regarded by the Russians belonging to the official Greek Church, and -having often had occasion to notice with what scorn and contempt the -name “Zid” was uttered by the haughty representatives of Muscovite -self-conceit, he realized keenly that no greater shock could possibly be -inflicted upon his Olga than the announcement that her husband was one -of the despised and hated Jews. But it appeared to him that no other -course was consistent with honor and rectitude, and he determined not to -deviate from the straight path of duty. - -Often during the long and tedious journey he tried to imagine the answer -which Olga would give. Sometimes he thought of her as declaring that her -husband’s faith and people should be hers, and that with him she would -go to the uttermost ends of the earth; at other times he imagined her -saying that the faith of her fathers stood higher to her than aught -else, and that she would never forsake it. But in his wildest imaginings -he did not form any notion of what the actual reception of his words -would be. - -He had determined to make his announcement immediately after his arrival -at home; but when he saw the radiant face of his wife and felt her warm -kiss upon his lips, his heart failed him. How could he speak words which -might bring sorrow to such a beautiful and affectionate creature. He -suffered himself to be carried to his splendid residence, and partook of -the luxurious repast which Olga had prepared for him. He simulated -gayety, and spoke with affected animation of the war and his part in it -and his advancement and brilliant future prospects. He determined to -make his announcement on the morrow. But on the morrow his courage had -not returned, and he could not speak. He who had faced charging armies -undaunted and looked death in the eye without flinching could not make a -statement which might grieve the woman to whom he had given his name and -who loved him so ardently. But on this day he was abstracted and -dejected, and could not suppress the sighs which from time to time -forced themselves from his breast. - -Olga could not help noticing his melancholy. That evening she determined -to speak to him concerning its cause. - -“Sergei, my love,” said she, when the evening repast had been served and -the servants had withdrawn, and they were nestling side by side upon the -luxurious divan, “Sergei, my love, something is troubling you. My -woman’s heart tells me that some secret grief is eating out your soul. -Will you not tell your Olga what it is? Will you not let me share your -grief?” - -“Olga, dearest,” said Sergei, gazing at her with troubled eyes, while -sudden pains shot through his heart, “Olga, dearest, how can I tell you -what I know will grieve you and bring great sorrow upon her whom I love -and cherish more than myself?” - -“Tell me,” she pleaded; “am I not your wife? Did I not swear to be the -partner of your joys and sorrows? Tell me your burden; and no matter -what it is, I shall help you bear it.” - -“Well, then,” answered he, “since you urge me, I shall tell you. Know, -then, I am a Jew. Your husband, the great General Pavlowitz, is but one -of that abhorred race, one of those wretched pariahs whom the Emperor -and the people alike despise—a ‘Zid.’ Is it not sufficient cause for -grief that the high-born Olga de Mitkiewicz should be tied to such a -one, that he should be able to call her wife?” - -Olga looked at him with eyes in which a curious light shone. - -“What folly you speak, Sergei,” she said. “How can you call yourself a -Jew? To be sure, I know, and when I gave you my hand I knew, that Hebrew -blood flows in your veins; but it is now many years since you renounced -the sinful heresy of Judaism and were baptized into our holy Greek -Church in the chapel of the monastery of St. Sophia. How, then, can you -call yourself a Jew, since the church and our gracious Emperor recognize -you as good a Christian as any of us? Put away these foolish thoughts, -dear Sergei, and let not the fact of your Hebrew descent trouble you in -the least; and be assured that it does not diminish my love for you in -the slightest degree.” - -Sergei gazed with tear-stained eyes for a moment at his wife, and then -spoke in a voice choking with emotion: - -“Dearest Olga, what you say is well put, but I cannot recognize it as -correct. I was baptized against my will; my consent was insincere and -superficial. For a time I could disguise my real sentiments; to-day I -can do so no more. I am a Jew, in faith as well as in blood. I have seen -again my parents, and the sight of them has revived all my olden -feelings, all the childish love for my faith. No longer will I wear the -mask, will I play the part of being Christian. I am determined to be a -Jew. I intend to renounce all my offices and dignities and flee to a -land where I may be at liberty to live according to the dictates of my -conscience as such. My wife, too, should be a Jewess, should share my -beliefs and hopes. Olga, can you go with me; can you accept our Jewish -faith in one God and His holy law; can you resolve to share my lot in my -unknown future home and be a true partner to me for life and for -eternity? If you can, you will fill my heart with joy; but I do not urge -you to make the sacrifice. If you choose to remain in your faith and -your native land, you will be entitled to a legal divorce. I would leave -you all my property and possessions and will never trouble you again. -Speak, Olga, and tell me your decision?” - -When Sergei had concluded he gazed again into his wife’s face, anxious -to know by its expression the manner in which she had received his -words. What he saw surprised him. He had expected to see there the -expression of anger or displeasure or, at best, surprise, uncertainty, -and hesitation. - -Instead, he beheld the beautiful countenance of Olga, all radiant with a -strange and inexplicable joy. She was smiling a smile of triumph, almost -of exultation; but there was withal a solemnity in her eyes which showed -that there was no levity in her joy, but that it was based upon some -profoundly earnest sentiment. While he was gazing at her, almost -stupefied at her unexpected look, Olga began to speak. - -“Sergei,” said she, “you have told me your secret. I shall tell you -mine. You belong to a proscribed race; so do I, and am now really your -sister in faith. You are a Hebrew. I descend from the Subotnikis, those -sincere seekers after God whom the renowned Zacharia of Tambow converted -to Judaism some centuries ago. As a student of Russian history, you know -that the emperors persecuted the “Judaizing heretics,” as my people were -called, with even greater cruelty and persistency than they did yours. -Imprisonment, deprivation of civil rights, and banishment to remote -sections of the empire, and even harsher punishments were inflicted upon -them. - -“Under these circumstances thousands of our brethren fell away -completely; others fled to foreign countries where they openly professed -Judaism; and others nominally adhered to the Greek Church, but in their -hearts secretly cherished their faith in the one God of Israel and -endeavored to fulfil His holy law as far as in their ignorance and their -difficult circumstances they could. - -“My family belonged to the last-mentioned class; but through the high -connections it has formed, it had grown quite lax and out of touch with -the brethren. But we have, nevertheless, never forgotten our origin; -and, though I feared to tell it to you, thinking you had become a -thorough Christian and would not like to be reminded of your former -state, your Hebrew descent was really one of the causes which gained for -you my affections, for we Subotnikis honor and revere those native born -in the household of Israel very much, and esteem a marriage alliance -with them a high privilege. - -“Your announcement, therefore, of your intention to be a Jew, instead of -displeasing me, has afforded me the keenest joy, a joy I never expected -to feel. I shall accept your faith, dear Sergei, not merely because I -desire to please you, as my husband, but because my heart already -inclines toward it with sincere devotion. I shall share your lot and -your future, whatever they may bring of joy or sorrow. And like Ruth of -old I shall say: ‘Thy people shall be my people and thy God my God. -Whither thou goest I shall go; and where thou diest I shall die, and -there shall I be buried.’” - -Words cannot describe the tremendous revulsion of feeling which the -words of Olga, so unexpected, produced in the breast of our hero, whom -we shall henceforth call only by his Hebrew cognomen of Saul Isaac. He -was transported from the depth of misery and apprehension to the seventh -heaven of joy by this so pleasing solution of a difficulty which he had -looked upon as almost insoluble. But Olga was also filled with joy, and -the radiant gladness which shone from her beautiful eyes showed that she -considered that hour, which meant for her the beginning of exile and, -perhaps, of poverty, as the happiest of her life. - -The husband and wife, now joined by a new and profound sympathy, -embraced each other with a fervor of love they had not known before, -after which they sat down to write a letter to the parents of Saul -Isaac. In this letter Saul Isaac gave expression to the happiness which -filled his heart, and Olga wrote a few kindly lines, closing with the -words, “Your loving daughter and faithful handmaid of Abraham.” - -The happy couple now made quiet preparations to leave the land. -Gradually the general disposed of his property and turned it into cash. -When this had been accomplished, after several months, the General and -his wife left the town of their residence quite openly, under the -plausible pretext of making a short foreign tour. Their first -destination was a frontier town of Roumania, whither Israel and Malka -Feige had preceded them. From this place Saul Isaac wrote to the -Minister of War, resigning his commission in the Russian army and -frankly stating his reasons for his action. Then they proceeded to -Jerusalem, where the parents of Saul Isaac had resolved to pass their -declining years in pious seclusion and the service of God. In the holy -city Olga was formally received into the community of Israel, the name -of Sarah being conferred upon her. - -Here they lived for twenty years. Six children were born unto them, all -of whom received an excellent Hebrew and secular training, and were -reared to industry, virtue, and the fear of God. After the death of the -parents, which occurred in the twentieth year of their sojourn in the -holy city, Saul Isaac and Sarah thought it desirable, in the interest of -their children, to emigrate to America. Accordingly they settled in New -York some years ago. Saul Isaac and his wife selected for their -residence a portion of the city mainly inhabited by Russian -co-religionists, for in their midst they felt themselves most at home. - -Saul Isaac finds his chief pleasure in attendance at synagogue, and it -is a question open to debate which affords him the most pleasure, the -sermons of the _Maggid_ or the gossip and anecdotes in which the -congregation indulges in the intervals of services. - -As for Sarah, she is so thoroughly Judaized, so punctual and exact in -the fulfilment of her religious duties, so particular in maintaining the -_Kosher_ character of her household and such a fluent speaker of the -Russo-Jewish jargon, that one would never suspect in her anything but a -genuine Russian Jewess, native and to the manner born. Their children -have grown up to be handsome and talented young men and women, good Jews -and good Americans. - -Saul Isaac and Sarah are happy and contented. No tinge of regret for -their former state ever enters their hearts. But often as they worship -in the synagogue there comes spontaneously to their lips the words of -Solomon: “Blessed be the Lord God, who hath given rest to His people -Israel.” - - - - - TOO LATE, BUT ON TIME - - -Moses Levinsky awoke with a start upon his humble couch in the little -hall bedroom in the sixth story of the immense and crowded -tenement-house in Eldridge Street, New York City, in which he dwelt. He -very much feared that he had overslept himself and would be late at the -early morning service of the Congregation Sons of Peace. The light which -shown through the narrow window of his room was much brighter than the -pale illumination which usually greeted his early waking eyes and seemed -to show that the day was further advanced. A glance at the cheap silver -watch which lay upon his trousers on the chair next to his bed showed -him that his apprehensions were only too well founded. - -The Congregation Sons of Peace invariably began its devotions at 6 A.M. -Moses Levinsky was in the habit of rising at half-past five; his toilet -and the walk to the little meeting-room in the next block required -twenty-five minutes, and he was regularly in his place five minutes -before the voice of the _Chazan_ or precentor, chanting in classic -Hebrew, “Exalted be the living God and praised,” betokened that the -service of adoration and supplication, with which modern Israel supplies -the place of the ancient sacrificial worship, had begun. But to-day the -watch which usually indicated about a quarter past five when he first -glanced at it in the early mornings, stood at half-past six. The -congregation had already been engaged in prayer for a full half-hour, -and he could hardly hope to be with them before the services, which -usually lasted somewhat less than an hour, were concluded. Watches and -clocks are obstinate creatures. They persist in their opinions, which -can be plainly read in their faces. They care not at all how -disagreeable or unpleasant their statements may be to those who consult -them, and they can neither be reasoned with nor stared out of -countenance. And so Moses Levinsky’s watch did not recede at all for all -the hard stares which that rather confused individual directed at it; -but, on the contrary, advanced a minute or so, while he, who had now -risen upon his side and rested upon his left arm, gazed at it with -puzzled and rueful countenance. - -The truth was that Moses was in doubt as to the right course to pursue. -His watch told him that he might as well make an exception to-day from -his regular practice and stay at home, for he could never hope to be on -time at the services, or even present during any considerable portion of -them. On the other hand, his conscience smote him greatly at having -overslept himself; and thus incurred the danger of breaking his life -rule, of always beginning the day in the house of God, and in the words -which the ship captain once addressed to the prophet Jonah when he had -gone to sleep in the midst of all the turmoil of the storm, it called to -him, “What aileth thee, O sleeper? Arise, cry out unto thy God.” After a -minute’s hesitation conscience won the battle over comfort. Moses -hastily sprang from his couch, made his simple toilet as speedily as -possible, and in something less than twenty minutes was on his way to -the little synagogue (“place of prayer” was the unassuming name which -the worshippers themselves gave it) of the Congregation of the Sons of -Peace. While he is on his way thither, we will take occasion to describe -him to our readers; for many of them, no doubt, are at a loss to -understand what kind of a person he is, and particularly fail to -comprehend why he should be so dreadfully put out at the mere -possibility of being absent from prayers one morning, a thing which, I -am sure, would never disturb the majority of my worthy readers in their -mental tranquillity. - -[Illustration: - - HE WAS NOTHING BUT A COMMONPLACE, EVERY-DAY PEDDLER - - _Page 131_] - -Moses Levinsky was a very ordinary and insignificant individual, such as -you might pass a thousand times in the street and never pay any -attention to. He was nothing but a commonplace, every-day peddler who -wandered from morning to evening through the streets of the great -metropolis, with a huge basket suspended in front of him, filled to -overflowing with a miscellaneous assortment of goods—suspenders, shoe -laces, pins, needles, tape, handkerchiefs, stockings, and what not—and -endeavored to induce his fellow-beings to purchase sufficient of his -store to provide him with a meagre livelihood. He had straight and -regular features, of a rather handsome Semitic type, though worn and -furrowed, not so much by years—he was only forty-three—as by care and -anxiety; his hair and large irregular beard were black, heavily streaked -with gray, and his clothes and close-fitting derby hat were decidedly -shabby. All in all, he was not an imposing figure; and when we add to -the unimpressiveness of his exterior the fact that he had a nervous, -deprecatory manner, and looked around him with timid, apprehensive eyes, -and also that he was a very indifferent master of the vernacular, which -he spoke hesitatingly and with a pronounced Slavonic-Jewish accent, the -reader will at once realize that he was of the type which low comedians -love to caricature and street urchins to mock at, if not to treat worse. - -But his external appearance was no indicator, except for those who are -accustomed to read and understand such exteriors, of his internal -characteristics. Beneath the unprepossessing outward semblance there -dwelt a keen intellect and a noble soul which might well deserve the -admiration of the discerning. He had received a good education of its -kind in his youth in his Russian home. He had been thoroughly trained in -Hebrew, had read the entire Bible in the original, and was well -acquainted with the Talmud and the modern Hebrew literature from which -he had derived correct ideas of the world and the development of modern -science. But he had not been able to utilize his training either in his -native land or America. In Russia he had desired to become a rabbi, for -which his learning and his sincere religious bent amply fitted him; but -all the positions he knew of were filled, and so after a few years’ vain -waiting he kissed his wife and his two little ones good-by (he had -married early while still a student at the _Yeshibah_) and set sail for -America, where, he thought, congregations without number were ready to -greet him as their spiritual chief. But a brief glance at the conditions -surrounding the rabbinate among his immigrant brethren under the Western -skies had cured him of his desire to make it his vocation. As he had -neither capital nor sufficient secular training to enable him to become -a merchant, or secure a remunerative commercial position, he had only -the choice between two ways of gaining a livelihood. He could become a -workman in a sweat-shop or a peddler. He chose the latter and, at the -time this story begins, had pursued the occupation of itinerant -merchant, an occupation in which there is little gain and less glory, -for some ten years. During all these years he had permitted himself only -one form of pleasure, attendance at the House of God. The theatre knew -him not, the interior of saloons saw him only when on business bent; but -at the synagogue he was a regular attendant, never missing the early -morning services or the evening gatherings, in which the rabbi expounded -the Talmud and its commentaries to a group of attentive “learners.” - -Apart from his natural piety it had gradually become a matter of pride -with him to be regular and punctual in his attendance at the synagogue, -and consequently he felt considerably mortified when on the morning of -our tale he found that he must either be absent or late at service. On -his way to the house of worship he tried to console himself with the -sneaking hope that perhaps his watch was fast and that the hour was not -really as late as it indicated. But his hopes were doomed to -disappointment. As he entered the little synagogue the mourners were -just repeating the last _Kaddish_, and most of the other worshippers -were folding and putting away their _Tallithoth_ and _Tephillin_, -preparatory to leaving for the work of the day. - -Poor Moses! A pang went through his heart at the thought that he, whose -punctuality and zeal had become proverbial, should be so culpably remiss -as to appear in _Shool_ when services were practically over, and a -keener pang yet pervaded him when he noticed the expression of -wonderment with which his companions and fellow-members gazed at him. -Nor did they confine themselves to looks of amazement; but, being -finished with their devotions, they gave free expression to their -astonishment in questions. “What’s the matter, Levinsky?” he was asked -from all sides. “Aren’t you well, or are you getting lazy, or are you -turning _link_?” To all these interrogations Moses returned no answer; -indeed, he felt morally too much crushed to defend or even to palliate -his shortcoming. Gloomily he proceeded to put on his prayer-shawl and -phylacteries and with much less fervor than usual he recited the morning -prayer. By the time he had concluded his devotions every one else had -left except the _Shammas_, who, obliged by his office to remain, had -waited impatiently to lock the synagogue, and who felt considerably -aggrieved at Moses for having caused him to lose so much of his valuable -time, which might have been utilized for collecting a bill or arranging -a _Shidduch_. Listlessly Moses left the room and directed his feet -street-ward, but not too listlessly to feel the withering glance of -reproach which the _Shammas_ shot after him as he departed. - -The street was thronged and bustling with the full tide of activity -which had now begun, but Moses paid no attention to its appearance. He -did not even notice the friendly greetings of several acquaintances whom -he passed on his homeward way. His mind had only room just then for one -thought, that of mortification at his inexplicable tardiness and the -humiliation which that morning had brought him in the opinion of his -fellow-congregants. He reached the huge tenement he called his home and -began mechanically to climb the narrow and interminable staircases that -led up to his room. The building was comparatively quiet. Most of the -male inmates and of the children of school age had already departed, the -former to take up their daily tasks, the latter for the immense public -school a few blocks away. No one met him on the stairs to draw his mind -from its gloomy abstraction. But as he reached the fifth floor he -perceived something which at once, arrested his attention and turned his -thoughts to matters outside of himself. It was a strong and pungent -smell, the smell of smoke. He stopped, all his senses at once keenly -alert. Like all tenement-dwellers he realized well the meaning of smoke. -It meant fire, and fire all too often meant death in those lofty and -crowded edifices, from whose upper portions escape was always difficult -and sometimes impossible. Even as he stood, the noise of uneasy motion -in the apartments at the side of the hall where he was and a sudden -clamor of voices within betokened that their occupants too had smelt the -smoke and were seized with sudden dread. Doors were flung open; the -white, anxious faces of frightened women, followed by wondering little -children, peered out. There was a rush of feet in the hall below and -quavering voices screamed “fire! fire!” By this time (a very brief -interval only had passed) Moses Levinsky had located the direction -whence the smoke proceeded. It came from the sixth story, and was -already quite dense at the head of the stairs. As he gazed, Levinsky -thought he could hear children’s voices, faintly crying, as if half -stifled. - -What should he do? For a moment he thought he would rush downstairs to -the street and start the fire-alarm at the next corner. But he realized -instantly that quicker action was necessary in this case, that human -lives, children’s lives probably, were in imminent danger, and that he -must do something himself to rescue them, leaving to others the task of -notifying the fire department. With a few swift bounds he was at the -next landing, clearing three steps at every leap. The fire was evidently -in the apartments on the left side of the hall, where lived the Shapiros -with their three children, for dense smoke was pouring from their rear -door and children’s voices were heard from within, feebly wailing. The -rooms on the other side of the hall, occupied by the Arnowitzs, a young -married couple, were still and evidently empty. With one rush Levinsky -was at the door through whose interstices the smoke proceeded and -endeavored to open it. It was closed and resisted his efforts. He kicked -at it frantically. It did not yield. In the meanwhile the smoke was -pouring forth in denser clouds, paining his eyes and his lungs, and the -children’s voices were growing fainter and feebler. With mad frenzy -Moses Levinsky threw his body against the door; it shook and quivered -but did not yield. Again he tried to kick it in, striking his right foot -in his thin boot against the door with all his strength, and with utter -disregard for the pain and possible injury to himself. In vain. The door -was strong and firmly locked, while Levinsky was but an indifferent -specimen of muscular development (his athletics had all been of the -intellectual variety), and all his efforts to break it down were of no -avail. Several precious minutes had now passed and Levinsky was almost -in despair. He was hesitating what to do, and half inclined to rush -downstairs in quest of additional help when his eyes, aimlessly -wandering about the hall, chanced to light in the opposite corner, and -lo and behold! there stood an axe. It was the axe with which Shapiro was -accustomed to chop wood in the yard. Usually he kept it in his rooms, -but that morning had left it, by a providential chance, in the hall. -Instantly Moses Levinsky seized it. A few vigorous blows, launched with -all his strength against the door, brought it down and he rushed into -the smoke-filled room. In the corner he saw dimly three little figures. -Two were clinging to each other and one was lying prostrate on the -floor. They were Sarah and Ikey, the five-year and three-year-old -daughter and son, and little Josey, the eighteen-months-old baby of the -Shapiros. The older ones were still conscious, but wee little Josey had -been overcome by the smoke and had fallen to the floor. In the middle of -the room stood the large family bed, the bed-clothing fiercely burning -and emitting dense volumes of black smoke. Levinsky’s first thought was -of the children. Lifting up and holding the unconscious child with his -right hand and taking a hand of each of the other children in his left, -he rushed from the room. - -By this time the whole house and all the neighborhood had taken alarm. -As he hastened down the stairs, in an effort to find a place where the -unconscious child might have fresh air, there came rushing toward him a -throng of neighbors; among them several firemen, with a portable -extinguisher, and a physician. Moses Levinsky’s task had been -accomplished. The firemen proceeded to deal in systematic manner with -the fire, which had now grown large enough to threaten the whole house. -The