The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-07-02
EASTERN CORREsPONBENCE,
PHILA; ELPRra, June 26. 1855

have received, or noticed any of my former
intend to keep on whenever it suits me. On
Saturday, which as yoG know is the Jewish
Sabbath, attended worship at the principal
synagogue in the city. To one who has
never been present, it is matter of consider
able interest. The audience cha nber is an
oblong Amphitheatre, with reading stand
of some fifteen or eighteen inches elevation,
almost in the centre, and Immediately op.
posite a recess enclosed with rich heavy
damask drapery, and called the ark of the
covenant; being the receptacle of their sacred
| books.
The Jew worships with his hat on; when
he takes his place he throws long white silk
or satin scarf over his shoulders. Nearly the
whole service is performed in a standing atti-
tude. First, after bowling reverentially to
Jehovah and towards Jerusalem, the Holy City
and the city of their hopes, and chanting
psalm praising God in the sanctuary, much
time is spent in reading their liturgy. was
politely presented with book, and though
| could manage to keep up with them when
chanting, yet the rapidity of the reading
was so excessive that it defed the pursuit of
the Impractical. All Jews are taught to
read the Hebrew scriptures, and the Hebrew
liturgy; but very small proportion of them
understand what they read, and hence they
are now introducing books with both the
original text and an English translation
The most imposing part of the service is the
bringing forth of the scriptures, which are
written upon parchment scrolls, as of old,
from the Ark. There are two scrolls, each
double. and enveIoped with elegant coverings
Of scarlet velvet with gold and silver embroi-
derry, and the ends of the sticks upon which
, the scrolls turn surmounted with beautiful
small gold and silver bells. Some seven or
eight of the congregation come forward and
advance slowly and solemnly to the ark, and
when the scrolls are brought forth, with slow
measured steps, with the solemn chanting oil
words and the tinkling Of these little bells
, they are conveyed to the readers desk. The
members take their turns in coming forward
; some seven or eight every morning, request
, ing The Reader to read certain portions. In
about an hour, "the law" is returned to its
place with the formalites with which it was
taken out and after chanting and prayer the
congregation is dismissed, but not until those
who, as | was informed, had presented offer
t ings had come forth, and, in an audible
voice, made the fact known to the ruler of the
synagogue.
Two things present themselves with sad
d dening effect to the devout christian visitor.
. FIRST, the obvious heartIessness with which
all, save a few venerable men, engaged in
the services of the day. There was not even
? the smallest apparent approximation to devo-
lion. The second, is the exclusion OF the
women from the body of the sanctuary, and
almost frUm any of the worship. They oc.
q cupy the galleries, and as of old, take no part
: in the services, except to look on and perhaps
. in spirit worship God. The want OF serious.
ness in the male part of the house was evinced
d by the frequency with which the eyes of the
2 men were turned to these galleries. And
here must be permitted to say, that have
entirely changed my fancies,as to the surpass-
ing, beauty of Jewish women. Here and
e there you may find one that may proximately
s realize what you have idealized as to their
l charms when you have the heroine of Iranhoe
before you. But the bold strong features oil
J. their faces and the emphatic Roman nose, and
I. the want of pure complexion, make them any
r thi g but beautiful.
= And now, talking about beauty in women,
had occasion to go to the extreme western
IT end of the city, and chose as my promenade
;. that genteelest-I do not say most masni6'
cent--that genleelest of all streets anywhere
Arch street. Going, met the members o.
d Friends Society making their way to "meet
:, ing" and returning, they were also returning
e and must say that for true womanly beauy-
! mode lied features-pure alabaster skin anC
q obviously feminine gentleness of disposition
d the young Quakeresses of this goodIy city
Z s,ill bear the palm. If there is anything
: where they fail, it is perhaps in gracefunes;
r. of carriage; there is starchness here thai
i you could wish "taken outs" and in this re-
spect the dark eyed daughters of Israel take
the precedence.
! And here, talking about gracefulDess, why
;, will not the gentler sex-each one for her.
= self-deter mine what she is aesihetically, il
n / may use fashionable word, and then aes.
the tically, what she can do. It is evident
d that our ladies have entered sphere of en-.
larged liberty particularly as 10 dress: no one