Houdini the Jewfish Bring back the name Jewfish Mark Twain s comments on Jewish People This wonderful article was written in 1899 when anti Semitism was widespread in the US Large companies did not hire Jewish people Universities either did not admit Jews or limited their numbers with strict quotas Respectable people like Ford and Edison expressed their anti Jewish feelings openly Mark Twain had an answer for them WRITTEN BY MARK TWAIN HARPER S SEPTEMBER 1899 If the statistics are right the Jews constitute but one percent of the human race It suggests a nebulous dim puff of stardust lost in the blaze of the Milky Way Properly the Jew ought hardly be heard of but he is heard of has always been heard of He is as prominent on the planet as any other people and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk His contributions to the world s list of great names in literature science art music finance medicine and obtuse learning are also way out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers He has made a marvelous fight in this world in all the ages and has done it with his hands tied behind him He could be vain of himself and be excused for it The Egyptians the Babylonians and the Persians rose filled the planet with sound and splendor and faded to dream stuff and passed away The Greeks and the Romans followed and made a vast noise and they are gone Other peoples have sprung up and held their torch high for a time But it burned out and they sit in twilight now or have vanished The Jew saw them all Beat them all and is now what he always was exhibiting no decadence no infirmities of age no weakening of his parts no slowing of his energies no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind All things are mortal but the Jew All other forces pass but he remains Houdini the Jewfish