physician took charge of the unconscious infant and in a few minutes -had brought him to. But who is this whose agonized screams are now -heard, and who comes rushing through the dense crowd, frantically -crying, “My children! O my children!” It is the mother, Mrs. Shapiro, -who had gone out to do her marketing, together with her neighbor, Mrs. -Arnowitz, and, in the manner customary in that vicinity, had locked her -children in the room until her return. When she saw that her children -were alive and well, she kissed and hugged them frantically, and drew -them to her breast as if she half doubted the evidence of her senses. -Then she asked who was their brave rescuer; and when all pointed to -Moses Levinsky, she fell on her knees before him and kissed his hands -and called him a _Malach_ of God, sent directly from heaven to rescue -her dear ones. But Moses Levinsky did not grow at all conceited nor take -the praise to himself. His face was lighted up with the gleam of -intelligence, with the satisfaction of a problem solved. All he said -was: “Now I see that God is good and His plans are wise. He made me late -at _Shool_ so that I should be on time to save these poor _Nefoshos_. I -was too late for one _Mitzvah_, but just in time for another, and that -is quite in accordance with the _Halachah_; for does not the Talmud tell -us, ‘He that has to perform one _Mitzvah_ is exempt from another’?” - - - - - THE PROSELYTE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. - - -About fifty years ago a group of street-idlers and passers-by were -standing at the corner of one of the narrow and old-fashioned streets -near the old harbor of Marseilles, amusing themselves at the plight of a -short, dark-complexioned man who stood in their midst, and who was -evidently a foreigner and a stranger in the town. It was a typical early -summer day in one of the busiest spots of the metropolis of southern -France. The sun shone with a brilliance and a radiance characteristic of -the region and the season, and was just a little too warm for comfort; -and the streets were crowded with a motley throng partly composed of -Frenchmen, among whom the natives of northern France and the provençals -or inhabitants of the south could be easily distinguished from each -other by their diversity of type, and partly by representatives of -various races and nationalities varying in shade from the olive-skinned -Spaniards, Italians, and Greeks to the coffee-brown Arabs and Moors from -northern Africa, with here and there among the throng a negro of ebony -blackness. - -[Illustration: - - A GROUP OF STREET-IDLERS WERE AMUSING THEMSELVES AT THE PLIGHT OF A - SHORT, DARK-COMPLEXIONED MAN WHO STOOD IN THEIR MIDST - - _Page 142_] - -The great press upon the streets was due in part to the normal activity -of the town; but more to the fact that three of the great sailing -vessels which, in those ante-steam-navigation days managed the freight -and passenger traffic between the Levantine ports, had that morning -discharged their human cargoes at three of the principal wharves in the -neighborhood, and the stream of released passengers was flowing through -the adjacent streets before becoming commingled with the general human -flood of the city. There were many strange figures among the new -arrivals, but they all appeared fairly at home in their new -surroundings. Some may have been in Marseilles on previous occasions, -and others were met by relatives or friends who guided them to their -respective destinations. Thus all were cared for in the strange city -except one, and he the woe-begone individual whom we have seen standing -at the street corner amidst the knot of street _gamins_ and loiterers. -They had fine sport with him, commenting on his outlandish appearance, -and asking him all sorts of facetious questions in the vulgar _argot_ -they spoke; but he understood nothing, and only looked helplessly from -one unsympathetic face to the other, saying only occasionally in a dazed -sort of way, to the one or the other, in what seemed to them an -unintelligible gibberish, the mystic words, “_Yehudi Attah? Yehudi -Attah?_” Every such utterance would be greeted with a shout of laughter; -that is to say, by all except one. - -Benjamin Dalinsky, a Jewish peddler, whose cradle had stood on the banks -of the Dnieper, but whom fate had carried to the land of the Gauls, and -who found his subsistence as an itinerant merchant in the southern -French metropolis, chanced to pass the spot where these scenes were -being enacted, and paused a moment to ascertain the cause of the -excitement. The stranger noticed the newcomer, and addressed to him the -query he had so often fruitlessly repeated: “_Yehudi Attah? Yehudi -Attah?_” - -A thrill went through the whole body of Benjamin Dalinsky. He understood -the mystic words. He heard in them an echo of the voices of his -childhood, and of the spirit of his home, which he missed so sadly in -this strange, un-Jewish France. He felt in them the yearning of a Jewish -soul for the companionship of a brother in faith, in sympathy, and in -affection. His soul went out in sudden attraction to this dark-hued -stranger, whom he had never seen before; and in the same ancient tongue, -the Hebrew, in which the stranger had made his inquiry, he answered: -“_Ani Yehudi bo immi achi._” - -Great, overwhelming joy lit up the dark face of the stranger. With -mingled love and deference he bowed low and kissed the hem of the coat -of Dalinsky, who quickly drew him from the midst of the throng; and the -wondering French idlers stepped aside as this strangely assorted pair, -the fair-haired son of the North and the swarthy Oriental walked away -together. Dalinsky’s lodgings were but a short distance away—he had a -room with a Jewish couple who eked out their scanty earnings with the -small amount he paid them and thither he quickly led the stranger. After -he had given the latter an opportunity to wash himself and eat -something, which he did ravenously after he had satisfied himself of its -ritual purity, for on the ship he had tasted hardly anything of the food -of the Gentiles, he asked the stranger what had brought him to this -unknown country, whose language and manners were alike unfamiliar to -him. In classic Hebrew, which he spoke with perfect fluency and with -great animation and vivacity, the stranger told the following tale: - -“I am a Jew; and it is the pride and glory of my life that I belong to -the faith first proclaimed by Abraham, and whose sacred laws and -ordinances I endeavor faithfully to fulfil; but I am not native-born in -the household of Israel. I am only an adopted child therein, although, I -trust, my love for the people which is now mine is none the less warm -and true on that account. By origin I am a Greek. I was born on the -beautiful island of Corfu, the pearl of the archipelago, where grow the -finest and choicest _Ethrogim_, most suitable of all species for the -solemn ceremonies of the Feast of Tabernacles; and the name upon which I -was baptized was Dimitri Aristarchi. To-day I am known in Israel as -Abraham Ger-Tsedek. The manner in which I came to seek entrance into the -congregation of the Lord was most extraordinary; and my statement may -seem to you but little worthy of credence, but I solemnly assure you it -is true. It happened in this wise. My family was an old and -distinguished one in the island; but my father, in consequence of ill -success in various business ventures and a series of other misfortunes, -lost all his wealth when I was a lad of about fifteen, and shortly -afterward died. My poor mother, overwhelmed by the double loss of her -dearly beloved husband and all her earthly possessions, did not survive -her life partner long, but within a few short weeks followed him into -the grave. I was thus thrown entirely upon my own resources; and as I -was an only child, without either brother or sister, and had learnt no -trade or profession, having been reared in the luxurious and careless -fashion usual in my country in well-to-do families, my condition was -indeed desperate. There was nothing left for me to do except to seek a -position as a domestic servant, in which no special skill is required -and in which industry and good-will may supply the place of training. It -was a most humiliating necessity, which drew many tears from my eyes. I, -the pampered child of wealth, must seek my daily bread as a menial! But -there was no alternative; and as the saying is, ‘Necessity can neither -be praised nor blamed.’ - -“It so happened that I found employment in the house of a Jewish -physician, Moses Allatini by name. He was a man of considerable -prominence, handsome and distinguished in appearance, extremely skilful -in his profession, but learned as well in Hebraic lore. His wife, -Esperanza by name, was radiantly beautiful, with the pensive, thoughtful -beauty that marks so many of the daughters of Israel, and as -kind-hearted and pious as she was beautiful. Their family consisted of -seven children, all well-bred, polite, and lovable. At the time of my -entrance into the household there was a baby, a sweet boy of two years, -with curly black locks clustering around a face of alabaster whiteness, -and eyes in whose liquid black depths an infinity of sentiment was -revealed. As I was not good for much else, Raphael, for so the youngest -was called, was assigned to my care, at which I greatly rejoiced, for I -had fallen in love with the sweet child when first these eyes lighted -upon his angelic countenance. I devoted myself to his care with the -utmost zeal. I washed, bathed, and clothed him, took him out daily in -the fresh air, gave him his meals, and tucked him in his little bed -nightly when he closed his beautiful eyes in sleep. I learnt the little -Hebrew prayers which Jewish children recite when they lie down to rest -at night, or when they rise in the morning, and the benedictions which -they pronounce on various occasions in order that I might dictate them -to him, and that no one should come between me and my dearly beloved -charge. Raphael reciprocated my attachment; no doubt because he -perceived its sincerity and we grew inseparable. As he grew older our -love for each other did not diminish; on the contrary, it increased and -grew deeper and more intense. Next to his parents Raphael loved best his -Dimitri; and as for me, I had no one else in the wide world for whom I -need care, and I concentrated upon him all the intensity of love of a -naturally warm and affectionate heart. I continued to have the exclusive -charge of Raphael, participated in all his sports and games, and -accompanied him whenever he went out. Indeed, he always insisted that I -must be his companion, and refused to go anywhere unless I was with him. -Our great love for each other became generally known and excited great -interest, especially among the Hebrew inhabitants—the Greeks were not so -well pleased—and the Allatini family were universally congratulated upon -the possession of such a faithful and devoted servitor. When Raphael was -four years old his parents began to take him to the synagogue on -holidays and Sabbaths of special importance; and as he insisted upon my -accompanying him, a request which excited great amusement among the -family and the others who learned of it, I was one of the party on these -occasions. Thus was I first introduced to the ancient Hebrew worship as -it is conducted in the Jewish House of God. I was deeply impressed by -the melodious chanting of the _Hazan_, in which the congregation joined -harmoniously from time to time, and I listened with great interest to -the learned and pious discourses of the venerable rabbi. But there was -no thought in my mind at this time of allying myself to Israel; and as -for the Allatinis and the other Hebrews, they never even dreamed of such -a thing. - -“When Raphael had attained to the age of five, Dr. Allatini declared -that it was now time to teach him the Hebrew language, and to begin to -initiate him into the knowledge of the Bible and the rabbinical -writings. But now a new and unexpected difficulty arose. Raphael -insisted stoutly that I must take the lessons, too, and declared that he -would learn nothing unless I was his fellow-scholar. This was a little -too much for his good parents. They tried to make him comprehend that it -was absurd to make a Gentile study the Hebrew language and religious -literature; and to me, too, the thing appeared exceedingly dubious; but -he would have nothing of their arguments and, with the unreasoning -obstinacy of childhood, insisted that I must participate in the -instruction. ‘Dimitri does everything with me,’ he said, ‘and he must -learn with me, too. If Dimitri will not learn, Raphael will not learn -either.’ There was no help for it. His youthful mind was fixed in the -idea that I must be his companion in study as in all other things; and -his parents, seeing that it was impossible to change his view, yielded, -half in amusement and half in vexation, to his wish. Thus I became a -student of the Holy Law; and I bless God for the hour when He separated -me from those that are in error and brought me near to Him, by enabling -me to become acquainted with His Torah and to recognize the wisdom and -holiness of His teachings. A teacher was engaged, the ablest Hebrew -scholar of the town, and he began to instruct what he declared was the -strangest pair of pupils he had ever had, the Greek Gentile youth of -eighteen and the Hebrew lad of five. Both of us learned zealously. - -“Now that I had begun I was eager to learn all that I could of Hebrew -lore; and Raphael, pleased that his wish had been gratified, and -possessing a bright and acute intellect, learned rapidly and well. We -began with the Hebrew alphabet and the rudiments of the sacred tongue; -but soon we had mastered these elementary portions and took up the -reading of the Scriptures, at first in the simple text and afterward -with the commentaries of various learned rabbis. I cannot find words -with which to describe the profound impression which this course of -study made upon me. What had at first been a mere good-natured -compliance with the whim of a child became afterward a most fascinating -and absorbing pursuit, the most important part of my intellectual and -spiritual life. At first I was charmed with the Hebrew tongue as a -vehicle of thought and expression, with its pronunciation, at once -sonorous and melodious, with its symmetrical and harmonious grammatical -construction, with its brief and yet richly expressive phrases and -sentences; then the sublimity and grandeur of the Biblical teachings -stirred and moved me. I wondered at the divine wisdom of the creation; I -admired the grand and heroic leaders, God-inspired prophets and teachers -who spread the knowledge of the universal Master among men; I began to -understand why Israel existed on earth; I followed with deepest interest -the checkered history of the chosen people; I triumphed with Solomon -when the holy house was dedicated on Zion’s height, and I wept and -sorrowed with Jeremiah when it sank in ruin. The wisdom of the Torah -impressed me deeply, its numerous statutes and ordinances, all designed -to bring about the one end, the happiness and well-being of mankind -revealed clearly to my mind the ineffable goodness of the Author of all, -and with David I exclaimed, ‘The law of the Lord is perfect restoring -the soul.’ In a word the spirit of the All-holy entered into me, and I -understood, as I never understood before, and as millions do not -understand to-day, that He desires the happiness of mankind; and in -order to promote that happiness and to diffuse universal blessing, He -hath chosen the Torah and Moses His servant and Israel His people. - -“Thus the years flowed away, bringing ever-increasing knowledge and -happiness to us both, for Raphael and I were like two brothers united by -love such as brothers seldom know. When we had finished the reading of -the Bible, which took us about five years, we began to study the -_Mishnah_. Here I found new subjects for admiration; the acuteness and -profound scholarship of the _Hakamim_, their methodical order and -system, and also their stern piety and unyielding devotion to principle. -In two years we had concluded the _Mishnah_ and took up the intricate -discussions of the _Gemara_. But now Raphael had entered upon his -thirteenth year, at the conclusion of which, as you well know, every -Jewish boy becomes _Bar-Mitzvah_; that is to say, attains his religious -majority, and is accounted fully responsible for all his acts in the -sight of God and man. The _Bar-Mitzvah_ day is considered everywhere in -Israel a most auspicious and happy occasion. The youthful celebrant is -treated with distinguished honor, is permitted to read the _Sedrah_ and -the _Haftarah_, and even to deliver an address in the synagogue, and is -made the recipient of rich gifts and marked attentions. As these -ceremonies require special study and preparation, it is necessary to -train a youth some time in advance of the happy day. Such was the -proceeding followed also in the case of Raphael. The teacher who had -instructed us both suspended temporarily the regular course of -instruction in which I had taken part, and concentrated his efforts upon -teaching Raphael the proper method of chanting the portions of the law -and the prophets which were to be read on the great Sabbath of the -_Bar-Mitzvah_, and also aided him in the preparation of a learned and -profound discourse which he, though a mere youth, was to deliver on that -auspicious occasion. - -“As these matters did not concern me, I was necessarily left out of -consideration and had now no part in the studies of Raphael, except that -of a mere occasional listener and looker-on. For the first time in over -seven years Raphael and I were separated, no longer joined in study nor -much together otherwise, for the preparations for the _Bar-Mitzvah_ -absorbed most of his time, and he did not find leisure for our -accustomed walks and pleasures. The change grieved me deeply. I realized -now as I had not realized before the distinction between us; that he was -one of the chosen people whose history and religion we had been -studying, while I was an outsider, a stranger, not privileged to enter -into close connection with the covenant brethren, nor to share in their -most intimate concerns, their truest joys, and deepest sorrows. I cannot -describe to you the melancholy which filled my soul at this thought; but -it must have showed itself in my countenance or demeanor, for Raphael -noticed it, and with true fraternal sympathy tried to soothe and console -me. But his well-meant efforts were in vain. Nothing could assuage the -keen pain which rose in my soul whenever I reflected that there existed -an invisible but nevertheless real and undeniable dividing wall between -me and the human being I loved best, a wall that would probably grow -thicker and stronger as the years rolled on, until it would at last keep -us utterly asunder, except, perhaps, as regards the superficial -relations of mere formal friendship. - -“For months this dull pain gnawed at my heart until one day, when the -_Bar-Mitzvah_ day was no longer far distant, there came to me, all -unexpectedly and sudden as a lightning flash, a thought that promised -redemption. ‘Why need I permit this wall to grow up between me and my -beloved?’ I asked myself. ‘Why can I not become Raphael’s brother in the -covenant of Israel? Israel is God’s holy nation, but it does not -jealously restrict its membership to those born in the fold. Its gates -open gladly to welcome those who seek entrance because of true union of -sentiment with the hereditary guardians of the covenant. As Isaiah says: -“Let not the stranger that joineth himself unto the Lord say, verily the -Lord will separate me from His people.” I, too, may join myself to -Israel, may share the burdens and the privileges of the Holy people, and -take upon myself their name.’ - -“Thus did my love for a dear Jewish lad suggest to me to enter into -Israel; but nevertheless I did not determine upon the step until I had -examined my mind and my soul to ascertain whether I was fit for this -great change. I knew that to become a proselyte for any personal motive -alone, no matter how high or ideal it might be, were sin. But my -self-examination taught me my real beliefs, showed me that, spiritually -if not formally, I already belonged to Israel. I recognized that the -theological dogmas I had been taught in my boyhood no longer possessed -any charm or validity for my soul, which for seven years had drunk deep -draughts of life-giving water from the fountains of Israel’s law and -tradition. I saw that in Israel was the spiritual home where my soul -desired to dwell. Encouraged and inspired by this recognition, I went to -the rabbi and communicated to him my desire to enter the fold of Israel. -He was surprised at first and rather displeased; but when I told him my -story, and informed him that I was well instructed in Hebrew lore and -familiar with the ordinances of Judaism, he declared that he could not -refuse to accept me as a proselyte. - -“I now unfolded to him an idea which I had conceived in relation to my -reception into Judaism, which pleased him well, and to which he at once -gave his approval. Under the plea of desiring a vacation, which was -readily granted, for Raphael was busy with his preparations and my -services were not really required, I secured a leave of absence for -several weeks from the Allatini household. I went to a little town some -few miles distant, and there in the presence of the rabbi and ten Hebrew -brethren I was circumcised and the name I now bear in Israel conferred -upon me. I remained there until I had thoroughly recovered when I -returned to the Allatini home. No one knew of the change which had taken -place, for I had requested, for reasons of my own, those present at the -ceremony to divulge nothing for the time being; and my wishes had been -respected. All noticed that I had lost the melancholy air which I had -borne for several months, and was looking contented and happy; but none -knew the reason for the improvement in my appearance. - -“At last the great day, the Bar-Mitzvah Sabbath, arrived. The synagogue -was densely packed, for the interest in the event which concerned so -closely the most prominent family in the congregation and its -well-beloved son was universal. On the main floor the noblest and best -men of the community were assembled, and from the galleries the matrons -and maidens of Israel, arrayed in splendid robes, beamed radiantly down. -When the time for the reading of the Torah arrived Raphael ascended the -_Tebah_, or altar, and at once began to chant from the sacred scroll. He -was a picture of youthful beauty as he stood there; and his voice, pure -and clear as the sweetest of song-birds, filled the synagogue with -melodious resonance as he chanted the solemn sentences of Holy Writ. A -hum of admiration ran around the synagogue; and all eyes, after feasting -with pleasure on the beauteous form of the youthful celebrant, turned -with silent congratulation to the happy father and the joyous mother, -who showed in their beaming countenances what joy dwelt within their -hearts. Raphael was summoned as the third person to pronounce the -benediction over the law, which he did with great dignity and -devoutness. His father then ascended the altar and made generous -offerings for the benefit of the congregation; and the rabbi, leaving -his seat and ascending the altar, placed his hands upon Raphael’s bowed -head and pronounced over him the threefold priestly blessing. Thus far -everything had been conducted in the manner usual on such occasions, but -now a deviation took place. Instead of summoning the next person to the -Torah, which would have been the usual proceeding, the rabbi turned to -the people and addressed them thus: - -“‘Brethren of Israel! It has been now our privilege to witness the -acceptance into full membership in the covenant of our beloved young -friend, Raphael Allatini, to whom and to whose respected parents we -offer our sincere well-wishes. It will now be our pleasure to behold -another Bar-Mitzvah, one who is a true believer in our holy faith, and -who has been for many years a friend and comrade of our young celebrant, -and desires not to separate from him on this happy day.’ - -“All were amazed at the enigmatical words of the rabbi; for no one had -heard of another Bar-Mitzvah, and the fact of my conversion had been -kept a profound secret. The _Chazan_, however, had been let into the -secret, and in a loud voice he proclaimed: ‘Let there arise Abraham, son -of Abraham, the proselyte of righteousness, to read the Torah. May his -rock protect him.’ - -“Profound astonishment reigned in the synagogue as I, the full-grown man -of twenty-five, whom all had known as Dimitri the Greek servant, arose -in my place and ascended the Tebah in a character belonging usually only -to Hebrew youths of thirteen; and in breathless silence they listened -while I pronounced the benediction over the Torah and read my portion -with correct accent and melody. When I had finished I blessed the Lord -with a loud voice; and according to the words of the benediction, -‘Blessed art Thou, O Lord, our God, King of the universe, who hast -permitted me to live and attain to this day,’ and all the congregation -shouted ‘Amen!’ The rabbi then blessed me with tears in his eyes; and -Raphael fell about my neck and embraced me, with radiant smiles, for to -him my act meant most of all. The rest of the service was conducted in -the usual quiet and solemn manner; but when the last chant had been -concluded, the excitement broke forth. The vast congregation crowded -around the Allatini family, Raphael and me, congratulating us most -warmly on the remarkable and auspicious event which had just taken -place. I had almost as great a share of popular approval as Raphael, and -my fidelity and loyalty both to the family I served and the religion I -had embraced, my devotion to my young master, and my attainments in -Hebrew lore were greatly admired and commended. Oh, that was a glorious -day in my life; and, however long the Most High may permit me to remain -on earth, I shall never forget it. The Allatinis, too, when the first -shock of surprise was over, acted toward me with the utmost love and -kindness. I was treated in all respects as the equal and comrade of -Raphael. I sat next to him at the festive board during the splendid -banquet given the same afternoon in celebration of the event. After he -had delivered his address, I, too, was asked to speak to the guests, who -included the most respected people in the community; and the rabbi, in -his remarks, referred to me in the kindest terms, praising greatly my -fidelity and piety and the learning I had acquired, and comparing me -with Shemayah and Abtalion, the distinguished proselytes who became -heads of the Sanhedrin during the period of the second Temple. - -“After the Bar-Mitzvah festivities were over, Raphael took up again the -interrupted course of studies and I was again his companion. I was very, -very happy. I felt that I had entered into the haven of peace and joy in -the blessed study of God’s holy law and the willing fulfilment of its -precepts, while enjoying also the love of my young master, the kindness -of his family, and the respect of all my newly gained Jewish brethren. I -asked for nothing better on earth, though I did hope that in course of -time I might be able to ask some well-born maiden of Israel to be my -life partner and settle down as a worthy _Baal Ha-baith_. But, alas! -while I was basking in the bright sun of happiness, the black clouds -were gathering which were destined to cover with inky pall the fair sky -of my well-being. - -“The romantic incidents of my conversion and my public reception as a -Bar-Mitzvah had excited great public interest among the Jewish -inhabitants of the island generally and were spoken of everywhere. In -this way the facts came also to the knowledge of the Greek Gentiles and -aroused their deep anger and resentment. Great as was the enmity which -they bore the children of Jacob, they hated with a still intenser hatred -the one from their own midst who had cast in his lot with the ancient -people. I soon noticed that I was regarded with great ill favor. When I -went abroad through the streets of the town on my accustomed walks with -Raphael, I noticed that the men and women gazed at me with black, -scowling looks, while the children put no restraint on their tongues, -but yelled after me, ‘Apostate, renegade, traitor!’ This discovery, -while it was certainly not pleasing, did not disconcert either me or my -friends. There had not been any uprising against the Jews in many years, -and none of us thought that I was of sufficient importance to be honored -with a special uprising, exclusively on my account. Soon, however, -rumors began to be heard that the lower orders of people, incited by -virulent agitators, in particular by a fanatical priest of the -neighborhood, were planning an attack on the Allatini house for the -purpose of seizing me and visiting upon me condign punishment—that is to -say, death—for what they were pleased to call my apostasy. This report -did cause us some anxiety; but we all, in particular Dr. Allatini, -looked upon it as an idle tale and took no precaution to ward off any -possible calamity. - -“A few nights later the blow fell. Our house was in silence and -darkness, all having retired to rest, when some time after midnight a -violent knocking and beating at the massive gates of the high stone -wall, which surrounded the garden in which stood the Allatini residence, -was heard. We were all aroused by the clamor and hastening to the -windows beheld in the road outside the gates a great, raging multitude -with hate-filled countenances, and bearing in their hands, besides -weapons, flaming torches which cast a lurid light over all the scene. No -sooner did they behold the frightened faces at the windows (I was not -among them, for, realizing at once that the clamor had reference to me, -I kept in the background) than with terrible cries and yells they -demanded that I be delivered to them. ‘Give us the apostate, the -renegade,’ they yelled. ‘We mean no harm to you that are born Jews, but -we want the blood of the traitor; and unless you surrender him to us, we -will destroy the house and slay you all.’ - -“Our people held a hasty consultation. I will not detain you with all -the particulars of our debate, but the result reached was that it was -possible for me to be saved. Dr. Allatini took a hasty leave of me and -then went forth to parley with the mob. I hastily dressed myself and -packed together a few necessary articles. A purse of money was pressed -into my hands. I embraced and kissed my beloved Raphael and bade all -good-by, then entered a subterranean passage-way which led to an -adjacent street. When I emerged in the next street, the shouts and noise -of the mob had died down and I realized that Dr. Allatini had succeeded -in quieting them. I subsequently learned that he had assured them that I -was not in the house, and had given them permission to enter it and -search for me. I reached the harbor early the next morning in safety and -took passage in the first ship leaving which chanced to be bound for -Marseilles. - -“With a soul filled with mingled feelings of sorrow and gratitude I left -my native land, sorry that I must leave my dearly beloved one, the -companion of my youth and early manhood, and gratitude to the God of -Israel, who had saved me from the hands of my enemies and from the -perils of the sea, and brought me in safety to a new home. And I thank -Him also that in this strange land He has led me to a brother who has -shown himself possessed of true fraternal, Jewish love and kindness. And -I doubt not that He who maketh a path in the fierce waters and who -protected His servant David from the hostile sword, will care for me, -His humble worshipper, in this strange land and grant me His peace and -blessing. The words of Abraham are finished.” - -When the stranger had finished his tale, Benjamin Dalinski, who had -listened in wonderment to the singular narrative, said to him: “Truly, -thy tale is strange and interesting; but dost thou not think that thou -didst act foolishly? Hadst thou remained in the faith of thy forefathers -thou wouldst not have lost the friendship of thy Jewish benefactors, nor -have aroused the hatred of thy Gentile neighbors. Thou couldst have -remained in peace in thy native land and perhaps have become in later -years a great man among thy people; whereas now thou art an exile and a -fugitive, and who knows what will be thy lot here in this land?” - -Abraham gazed at him a moment as though he did not understand his words -and then answered with indignation as one who repudiates a sinful and -unworthy suggestion. “I would rather eat bread with salt and drink blank -water as a _Yehudi_ than be a prince and a great man among the -Gentiles.” - -“Ah,” said Dalinski, “thou art indeed a proselyte of righteousness.” - - - - - ISAAC AND ALICE - - -They were good friends and true, were Isaac and Alice. To be sure, they -were not exactly what most people would consider a well-assorted or -naturally allied pair; for Isaac was a great strapping fellow of about -thirty, who could speak Yiddish much better than English, while Alice -was a sweet little girl of not quite five, whose childish prattle had a -decidedly Yankee twang, and whose cradle had stood many thousands of -miles from the spot where Isaac’s infantile eyes had first opened upon a -strange and troublesome world. Yet that they were close friends was an -undeniable, if somewhat unaccountable, fact. People who saw the stalwart -young Lithuanian Hebrew carpenter, with the dark ringlets and raven -beard and the golden-haired and blue-eyed little Down East maiden as -they sat together and conversed during the midday hour when Isaac was -eating his frugal lunch, or as they sauntered hand in hand through the -streets of the little Massachusetts town, would often smile and wonder -and make comments, sometimes jocular and sometimes sarcastic to each -other; but neither Isaac nor Alice cared what anybody said. They were -not afraid of scandal and were sublimely indifferent to public opinion. -They were just good friends and that was all about it. They had been -good friends from the first moment they met, several weeks after Isaac -had set foot upon the hospitable shore of America, and had exhausted the -greater part of his physical energy and about all of his financial -resources and of his store of courage and hope in the effort to persuade -the land of the free and the home of the brave to provide him with a -livelihood. He had entered at the port of New York and tried for a week -or so to find employment at his trade in the metropolis. But there must -have been a plethora of carpenters in the great city at that time; for -wherever he applied, the answer was the same, “No one wanted.” He had -then determined to try the smaller towns and cities, and had wandered on -foot through Connecticut, and had applied at hundreds of shops in the -many industrial communities of that State, all the time growing fainter -and weaker and more discouraged; and had never heard any other response -to his request for work than the same monotonous refrain, which had now -grown terrible in its suggestion of despair, “No one wanted.” - -At last he had drifted, he hardly knew how, into Massachusetts and had -entered the little town of Atbury. Hope had almost left him, and grim -thoughts of suicide filled his mind while he wandered aimlessly through -the neat and well-kept streets of the town. In the course of his -wanderings he saw a wooden building, upon the front of which a large -sign proclaimed that within was a carpenter shop, and that the owner’s -name was Thomas Jones. Mechanically Isaac entered the large open doorway -on his usual quest. He had no anticipation of success; and when Mr. -Jones, who was a handsome middle-aged man of typical Yankee appearance -and very brusque and short-spoken, returned the usual answer to his -timid query, he turned to go away with a sinking heart, in which the -dull pain was not perceptibly keener than it had previously been. - -But this time an unprecedented incident occurred. A pretty little -blond-haired, blue-eyed girl, a mere tot, was standing next to the -proprietor when the stranger entered the shop, and she gazed at his -handsome though careworn features while he made his pitiable appeal for -work, with an expression of evident liking, mingled with sympathy and -pity. When he turned to depart, surprise and sorrow showed themselves -plainly in the face of the child; and turning to her father—as you have, -no doubt, already guessed, sweet reader, it was Alice, Thomas Jones’s -only and dearly beloved child—she said: “Why, aren’t you going to give -the poor man work, papa? Just see how sad he looks. Don’t let him go.” - -“Do you want me to keep him, little one?” asked the father, gazing at -the pleading face of his little daughter with amused parental fondness. - -“Yes I do, papa,” said Alice. “I think he is a very good man and I want -you to keep him.” - -“Well,” said Thomas Jones, “for your sake I’ll give him a chance.” - -[Illustration: - - NOTHING PLEASED THEM BETTER THAN A “HORSEY-BACK” RIDE - - _Page 172_] - -Isaac was not yet out of the shop and the loud voice of the master -carpenter at once brought him back. He speedily demonstrated his ability -in his trade and was retained, his employer impressing upon him that it -was the intercession of the little girl which had given him his -opportunity. Isaac bowed low before the child with reverential gratitude -and imprinted upon her tiny hand a grateful kiss. Thus began their -friendship, and it became very warm and sincere indeed. Alice took -naturally to the broadshouldered, pleasant-faced young foreigner; and -Isaac, who was not only deeply grateful to the child for having steered -the almost shipwrecked vessel of his life into the safe harbor of -employment and bread, but was also thoroughly social and companionable -by disposition, did all in his power to amuse and entertain his young -benefactor. They were not allowed to meet during work hours, for Father -Jones, though a loving and indulgent parent, was a strict and -uncompromising task-master, and would tolerate no unbusiness-like -interruptions during the time allotted to work; but during the noonday -intermission for meals, when Alice would seek Isaac in whatever part of -the town he happened to be employed after the close of work in the late -afternoon, when Isaac returned to his master’s house where was his home, -they were sure to be together, and would romp and “carry on” to their -heart’s content. Nothing pleased them better than a “horsey-back” ride, -when Isaac would act as the fiery though remarkably docile steed, and -Alice rode her mount in greater security than the most practised -equestrienne. Isaac would trot and gallop, and pace and paw, and prance -and snort, and whinny and neigh, like the very war-horse of Job, all the -time holding his little rider in a firm and loving grasp; while Alice, -with streaming locks and flashing eyes, would cry “Gee-up!” and “Whoa!” -and pull his hair for reins and belabor his shoulders with her tiny -fists, according to the most approved rules of the equestrian art. There -were plenty of other forms of amusement as well. Sometimes they would -play “blind-man’s buff,” when Isaac would begin the game by permitting -himself to be tightly bandaged across the eyes, and would then grope -around the room in an endeavor to catch Alice. But somehow or other he -was always very clumsy in this game; and Alice never had the least -trouble to avoid his aimless reachings out, and would enjoy herself -highly, slipping in and out right in front of his very face and touching -him on all sides. And when finally his hand would land on Alice, -apparently by accident, and capture her, and it would be her turn to -submit to be bandaged and to try to capture him, he seemed even clumsier -in his movements. He never seemed to know how to evade the “blind man,” -but was continually getting in the way; and in two or three minutes at -the utmost, Alice’s tiny hands would seize him in their firm grasp, and -her shrill cry of triumph would proclaim that he was a prisoner. He also -taught Alice some queer Russian games, which were a source of -never-failing amazement and amusement (about equally divided) to all the -boys and girls in the neighborhood. Then sometimes on a holiday, or when -work happened to be slack, they would go out together berrying, and -would come home with big canfuls of blackberries, or blueberries, or -huckleberries, or raspberries, or some of the other sorts of berries -which grew at the roadsides or in the fields, Alice looking very happy, -and Isaac rather tired and scratched about the hands; for it was an open -secret that while Alice had most of the fun, Isaac had most of the -trouble, and worked his very hardest to fill the can with the ripest and -finest berries that could be found, so that the expedition should be -properly fruitful of results. In these and a hundred other ways Isaac -endeavored to please his employer’s little daughter, and his efforts -were highly successful, so successful, indeed, that the child grew to -look upon him with warm affection, and was never so happy as when in his -company. - -Nor was Alice the only one who regarded Isaac with affection. Her -parents were almost equally warm in their sentiments. Thomas Jones -thought much of him because he was a thorough master of his trade, -tremendously strong, and absolutely faithful and reliable. Any task -assigned to him, however arduous, was always performed with scrupulous -exactness and conscientiousness, and no complaint or objection ever -escaped his lips. Mrs. Jones liked him because he was sober, polite, and -cleanly in his habits, and because he took such pains to please and -amuse her little daughter. To be sure, there were some points about him -which they did not exactly like, but his many good qualities -counterbalanced these defects. One of these points was that he would not -labor on the Sabbath or Jewish holidays. This difficulty had arisen the -very first week of his employment, but the superior character of his -work had induced Mr. Jones then to retain him, and afterward he had -grown accustomed to dispensing with the services of Isaac on Saturdays -or on any other day when he declared the rules of his religion required -abstention from labor. Another matter which seemed very peculiar to both -Mr. and Mrs. Jones was that, although Isaac boarded with them, he never -ate flesh in any form and refused to partake of many other dishes which -appeared on their table. But, as the Joneses were kind-hearted and -tolerant people, and had besides a genuine liking for Isaac, they -overlooked these matters, and, if they reflected on them at all, merely -thought them the natural result of his religious views. - -Many were the arguments which the Joneses had with some of their -neighbors on account of Isaac and the peculiar position which he -occupied in their household. Bigotry and narrow-mindedness are not -unknown even in free America, where, theoretically, a man’s race and -religion should have no influence, favorable or unfavorable, upon the -opinion which is held concerning him, and where, if anywhere, the -principle enunciated by the rabbis in the Talmud should prevail—“Thy -deeds shall recommend thee, thy deeds shall condemn thee.” Some of the -good Christian people of Atbury, who thought, like Sancho Panza, that -the most essential characteristic of a Christian was a sound hatred of -the Jews, could not conceal their amazement, nay, their righteous -indignation, that a Jew should be a favored member of a Christian -household, and, worse yet, the trusted friend and companion of a little -Christian maiden. - -“How can you permit an unbeliever to dwell in your home?” they would -say, with much show of holy horror. “Aren’t you afraid that in course of -time he may seduce you or your little daughter, with specious reasoning, -away from the true faith, and lead you into the error of Judaism?” But -the Joneses would only laugh at these pious apprehensions and answer -that Isaac never spoke to them on religious subjects; that, while he was -undoubtedly sincerely religious in his own way, he never obtruded his -views on others; and that, in fact, it would not have been a bad thing -if some people whom they knew would have imitated him in this -particular. - -The neighbors would then try another tack, in which they hoped to be -more successful. “How can you trust Alice to such a person?” they would -ask, with the solemn air of those who warn friends against impending -dangers which they are rashly incurring. “Aren’t you afraid that he may -do her some harm? You never can tell what such a Jew might do. Why, in -some parts of Europe they even accuse them of slaying Christian children -in order to use their blood for the Passover. It isn’t safe to leave -Alice in his charge.” - -But when they came with this argument they received a fitting response, -which was not lacking either in clearness or emphasis. The Joneses, -particularly Mrs. Jones, told them that they might be at better business -than calumniating one of whom they knew no evil; that Isaac was the -kindest, best-hearted, most devoted fellow in the world; that he was -deeply grateful to Alice because she had been the means of saving him -from starvation, and, as for her being in any danger at his hands, why -they, the Joneses, were convinced that he would at any time be ready to -give his life rather than see a hair of her head harmed. - -Sooner than any one anticipated the opportunity came which demonstrated -that Isaac was indeed ready to lay down his life to save his little -friend from harm. A few days after an unusually warm debate of the kind -outlined above between Thomas Jones and an especially zealous neighbor, -who had warned Isaac’s employer that all kinds of dreadful things would -certainly happen if this unholy friendship were permitted to continue, -Jones summoned Isaac to him. “Come here, you Jew!” he said half -jocularly, half angrily, for the remembrance of the uncharitable words -of his officious neighbor was still strong in him. “I want to show you -what I think of you.” Isaac at once advanced and waited with deferential -air for the further words of his employer. “I’ve got a job in the -outskirts of the town,” continued Jones, gazing with satisfaction at the -brawny figure and submissive attitude of his most reliable workman, -“and, as I can’t spare any men from the other work, I’m going to put the -whole thing in your hands. There’s a little cottage on the Prentice -place that’s got to be jacked up to make room for the masons to build a -new foundation, and then all the board work and carpentering generally -must be renovated and fixed up. I’ve sent up all the necessary wood -already, so you can go right up and attend to the whole job alone. When -you get there you can see for yourself what is to be done, and if you -don’t understand anything, why, just ask old man Prentice, and he’ll -tell you what to do.” - -Isaac picked up his box of tools and was about to depart when little -Alice, who had been listening to the words of her father, skipped up -and, laying her hand on Isaac’s arm, asked eagerly: “Won’t you take me -along, Isaac? I want to be with you when you’re doing the work.” - -“Ask your papa, Alice,” said Isaac, smiling pleasantly at his little -friend. “If he will let you go, then I’ll be glad to take you.” - -Alice did not need to ask her father, for the latter, without giving her -the opportunity to speak, at once gave her the desired permission. “Yes, -indeed, you can go with Isaac,” he said, with rather more emphasis than -was apparently necessary. “I’ll just show those numbskull bigot -neighbors of mine what I think of their fanatical suspicions and -insinuations. Just trot along, little one, and I wish you lots of -pleasure seeing Isaac at work.” - -Thus duly authorized and permitted, Isaac and Alice went off together to -the scene of his solitary task, which they reached in about half an -hour. The Prentice place was a little farm of two or three acres, in the -centre of which stood the cottage. It was not a very large structure, -but Isaac’s practised eye at once perceived that his employer had set -him a task sufficient to try the strength of three men. Old man Prentice -was of the same opinion, and very emphatically expressed his -dissatisfaction that Jones had sent only one man to do the work of -three. Nothing daunted, however, Isaac at once set about the performance -of his task. The first thing to do was to lift the structure, which was -done by means of appliances called jacks. Isaac inserted one of the -jacks under each of the four corners of the house and screwed it up -until that part of the building was elevated to the desired height. In -the mean while Alice stood near her favorite and watched him at his -arduous task, chatting and prattling all the while with the careless -innocence of childhood; and Isaac, though engrossed in his labor, did -not fail to answer her childish queries, and kept his little friend -interested and amused. All went well until Isaac came to the fourth and -last corner and proceeded to jack it up as he had done the others. Here, -by some miscalculation, he raised the corner a foot or so more than was -necessary. At once the frame structure began to careen. Isaac instantly -perceived that the building would certainly topple to the ground, and a -pang of agony shot through his heart as he thought of the loss which his -mistake, unaccountable even to himself, would cause. His next thought -was to save himself from harm; but, as he turned to flee from under the -falling structure, what horrible sight met his eyes! Little Alice, -petrified apparently by fright, was standing motionless under the -tottering building. A sickening picture flashed up instantly before his -mental retina of her little body lying crushed and bleeding under the -ruins of the building, its life crushed out by the overwhelming weight. -How could he save her? She was too far away for him to seize her and -flee with her to safety, neither would it avail aught to shout to her to -flee. Before she could have recovered control of her faculties and -impelled her limbs to motion, the blow would have fallen and all would -be over. There was but one way to save Alice, and, though Isaac knew it -meant almost certain death for himself, he instantly determined to do -it. Placing his powerful shoulders under the tilting woodwork, he -shouted in a great and terrible voice to Alice to run—run for her life. -For a minute or so he stood, like fabled Atlas upholding the world, -supporting with his tremendous strength the falling structure, while his -muscles stood out like whipcords and the sweat of agony poured all over -his body. In that minute Alice recovered herself and toddled out of -harm’s way. A second later the heavy framework crushed out the man’s -strength and bore him to the ground with a sickening thud, while the -harsh crackling of the beams and boards as they were torn from their -fastenings mingled with his awful shriek. He did not need to lie there -long. Poor little Alice, with an intelligence beyond her years, ran to -seek help from the neighbors; but her frenzied efforts were not -necessary. The frightful crash of the falling building and the fierce, -agonized shriek of the stricken victim had aroused all the neighborhood, -and from all sides assistance speedily came. The united efforts of old -man Prentice and a number of laborers who hastened from a neighboring -field speedily succeeded in removing the mass of beams and boards and -odds and ends of woodwork from the body of Isaac, and tenderly they laid -him upon a temporary couch formed of their coats. He was crushed and -maimed and bloody, every limb broken, and his features disfigured almost -beyond recognition, but he was conscious and a happy smile played upon -his face when he saw that Alice had escaped all injury and was safe and -sound. - -“Come to me, little darling,” he said, in barely audible tones, gazing -wistfully at the child-friend for whom he had given his life; “come and -bid me good-bye, for I feel that I must go. I do not complain because -God is calling me away, but I am glad your young life is spared to be a -joy to yourself and your dear parents for many years to come.” And his -young friend, with strangely grave and solemn face, went to her dying -protector and clasped his hand and kissed his blood-stained and -distorted features, and called him her own dear Isaac, and begged him -not to die, while the strong men who stood around bowed their heads in -reverent sorrow and silently wept. Then they bore him home, and Alice’s -parents, when they heard the story of what he had done, knew not of -which feeling their hearts were fuller—of gratitude that their darling -daughter was safe or of admiration for the pure and self-sacrificing -friendship which Isaac had so heroically displayed and sorrow for his -untimely end. He had relapsed into semi-consciousness and lay for -several hours without speaking on his couch. Then he stirred uneasily -and feebly beckoned to his employer, indicating that he desired to -communicate something to him. Thomas Jones, who had not left the room -since first Isaac had been brought home, at once went to the bedside, -and putting his ear to the mouth of the dying man, heard him say in a -feeble voice: “Dear master, promise me one favor. I die a Jew. Have me -laid away among my people.” - -And Thomas Jones answered: “Isaac, I promise.” - -A look of infinite content and gratitude lit up Isaac’s face. Then, -rising slightly on his side, he recited in Hebrew, in a clear though -feeble voice, the words of the Jewish ritual for the dying: “Hear, O -Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Blessed be the glorious name -of Thy kingdom for ever and ever. Into Thy hands I deliver my spirit. -Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth.” And so he passed away. - -Every year, on the anniversary of Isaac’s death, Alice, now a maiden -ripening into womanhood, visits Isaac’s grave in the Jewish cemetery