New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-06
THEJEWS' QUARTER IN PRAGUE.

One of the most remarkable localities in Eu.
topeis the Ghetto" or Jews Quarter in Prague
Untouched for centuries, and until late years un'
disturbed by the visits of curious Christians, it is
one of those rare spots where the very form and
spirit Of antiquity have not yet given way to mod.
ern enterprise and change. Some description OF
lss physognomy and the curious Hebrew tradi-
lions, of which 1t is the source, will be interesting
10 the readers Of The Tribune.
The Ghetto lies in the northern part of
Prague not far from the Moldau Approaching
Il from the Christian part of the city, gener-
ally sees group of Jew porters sitting at the
entrance. In these crooked, dwarfish, and anti.
qusted men, the enormous strength which they
exhibit in their profession, would not be sus-
pected. One of the gray-haired, shriveled and
wrakled porters, almost crawling in his gait, not
unfrequeDty carries, for a mile or two, immense
chests and Golfers, OF the whole furniture Of a
nmily. With the exception of Amsterdam, there
bno city in Europe, whose jewish popuiaton
accustomed to such severe physical labsr
The Breitegosse broadway is the principal
.treet Of the "Ghetto" Here everything is dark
and forbidding; below, gateways and starways
where lantern would not be out OF place at noon
dsy; above, roofs of hundredfold slants, shooting
over the high rows of houses on each side and
tOrmipg narrow, airy bridges for pigeons and spar
rows. Each story has its separate family Tor
more than 1000 souls are clustered together In
The "Ghetto." the few favored Hebrews who
live in the other parts of the city being obliged to
nav large sums for the privilege. The confusion,
noise and movement in the street, on account OF
IL, IL val RI
behold, and impresses one with somewhat OF the
same feeling with which, when child, he looked
into fantastic picture book. At the Jewish ies'
rival of "Purim," when Israel celebrates Its de-
livery from the hands of Hamau, the Ghetto is
half fairy city, half Gypsy camp. Stately Ju-
diths and Esthers, chanting the lovesongs of
Schiller with the whining tone Of their dialect,
70 in masks from house to house. while the old
women in gded caps the sturdy beggars, the
crpples and cheeserabbis $50 called seem more
like masks than actual characters. A discordant,
continual cry, which might be taken as an ex-
preston Of either JOY or wo, peals from the bril-
bAntly.lighted synsgogues; screaming cooks run
against each other with their shallow pans Of that
national Jewish dish, which is older that the
Egyptian pyramids, and which the Bible alludes
10 a. the fesh.pots of Mizraim." In the garrets
The children Of the beggars hold jubilee over the
ntropgly-spiced dishes which have been sent them
In charity in the third story the dealer in old
clothes tells his family about the old times when
It was dangerous for & Jew to go outside Of the
Ghetto on Good Friday bat in the first story all
d brliance add Partisan perfume, and the rich
Israetes, dressed in the latest style, so through
r<-,&t - md oh rNfr0
The Ghetto of Prague is little world in itself
sich in traditions and monuments Of the past. It's
origin goes far back into the times Of the Pagans
Long before the days Of King Herod-accordng
20 the current legend-there lived in Palestine
three yirtu6us men Of the race Of David, to whom
God revealed the future In dream. In order to
spare their descendants the sight Of the desoation
Of which Judea was to be the theater, they took
Up the pilgrims staff and left the Promised Il and
In company with their wives and children. The
image Of the many.brsnched candlestick in the
Eemple at Jerusalem, with all its burning lights,
appeared in the air before them, as guide. Thus
they came further and further to the West. Dur.
Ing their long pilgrimage they did not cease to
praise the Lord by diligent study Of the Talmud.
and this preserved them from all danger. When
ever the little caravan was attacked, its members
began that curious psntomime which accompanies
ahsreadiDg Of The Talmud, with clapping Of hands,
agitation Of body and load outcries whereby
both savage beasts and wild Pagans were
alarmed, and took to eight. Once, however, the
Sabbath was violated the frst star had appeared
IN the sky one Friday evening when boy among
them broke saphng in the woods. to cat staff
The image Of the burning csndlestick immediate
vanished the caravan fell into confusion, went
astsy and separated 1t so happened that parI
Of the pilgrims reached Toledo in Spain, another
part the town Of Worms and third part settled
% the right bank Of the Moldsu, before either .