The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-02-26
AHADuEnU1. THE sHoEMAKER OF
JERUSALEM.

JERUSALEM.
Every one has heard of the Wandering
jew, but the particulars Of the legend may
not be quite 30 well known. There are sew
erai versions Of Il. Matthew Paris, monk ci
st. Adams. reports one which was current in
the East during the thirteenth century. /,
runs thus This year tl229) an Armenian
archbishop came to England TO visit the
relics nf saints and venerable places, even as
he had done Ia other countries. He bore let
ters Of Recommendation from our lord the
pope to the religious and prelates of this
kingdom. Having repaired TO St Albans, TO
offer mp prayers at the shrine Of the English
protemsrtyr. he was received with honour
by the abbot and the convent. In the course
of his sejourn here, he inquired particularly
of his hosts concerning the rites and usagts
of England; and in return he related to
them many traditions of his own country
Tie was questioned, among other things,
about that famous Joseph who has caused 80
much talk among meu-that Joseph who was
present at the Passion OF Christ, and who
yet exists as living witness-of the CHRIS
tlan faith. He was asked if he had ever
seen him, or heard anything of him. An of
ficer of the archbishops suite-his inteTpre'
ter, u native of Antioch, who was known to
Henry Spigurnel, one of the lord abbot's
servants-replied in the French language,
that he had even entertained him at his own
table little time previous to his departure
for the West. The Armenian's story as to
what passed between Joseph and our Saviour
is as follows when Jesus was borne along
by the Jews from the pr@torium to the place
Of crucitsion, Cartaphilu s. one of Pontius
Pilates doorkeepers. pushed him sharply be-
hind, sayingi in contemptuous voice: walk
faster, Jesus, why dost thou tarry?'' Then
answered the Christ with severe and sor
rowful look II walk as it is written, and
shall rest ere long, but thou shalt walk until
my coming" At the time of the Passion
Cartaphilus was thirty years of age. When
ever he attains his fiftieth year, he falls into
kind of ecstacy, from which he awakes re-
stored again to youth. He was converted to
the Christian faith, and baptised by Ananias,
the same who baptised Paul, receiving in
baptism in the name of Joseph. He resides
generally in Armenia. His conversation is
piOus and edifying. The bishops are his
chief associates. He talks but little, and
only when his society is sought by high dig
ntaries Of the church, and by holy persons ;
then he gives curious details respecting the
Passion and resurrection of Christ" &c
The Western tradition is somewhat differ
ent from the above, and it is supposed by
some to be more ancient, although we know
not upon what grounds This version sup.
poses the Jew to have been shoemaker at
Jerusalem, named Ahasuerus, and that after
his baptism he received the name of Butta-
deus. Here is the veritable legend, as con-
tanned in letter written in lois by Crysos.
tomus Dudulaus of Westphalia to one of
his friends at Revel: In the year 1547, NJ
Paulus Won Eitzen, doctor of the Holy Scrip
lures, and bishop of Scbleswig, was attending
service in q church at Hamburg one Sunday
during winter, when he srw, most miserably
clad, that old Jew who has wandered through
the world ever since the passion Of Christ
He appeared about fifty years old, tall in sta
ture, with long hair hanging over his shout
ders. He remained during the sermon, and
listened thereto with much devotion. On
leaving the church, the doctor entered into
conversation with him. The jew informed
him modestly that he was born at Jerusalem,
where he exercised the trade of shoemaker;
that his name was Ahasuerus; and that he
had been present at the crucifixiOn of Christ.
Afterwards he talked of the Apostles. Then
he added, that Chist. wishing TO rest against
the wall of his house, on account of the
heavy weight of the cross he had repuised
him rudely, and bade him gs his way, when
our Lord made the reply which is so well
known. This jew was very quiet and dis
Greet in his manner. If he happened to hear
any one blaspheme, he exclaimed with a sigh,
and in deep anguish: "Oh, unhappy man,
why dost thou thus abuse the name of God
and of his cruel martyrdom If thou hadst
seen, as did, how heavy and how bitter was
the agony of Christ, for thine own sake and
for mine, thou wouldst rather suffer the great,
est evils than blaspheme His holy name n'-
When money was offered to him, he never
took more than took shfllings, and of that
even he gave part to the poor, declaring
that his own wants were ever well supplied
by God He was never known to laugh
Wherever he journeyed, he always spoke the
language of the country thus at this timehe
expressed himself in very good Saxon
There are many people of quality who have
seen this jew in England, France, Italy.
Hungary, Persia, Poland, Sweden, Den,
mark, Scotiand, and other countries; as also
In Germany, at ROstOck, Weimar, Dantzig,
and kOnigsberg. In the year, 1875, two am,
bassad9rs OF Holstein, and particularly the
secretary, Christopher Kraus, met him at
Madrid, ever the same In figure, age man.
ners and costume In the year 1899, he was
ut Vienna, and in 1901 at Lubbock. MANY
persons also saw and conversed with him in
The year 1915, in Livonia, at Craeow, and at
Moscow
Such is the legend of Der Ewipe cude,-
The Everlasting Jew. Like the story Of
st: Veronica, it is supposed to have had its
origin about the commencement of the
fourth century; and 1t must have profoundly
impressed the heart OF the people. since 4
survived the times of Luther and Melanthon
ana was even received as an Article of belief
by the dissenting communions What in.
deed, could affect the imagination more now.
ertmly, then the thought of this lonely man
lowered with an immortality of wo and con
demned to wander from cline to cline
through countless ages, seeking rest and
finding none; and more wretched in the 81
lence of his deep despair than all the thous.
ands of his fellow men who have lived since
the world began because
The power to die disprovestha right to grieveI
He has passed, like shadow, from land
To land. with the pressure of Gods infinite
npon his finite SOUL His memory stretches
lar nack' down the long generations, EN-.
Dracing everything of pathos and sublimi.
" IN the history of the crucifed Christ
whose iSsf reproaehful look still baunfs his
xgonised soul. None can ever share in his n u,'
dying grief. and therefore he must aIwavo
dwell in deep solitude of heart and soyl
which no human sympathies can soothe
The beautiful, the great. the wise, the GOOD
pass over into the silent land; ; but still H.
Everlasting Jew shall pursue his 'piIer;m
mage of wo,' until time itself shall be No
more, and of all earth's countless tribes he
only shall be left. in solitary grandeur. to