in -Boston in which he rests; and if sincere tears and true sorrow are -acceptable in the sight of God, then is her offering indeed acceptable -and holy. - - - - - THE SCISSORS-GRINDER - - -“Scissors to grind! Knives, axes, or saws to sharpen! Everything made as -sharp as new!” This is the cry, uttered in a clear and cheerful voice, -which is frequently heard in the alleys and back yards as well as the -streets and avenues of that vast and densely populated section of the -American metropolis known as the great East Side. The man who utters it -is an unusually agreeable, as well as active and energetic, -representative of the classic trade of scissors-grinding. He is a -pleasant-faced, good-humored young fellow, with light-brown hair and -rounded, open countenance, from which a pair of bright blue eyes gaze at -you with a frank and sympathetic expression. His shabby clothes hang -most gracefully on his lithe and erect, not over tall figure; his -motions have a sort of trained elegance about them, and when he stands -before you with his grinding machine on his back, he seems not so much -an humble sharpener of domestic utensils, but rather some strange sort -of soldier, and the machine upon his back some peculiar and unusual -engine of warfare. He is very well liked in the entire district, and his -popularity brings in sufficient trade to insure him a very fair living. -When his clear and musical cry is heard anywhere in the neighborhood, -the customers pour forth from the many-storied tenements, the cellar -dwellings (I had almost written cave dwellings, which term would hardly -have rendered me liable to a suit for libel if I had used it), and the -little shops and stalls which abound everywhere in the vicinity. Soon he -is surrounded by a motley throng—Jews, Italians, Poles, Bohemians, men, -women, and children, all sorts and conditions of mankind—who bring him a -miscellaneous collection of invalid table knives, dilapidated carving -knives, superannuated scissors, and antediluvian saws, all of which he -is expected to heal and to restore to their pristine brightness and -sharpness. - -[Illustration: - - THE SCISSORS GRINDER - - _Page 186_] - -But, though our friend is well known and popular in the district, he is -nevertheless unknown. By this paradoxical statement is meant that, -although the scissors-grinder is personally a familiar and well-esteemed -figure, nothing is known by the vast bulk of his constituents and -customers of his connections, his history, or his antecedents. This is -nothing strange or unusual in that section. People are not, as a rule, -curious concerning each other on the East Side. The inhabitants are -mostly not native to the soil, but are a chance aggregation from all the -countries of the civilized world, driven from their native habitats by -the storm and stress of harsh experiences and brought together in the -New World by the glittering attractions of the Golden Land. It is not -always advisable under such circumstances to be over-inquisitive -concerning the past history of one’s neighbors and friends, and -therefore the dwellers on the East Side are discreetly devoid of -curiosity, and are quite content if the people with whom they associate -are, in their present stage of life, decent and well behaved. That is -why no one knows (or knew until recently) anything about the -scissors-grinder—his history, his family, or even his name. Nevertheless -his story came out some time ago, and it proved to be, what no one would -have anticipated from the scissors-grinder’s blithe and pleasant -appearance, a real moral tragedy, a tale of blind, mediæval oppression, -of high ambition suddenly blasted, of strange and sublime heroism. It -came out through Mendel Greenberger. - -Mendel, who keeps a little optician shop in Orchard Street near Grand, -is considerable of a character himself, and, unlike the majority of the -denizens of the region, is gifted with a lively curiosity concerning the -persons with whom he comes in contact. Mendel has travelled pretty much -all over the world, and has acquired in the course of his wanderings the -knowledge of a dozen or more languages and of at least three trades. But -what he most prides himself on is his _menschenkenntniss_, that is, his -ability to recognize at a glance the origin of strangers whom he sees -for the first time, and to classify them according to the racial, -religious, and social elements or subdivisions thereof to which they -belong. This he infers from the appearance, conduct, and speech of the -individuals concerned, and, in particularly interesting cases, he -manages to have them reveal their names and other personal details of -interest, but without asking direct questions, which he thinks -impertinent. - -When the scissors-grinder began to come into the neighborhood and Mendel -began to give him employment in his vocation, he at once recognized that -here was an interesting and extremely puzzling personality. It was a -real problem of the kind Mendel Greenberger loved to solve, but it -defied his powers of analysis and classification. For the life of him he -could not make out who or what the handsome, pleasant-spoken young man, -with the lowly trade apparently so unsuited for him, was. His type was -absolutely non-distinctive. As far as appearance went there was no -telling whether he was Jew or Gentile, and no reason to assign him to -any one European nation rather than another. His conduct and manner were -just as little guide, for, though polite and manifestly well-bred, he -had no mannerisms of any kind. Baffled by his inability to “locate” his -new acquaintance by these usually infallible indications, Mendel -resorted to the expedient of addressing him in various languages. But -here Mendel “tripped up,” so to speak, even more emphatically than -before. The scissors-grinder spoke, with one exception, every European -language which Mendel did, but with superior accent and correcter -grammar. His English was that of one to the manner born, though devoid -of either Cockney accent or Yankee twang; his French would have done -credit to any _boulevardier_; his German was as faultlessly exact in -construction and pronunciation as that of any compatriot of Goethe or -Schiller; and as for Italian, Spanish, Russian, Polish, and Hungarian, -to say nothing of the minor tongues, Bohemian, Roumanian, Servian, -Greek, Turkish, he spoke them all with perfect ease and fluency. It -mattered not in what tongue the puzzled Mendel addressed him, the -scissors-grinder always answered in the same, but without betraying any -surprise and as though it were the natural and to-be-expected thing to -speak any and every idiom in existence. But, as already stated, there -was one exception to the polyglot ability of the scissors-grinder. He -did not know Yiddish, for when Mendel addressed him in that tongue, he -did not understand him well and answered in German, the tongue most -nearly related to the dialect of the Jews of the Slavonic lands, and -without using any Hebrew words or phrases with which even the German -Jews habitually interlard their speech. Mendel had to confess to himself -that the scissors-grinder was an enigma, which even he, with his great -knowledge of human beings, could not solve. Of two things, however, he -felt certain: first, that the scissors-grinder was originally of far -higher social station than his humble vocation would suggest, for his -manners and bearing, and, above all, his extraordinary linguistic -attainments, were only explainable on the ground of refined surroundings -and the best of education; secondly, that he was no Jew, for his -ignorance of Yiddish and Hebrew and his manifest unfamiliarity with -Jewish ideas and usages showed conclusively that he had had no Jewish -bringing up nor had ever associated intimately with Jewish circles. - -Mendel at first conjectured that the scissors-grinder was a nobleman of -some European nation, who had been compelled to leave his native land -for a political or other reason, and was obliged to support himself by -his own labor in exile. Noblemen in exile do not, however, usually -select a vocation requiring as much skill and industry and withal so low -in the social scale as scissors-grinding, so on second thought Mendel -abandoned this conjecture as untenable, and, not being able to set up -any more satisfactory one, found himself, as far as this question was -concerned, _vis à vis de rien_. Not feeling able to remain in this -condition, he cast about for other means of solving the problem and -gratifying his curiosity. He determined to ask the scissors-grinder’s -name. Names, it is true, may be assumed, but Mendel thought that even an -assumed name would be some sort of clew to its bearer’s identity, for it -would, at least, indicate to what nation or class the bearer considered -himself and desired to have others consider him as belonging. -Accordingly when next the scissors-grinder appeared in the neighborhood -of Mendel’s shop and was bringing back finely renovated the penknife -which Mendel had given him to sharpen, the latter remarked: “Fine -weather we are having to-day, Mr. ——!” and paused with expectant air. - -“My name,” said the scissors-grinder quietly, “is Eliezer Schwartzfeld.” - -Mendel gazed at him in undisguised astonishment. “That sounds extremely -Jewish,” he said. “You are not one of the chosen people, are you?” - -“Yes, I am a Jew,” answered the scissors-grinder, with just a suggestion -of a smile at Mendel’s evident surprise; “a Russian Jew at that, too.” - -Mendel’s astonishment increased to a degree that was absolutely comical. -Here was an utterly inexplicable case. It was not that the -scissors-grinder’s physiognomy did not contain a feature that suggested -the Semite—that was common enough, especially among Russian Jews; but -what might be called the psychology of the case was utterly baffling to -Mendel. He had often met Jews that were well educated and spoke a number -of languages with fluency, but in all his experience he had never come -across one who had not at least some, however slight, acquaintance with -the Jewish mother tongues, Yiddish or Hebrew. He had frequently come in -contact with Jews, well and gently reared in their native lands, who had -been forced by adverse circumstances to earn their bread by humble labor -in America; but they had invariably found employment in some one of the -so-called “Jewish” branches of industry, tailoring, cloak-making, -cigar-packing, or the like, which open at least the door to a future as -an independent manufacturer or merchant. But something so plebeian and -hopeless as scissors-grinding, and embraced, too, by a man of evident -refinement—why, that was utterly anomalous, unheard of! He gazed at the -scissors-grinder without uttering a word, but with eyes which told -unmistakably their tale of amazement. - -“You are surprised,” said the latter, “I suppose, because I, though a -Jew, do not speak Yiddish, and because I found nothing better to do than -to sharpen scissors and knives. Let me tell you my story and you will -wonder no longer. I can recollect very little of my earliest childhood. -My mother must have died, I think, when I was hardly more than an -infant, for all I can recollect of her is a picture, very dim and faint, -of a sweet, motherly face bending over me and of a tender, loving voice -calling me darling and dove. My father, too, must have left this earth -when I was only about four or five years of age. My memories of him, -too, are few and indistinct. I can recall that I was a very small child -in charge of an old, cross-tempered woman, a Jewess, I think, who -treated me with a strange alternation of cruelty and kindness. My father -used to visit me at rare intervals in this place, and bring me -sweetmeats and little presents, and I can remember that on these -occasions he was always dressed in a brilliant uniform, which filled my -childish heart with admiration and awe. My most distinct recollection -concerning my father is of the circumstances attending his death. He was -brought to the house one day with blood-stained bandages around his head -and breast and with face ghastly pale. They laid him upon a couch, and -for several days physicians came to treat him, and men dressed in even -brighter and finer uniforms than his came to visit him, and some of them -chucked me under the chin and called me a fine little fellow. Then one -day he called me to his bedside and said to me, in such a faint voice -that I had to put my ear to his mouth in order to catch his words: -‘Eliezer, my darling boy, I am going to die and must leave you alone in -the world. But I have spoken to good people, and they have promised me -to care for you and to see that you are educated to become what your -father was—a soldier—but a higher and nobler one than he could be. -Always be good and honorable in all your doings, and above all, my son, -never forget, wherever you may be or whatever you may become, that you -are a Jew, as your father was, and never permit anything to swerve you -from your faithfulness to the holy traditions of our religion and -people.’ Then he kissed me on my brow, and, child though I was, I knew -that something dreadful was going to happen, and burst forth into an -agony of bitter weeping that shook my little frame convulsively. That -same night he died, and the day after the next he was taken away in the -midst of a great concourse of people, among whom were many Jewish men -and women whom I knew not, and who wept and cried aloud as they -accompanied the funeral procession. There was also a long line of -soldiers, who marched with flags draped and guns reversed, and in front -of whom went musicians and drummers with crape-covered drums, who played -together a sad, funereal strain as they marched. I was left behind, -gazing out of the window at the funeral procession as long as it was in -sight, weeping as though my very heart would break and feeling that I -was left all alone now in the world, without friend, protector, or -well-wisher. But the same afternoon a kindly spoken, friendly looking -officer, attired in a brilliant uniform, came to my lodgings, told the -old woman who had charge of me that he was Col. Ivan Mentchikoff, and -that he had been appointed legal guardian of Corporal Schwartzfeld’s son -and had come to take me away. I noticed that the old woman did not seem -satisfied, and grumbled something to herself with a discontented air, -but she did not audibly object, but took the money which the colonel -offered her. She then packed together my little belongings, carried them -down to the carriage which was waiting at the door, and the colonel and -I entered and drove off to the railroad station, whence we left for the -colonel’s home, which was in the town of Yellisavetgrad, many miles -away. I remained with the family of the colonel for eight or nine years. -I was treated with the utmost kindness—in fact, in all regards, except -one, exactly like the children of the family. Colonel Mentchikoff was -very particular in regard to the education of his children. He kept the -best of private tutors for all subjects, and was especially insistent -that they should learn all the chief European languages, a knowledge of -which, he declared, was essential to a Russian gentleman. I had, of -course, the advantage of all this, the same as all the others, and I -quickly discovered that I had a special linguistic talent, and, while I -easily kept pace with the Mentchikoff boys and girls in all the subjects -of instruction generally, as regards the acquisition of languages I was -so superior that I could not be compared with them at all. It was no -trouble at all to me to acquire a new language; the forms seemed to -impress themselves naturally on my mind, and my memory retained with the -greatest ease the multitudes of new terms and expressions which each -tongue presented. - -[Illustration: - - I WAS LEFT BEHIND, GAZING OUT OF THE WINDOW AT THE FUNERAL PROCESSION. - - _Page 196_] - -“The point in which my education differed from that of my companions was -that of religion. Colonel Mentchikoff was a zealous adherent of the -Greek Church, and insisted that his children should be instructed in its -doctrine, and also that they should attend worship regularly in the -beautiful church of the town. I was exempted from both these -requirements, but, as he did not forbid my attendance at them, I formed -the habit of being of my own accord present at the lessons in religion -which a certain pope gave them twice weekly, and I was frequently -present at service in the church on Sundays and feast days. Hebrew -instruction I did not receive, and was, to my shame I must confess, -utterly ignorant of the teachings of the religion in which I was born -and to which my father, on his dying bed, had adjured me to be faithful. -I did not, however, feel at all attracted to the teachings of Greek -Christianity. My attendance at church and lessons was induced solely by -curiosity, and I often found myself smiling contemptuously at the things -my companions were obliged to learn and believe. As I knew and kept -nothing of Judaism either, I suppose I must have been classed at that -time as a youthful heathen. - -“After I had been about two years in Colonel Mentchikoff’s house he told -me my father’s story and the reason why he, the colonel, was so friendly -to me. My father, it seems, had been a soldier in the Russian army most -of his life, and had attracted attention because of his gallantry and -fidelity. He had taken part in many battles in the Caucasus and had -risen to the rank of corporal, which was as high as an uneducated man -and a Jew could aspire. In a fierce hand-to-hand struggle in one of -those battles he had saved the life of Colonel Mentchikoff, who had -then, impelled by gratitude, asked him in what way he could recompense -him for the great service he had rendered him. My father, blessed be his -memory, who was as unassuming and modest as he was brave, answered that -he desired no recompense for himself, as he had only done his duty in -defending his commander, but that he had an only child, a son, whose -mother had died while he was yet an infant, and that he, my father, -desired, in case he met his death in the war, that the colonel should -see that the boy was cared for and properly educated, and if in future -years the intolerant laws should be changed and it would be permitted to -Jews to become military officers, that he should endeavor to have him -admitted to the military academy and prepared for the martial career. -All this the colonel had willingly promised, and thought it but a slight -reward for the saver of his life. - -“Shortly after my father received his death wound at the hand of one of -the savage warriors of the Caucasus. He was brought, at his own urgent -request, to the house where his little son was living in charge of an -old nurse, to pass the few remaining days of his existence; and when he -had died he received, in consideration of his exceptional merit, the -distinguished honor of a great military funeral. The colonel, had then -taken formal charge of me, and ever since I had resided in his home. The -colonel assured me that he loved me dearly, for the sake of my father, -whose memory he held sacred, and that he would do all in his power to -promote my welfare and to assist me to embrace the military career as my -father had desired. He was as good as his word. Until my fourteenth year -he cared for me in the most liberal and kind-hearted manner, providing -equally well for my physical and intellectual needs, and then, since I -had reached the age when youths, intending to take up the military -career must begin their studies, he procured my admission into the -Imperial Military Academy at St. Petersburg. The illiberal laws -prohibiting the conferring of commissions on Hebrews had not, it is -true, been formally abrogated, but the spirit of tolerance was abroad in -the land; it was in the days of the good Czar Alexander II., who had in -so many ways alleviated the lot of all the oppressed peoples of his -realm, and so my kind protector and guardian met with no difficulties or -discouragements in seeking my admission into the academy. On the -contrary, the officials of the institution were exceedingly kind and -sympathetic. They received me with open arms as the orphan son of the -gallant Corporal Schwartzfeld, of whose heroic record they were well -aware, and as the ward of the well-connected and influential Colonel -Mentchikoff. The fact of my being a Hebrew was hardly referred to, or, -if any casual mention thereof was made, it was accompanied with the -statement that that would undoubtedly make no difference in my case, and -that, in view of my exceptional recommendations, I need anticipate no -difficulty in obtaining a satisfactory appointment when once I had -completed my course. - -“I took leave of my benefactors with tears and embraces—and to this day -I cannot think of Colonel Mentchikoff and his good, kind family without -being deeply moved, for they were noble, true-hearted people, and very -good to me—and took up my studies at the military academy. I will not -refer at length to my career at the military academy, for now it makes -no difference whether I did well or poorly, and, besides, it were -foolish for the poor scissors-grinder to boast of the past glories of -his life. Suffice it to say that I more than held my own in every branch -of instruction, and made, besides, a specialty of three subjects. I -devoted myself with great zeal to the pursuit of military engineering -and languages, and also sought to acquire an expert knowledge of the -manufacture and preparation of weapons, both of those which cut and -those which discharge projectiles. The latter two branches of knowledge -I pursued with the idea that they would be particularly useful if ever I -became a member of the general staff or obtained some high military -political post, when a knowledge of languages, particularly of the -Slavonic tongues, and ability to criticise the quality of weapons -furnished to the army would be invaluable. I thought of myself as a -soldier, and a soldier only. To other matters I hardly devoted a -thought, so absorbed was I in my preparations for my prospective -vocation—least of all to religious loyalty or Hebraic traditions. During -all the seven years of my attendance at the military academy I never -entered a synagogue—in fact, I would not have known what to do had I -gone there, for I was utterly ignorant of Hebrew and knew nothing of the -mode or manner of worship among the Jews; I never kept a Jewish holiday, -never was present at a religious gathering of any kind, for I had given -up also my former curiosity concerning Christianity; I did not associate -with or even know any Hebrew; in short, to all intents and purposes, I -forgot that I was a Jew or had any need to consider the question of my -relation to my ancestral faith, and my friends and colleagues at the -academy, who were all very liberal-minded and tolerant, did not remind -me of it in any way. Personally I was popular with both teachers and -students, and, when the last year of the course began, I received an -unofficial intimation from the faculty that, on account of my -exceptional proficiency in technical matters, I would be recommended for -appointment after graduation as a captain of engineers. - -“At last the day of days, long looked for—commencement—arrived. I had -passed a splendid examination and was designated valedictorian of the -class. The great _aula_ or hall of the academy was filled to overflowing -with a brilliant and distinguished assemblage, among them brave men and -fair women, bearers of the proudest and most ancient names in Russia. At -the front of the hall facing the stage sat, in two long rows, the -graduates, in their natty uniforms, among them myself. At the front of -the stage, at a table on which were flowers, the graduates’ diplomas, -and other papers, sat the venerable General Popoff, president of the -academy, and behind him the faculty and a large number of honored -visitors. Just before the hour appointed for the beginning of the -ceremonies, an orderly entered the hall, strode up to General Popoff, -saluted in regulation military fashion, handed him a note, saluted -again, and retired. I do not know why it was, but a shiver of -apprehension went through me as I saw this action. I felt instinctively -that it concerned me and boded me no good. The General opened the -letter, my eyes mustering him painfully the while, and I could see him -start as he read its contents. For a moment he sat with his head resting -on his hands, evidently plunged in deep thought. Then he summoned an -attendant and spoke a few words to him. A moment later the attendant -stood at my side. - -“‘The General desires to speak to you in the room at the side of the -stage,’ he said. - -“The hot blood surged impetuously to my head and my heart beat violently -as I entered the room whither I had been summoned. General Popoff was -already in and looked at me pityingly as I entered. ‘At your command, -General,’ I said, concealing my agitation with a mighty effort and -saluting stiffly. The General did not answer, but handed me a paper, -evidently the letter which he had just received. It was an official -communication, bore the governmental seal, and read as follows: - - - “‘MINISTRY OF WAR. - - “‘_To General Alexei Popoff, President of the Imperial Military - Academy._ - - “‘SIR: The receipt of your report certifying to the cadets entitled - to graduation and recommending the same to various appointments in - the army is hereby acknowledged. The same is approved, and you are - authorized to issue certificates of graduation to all the cadets - therein named, with the exception of Cadet Schwartzfeld. In his case - there appears to be some doubt whether he has been properly baptized - in the Orthodox Church, and you are hereby ordered to withhold his - certificate until you have convinced yourself that such is the case. - - “‘In the name of the Minister, - - - “‘KRASNEWITZ, _Secretary_.’ - - -“I read the note through two or three times. Its contents seemed to burn -themselves with letters of fire into my brain. I looked at the General. -He did not say anything and appeared deeply agitated. At last I forced -myself to address him, and my voice sounded strangely harsh and metallic -as I spoke: - -“‘What is to be done in this matter, your Excellency?’ I said. - -“‘My dear boy,’ said the General, and the true note of sympathy rang in -his voice, ‘I sent in my report over a month ago, and, not receiving any -answer, I thought everything was well and that I could go ahead. I did -not think this would happen. There is only one thing that you can do. -You must go and have yourself baptized in the orthodox faith, or else -you can receive neither your certificate nor your appointment, and your -career is at an end.’ - -“‘But how about this evening’s affair?’ I said, and the whole world -seemed reeling about me. ‘Am I not to receive my certificate? Am I not -to deliver my valedictory?’ - -“‘Strictly speaking, you should not be permitted to do either,’ said the -General, and his voice sounded even more sympathetic than before; ‘but I -should be sorry to see you suffer public humiliation. I will tell you -what I can do. If you will promise me that to-morrow you will go and be -baptized, I will accept your word of honor and you shall receive your -certificate and deliver your address. But you must answer me at once,’ -and he glanced at his watch, ‘for the hour is growing late and the -proceedings must soon begin.’ - -“My brain seemed to become paralyzed and to lose all power of thought as -I listened to the General’s words, kindly spoken, but, oh, so bitter to -me. My heart struck at my breast as though it would burst its confines. -I longed to give the answer the General desired, but the figure of my -dying father, lying outstretched upon his couch of suffering, rose -suddenly before me; again I saw his pale face and blood-stained -bandages, and again I heard his faint voice saying, ‘Above all, my son, -never forget that you are a Jew, and never permit anything to swerve you -from your faithfulness to the holy traditions of our religion and -people’—and I could not. - -“‘I cannot give you that promise now, your Excellency,’ I said, in a -broken voice, whose agonized groaning was perceptible even to me. ‘I -must have time to think over the matter.’ - -“‘In that case,’ said the General, and his voice sounded distinctly -harder, ‘I must ask you to leave the hall, where your presence has -become improper; and any time you are ready to take the necessary steps -you can notify me, and I will see to it that you receive your -certificate and appointment.’ - -“I saluted and retired. I went to my seat, took my military cap, and, -without saying a word to my fellow-students, at once left the hall, -though I could not fail to notice the buzz of astonishment from both -cadets and audience as I strode through the aisle toward the door. That -night on my couch I fought a fiercer battle than any in which I could -ever have taken part had I been privileged to enter upon my projected -career. Two opposing forces were arrayed against each other and -contended fiercely—on the one side self-interest and the disappointment, -naturally intense, at seeing an ardently desired career thus cruelly cut -off, nipped not even in the bud; on the other side filial devotion and a -newly awakened sense of racial and religious loyalty. The one said: ‘Why -ruin yourself? What does Judaism concern you? You have never observed -its precepts. Let them sprinkle the three drops over you. It is only the -ticket of admission to your future. Inwardly you can remain as you are.’ -The other said little. It was only the pale face of my dying father and -his faint voice speaking: ‘Above all, my son, never forget that you are -a Jew, and never permit anything to swerve you from your faithfulness to -the holy traditions of our religion and people.’ - -“All night long the battle raged, while I tossed on my weary couch and -never closed an eye; but when the early morning light stole through my -lattice, my father had won the victory. I rose, hastily made my toilet, -and wrote a letter to the General, informing him that my decision had -been made to remain loyal to my faith, even at the cost of my career. On -the same day I packed together my belongings and left forever that -Russia that had grown hateful to me. I sailed at once for America, the -land where men are free and where the State does not ask what is a man’s -descent or religion before permitting him to consecrate his services to -it. In New York I found that my talents and knowledge did not avail in -securing a position. Every place seemed filled and there was no lack of -people of education looking unsuccessfully for work. But, fortunately, I -understood the art of sharpening and tempering steel blades, and thus I -became a knife-sharpener and scissors-grinder, and manage to support -myself. Now you know why I am in New York, a scissors-grinder and a Jew, -instead of being in Russia, a captain of engineers and a Christian. Can -I sharpen anything else for you to-day? No, next time; all right, -good-bye.” - -And the scissors-grinder went forth in search of other customers, -merrily whistling the while and leaving Mendel Greenberger behind, -plunged in deep reflection. - - - - - THE SHLEMIHL. - - -Novo-Kaidansk was a most _shlemihlig_ sort of place, and Yerachmiel -Sendorowitz was the most _shlemihlig_ of all its inhabitants. Indeed, -his character as such was so pronounced and universally known that he -was seldom referred to by his proper cognomen, but usually spoken of as -“Yerachmiel Shlemihl,” or, in shorter form, “the _Shlemihl_.” For the -benefit of those of my readers who are not familiar with the -Judæo-German idiom, I will explain that the noun “_Shlemihl_” is -generally supposed to be a corruption of the first name of Shelumiel ben -Zuri-shaddai, one of the princes of Israel in the wilderness, of whom -Heine has sung, and who, according to Jewish tradition, was a most -awkward sort of fellow, who was continually getting into all sorts of -scrapes. The noun “_Schlemihl_,” accordingly, signifies an aggravated -sort of ne’er-do-well, a hopeless incapable; and the adjective derived -therefrom is synonymous with all that is utterly unprogressive and -wretched. - -[Illustration: - - THE MAN WAS A WOE-BEGONE SPECIMEN OF HUMANITY, WITH HUNGRY EYES GAZING - AT YOU OUT OF A CARE-WORN, FURROWED COUNTENANCE - - _Page 212_] - -Both Novo-Kaidansk and Yerachmiel Sendorowitz were deserving of these -appellations in fullest measure. The town was a collection of miserable -huts and shanties, irregularly scattered over the dull expanse of a -Lithuanian plain, with unpaved streets that were ankle-deep in dust most -of the summer, and knee-deep in mud and slush and snow most of the -winter. The man was a woe-begone specimen of humanity, with hungry eyes -gazing at you out of a careworn, furrowed countenance, the lower part of -which was surrounded by a neglected-looking, reddish beard; clad in an -aged suit of many colors—a man who was ready to do any and every work -for a few kopecks, and who was rarely so fortunate as to see a whole -rouble. He was not a bad sort of fellow at all, nor stupid. On the -contrary, he had somewhat of a smattering of Hebrew education, and he -endured with patience the unceasing chidings and naggings of his wife -Shprinze, who, despite the auspicious significance of her name—a Yiddish -corruption of the melodious Spanish appellation Esperanza—Hope—and thus -also a far-off reminder of the sojourn of the children of Israel in the -beautiful Iberian peninsula—did nothing to inspire the spouse of her -bosom with courage or confidence, but was enough to break down the -resolution of any man. He was never known to answer her revilings with a -single harsh word. No doubt much of his patience was due to his -knowledge of the fact that Shprinze had ample provocation, for, whatever -might have been the reason, Yerachmiel simply could not earn a living. -But, though Shprinze had provocation for her ill-temper, justification -she had none. Yerachmiel did the very best he could, and it was not his -fault but only the cruelty of unfeeling fate which prevented him from -extracting even “bread of adversity and water of affliction” from the -world. He tried to earn a little by being a porter or burden-bearer for -one of the merchants of the town at very scanty wages, but just as he -was about to get the place, along came a younger and stronger man and -offered to do the work for even less. Needless to say, the latter was -selected. He thought he could earn his livelihood by being a -_Mithassek_, that is to say, one who watches at the bed of the dead and -performs the funeral ablutions and rites; but it was provokingly healthy -that season. No one died for a long time; and when at last the angel of -death did claim one of the Hebrew residents of Novo-Kaidansk—a wealthy -_Baal Ha-Bayith_ he was, too, whose family always paid liberally for all -services rendered to any of its members—it just happened that they had a -poor relative, an aged man of greater learning and stricter piety than -Yerachmiel; and so, of course, he was preferred, and Yerachmiel was not -considered at all. At one time he dealt in fruit, purchasing a small -stock with a sum of money which a pitying philanthropist had given him -in order to set him up in business; but the demand for fruit was very -slack just then, and in a short time Yerachmiel decided to retire from -that line of commerce with the capital which he had originally -possessed, that is to say, nothing. He made a dozen other attempts to -coax the unwilling world into providing him with sustenance, but each -attempt ended with the same result—failure, and caused him to sink -appreciably lower in the estimation of Shprinze, whose temper grew -bitterer and whose tongue sharper with every new proof of her husband’s -_Shlemihligkeit_. In fact, the term _Shlemihl_ no longer harmonized with -her conception of her husband’s worthlessness; it was too mild, too -utterly inadequate. She began to address him by no other term than -_Shlamazzalnik_, that is, one doomed and predestined to perpetual -misfortune; and soon the neighbors and the other townspeople, and even -the children on the streets, took up the cry, and “Yerachmiel -Shlamazzalnik” resounded from one end to the other of the dusty highways -of Novo-Kaidansk whenever the poor fellow made his appearance. Poor -Yerachmiel! He used to console himself by saying that he was the equal -in some respects of the great Ibn Ezra, the renowned Hebrew exegete and -poet of the Middle Ages, for the latter was also an incurable _Shlemihl_ -and _Shlamazzalnik_. Yerachmiel used to think he was reading of his own -experiences when he read the complaint of Ibn Ezra: - - “Were I to deal in candles, - The sun would shine alway; - And if ’twere shrouds I’d handle, - Then death would pass away.” - -But poetry, though it may be a good consoler, is a poor substitute for -substantial food and the other requisites of a comfortable life; and so -Yerachmiel was not entirely satisfied with his lot, even though the -great Ibn Ezra was a companion in misfortune. Finding that his attempts -to earn a living by work were not crowned with success, Yerachmiel did -what other unsuccessful persons have done under similar circumstances—he -took to religion. He became an assiduous attendant at the local Beth -Hammidrash, was present at all services, morning, afternoon, and -evening, and remained in the sacred edifice during the greater part of -the day and night. He would pray with great fervor, particularly the -“prayer for sustenance” at the end of the morning service, would listen -attentively to the rabbi or the other learned Talmudists expounding the -Holy Law, and would sometimes try to learn a little himself from some of -the bulky tomes. He was, no doubt, sincere in his new-found fervor, but -candor impels the statement that one of the motives of his fondness for -the sacred place was a desire to have a refuge in which the sharp tongue -of Shprinze could not reach him; and another was a desire to participate -in the doles which were distributed on certain occasions, such as the -beginnings of months or the memorial days of the death of the parents of -well-to-do members to the poor persons who regularly attended. In this -way he managed to exist in a precarious fashion, at least without being -a burden to his wife; for whenever he had a little money he gave it to -her, and when he had none he simply did not eat. It is true, he was -sometimes obliged to go without food or with next to none for several -days at a time; but, like all other things, semi-starvation becomes a -habit, and Yerachmiel was so used to it he did not even complain. - -One afternoon he was poring over one of the volumes of the Talmud, -trying to interest himself in a particularly intricate disputation -between Abaye and Raba, and thus forget the unidealistic fact that he -had not eaten a substantial meal in three days, and that there were no -visible prospects of obtaining any in the near future. He had fallen -into a light doze, and was just dreaming that he had been invited by the -_Parnass_ to take dinner with him on the Sabbath, and that the Sabbath -goose, juicy and savory and appetizing, had just been carried to the -table, when he was aroused by a hearty whack on his shoulders and a loud -voice exclaiming, in boisterous though friendly tones, “Wake up, old -_Chaver_! What are you doing here?” Yerachmiel awoke with a start. The -vision of savory goose disappeared into thin air, and he was about to -protest angrily against the rude disturbance of his entrancing dream -when he recognized that the man who stood before him with a broad smile -upon his countenance was none other than Shmulke Aronowitz, his old-time -friend and boyhood comrade. It was Shmulke, sure enough, but strangely -altered. He was dressed in an elegant suit of foreign make; his hair and -beard were closely trimmed, and his whole appearance, including his -ruddy countenance and his cheerful smile, indicated prosperity. All of -these characteristics were strange enough in Novo-Kaidansk, heaven -knows, but they were hardly to be wondered at in Shmulke, who had -emigrated to America some twenty years previously and had amassed wealth -in the liquor business in the classic vicinity of Baxter Street, New -York. He had Americanized his cognomen into Samuel Aarons, and had -incidentally acquired local fame by pugilistic ability so that he was -sometimes referred to as “Sam, the Hebrew slugger.” He was now on a -visit to his native town, where his parents still resided, and was -unfeignedly glad to see Yerachmiel, who had been a real chum to him in -boyhood days. The latter sat gazing dazedly at his old friend for a few -moments, utterly unable to speak, so overwhelmed was he by the -unexpected sight and also by the manifest contrast between his own -condition and that of his friend. - -Shmulke recalled him to himself. “Come, come, old comrade,” he said with -good-humored impatience. “Don’t sit staring at me as though I were a -curiosity in a circus. Speak out and tell me how you are getting on.” -Thus encouraged, Yerachmiel lost no time in pouring his sad story into -the ears of his friend. Shmulke listened attentively until the tale was -all told, including the present hunger and the dream goose, and then -said: “That is too bad, Yerachmiel. I am really sorry that you are so -unfortunate. Come with me now to the inn of Reb Yankele, where, if you -can’t get the roast goose of which I deprived you, at least you can get -_something_ to eat, and there we can consult as to what can be done for -you.” Yerachmiel complied with alacrity. - -Reb Yankele was more than surprised at the unexpected apparition of -Yerachmiel the _Shlemihl_, who had never in all his life been rich -enough to be a guest at the _Kretchm_, although he had been glad to get -an occasional meal or drink there in return for odd jobs, boldly -entering his establishment as the companion of a manifestly prosperous -_Deitch_. He stepped forward with an obsequious bow and a deferential -“What do the gentlemen wish?” - -“The best your house has of food and drink,” answered Shmulke, “and be -quick about it. A rouble or two more or less makes no difference.” - -Thus encouraged the innkeeper performed his task with alacrity; and in a -few minutes Shmulke and Yerachmiel were sitting down before a very fair -meal, consisting of beet soup, roast chicken, boiled potatoes, black -bread, onions sliced in vinegar, and a large bottle of _vodka_. -Yerachmiel almost imagined himself in _Gan Eden_, and was convinced that -if dreams were not prophetic, they were certainly closely akin to -prophecy. The roast chicken, if not equal in quality to the dream goose, -was not much inferior; and the _vodka_, while undoubtedly not as good as -the wine which is stored up for the righteous since creation’s dawn, was -yet abundantly satisfying to a poor sinner in the cheerless present. - -Shmulke watched Yerachmiel’s enjoyment of the meal with a quiet smile of -satisfaction, and said to him: “What is the best way to provide you with -a permanent _parnoso_?” Yerachmiel did not exactly know. He suggested -half a dozen different sorts of business, from banker to butcher, but -was most inclined to favor the occupation of innkeeper, of whose -delights he had just had emphatic demonstration. - -Shmulke rejected all these propositions with scorn. “To tell you the -truth,” he said, “I don’t believe you could succeed at anything in -Russia. You are too much of a _Shlemihl_, and you could never get along -without some one to look after you. What do you say to going with me to -America? I would set you up in business and help you along with my -advice.” - -The magnificence, as well as the unexpectedness, of this proposal fairly -took Yerachmiel’s breath away. Indeed, it made him feel a little faint. -He did not really want to go to America. He admired America as a land of -extraordinary and incomprehensible prosperity; but he also feared it as -a land which corrupted Jewish piety, and made the holy people faithless -to their ancient heritage. He would rather have remained in his native -place and continued to live in his accustomed manner could he have been -assured of even the most modest sustenance. But in his heart he knew -that Shmulke had spoken the truth; that he was too much of a _Shlemihl_ -to succeed without friendly aid and sympathetic guidance, and that he -could not expect to receive those from any one except the old friend of -his youth. He therefore murmured a confused assent, adding, however, -faintly that he was afraid Shprinze might not be willing to have her -husband leave her and go to so distant a land. - -“Don’t worry about that, old friend,” said Shmulke, with a broad smile. -“I’ll guarantee that she will not put any obstacles in the way of her -own prosperity. And now that you have agreed, we will go and see her at -once.” - -Shmulke was right. Shprinze assented at once to Shmulke’s proposition, -which was that he would take Yerachmiel to America and assist him to -become self-supporting, that he would provide her with sufficient money -to maintain her for several months until Yerachmiel would probably be -able to send her of his own earnings; and that if Yerachmiel proved -unable to adapt himself to the conditions of America and find his way in -his new home, at the end of three years he, Shmulke, would send him back -to his native place with a substantial gift. Indeed, her assent was so -willing, and given with such manifest pleasure, that it jarred -disagreeably upon Yerachmiel, and was not altogether pleasing even to -Shmulke. - -Thus did Yerachmiel Sendorowitz become a resident and a respected -citizen of the metropolis of America. It is not necessary to enter into -the details of his career in the New World, which did not differ -essentially from that of many of his Russian Jewish compatriots. At -first he was a peddler, Shmulke providing him with suitable goods and -initiating him into the mysteries of the profession. He did not fail. -The mysterious something in the American atmosphere which confers energy -and shrewdness and practical sense seemed to be even more potent than -usual in his case. This may have been due to the fact that the -_Shlemihligkeit_, which had hitherto been his distinguishing -characteristic, had been more apparent than real, and that he had really -possessed innate qualities of courage and astuteness which only had -lacked the opportunity of manifesting themselves. However that may have -been, he certainly became a different man under the invigorating -influence of America. He toiled early and late with untiring assiduity -and industry; he purchased his little articles of merchandise wisely and -sold prudently. In six months he had developed into a customer peddler, -and no longer wandered through the streets with a pack upon his back, -but went with samples only to the numerous customers whose friendship -and trade he had gained, and received their orders. A year later he had -given this up also, and was the proud and happy possessor of a peddler’s -supply store in one of the little streets which abut on the main -thoroughfare of the Jewish East Side, Canal Street, and had purchased a -tenement house. Success even affected his personal appearance favorably. -The old slouchy, unkempt, ne’er-do-well, with the hungry eyes and -hopeless air, had disappeared forever, and in his stead had come a -bright, alert, neat, active man. Yerachmiel the _Shlemihl_ had given way -to Mr. Sendorowitz, the prosperous wholesale merchant and real-estate -owner. Nor had he failed to keep his promises to Shprinze. He wrote to -her regularly, every week, telling her in detail and with great pride -about his doings and his successes, not failing either to give due -credit to Shmulke for the large share which the latter had had in -bringing about these gratifying results, and always inquiring -solicitously about her health and welfare. Once a month he sent her -money, at first only a few roubles, afterward larger sums, but always -sufficient to enable her to live in proper comfort in the little Russian -town of her residence. He often wrote her, too, of his intention to go -out and take her to his new home as soon as business would permit, she -having expressed a strong aversion to crossing “the great sea” alone. In -all this he was thoroughly sincere, for he was naturally the soul of -honor, and really loved his wife in a simple, unreflecting way, despite -the slight cause she had ever given him for affection. Besides, his -Talmudic studies had given him a clear conviction that a Jewish husband -was under many obligations to his wife; but his ideas of the counter -duties of wife to husband were much less distinct. Despite the slight -demands which he made upon the conjugal sentiment of his life partner, -he had, however, to confess to himself that the letters of Shprinze were -not satisfactory. They were excessively brief, not very frequent, -expressed very little interest in his personal welfare or his doings, -and invariably contained a demand for a larger amount of money. -Yerachmiel tried to obey the rabbinical precept, “Judge every one -leniently,” and to find excuses for Shprinze’s unsympathetic demeanor. -He told himself that women are naturally inclined to scold, and that -Shprinze was merely following the rule of her sex; that she did not put -full faith in his tales of prosperity, and was demanding money as a test -of their truth; that women are naturally less expressive of the -affection they feel than are men, and a half-dozen other excuses for her -apparent coldness and mercenariness. But none of these excuses seemed -really adequate, and gradually Yerachmiel found a great dissatisfaction -with the conduct of his wife toward him rising in his breast. Finally, a -most painful question began to torture him. “Did Shprinze love him at -all, or was her interest in him purely mercenary, and limited to the -material benefits which she could derive from him?” - -Simple-minded as Yerachmiel was in worldly things, untutored in romantic -concepts and affairs of the heart, his whole nature revolted against the -idea of marital relations with a woman in whose soul burned no flame of -love for him as her husband. But how could he ascertain the truth; how -find out whether his wife really loved him or not? Gradually a plan -matured in his mind. He did not permit Shprinze to have any inkling of -the doubts and the conflicting emotions by which he was agitated. He -wrote her as frequently and regularly as hitherto, and sent her monthly -remittances of money with unfailing punctuality. After some five years -of absence he wrote her that he had found it at last possible to -withdraw his constant personal attention from business for a few months, -and that he would come out and take her with him to his new home in -America. When Shprinze received this letter it did not fill her with the -joy which the prospect of reunion with a beloved and long-absent husband -might be expected to inspire in the heart of an affectionate and devoted -wife. She would have preferred the indefinite continuance of the -condition which had now lasted upward of five years, and which she had -found very agreeable. It had been very pleasant to receive constant -remittances of money, to live in comfort and ease, and to be looked up -to on all sides as the fortunate and happy one. When she had entered the -women’s gallery in the synagogue all the women had hastened to make way -for her with the utmost deference; and many a highly esteemed _Baal -Ha-bayis_ had looked upon her with favor, and would not have spurned to -ask her hand in marriage if her incumbrance on the other side of the -Atlantic would only have been good enough to make a polite exit for a -better world, leaving her a substantial fortune in American dollars. And -now all this was to cease; and she must leave her native place for a -strange land, and live again with one whom in her heart she still -despised as a _Shlemihl_, despite his unexpected good fortune in the New -World. Besides, she had a dim presentiment of evil, a feeling that the -advent of Yerachmiel meant some undesirable change in her tide of -fortune, why or what she could not think. At last a despatch came from -Yerachmiel, informing her that he was in Hamburg, and would reach -Novo-Kaidansk with the train due at such and such an hour. At the -appointed hour she was at the station, accompanied by quite a throng of -Jewish townsfolk bent on giving their long-absent townsman a hearty -welcome. Speculation was rife as to his appearance. Some thought that -his long absence in a foreign land would have removed his Jewish looks; -that he would have shaved off his beard and assumed in every way the -appearance of the Gentile. Others thought such a thing impossible of -Yerachmiel Sendorowitz; that he was far too pious and God-fearing to -fall away so utterly from Jewish ways, and that the only change probable -was that he would be elegantly attired in fine clothing, and would show -in his prosperous and beaming aspect the possession of much -America-gained wealth. The grimy train, drawn by the ugly, soot-covered -locomotive, swept into the low-roofed Russian station. The swarm of -passengers, of all kinds and degrees, flowed from the narrow openings of -the cars; and then a shock came over the waiting throng. From amidst the -crowd of passengers emerged one who was unmistakably Yerachmiel; and, -horrible to relate, the Yerachmiel of old, Yerachmiel the _Schlemihl_. -To be sure, he was not exactly the same in appearance as of old, for the -hat and suit that he wore were of American make; but they were shabby -and dusty, and ill suited to a prosperous man. His hair and beard were -unkempt and neglected, and his face bore an expression of anxiety and -care. All were surprised and shocked; but the most pitiably shocked of -all was Shprinze. Yerachmiel at once recognized his townsmen and his -wife, and advanced with a sort of wan smile to greet them. The former, -of course, returned his greetings, and inquired how he had fared in -America; but their embarrassment was only too manifest, and cutting -short his answers to them, Yerachmiel turned to his wife, who had been -standing all the while as if petrified, and said: “Come, Shprinze, let -us go home.” Mechanically she led him to her home. Hardly had the door -of the little dwelling closed behind them when all the animation and -energy which had left Shprinze when she beheld her spouse in such -unexpected and unwelcome guise suddenly returned. - -“What is the meaning of all this?” she demanded fiercely, while flames -of wrath blazed from her piercing eyes. “Why do you come to me from -America looking like a beggar and a ragged saint fresh from the benches -of the Beth-Hammidrash instead of a prosperous New York merchant, as you -had made us all believe you had become? Was it all a lie, your -oft-repeated tale of your success in business and your progress? Did you -steal the money you sent me, and have you fled from the officers of the -law, who, perhaps, are after you now? Oh, you are still the same old -_Shlemihl_, the same old goodfor-nothing! Why did the Most High curse me -by making me your wife?” - -“My dear Shprinze, do not rave so!” expostulated Yerachmiel. “How can -you say such things before you have heard any explanation from me? I am -not a liar nor a _Shlemihl_. Whatever I wrote you about my business -success in America was strictly true; and the money I sent you was my -own, and all honestly earned. I have come to take you with me to -America; and I already have the steamship tickets for us both, and -plenty of money for railroad fare and necessary expenses.” - -“Then why are you dressed so shabbily?” continued Shprinze, with -undiminished fierceness; “and why do you look so down-hearted? Is that -the appearance and the bearing suitable to a wealthy merchant, such as -you have claimed to be?” - -“I suppose I am not very particular about my appearance,” answered -Yerachmiel; “and then, I admit, I have had considerable trouble and -losses in business lately, and that may have given me a worried look. -But what need that concern you? I have learned the art of getting on in -America, and I do not fear but that I shall soon be able to recover -whatever I have lost. In the mean while I am here. I am your husband, -and I ask you to come and make your home with me.” - -“You are _mechulleh_,” said Shprinze, suspicion gazing out of every line -of her excited countenance. “I can understand from what you admit that -you have lost all you had, and you want me to share your poverty, or -perhaps to give you the money that I have saved from what you sent me! I -shall not do it! I do not want to go with you! Give me a _Get_. I do not -want to be the wife of such a _Shlemihl_.” - -Yerachmiel’s pale face became fiery red when he heard these harsh and -heartless words; but again he endeavored to bring his wife to a better -frame of mind. “Shprinze,” he said in appealing tones that might have -melted a heart of stone, “is this my welcome home? Have I deserved this -of you? Have I not always been faithful to you, even when I was a poor -_Shlemihl_ in this town, and did I not give you every kopeck I earned? -Did I not send you money abundantly from America? You may trust me. I -still have the means to support my wife, and therefore I again ask you -to come with me to my home, as beseems a good and true wife in Israel.” - -“I will believe you are not _mechulleh_,” said Shprinze, in a tone of -calculating shrewdness, “if you will give me a thousand roubles now. If -you do that I will go with you.” - -“That I shall not do,” said Yerachmiel, a manly anger getting the better -of his usual extreme mildness. “I do not need to buy my wife. Have you -no love for me at all? I ask you to go with me because I can support -you; and as a wife you can ask no more.” - -“Then I see you are _mechulleh_,” answered Shprinze, “and I will not go. -Divorce me, I say; give me a _Get_. I want none of you or your money. -All I want is a _Get_.” - -Again and again did Yerachmiel appeal to Shprinze’s better nature. It -was of no avail. She persisted in her demand and could not be induced to -alter it. Seeing that her determination was unalterable and that her one -wish was to be separated from him, Yerachmiel, although according to the -Jewish religious law he could have refused to consent to the desired -divorce and thus have effectually baffled any other matrimonial plans -that Shprinze might have entertained, decided to accede to her wishes. -“I shall do as you ask, hard-hearted and ungrateful woman,” he said; -“for even now that you treat me thus cruelly I wish you no evil. But one -thing I must tell you. In order to show that this divorce is not in -accordance with my wish, I shall pay neither the rabbi, nor the scribe, -nor any of the other expenses. Whatever outlay there is you must defray. -Thus shall all know that you are the one who seeks to undo the bond that -has bound us together these many years, but that I am satisfied to keep -you as my lawful, wedded wife.” - -Shprinze eagerly agreed to this; and having further agreed that they -should meet on the morrow in the house of Rabbi Israel, the spiritual -guide of the Jewish community of the town, they separated, Yerachmiel -leaving the house without word of farewell. - -Great was the surprise of Reb Yankele, the innkeeper, when Yerachmiel, -whom he had assisted in welcoming at the railroad station a few hours -previously, entered the inn and gloomily inquired whether he could be -accommodated with food and lodging for the night. He wondered greatly -why Yerachmiel was not staying in his own home on the first night after -his arrival from a distant land; but the latter volunteered no -explanation, and Reb Yankele did not venture to ask for any. However, he -did not need to remain long in ignorance. No sooner had Yerachmiel left -his wife’s house than Shprinze rushed to the nearest female neighbor and -told her the news, adding many dreadful details about the repulsiveness -of Yerachmiel’s appearance, his poverty, and his hopeless -_Shlemihligkeit_; adding, however, that in spite of all she must be -grateful to him for his willingness to grant her the divorce she craved, -and assuring her (the neighbor) of her unutterable joy at the prospect -of being at last free from an incurable _Shlemihl_ and _Shlamazzalnik_. -The neighbor, of course, had no more imperative duty to perform than to -put her shawl over her head and rush to communicate to her nearest -neighbor the news, still fresh and hot, of the impending divorce of -Yerachmiel and Shprinze Sendorowitz. In this way not two hours had -passed before the whole _Kehillah_ of Novo-Kaidansk had learned the -news. Reb Yankele had learned why Yerachmiel was his guest; and even -Rabbi Israel had been informed, at evening service in the synagogue, of -the function which he was to be asked to perform on the morrow. - -At nine the next morning Yerachmiel and Shprinze were in the large front -room in the rabbi’s dwelling, which served as his office, and whither -repaired whosoever in Novo-Kaidansk had a religious question to ask or a -ceremony to be performed, or that was in need of spiritual counsel or -guidance of any kind. Shprinze was gayly attired, and chattered -constantly with a group of female acquaintances by whom she was -surrounded. She was in high spirits, and cast occasional contemptuous -glances at Yerachmiel, who sat, moody and abstracted, in a corner and -spoke to no one. Besides these the room was crowded with the most -notable members of the congregation, drawn hither by the exceptional -interest which this extraordinary case had aroused. The side door -opened, and a hush fell upon the assembly as the venerable Rabbi Israel, -accompanied by two coadjutor rabbis and several other persons who were -to take part in the solemn function of pronouncing the divorce, entered -and took their places in seats which had been reserved for their -occupancy, behind long tables at the head of the room. The _Shammas_ -then asked in a loud voice whether there was any one present who desired -to consult the Beth Din on any matter. At this Yerachmiel arose, and, -addressing Rabbi Israel, said: “Venerable rabbi, I desire to divorce my -wife, Shprinze, daughter of Moses; and I request of you to ordain the -issuing of such a divorce, according to the law of Moses and Israel.” - -“I hear your request with sorrow,” said the rabbi, while an expression -of pain passed over his venerable features. “Is it the desire of your -wife also that your marriage be dissolved?” - -Yerachmiel bent his head in assent; and the _Shammas_, in response to a -motion of the rabbi’s hand, called in a loud voice: “Shprinze, daughter -of Moses, step forward.” Shprinze did so, and the rabbi put to her the -question whether she consented to the dissolution of her marriage to -Yerachmiel, son of Isaac, to which she responded with a loud and -distinct “Yes.” Summoning them both before him, the rabbi now addressed -to them a long and earnest plea to give up their intention of divorce. -He pointed out to them that, although the holy Torah permitted the -dissolution of a marriage which had been polluted and desecrated by -gross and abominable sin, or which had grown utterly intolerable to -either or both parties, and left it to their decision whether it should -be dissolved; yet it did not approve, but, on the contrary, severely -condemned, the tearing asunder of the holy bonds of wedlock, and that in -the words of the sages the altar shed tears over husband and wife who -became recreant to the covenant of their youth. He therefore entreated -them most earnestly to become reconciled to each other, and to remain -faithful to the pledges which they had once taken upon each other. To -this touching plea they returned no answer. Yerachmiel gazed at the -floor, his face alternately flushed and ashy pale. Shprinze gazed at the -rabbi with firm eyes and shook her head in the negative. Seeing that his -efforts at reconciliation were useless, the rabbi then announced “the -giving of the _Get_ must, therefore, take place.” - -These words were the signal for the commencement of the divorce -ceremonial, which was now performed with all the solemn and impressive -formalities with which it has been carried out since time immemorial in -Israel. The rabbi appointed an expert and skilful scribe to write the -bill of divorce, which must be written in strict accordance with many -minute and detailed rules, the neglect or violation of any of which -would render it invalid. He also designated two pious and trustworthy -men, both proficient in the art of writing the square Hebrew script, to -act as the official witnesses to the document. The scribe seated himself -at his desk and produced his paper, quill pen, and ink, all of them -specially prepared, in accordance with fixed rules, for this purpose. To -him Yerachmiel, acting under the instruction of the rabbi, now spoke and -directed him to write a bill of divorce for his wife, Shprinze, daughter -of Moses. Amidst breathless silence the scribe now began to write the -document which was to sunder two lives hitherto joined. The writing -lasted a considerable time; and during all its continuance not a sound, -save the steady scratching of the scribe’s pen, was heard, for it is -strictly forbidden to make a noise of any kind while a _Get_ is being -written, lest the sound disturb the _Sopher_ and cause him to err in -some particular, thus necessitating the rewriting of the document. At -last the bill of divorce was finished and the two witnesses appended -their signatures, written in the square Hebrew script, and without title -of any kind. The rabbi then designated two other men of religious -standing and good repute to be the official witnesses of the delivery of -the _Get_. Summoning Shprinze, the rabbi bade her uncover her face, -which hitherto during the proceedings had been covered with a heavy -veil, and said to her in solemn tones: “Shprinze, daughter of Moses, art -thou willing to accept a bill of divorce from thy husband, Yerachmiel, -son of Isaac?” Shprinze responded with a firm “Yes.” Turning to -Yerachmiel, the rabbi asked him whether he still desired to divorce his -wife, to which Yerachmiel answered in the affirmative. Turning again to -the woman, the rabbi said in a stern voice: “Give me thy _Ketubah_. Thou -no longer hast any use for it.” At this, the most feared part in the -divorce ceremony, Shprinze’s face grew slightly pale; but she drew forth -her marriage certificate, which she had brought along for this purpose, -and gave it to the rabbi, who laid it aside, to be destroyed immediately -after the completion of the divorce proceedings. The rabbi then bade her -remove her marriage ring and extend her hands to receive her bill of -divorce. Yerachmiel then took the bill of divorce, placed it in the -outstretched hands of Shprinze, and said: “Behold, this is thy bill of -divorce. Accept thy bill of divorce, and by it thou art released and -divorced from me, and free to contract lawful marriage with any other -man.” With a few earnest words from the rabbi pointing out the duty of -living their separate lives in peace and righteousness, and of avoiding -in the future the sins which had led to this sorrow, the ceremony was -concluded. - -Yerachmiel and Shprinze were no longer man and wife. At once a clamorous -buzz of conversation arose all over the room. The excitement which had -been suppressed so long now burst the bonds of enforced silence and -found relief in vociferous exclamations of wonderment and emphatic -expressions of approval and disapproval. Some of the women congratulated -Shprinze; others held aloof. The men were unanimous in their -condemnation of the hard-hearted woman who had taken her husband’s money -for years and then induced him, when grown poor, to give her a divorce. - -The excitement was at its height, when suddenly a tremendous rap on the -table drew the startled gaze of all toward the spot whence the sound had -proceeded. What they saw caused a hush to fall over the assemblage. -Yerachmiel stood at the side of one of the tables, his cheeks ashy pale, -his eyes blazing with a furious light that no one had ever seen in them -before, fiercely rapping with his cane in an effort to procure silence. -As soon as his voice could be heard he began to speak. - -“Jewish brethren and sisters of Novo-Kaidansk,” he said, with painfully -labored yet distinct utterance. “You have come here to see Yerachmiel -the _Shlemihl_ give divorce to his wife, Shprinze. I know most of you -are good people and have pitied me for being such a _Shlemihl_ that I -could not keep either my money or my wife. But, perhaps, I am not such a -_Shlemihl_ after all. I have not desired nor sought this divorce, but I -have tried to find out the truth about an old wrong and to right it; and -I believe I have succeeded as well as some who are considered wiser and -cleverer than I. _Shlemihl_ though I may be, I have always tried to do -my duty toward my wife. Even before I went to America, when poverty and -wretchedness were my lot in this town, I gave Shprinze every kopeck that -I earned. From America, where God blessed me and made me prosperous, I -sent her regularly all that she could properly require. But in return -for this I asked wifely love. I knew that a husband must honor, cherish, -and maintain his wife; and that a wife must, in true marriage, return -love for love, affection for affection. Shprinze never showed the least -trace of love for me. My soul hungered and thirsted for love. Shprinze -gave me, at worst, bitter revilings and beratings, tongue-stabbings that -pierced my soul like the thrusts of a sword; at best, cold indifference. -In the beginning, when I could not, because of poverty, properly support -her, I excused her. I said to myself that I deserved nothing better. But -when from America I sent abundance of gold and loving words, and showed -in every way I could that I was a true and loving husband, and when, in -return for all this, I could not get an affectionate word, a loving -sentence, I resolved that I would find out whether in Shprinze’s heart -dwelt a spark of love for me, or whether it was only my gold she loved. -The rest you know. I came here, dressed in shabby clothing, looking the -olden _Shlemihl_. Her evil heart made her quickly conclude that I had -lost my all, and without questioning me or offering, like a true wife, -to share my lot, she demanded a divorce. I saw that she loved me not, -that she had never been to me more than a wife in name, and to-day I -have granted her wish. But let me assure her and you, friends, that she -is mistaken in thinking that she has now got rid of a _Shlemihl_, of a -poor, never succeeding unfortunate. She has freed herself of a -successful, of a wealthy man; she has deprived herself of a splendid -home in the greatest city of free America; she has deprived herself of -luxury and riches, and, what is more, of the love of a man who was -deeply attached to her, and who would have given his all for a kind word -or a loving kiss from her lips. See, here are the presents I had brought -here for her, and would have given her had she treated me rightly.” So -speaking, he drew forth a magnificent diamond necklace and a beautiful, -richly ornamented gold watch and chain. “And here is the proof that I am -a man of means and no deceiver—a letter of credit on a Berlin -banking-house for ten thousand marks”—and here he drew from his wallet -the precious document and flourished it triumphantly yet sorrowfully -before the eyes of his hearers. “As for me,” he continued, “I thank the -All-Merciful that He has opened my eyes to the truth, and that He has -freed me from a serpent that would only have devoured my substance, and -with its icy touch have frozen my heart. Now farewell, friends, and -farewell, false and heartless woman. I go to my home beyond the sea, -where I shall try to forget this long, sad dream of misplaced love and -cruel ingratitude and heartlessness.” - -Having thus spoken, he turned and left the room. None ventured to detain -him or to restrain his departure. As he went out of the door, Shprinze, -who had been listening with strained attention to his words, and whose -countenance had alternately flushed and paled as he spoke, rushed -forward as if she would have held him back, then paused, uttered a -piercing, heartrending shriek, and fell in a deathly swoon to the floor. -The cry reached the ears of Yerachmiel as he strode down the dusty -street. An expression of pain crossed his features as he heard it, but -he did not turn and he came not back. - - - - - A VICTIM OF PREJUDICE. - - -Franz Friedrich Levy sat on his high stool before his desk in the office -of the Second Secretariat of the Anhalt-Diesterburg-Rickershofen State -Railroad and reflected discontentedly on his lot. He had rather an -important position, it is true, that of chief bookkeeper of the Second -Secretariat, an important subdivision in the management of the railway, -which was a prosperous governmental institution, binding together a rich -and beautiful stretch of country in middle Germany. He was in receipt of -a very fair salary, occupied a comfortable house in the suburbs of the -town, and was wedded to a rather good-looking wife, with quite a store -of fashionable though useless accomplishments, but still he was not -happy. The cause of his unhappiness was a grievance which he had against -the Ober-Direction or supreme management of the railway, a grievance for -which he thought—and his wife agreed with him in this opinion—there -could be only one explanation. He believed that his promotion was unduly -slow. He had entered the service of the railroad in his twentieth year -as clerk, and now in his forty-fifth, when his once raven black locks -were already heavily streaked with gray and more than a suspicion of -baldness was showing itself on the top of his poll, he was only chief -bookkeeper of one of the numerous subdivisions of the great concern. He -thought that by length of service and capacity he was fitted to be -general manager of the road; but while admitting that he had no right to -aspire to that exalted position, he considered that by this time he -should have attained at the very least to the post of division chief or -superintendent. - -“Why is it that I do not advance?” he asked himself as he sat gloomily -revolving on the high stool. “Am I incapable? Have I been idle, -negligent, or inattentive to my duties? Do I not know all the details of -the business from beginning to end? Do I not know by heart all the -statistics of the road, the number of passengers and the weight of -freight carried, the condition of every station, the receipts and the -expenditures to a pfennig? No, the fault is not mine. It is owing to -_rishus_, to anti-Semitic prejudice. My only fault, as far as I can -discover, is that I am a Jew. To that I owe all my misfortune. This -accursed accident of my birth prevents my talents being appreciated, -prevents my attaining the success which I should naturally reach; and, I -suppose, as long as I am marked with this badge of disgrace and social -inferiority I shall always remain an unimportant, insignificant -individual. That Ober-Director von Meinken, he is, I am sure, the chief -cause of keeping me down. He always looks at me with such a dark, -unfriendly glance whenever I have to enter his office. He is the very -picture of a _Rosho_, although he talks smoothly enough. I don’t doubt -but he would be glad enough to get rid of me altogether if he only knew -how to bring it about.” - -“Aha, friend Levy, why are you plunged in such deep thought?” suddenly -said a deep, hearty voice at his side. “I have been standing here a -whole minute and you have never even noticed my presence, so absorbed -were you in your reflections. Did I not know that you were a married man -of virtuous principles I would say that you were in love. But then the -expression of your face shows that you have not been dreaming sweet -dreams of love delights. If I am any judge of physiognomy at all, your -thoughts have been disagreeable ones. May I ask what they were?” - -Levy turned around with a startled jerk of the high stool. It was the -Herr Ober-Director, Baron Adalbert von Meinken himself with a -good-humored smile on his broad, handsome, Teutonic face, the lower part -of which was covered with a neatly trimmed brown full beard. Levy -blushed guiltily. He felt as though the keen blue eyes of his superior -were gazing into his very soul and reading the thoughts that had just -occupied him. He stammered forth a half apology. - -“The Herr Ober-Director will pardon my preoccupation,” he said, “but I -can assure you that I was not thinking of any outside matter. I never -permit myself to think of outside matters in business hours. I was -thinking of a method of reducing the expenses of the station Weizenhofen -on the Blauberg-Schoenthal branch. That place costs a great deal more -than it ought to, considering the small amount of business done at that -point, and I hope soon to be able to lay a project before your -Excellency which will materially reduce the cost of maintenance of the -station.” - -“Ah,” said the Ober-Director, with a pleased expression, “I might have -known that you, Levy, were not wasting your employer’s time in idle -ruminations. You have always been a faithful, industrious worker, -devoted heart and soul to the interests of the road. I shall be glad to -receive your proposal in the Weizenhofen matter and I shall give it full -consideration.” - -And the Ober-Director passed on and entered his private office. Levy -bent over his books as soon as his chief had passed, and was careful not -to fall into another fit of reflection that afternoon. The words of the -Ober-Director had pleased him but he did not altogether trust them. He -feared that he was under close surveillance, and that all his actions -were being rigidly scrutinized, with a view to finding some flaw in his -conduct. He devoted himself, therefore, with redoubled assiduity to his -routine work until the welcome sound of the bell, announcing the closing -hour, relieved him from further labor for the day. He put on his hat, -exchanged his light office jacket for his street coat, and with a -pleasant word of farewell to his fellow-clerks sallied forth into the -street. As he sauntered down the beautiful Kaiser Strasse, the finest -thoroughfare of the town, through which he always walked both in his -daily journeyings to and from the office and on his Sunday and holiday -promenades, he was greeted by so many friends and acquaintances that his -hand was continually busy raising his hat in response to their -salutations. His social equals, both Christian and Jewish, saluted him -with easy and unaffected cordiality, his humbler acquaintances with -great deference. These manifestations of friendship and respect, instead -of pleasing him, added to his discontent and his resentment against the -authorities of the railroad. He said to himself that it was a crying -shame, indeed an outrage, that a man so generally esteemed and honored -by his fellow-townsmen should be kept in a subordinate position because -of the religious prejudices of his superiors; and should be prevented by -such a reason, so repugnant to the culture and civilization of the -century, from attaining to the rank and emoluments to which he was -clearly entitled. In this frame of mind he reached his handsome -dwelling, which was charmingly situated in the Schoenberger Allee, a new -and fashionable street in the suburbs of the town. To the effusive -greetings of the spouse of his bosom, Frau Ottilie, _née_ Kahn, he -returned a curt answer and threw himself, in an attitude of utter -disgust and weariness, upon the sofa. - -Frau Ottilie Levy was a worthy counterpart of her partner in life. If -harmony in marriage is secured by similarity in tastes and disposition, -theirs should have been an ideal union, for their characters and views -were almost exactly alike. Like her husband, Frau Levy was intensely -ambitious. Her sole aim in life was to secure the greatest possible -measure of wealth and social prestige. She shared her husband’s -grievance to the fullest extent; but, womanlike, she was inclined to put -the blame on him for his failure to advance, and continually nagged and -pestered him with her complaints, and the expression of her discontent -at not being able to shine as much as Frau Geheimräthin So-and-So or -Frau Commerzienräthin Somebody Else. Seeing the discomposure under which -her husband was evidently laboring, her woman’s instinct told her that -now was not the time to nag and scold, but to sympathize and console. -She therefore relinquished, or rather postponed to a more favorable -opportunity, the caustic lecture combined with a demand for a larger -allowance which she had been preparing all day for the special benefit -of her life partner, and began inquiring, with great solicitude, -concerning the cause of his disturbed condition. - -“What is the matter, Franz dear?” she asked, in the same tone of winning -gentleness which she had lately so greatly admired in the celebrated -stage heroine, Adele de Pompadour, as played by Madame Graetzinger, the -renowned _Erste Dame_ of the Stadt Theater. “Why are you so upset? I -trust that nothing serious has happened.” - -“Yes and no,” answered Franz dejectedly; “that old Von Meinken caught me -to-day, when I was thinking about the shameful slowness of my promotion, -or rather my lack of any promotion, and was neglecting my work. I was so -absorbed in thought that I never noticed him, although, as he told me, -he stood by my desk over a minute. Of course I gave him as good an -excuse as I could get up in a hurry to account for my absent-mindedness; -but how can I tell whether the old fox believed what I said or not? -Confound him, he’s always sure to be around when he isn’t wanted. You -can rely on it that I worked extra hard all the rest of the afternoon.” - -“You don’t think that can hurt you any, do you?” asked Otillie, dropping -her theatrical manner, and with just a shade of anxiety in her voice. -“What harm is it if an old, trustworthy employee like you is idle for a -minute or two in the day?” - -“It oughtn’t to be any harm,” answered Franz. “But then you know how -stiff and exacting these Prussian officials are. They think men are -nothing but machines, and they make no allowances for anything. A number -of men have been discharged of late, and then, you know, there is so -much anti-Semitism nowadays. I, as a Jew, have to be particularly -careful.” - -“There’s the root of the whole matter,” said Frau Ottilie, pouncing with -avidity upon her favorite argument. “It’s only because you’re a Jew that -you have any trouble. Don’t tell me that an experienced, faithful -official like you, if he were a Christian, would be trembling with fear -of losing his place because he had been thinking of something for a -moment or two. No such trivial thing would have been of any consequence -in his case. It is only we Jews who must be continually alarmed, -continually alert lest we commit the slightest error; because, in our -case, any fault, sometimes even only imaginary, means ruin. Yes, Heine -was right when he said: ‘Judaism is not a religion; it is a misfortune.’ -It certainly is your misfortune, and therefore mine. As long as you are -a Jew you will never advance. You might as well try to jump over the -moon as to overcome the deep-seated prejudices of Christians against -Jews. You simply cannot do it.” - -[Illustration: - - IT’S ONLY BECAUSE YOU’RE A JEW THAT YOU HAVE ANY TROUBLE - - _Page 252_] - -“But, my dear,” said Levy, who had heard this sort of talk very -frequently, and was rather weary of it, “what is the use of telling me -all that again and again. I know as well as you that being a Jew is the -chief hindrance to my progress. But what is the use of continually -harping on it. I cannot change what I am; so why kick in vain against -the unalterable?” - -“But it is not unalterable,” said Frau Ottilie, with even more acerbity -than the sense of her old and keenly felt grievance usually aroused. -“You talk as though to be a Jew was the same as being a negro, or a -Chinaman, or blind, or lame. The negro cannot make his black skin white, -nor the Chinaman his complexion or his features resemble those of the -Caucasian; neither can the blind nor the lame alter their physical -deformities. But the Jew needs only to speak a meaningless formula and -permit three drops of water to be sprinkled upon him and presto, change, -he has ceased to be a Jew and become a Christian. All his former -blemishes and shortcomings are forgotten, and he is received with open -arms into Christian society. Instead of being an outcast and a pariah, -an individual barely and unwillingly tolerated, he becomes a beloved -brother. Then, why stupidly submit to a load of inherited, unnecessary -trouble? Why not rather take the one bold step which will make an end of -them all at once and forever?” - -“But, my dear Ottilie,” said Franz, who, though used to this line of -argument, was surprised by his wife’s unusual bitterness. “What is the -purpose of all this? You don’t want me to be baptized, to be a -_meshummad_, do you?” - -“That is just what I do want,” answered Ottilie, vehemently. “I want you -to cease being a stupid martyr and begin to be sensible, and I want to -be sensible with you, too. I am not afraid of the word _meshummad_. That -is only a harmless term which stupid and fanatical Jews use to condemn -people who are more sensible than they. Baptism will not hurt you. It is -only the key which will unlock before you the gates of prosperity and -happiness in life. Besides, if you look honestly into your heart you are -no Jew. A Jew must have a faith, must believe in Judaism, and practise a -lot of senseless ceremonies. You do not care a straw for the whole -Jewish religion, nor bother your head about the Sabbath or the dietary -laws, or any of the other absurdities which they call religious -practices in Judaism. I don’t believe you have been inside of a -synagogue in ten years. I am just as little of a Jewess as you are of a -Jew. Yet, by keeping up the name of Jew, without any real reason except -a blind clinging to you know not what, you expose yourself and me and -our only son to all the trouble and disadvantages which result from -connection with a despised and hated people. Again, I say, be sensible. -Pay the price of admission to civilized society, that is, accept baptism -and be done with it.” - -Thus did Ottilie reason and plead with her husband to renounce his -ancestral faith. The argument, thus seriously begun, lasted long, and -was carried on with intense earnestness on both sides. The thought of -accepting Christianity was no new one to Franz. His wife’s constant -perusal of that theme had made it familiar to him, but he had never yet -seriously contemplated the step. The memory of pious parents and of the -religious zeal and piety of youthful days, though long since discarded, -had had force enough to render the thought of apostasy utterly repugnant -and prevent its serious consideration. But Ottilie’s nature was stronger -than his; her’s was the masterful character, his the subordinate. Before -the evening was over, her persistence and adroit reasoning had -overpowered his feeble and illogical resistance. They retired for the -night with the understanding that on the morrow Franz was to inform Herr -Ober-Director von Meinken of his determination to seek salvation in the -arms of the church, and to request the Herr Ober-Director to act as his -godfather at the solemn rite of baptism. - -The following morning Franz awoke in a state of high exhilaration. Now -that he had made up his mind he was thoroughly content, and wondered a -little how he had ever been able to pass so many years with the awful -burden of Judaism resting upon him, hindering and impeding his progress, -which he now pictured to himself as rapid and uninterrupted, bringing -him from step to step to the highest rank in his vocation. Ottilie was -even more jubilant than her husband. She rejoiced that her influence -over her husband was so great as to induce him to take so important and -decisive a step, and she rejoiced particularly when she thought how -grandly she would enter the _salons_ of her distinguished acquaintances, -no longer the merely tolerated Jewess, but the equal and co-religionist -of them all. She pictured to herself with especial delight how solemnly -she would enter the beautiful church, only two squares from their home, -which was so holy and so fashionable; and what a sensation she would -create with her reverent demeanor and her Paris gowns! - -As soon as Franz reached the office he inquired whether the Herr -Director had arrived. As he had anticipated, the Herr Director had not -yet arrived. He did not usually come until about eleven o’clock, and -this morning was no exception. Franz waited with great impatience the -arrival of the great man. He thought it rather inconsiderate of him to -stay away so long when he, Franz Friedrich Levy, desired to make him so -important an announcement. At last, about a quarter of an hour later -than usual, the Herr Ober-Director put in his appearance and went at -once to his private office. He had not been in his sanctum five minutes -when a somewhat diffident knock at the door was heard, and upon his -deep-voiced “Herein!” Franz entered. “Ah, is it you, Levy?” said Herr -von Meinken, with a pleasant smile. “I think I can imagine the reason of -your call this morning. It is, I presume, in reference to that Station -Weizenhofen matter you spoke of the other day.” Franz hesitated. Now -that the decisive moment had come, he grew a little uncertain in his -conviction of the spiritual beauties and material advantages of -Christianity, and would have more than half liked another chance to -think over the matter. But only for a moment. - -“No, your Excellency,” he answered. “It is not in reference to the -Weizenhofen matter that I have taken the liberty to request a brief -interview with you this morning. I am still engaged in working out that -matter, but I am not as yet prepared to make any definite proposition on -the subject. The cause that has brought me before your Excellency this -morning is of an entirely personal nature, but of the highest importance -to me, and I trust that I shall have the benefit of your Excellency’s -kindness and courteous sympathy in connection therewith.” - -Herr von Meinken’s eyebrows rose slightly and his lips tightened just a -little when he heard these words. He did not answer, but continued to -eye Franz with the somewhat cold and dubious gaze of one who expects to -be importuned for a favor and does not feel inclined to grant it. “What -I desire and would respectfully request,” continued Franz, “is that your -Excellency might kindly consent to act as godfather at my baptism, and -that the highly honored baroness might graciously deign to act in the -same capacity for my wife. I do not doubt that you are somewhat -surprised,” he added, noticing the expression of genuine astonishment -upon the Herr Ober-Director’s face, “at this request but the fact is, my -wife and I have contemplated this step for some time. We are no longer -in sympathy with the faith in which we were born. We have come to -recognize that it is a presumption for an insignificant, retrograde -minority to cling to a religion different from that of the great, -cultured majority. Our tastes and views are all in close accord with -those of the Christian people of the land. In a word, we feel that our -place is in the church rather than in the synagogue, and, therefore, we -have finally determined to seek our true spiritual home, the church, and -to request most respectfully your Excellency and your Excellency’s -worthy lady kindly to assist at the solemn rite which joins us with our -fellow-citizens in the close brotherhood of religion, as we have always -been joined to them in the brotherhood of patriotism and love of the -fatherland.” - -The Herr Ober-Director was surprised. There could be no doubt of that. -The expression of his countenance showed it plainly. But another emotion -of a less definite nature was also suggested on his features. It seemed -something like amusement; but one could not be sure, for he did not -explain it. He answered Franz very graciously, congratulated him on his -resolution, which did equal credit to his head and heart, assured him -that the true unity of citizens could only be found in their adherence -to a common faith, and wound up by accepting, in the kindliest and most -condescending manner possible, for himself and the Frau Baronin the -honorable functions of godfather and godmother to Franz and Ottilie. - -Flustered and confused by the extraordinary courtesy of the Herr -Ober-Director and overwhelmed with happiness, Franz retired from the -august presence. The baptism took place, with all due formality, about a -week later. The minister of the fashionable Erlöser Kirche, which -Ottilie so greatly admired, Pastor Boecker, had been more than satisfied -with the intelligent and modest manner in which Franz and Ottilie had -applied for baptism, and had seen no reason to refuse their request for -a speedy performance of the ceremony. At the rite itself, which took -place in the presence of a small but select group of Christian -acquaintances, Franz and Ottilie conducted themselves with due humility -and reverence; and the Herr Ober-Director and spouse performed their -parts with perfect dignity and solemnity, while the Herr Pastor showed, -by the unusual impressiveness of his address, that he considered the act -one of exceptional importance. After the ceremony there was a charming -little supper in a private room of the Hotel zum Blauen Adler. Never -before had the Herr Ober-Director shown himself so affable. He proposed -the health of their newly-made Christian brother and sister in the -warmest and most eloquent terms, alluded in words of sincere -appreciation to Franz’s many years of useful service to the Anhalt -Diesterburg-Rickershofen State Railroad, presaged for him a still more -distinguished career in the future, and wound up by extending to him, -metaphorically, of course, the hand of friendship and brotherhood. As -for the Frau Baronin, she was as charming as she could be to Ottilie, -whose right-hand neighbor at table she was. Our newly-made Christians -were touched to the heart by all the kindness and sympathy that were -shown them, and could hardly refrain from open manifestation of their -joy. When the delightful feast was over and Franz and Ottilie had -reached their home, they gave full vent to their exultation. - -“Now, Franz,” said Ottilie, “you see what it means to be numbered among -the Christians. What cordiality, what sincere friendship they all showed -us! Did you notice how extremely courteous the Frau Baronin was to me? -She never used to do more than barely notice me, with a merely formal -bow. But then I was only a Jewess, while now I am one of her own faith; -that is the difference. I hope now, Franz, you understand how much you -are obliged to me for having urged and finally brought you to consent to -this step, which means so much to both of us. Ah, I shudder when I think -of the time when I was numbered among the despised, wretched Jews. The -church in which we were baptized is rightly called Erlöser Kirche, for -it has redeemed us both from the bondage of Judaism.” - -“You are right, Ottilie,” answered Franz, his face beaming with delight. -“This has been a great day for us. I have no doubt now but I shall -rapidly advance. Did you notice how the Herr Director praised my -services to the railroad and predicted for me a brilliant future? That -is what they call a hint with a fence rail; that from now on I am to -advance. The only obstacle to my progress was my Judaism; and that -hateful stumbling-block being now removed, there is no reason why I -should not rapidly forge ahead in my career.” - -In this edifying and truly spiritual manner did our worthy couple -discuss the advantages of Christianity until a late hour, when they -retired to dream sweet dreams of financial blessings and social joys to -come. The next morning, bright and early, Franz was at his post in the -office of the railroad. He felt it incumbent upon him, so to speak, to -show that he did not presume to take any liberties because of his new -religious status, but that he still intended to merit promotion through -faithful performance of duty. About the usual time the Herr -Ober-Director appeared and, with a friendly nod to Franz, went into his -private office. As his tall form passed through the door, Franz -speculated as to how soon there would come through that door the welcome -message announcing his elevation to the next higher post. He did not -anticipate that it could come very soon; and when a half-hour later the -Herr Ober-Director’s special messenger approached his desk and deposited -upon it a huge envelope addressed to him and bearing the official seal -of the railroad, he was greatly surprised. “So soon,” he said to -himself, as with trembling hands and palpitating heart he tore open the -portentous missive. “This is far speedier than I could have expected. -How overjoyed Ottilie will be when I bring to her already to-day the -welcome news of my preferment. I wonder what the post is for which I am -selected.” Hastily he read; and as he grasped the contents of the -missive, his gaze hardened into a stare, his breath came in short, quick -gasps, all the color fled from his cheeks and left them ashy pale. This -is what he read: - - - “ANHALT-DIESTERBURG-RICKERSHOFEN STATE RAILROAD, - - “BUREAU OF THE ADMINISTRATION. - - “_To Herr Franz Friedrich, Chief Bookkeeper - of the Second Secretariat._ - - “DEAR SIR: We regret to inform you that after the end of the present - week your services will no longer be required. Thanking you for your - faithful efforts in the past, and sincerely regretting the necessity - of dispensing with your services in the future, we remain, - - “Yours very truly, - “THE OBER-DIRECTION, - “SCHMIDT, _Sec’y._” - - -Franz sat for a full minute as one petrified, glaring at the curt -official note which announced the end of all his hopes and ambitions, -hardly able to realize its significance. Then a sudden resolution came -into his mind. He would face the Herr Ober-Director; he would demand the -meaning of this utterly inexplicable and outrageous action; he would -reproach him with his hypocritical professions of friendship at last -night’s celebration; he would shame him into continuing his services. He -rose from his seat, went to the door of the Ober-Director’s private -office and knocked. His chief’s deep-voiced “Herein!” was heard and he -entered. The Herr Ober-Director was seated at his desk, and gazed at -Franz with a grave countenance as he entered. - -“Your Excellency,” said Franz, in a voice almost choked with emotion, -showing the fatal letter as he spoke, “I have just received this -communication, which informs me of my discharge. Is it correct? Am I -really dismissed from the road after a service of over twenty-five -years?” The Herr Ober-Director bowed in corroboration. “Your Excellency -will pardon me,” continued Franz, “if I ask you, is this just? Have I -not always done my duty faithfully? Am I not fully conversant with all -the requirements of my position? I believe these reasons would have -justified you in retaining me.” - -“What you say is true, Herr Levy,” answered the Ober-Director, “and I -regret extremely to have to dispense with your services; but the fact -is, the business of the road has declined, and does not warrant us in -retaining so many officials. The Government is urgent that I must reduce -expenses. I am, therefore, obliged to abolish the second secretariat -altogether; and since your post thus ceases to exist, there is no choice -but for you to go.” - -“Your Excellency will further pardon me,” said Franz, with increasing -agitation, “if I say that this action comes with especial harshness just -at this time when I have joined your faith, and been initiated into the -church under your kind patronage. It does seem strange, to say the -least, that during all these years, when I was a Jew, I was retained, -and no complaint or hint of prospective discharge ever reached my ears; -and now that I have become a Christian, you immediately discover that -there is no need for my services and I am summarily dismissed.” - -“That is the very reason, strange as it may seem,” said the Herr -Ober-Director. “You see, we had already contemplated dismissing you some -time ago, as the need for your services had really ceased. But there is -so much talk nowadays of official anti-Semitism, of anti-Jewish -prejudice on the part of the Government, that we hesitated to discharge -you, since you were a Jew and an employee of many years’ standing. We -knew that if you were discharged, it would immediately be made the basis -of accusations of anti-Semitic tendencies on the part of the Government; -and since the Government has no such tendencies, and does not wish to be -considered as having them, we felt ourselves obliged to retain you. But -now that you are a Christian, and a member of the State church, no such -accusation of anti-Semitism can be made, and we therefore have felt at -liberty to dispense with your services, which, as I have said, have -really become superfluous. And, now, permit me to conclude this -interview, which is time-robbing and unprofitable, and to wish you a -very good day.” - -As Franz went out through the Ober-Director’s door he said to himself, -with grim emphasis: “I think Ottilie will have to revise her favorite -quotation from Heine. As far as we are concerned, not Judaism but -Christianity has been the misfortune.” - - - - - THE RABBI’S GAME OF CARDS. - - -“Rabbi, why do you not come to supper? Everything is getting spoiled; -and if you do not come soon, your meal will not be fit to eat.” - -It was the voice of Rebecca the rebbetzin, or wife of the rabbi of -Galoschin, in the province of Posen; and she was endeavoring to induce -her lord and master, Rabbi Akiba Erter, to leave his sanctum, where he -had been busy all afternoon solving profound intellectual problems, and -to turn his attention to the less ideal but equally necessary task of -eating his evening meal. It was nothing unusual for the good rabbi to be -so absorbed in his studies as to be utterly oblivious to all other -matters, and to disregard utterly such insignificant trifles as a call -to a meal. Rabbi Akiba was a noble specimen of the old-time rabbi. He -was a Talmudic scholar of extraordinary erudition and dialectic -keenness, a pietist of rigidly scrupulous observance, and charitable in -the extreme. Of the three elements which go to make up the ideal man, -the head, the heart, and the soul, it was hard to say with which he was -more liberally endowed. Whatever he did, he did with all his power. When -engaged in study, his absorption was absolute and his concentration -complete; when worshipping, his whole being poured itself out before his -Maker; and, when engaged in performing an act of benevolence, he had no -other thought in his mind until it was accomplished. - -The problem which had engaged his attention on this particular occasion -belonged to the last-mentioned category, and was knottier far than the -most abstruse ceremonial, legal, or theological riddle he had ever been -called upon to solve. So troublesome was it, and so greatly did it worry -the good rabbi, that he presented quite a picture of despair as he sat -before his study-table, upon which were heaped in picturesque confusion -huge rabbinical tomes, some open and some closed, his black skull cup -pushed far back upon his head, and his hair and long venerable beard -sadly tousled and frowsed from the constant pulling he had given it -during the past three hours, while his long _peoth_ were from the same -cause all limp and out of curl. Supper-time had come, but the problem -was apparently as far from solution as ever, for the servant maid of the -household had summoned him four and five times to the evening meal and -he had not answered or even seemed aware of the summons; and it was only -when the rebbetzin herself appeared that he seemed conscious that he had -been called, and answered abstractedly, “Yes, wife, I am coming at once, -at once.” Impatiently muttering and grumbling to herself, the rebbetzin -returned to the dining-room; and the rabbi, rising from his seat, -directed his steps to the same place, his face clearly showing by its -abstracted and absorbed expression that the same problem which had -worried him all afternoon still engaged his thoughts. - -Rabbi Akiba was usually a very pleasant companion at table. He was in -the habit of telling amusing anecdotes and making witty remarks in the -course of the meal, and it was his invariable custom to discourse -learnedly on some theme of the law before the blessing of the food was -pronounced, in order to fulfil the rabbinical precept, “a man shall -always speak words of the law over his table”; but to-night he was very -poor company indeed. He ate his food mechanically, taking everything -that came along without examination, although his usual practice was to -eat quite sparingly, and only such dishes as were favorites of his. He -put snuff into his milk-soup and salt to his nose, and would have eaten -the soup with its snuffy admixture had not Rebecca pointed out the -error. - -To the remarks addressed to him by his better half he returned only -incoherent answers. In a word, he was in a state of abstraction and -perplexity which was plainly visible to all, so that not only his spouse -and his three pretty black-eyed daughters, Leah, Miriam, and Taube, -noticed it, but even the Russian _Bochur_ Hayim, whom the rabbi kept in -his house out of admiration for the latter’s profound erudition and who -was three-fourths blind, and as a rule totally oblivious to everything -that went on in the world outside of the _Beth Hammidrash_, dimly -perceived that his master was not the same as at other times. Suddenly -the rabbi paused while drinking a cup of tea, with such a suddenness, -indeed, as to make half of the hot fluid go down “the wrong throat”; and -though sputtering and coughing, and with face fiery red from the -resulting tracheal disturbance, managed to exclaim in triumphant gasps: -“I have it, I have it.” - -“What have you?” inquired Rebecca with some acerbity. “As far as any one -can notice, all you have is a fit of coughing which cannot do you any -good. I hope what you have is worth having.” - -“Never mind, wife,” said the rabbi with a pleasant smile. “What I have -is indeed worth the while. When all is accomplished you shall know what -it is. And now let us finish our meal, for I am in haste.” - -The rabbi then briefly discoursed on a religious theme in order not to -deviate from his custom, and pronounced the blessing of the food, in -which all joined. “Now, my good Rebecca,” said the rabbi, when these -ceremonies were concluded, “bring me my great coat, my Sabbath hat, and -my cane, for I have a certain visit to make.” - -“Why, what possesses you?” said Rebecca in wonderment. “Why do you want -to go out at night, although you have often told me that the disciples -of the learned should not go out alone at night, and why do you wish to -dress in your Sabbath state? Are you making a visit at court or the -palace of a noble? I am afraid all is not right with you.” - -“Do not be afraid, wife,” said the rabbi, who was now in excellent -spirits. “Everything is all right. Now, quickly get me my things, for, -as I said, I am in haste.” - -The rebbetzin was fain to be content with this not very satisfactory -answer, and brought her husband his finest official robes, the great, -heavy satin _jubitza_ and his broad velvet _streimel_ or Sabbath hat. -Having arrayed himself in these, and taken in addition a stout stick, -the rabbi ventured forth into the night, which, although the hour was -not late, was already, as usual in those northern regions, intensely -dark and quite cold. - -While he is on his way to his destination, whatever that may be, let us -see what was the matter which had so greatly troubled the holy man all -day, and which had driven him forth into the darkness and rigor of a -northern winter night. That morning there had come to him Mosheh -Labishiner, one of the constant worshippers in the synagogue and an -unfailing attendant at the rabbi’s Talmudic lectures in the house of -learning, and had poured into his ears a pitiful tale of woe. It was not -exactly a story of destitution, but it was one which touched the rabbi’s -naturally soft heart, always open to every plea of distress and ever -ready to sympathize with all that suffered and sorrowed, in a -particularly tender and sensitive spot. Mosheh told Rabbi Akiba that his -daughter Deborah (whom Rabbi Akiba knew as a dutiful and God-fearing -maiden and pretty withal) had been betrothed to a poor but very worthy -youth, Samuel of Kempen, for more than two years; that the two young -people were ardently devoted to each other, and desirous, as were also -the parents on both sides, of sealing their love by the sacred bond of -wedlock, but that prudence forbade the union until the youth would be -the possessor of a business of his own, and able properly to maintain a -wife and family. He, Mosheh, in accordance with the invariable custom in -all good Jewish families, had promised his prospective son-in-law a -dowry of a thousand gulden, which would be amply sufficient to establish -a modest business; but that owing to various misfortunes and losses he -had been unable to accumulate more than two hundred gulden, which would -barely suffice for the expenses of the wedding, but would leave nothing -for the dowry. The young people were to have been married a year -previously; but as Mosheh did not possess the requisite amount of the -dowry, he had continually deferred the marriage, on various pretexts, -until now it was impossible to defer it any more. His poor wife and his -daughter, the _Kallah_, were in the utmost distress and wept -unceasingly, while his intended son-in-law and _Mehuttanim_, who knew -nothing of his financial embarrassments, were beginning to grow -suspicious and to think that he was opposed to the marriage, and did not -really intend to permit it to be consummated. - -“And now, dear rabbi,” Mosheh had said, “help me, I implore thee. Unless -I can procure a thousand gulden within a day or two I do not know what -misfortune will happen. My poor wife and daughter will surely die of -broken hearts and my name will be blackened forever.” - -Rabbi Akiba was not intimately acquainted with Mosheh. All he knew of -him was that he was an “honest Jew,” a good, straightforward, religious -man; but that was sufficient to gain his sympathy, and especially the -sorrows of his wife and daughter touched him to the quick. He at once -offered to go and collect the money for the dowry among the wealthy -members of his flock; and he added that he was sure there would be no -difficulty in obtaining the required amount for a young woman of such -excellent repute, who was a daughter of such eminently respectable and -pious parents. But here he struck an unexpected difficulty. Mosheh -objected strenuously to any public collection in his behalf. - -“You must not breathe a syllable of all this to any living creature, -dear rabbi,” he begged. “I could never endure the thought that all the -Kehillah should know that I had been obliged to depend upon the -charitable gifts of kind-hearted people in order to obtain a dowry for -my daughter. I have always been an independent, self-respecting -merchant, and have myself provided for all the needs of my family. I -could not endure the thought of appearing as a _Schnorrer_ for any -reason. And then my wife and daughter, do you think that they would ever -accept a dowry which had been thus gathered together from the offerings -of pity? They would sooner die. They do not even know that my -circumstances are so straitened. The mere report that contributions were -being solicited in our behalf would destroy whatever happiness they -have. No, rabbi, you must get the amount needed in some other way, in -some way which will not even raise a suspicion that we are being helped, -or else I shall have to ask you rather to do nothing and to leave it to -the All-Merciful One to deal with us as He sees fit.” - -These words, while they greatly increased the respect which the rabbi -felt for Mosheh, also added immensely to his perplexity. They seemed -utterly to shut the door in the face of any attempt to obtain the -required sum. Rabbi Akiba himself was not the possessor of any -considerable amount of money. His income was not large and he never had -any difficulty in disposing of it, there being plenty of claimants on -his bounty outside of his own family. If, therefore, he could not go to -the wealthy householders in the Kehillah and openly ask them for -donations, he knew of no source whence he could derive the assistance -needed. It would not do to request of them the gift of such a large -amount without stating the purpose for which it was to be used. They -might give it to him, such was their respect for his character and their -trust in the purity of his motives, but they would be apt to speculate -on the use to which he intended to devote it, and very likely they would -find it out, too, and that would be directly contrary to the explicit -desire and request of Mosheh, Hence the perplexity and the mental -struggles by which the poor rabbi had been tortured all day until at -supper he had found, as he thought, the solution of the vexatious -problem. The simpler solution which would have suggested itself to many -a modern cleric, to shrug the shoulders deprecatingly and politely to -inform the suppliant that he regretted extremely that under the -circumstances it was impossible to do anything for him, did not occur to -Rabbi Akiba. He was narrow in many ways, limited both in views and -experience to that which could be acquired in the secluded recesses of -the Beth Hammidrash, simpler, indeed, than many a modern child in -worldly ways; but on that very account his moral fibre possessed the -old, unspoiled Jewish sturdiness. He knew that Mosheh was deserving of -sympathy and help, and he determined to help him if there were any -possibility of doing so; and believed he had now found a way to attain -that wished-for end. - -Rabbi Akiba hurried through the streets of Galoschin, brilliantly -lighted with the bright illumination of early evening, presenting a -singular enough figure, as he hastened along, to be the object of the -wondering stares of many a passer-by. Galoschin was a city originally -Polish, but which under the influence of Prussian culture and discipline -had become thoroughly Germanized, and which strove to reproduce the -manners and the external characteristics of the German metropolis. The -Jewish inhabitants in particular had, as a rule, dropped all the -old-time Polish characteristics. _Jubitzas_ and _peoth_ in particular -were utterly banned, and were conceded only to the rabbi to whom, as an -example of rigid conservatism and unswerving piety, they were deemed -appropriate. As Rabbi Akiba hastened through the streets he presented, -therefore, a most extraordinary contrast in his long, girdled robe, his -strange broad-brimmed hat, with long, dangling ear-curls and the stout -cane in his hands, to the ladies and gentlemen, attired in the height of -modern fashion, who sauntered along the elegant thoroughfare, stopping -before the brilliantly lighted windows of the shops or entering the -theatres, concert halls, cafés, and other places of amusement which -abounded in this vicinity. In front of a large and splendid edifice, -through whose windows and great portal floods of light poured and loud -strains of gay dance music were heard, the rabbi paused. Over the -gateway was a huge sign, which bore, in letters composed of shining gas -flames, the legend, “Galoschiner Casino und Vereinshaus.” Rabbi Akiba -glanced at this sign a moment and then boldly entered. His entrance was -the signal for great excitement among the persons standing in the hall -and among the visitors who were entering at the same time, and who had -come to attend the annual ball and reunion of the Galoschiner Gesellige -Verein, the fashionable club _par excellence_ of the town, to which -belonged all those who could lay claim to wealth and social station. It -was an unheard-of thing that an old-fashioned, conservative Jew, who -clung to Polish costume, beard and ear-locks, should set his foot within -a place dedicated to the dance and the new social practices which had -come from the West. To such a one they were all un-Jewish abominations; -and the sight of swallow-tailed, bareheaded men and half-clothed women, -shamelessly exposing their naked bosoms and arms to the gaze of strange -men, was hateful and loathsome. That Rabbi Akiba, the holy man, whose -name was a synonym for all that was pious and austere, who stood for -rigid and unswerving adherence to the olden Jewish life and stern -religious discipline, and for uncompromising opposition to all -new-fashioned vanities and worldliness, that he should actually in -_propria persona_ enter into precincts given over to empty gayety and -folly, “the abode of scoffers,” was more than surprising; it was -bewildering, stupefying, paralyzing. - -Rabbi Akiba did not seem to notice the excitement created by his -entrance, but walked ahead to the door of the main _salon_. Here stood -several gentlemen in evening dress. They were the reception committee, -appointed to welcome the arriving guests. They gazed with amazement at -the venerable figure approaching, and bade him good-evening in subdued -voices. He answered their greeting and strode into the _salon_. The -dance had just begun, and the floor was crowded with gentlemen in -evening dress and ladies in handsome _décolleté_ gowns and elegant -coiffures. The appearance of the rabbi gave rise to a scene of -extraordinary excitement and confusion. Both men and women had no other -thought but that their venerable spiritual chief had come there to -rebuke them for their pursuit of unseemly and impious fashions; that he -would denounce them in fiery words as recreants to the faith, as sinners -in Israel. In those days men and women still trembled when the rabbi -uttered bitter words of reproof; and it was, therefore, only natural -that a sort of panic seized those who knew that they had transgressed -against the strict rules of propriety of their faith, and saw before -them one who could call them to account. Some of the women fled to the -other end of the room, followed by their escorts; others endeavored -hastily to cover up their bare breasts and arms; others again stood as -if rooted to the spot and unable to move. But Rabbi Akiba uttered no -word of rebuke. He stood still, gazing with a benevolent smile at the -scene of confusion which his advent had caused. Several moments of -embarrassment and constraint passed before a few of the gentlemen -present plucked up courage to approach the rabbi, bid him welcome, and -inquire the reason of his visit to the ball. At their head was Herr -Pringsheim, the banker and president of the community, who, by reason of -his prominent station, acted as spokesman. - -“Peace be unto thee, honored rabbi,” he said, with a low and reverential -bow. “We welcome thee to our festivity. But may I inquire what has -brought us the honor of thy presence this evening? We had hardly thought -that festivities such as this met with thy approval.” - -“Curiosity, merely curiosity, friend Pringsheim,” answered the rabbi, -with a reassuring smile. “I wanted to know what our Jews are doing in -these new-fashioned days. One must know everything. Our sages, of -blessed memory, tell us: ‘Know what thou shouldst answer to the -Epicurean.’ But how can one know what to say to the Epicureans unless -one knows what they do? Just think: I have grown so old and have never -seen a ball and know nothing, except by hearsay, of what is done in a -casino or clubhouse. Now, let the dance go on. Do not interrupt your -proceedings on my account. I shall not scold you to-night, although what -I may do some other time I shall not say.” - -A gasp, indicating wonderment and only partial reassurance, escaped from -the breasts of the rabbi’s hearers at these words. There was nothing to -do, however, except to follow his suggestion. Herr Pringsheim signalled -to the musicians, who had ceased playing, to resume, and most of the -dancers also resumed their places, showing, however, by their -embarrassed air that they were ill at ease and not at all comfortable -under the rabbi’s gaze. It was a singular sight, the venerable rabbi -whose whole appearance bespoke the house of worship and the study -chamber, and recalled memories of centuries long past, standing in a -modern ball-room, critically inspecting the motions of the gayly clad -crowd, who bowed and _chasséed_ and changed partners and swung around in -the most approved style, but who could not help showing by their -sheepish looks how keenly they felt the absurdity of their position. - -The dance over, Herr Pringsheim asked the rabbi if he had now satisfied -his curiosity. “Oh, no,” answered Rabbi Akiba, “unless this is all that -takes place here. But there must surely be more going on in a casino -than merely dancing, or you could not use so many rooms.” - -“But there is really nothing else,” answered Pringsheim, “except the -card-playing. Those gentlemen who do not dance play various games of -cards until supper-time, which comes at midnight. But I hardly suppose, -worthy rabbi, that you take any interest in games of chance?” - -“Ah, but I do,” answered the rabbi, with sudden animation. “That is just -what I want to see. I want to know what there is about games of chance -which so fascinates men that they will stake their money, their health, -the happiness of their families, even their lives, upon the issue of a -game of cards. By all means bring me where they play cards.” - -With a gesture of despair and an illy suppressed groan, Herr Pringsheim -led the way to the card-room. The entrance of the rabbi into the -elegantly furnished card-room produced a sensation similar to that which -had been caused by his appearance in the ball-room. A number of -gentlemen were sitting around the green-covered tables, deeply engrossed -in their hazardous and exciting pastime; but no sooner did the tall, -venerable figure of the aged ecclesiastic appear amid the thick clouds -of tobacco smoke which filled the atmosphere of the room than all paused -in astonishment and rose to their feet in varying attitudes and aspects -of amazement and consternation. Like their companions of the ball-room -they were apprehensive of a fierce denunciation of their ungodly doings, -and half expected to be peremptorily ordered home. Herr Pringsheim -hastened to relieve their apprehensions. - -“Retain your seats, gentlemen,” he said, “and do not interrupt your -game. Our honored rabbi has come here this evening impelled by a desire -to see for himself how modern society amuses itself. He does not wish to -disturb or interfere with you in any way. Resume your playing, -therefore, and we shall remain here as mere spectators.” - -The effect of these words was that the players resumed their seats and -began again their interrupted games. The ban of the rabbi’s presence -rested, however, heavily on all, and the playing, like the dancing in -the ball-room under the same influence, became spiritless and -perfunctory in the extreme. The players removed their cigars from their -mouths, the erstwhile boisterous voices became subdued, and all -animation departed from the scene. After silently watching the -proceedings for a few moments the rabbi said to Herr Pringsheim: “Do you -know, friend Pringsheim, I do not seem to gain any insight into a -gambler’s feelings from merely looking on. To me the whole thing seems a -merely mechanical proceeding. One makes one move and the other another -move. I cannot make out what it is all about, and I believe that I shall -never have any conception of what card-playing is, or wherein the -fascination lies unless I play a game or two myself. Would you mind -playing with me?” - -“Not at all, rabbi,” said Pringsheim, highly amused at the request. -“What game shall it be?” - -“That is all the same to me,” answered the rabbi. “I do not know one -from the other. You choose any one you please and you will be kind -enough to teach it me. I think I shall be able to learn it.” - -“Very well,” said Pringsheim, laughing heartily. “I don’t doubt but you -will make a famous card-player. Where there is _Torah_ there is -_Chochmah_.” - -“But one thing I must tell you,” said the rabbi. “We must play for -money. I could never get the real feeling of the gambler, the thrill and -the tension which he feels, unless there was the hope of gain and the -risk of loss. So we must not play a mere formal game, but there must be -a real stake involved.” - -“Very well, rabbi,” said Pringsheim, still smiling. “How large shall the -stake be, a gulden or five gulden?” - -“Oh, that would never do,” said the rabbi. “I could not get the right -idea with such a trifling sum, which is of no consequence whether won or -lost. Let us play for a thousand gulden. I shall put my five hundred -gulden on the game and you put in five hundred gulden also.” - -[Illustration: - - THE GAME WHICH ENSUED WAS HIGHLY INTERESTING - - _Page 287_] - -The effect of this proposition was naturally startling. Pringsheim -stared at the rabbi for a moment as though he could not trust his ears. -But he was, to put it in modern parlance, game. “As you wish, rabbi,” he -said, quietly. “We shall play for a stake of a thousand gulden.” - -The game which ensued was highly interesting. Writer deponeth not, nor -is it essential to the purposes of this veracious history to state -whether the game was klabberyas, pinocle, skat, euchre, or poker. -Pringsheim taught Rabbi Akiba its rules and the game began. With one -accord all the other players suspended their games to contemplate the -spectacle of a rabbi in _jubitza_, _streimel_, and _peoth_ engaged in a -game of cards with a society gentleman in swallow-tail and bare head. Of -the result there could be no doubt. Pringsheim, of course, had no -intention of either defeating the rabbi or taking his money. After -various more or less intricate manœuverings Rabbi Akiba won. - -“Well, rabbi, you have won. Here are your winnings,” said Pringsheim; -and he took out his wallet, and extracting therefrom five hundred gulden -notes, handed them to the rabbi, who took them with great complacency -and stowed them carefully away in his purse. “I think you must -understand now a gambler’s feelings, at all events when he wins.” - -“So far, so good, friend Pringsheim,” answered the rabbi; “but this is -not quite experience enough for me. I want to know how a gambler feels -when he risks the possessions he has gained so easily. If you do not -mind, therefore, I should like to play one more game, staking the amount -I have just won.” - -“I shall have to beg to be excused this time, worthy rabbi,” said Herr -Pringsheim, with an amused chuckle. “You are too good a player for me. -Let some one else take my place. Herr Commerzienrath Hamburger, perhaps -you will oblige our honored _Rav_ and play a game with him on the same -terms as the first one.” - -Herr Commerzienrath Hamburger, a stout man with a bald head and a smooth -face, who, like Pringsheim, was one of the _Vorstand_ or trustees of the -community, came forward, somewhat reluctantly, at these words and -signified his willingness to do as requested. The issue of the second -game was the same as that of the first. The rabbi’s good luck did not -desert him, and a few moments later he rose from the table with the -handsome sum of a thousand gulden in his purse. He thanked Messrs. -Pringsheim and Hamburger for the instructive experience which they had -been the means of affording him, bade the other gentlemen good-night, -and turned to depart. He was escorted to a private exit by Herr -Pringsheim, who had him placed in a carriage, and the rabbi was whirled -to his home, leaving behind him a much puzzled and mystified company of -his congregants. - -On the following day Mosheh Labishiner called on Rabbi Akiba. He was in -a state of wretchedness bordering on utter despair. He had been forced -to yield to the repeated entreaties of his wife and daughter, and had -permitted the date of the wedding to be set, and had assured his -intended son-in-law that the dowry would be ready a few days before the -marriage. But he had not the faintest idea whence he could derive the -needed funds; and he did not believe that Rabbi Akiba, in view of the -restriction he had placed upon him, would be able to assist him. His -visit to the rabbi was more with a vague idea of obtaining some comfort -from the rabbi’s friendly words than of anything more material. As soon -as the rabbi caught sight of Mosheh’s distressed countenance he cried -out: “Mosheh, don’t look so black. A man who is going to marry his -daughter to a fine young _bochur_ must look happy. Have you set the date -of the wedding yet?” - -“Yes, rabbi, but the _Neduniah_?” - -“Oh, don’t let that worry you. Here it is.” And the rabbi drew forth his -purse, and taking therefrom ten hundred gulden notes, placed them in the -hands of the bewildered Mosheh. - -“O rabbi, a thousand thanks! But how in the world did you get it, since -you had not the money and I had insisted that you must not collect for -us?” - -“Oh, that was easy. I won it at cards.” - -“At cards!” and Mosheh stared at the rabbi with a look of blank -amazement and non-comprehension. - -“Yes, at cards,” said the rabbi. “I am a famous card-player. Whenever -any of my good friends cannot find the dowry of his daughter, I go and -win it at cards. Why not? Do I not cause the card-players to do a -_Mitzvah_? And is that not in itself a _Mitzvah_?” And the rabbi laughed -long and heartily. - -“Rabbi, I do not understand thy words,” said Mosheh; “but I know thou -hast been my saviour, and the saviour of my family. I would fain show my -gratitude. How can I thank thee?” - -“I want no thanks,” said the rabbi. “All I want is that thou shouldst -respect my ability as card-player and give me the privilege of a -_Mitzvah_ dance at the wedding.” And the rabbi laughed again. - - - - - GLOSSARY OF HEBREW AND OTHER NON-ENGLISH TERMS. - - - ABAYE AND RABA, Two distinguished rabbis of the - Talmud. - - ANGENEHME RUHE, Pleasant rest. - - ANI YEHUDI, BO IMMI ACHI, I am a Jew. Come with me, O my - brother. - - APOLOGIA PRO LIBRO SUO, Apology or defence of his book. - - AUF WIEDERSEHEN, Good-by; au revoir. - - - BACHURIM, Talmud students. - - BOCHUR, Talmud students. - - BORUCH HASHEM, Praised be the Lord. - - BAAL HAB-BAYIS OR BAAL HA-BAYITH, Householder, burgher. - - BAALE BATIM, Members of the congregation. - - BAUERNGUT, Peasant estate, farm. - - BETH HA-MIDRASH, House of study, where the study of - the law and worship are - conducted. - - - CHAUSSÉE, Highway. - - CHARIF, Sharp, keen-witted. - - CHAVER, Friend, companion. - - CHAZAN, See Hazan. - - CHOCHMAH, Wisdom. - - - DEITCH, German: Polish-Jewish term for a - Jew who has adopted Gentile dress - and ways. - - - ETHROGIM, Fruit of the citra species, used on - the Feast of Tabernacles, Lev. - xxiii. 40. - - EINGELEGTE GÄNSEBRUST, Goose breast preserved in fat. - - ERSTE DAME, First Lady; Prima Donna. - - ETERNAL HOUSE, English rendition of Beth Olam, one - of the many touching Hebrew names - for the Jewish Cemetery. - - - FULDA RAV, Officiating rabbi of Fulda. - - - GALOSCHINER CASINO UND VEREINSHAUS, Galoschin Casino and Club House. - - GAN EDEN, Paradise. - - GEBIRGE, Mountain range. - - GEFÜLLTE FLANKEN, Stuffed flanks or navel pieces. - - GEMARA, Main portion of the Talmud. - - GESETZTE BOHNEN, Beans placed in the oven on Friday - and left there till the next day. - - GESETZTES ESSEN, Food treated as preceding. - - GET, Divorce. - - GRUESSE GOTT, Be greeted in the name of God. - - GRUENKERN SUPPE, Soup made from a peculiar kind of - green kernels. - - GUTEN MORGEN, Good morning. - - GUTEN TAG, Good day. - - GUT WOCH, Good week. - - - HAFTARAH, Prophetic portion. - - HAKAMIM, The sages, the rabbins. - - HALACHAH, Religious rule or decision. - - HAZAN, Reader or Precentor. - - HEREIN, Come in. - - - ILLUY, Bright scholar. - - - JUBITZA, Long robe worn by the Polish and - Russian Jews. - - - KADDISH, A prayer recited by sons during the - eleven months after the death of - a parent. - - KALLAH, Bride. - - KEHILLAH, Congregation. - - KIDDUSH, Benediction by which the Sabbath or - festivals are introduced. - - KIDDUSH-BEAKER, Cup containing the wine of the - blessing. - - KETUBAH, Marriage certificate. - - KOSHER, Ritually clean. - - KRETCHM, Tavern, inn. - - - “L’ETAT, C’EST MOI,” The State, I am it. - - LEBE WOHL, Farewell. - - LEF, A heart. - - LINK, Irreligious. - - LOEFFEL, A spoon. - - - MAARIV, Evening service. - - MAGGID, Preacher. - - MALACH, Angel. - - MASSIG GEVOOL, Interference with the business of - another. - - MAZZOL TOV, Good luck, a form of - congratulation. - - MECHULLEH, A bankrupt. - - MEHUTTANIM, Relatives by marriage. - - MELAMMEDIM, Hebrew teachers. - - MESHOLIM, Stories or parables. - - MESHUMMAD OR MESHUMMED, A renegade, a pervert from Judaism. - - MINCHAH, Afternoon service. - - MISHNAH, Portion of the Talmud. - - MISHPOCHOH, Family connections, relationship. - - MITZVAH, Meritorious action, good deed. - - - NEDUNIAH, Dowry. - - NEFOSHOS, Souls. - - NIGGUN, Melody. - - - OVEL, A mourner. - - - PARNASS, President of the congregation. - - PARNOSO, Livelihood, sustenance. - - PEOTH, Ear curls. - - PLETT, A ticket. - - RACONTEUR, FEM.—_euse_, Teller of tales and anecdotes. - - RAV, Official or communal rabbi. - - RISHUS, Wickedness, enmity; Hebrew term for - anti-Jewish prejudice. - - ROSH CHODESH, First of the Jewish month. - - ROSHO, Wicked man, Jew-hater. - - - SCHEITEL, A cloth or wig with which religious - Jewesses cover their heads. - - SCHLAFE WOHL, Sleep well. - - SCHNORRERS, Beggars. - - SEDRAH, The part of the Pentateuch read in - the synagogue. - - SHABBOS KUGEL, Sabbath pudding. - - SHAMMAS, Synagogue attendant; sexton. - - SHIDDUCH, Marriage. - - SHIUR, A selection from the Talmud or - devotional books. - - SHIVAH, The prescribed mourning period of - seven days during which the - mourner sits on the earth and - does not leave the house. - - SHOOL, Synagogue. - - SOPHER, Scribe. - - - TAANIS, A fast day. - - TALLETHIM OR TALLITHOTH, Robes or shawls worn during - services. - - TEPHILLIN, Phylacteries. - - PROSELYTE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, English rendition of Ger Tsedek, a - Gentile who enters into the - covenant of Judaism in all - sincerity and lives a - consistently pious and religious - life. - - TORAH, The Law. - - TREFAH OR TREFOTH, Forbidden food. - - - VIS Á VIS DE RIEN, Over against nothing—_i. e._, at a - loss, unable to do anything. - - VODKA, Russian whiskey. - - - YEHUDI, A Jew. - - YEHUDI ATTAH? Art thou a Jew? - - YESHIBAH, Talmudic Academy. - - - ZWIEBEL TÄTCHER, Onion cake. - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - -Transcriber’s note: - - 1. Silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling. - - 2. Retained anachronistic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings as - printed. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FROM THE HEART OF ISRAEL*** - - -******* This file should be named 60189-0.txt or 60189-0.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/6/0/1/8/60189 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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