Polynesian., 1855-07-28
Jews in England.
VICTORIA K. KAAHUNsNU


The Asian mystery is a subject on which there
has been not little romantic speculation that the
same kind of mystery lies at our door-that forms
of life as ancient as the pyramid5-thst cyclope-
da of thought aud emotion as strange as anything
10 be found IN the pages Of PauO or the the stories
of the Aztec cities -may be found IN the MlnoFles
of Hounsditch. Is circumstance on which few,
perhaps, give themselves time 10 reflect. fet so
IL is. Within a minutes walk of the Exchange,
under the shadow of the great edltce, which s the
seat of our eastern empire, dwells race OF men
whose story is bound mp, IN a marvellous way, with
that of all mankind; vet who live IN state OF per-
nlnent issolation from their fellows following law
which almost antdates civilization itself, and spurn-
INC in their pride and tenacity of purpose, every
light of more recent ages as tor them unavailng
or superluou5. If pause TO consider, It will
probably strike us strange that the circumstance
hls not inspired deeper interest. a living Jews
faithful TO the rights of his fathers, Is historical
document of the most remarkable Kind. he IS
witness for past modes of thought lie Is proof
of the enduring power of such institutions as hap
pen to be in harmony with national character. he
IS guarantee, certain and involuntary, of the truth
If the leading lines of the worlds history for near
Is four thousand years.
Many have read DIsraells description Of the
Door child of Israel, going forth to some White
chapel market in search.of the ''palm-leayes, The
mvrtle, and the weeping willow, with which he is
commanded by the ancient law to decorate his
humble dwelling in the fall and 10 celebrate, even
amid the filth and fOrs OF London, the harvest of
the vine In his adherence 10 tiIs ancient law, the
Hebrew defies time and place alike; he makes hs
bower in yard in Houn5dilch, as his fathers built
them bowers n the sunny gardens Of Palestine,
ares before the captivity OF Babylon. RE treats
his CHILD inst as AbrJlI1m treated the children OF
his house tie siIli SAYS Ils prayers IN old Chal-
deac p1toiS. though he does not comprehend one
8, In the Ot hrs tPSfl-
val he wears a cabllIstic sarb, the form OF which
remains, though the meaning has long been lost.
lie holds il deadly crime TO light the lamp with his
own hand. lie Is inspired By hOp's and aetuaied
bv passions in which all men else are strangers;
and IN the lowest depths Of poverty and Ge2Teda-
ton h nurses in his soul the consoiIng thought OF
future return to material prosperity and inteiiec-
tu1l sway.
Had some Mandeville fallen in with such peo-
ole his accounts Of them would scarcely have help
el % sustain hs reputation as truth teller; had
>;tsf,-, found the u clustered around some ancient
temple OF Mexico, scientific and literary missions
would hIvo beeH sent Out 70 study their manners
and modes of life. Yet the LONDON Hebrew, the
living riddle of the world, was unli now beng
almost unknown 10 the other d"ei!efs 10 lhe great
city.
Mr. Mills saws that there are a5ou; thirty Ihoas-
and Jews IN the United Kingdom VI these,
twen,v-6ve thousand reside IN London and its sub
urbs. They are &.lded into two grand parties, as
Il the case with almost all reiIgous oodes-ChTls-
,;,,s Hoh,nmsdaus BudJhlsls aud ConfUcians-
Thsse parties are tire Sspisardiin the descendants
Of the jews o. Spain and Portugal, and he Assen-
asi.n. the InaI !rants from Gsfmany and Poland
Pae Askealsim are the my<t numerous az from
.his branch Of Israel have sprung aelr'y all the
Hebrew Poets and writer's. whO ~ mOdsfn times
have coatrl0uird to tie intellectual movements ~
Europe The SepIlrdnn, however, aiieet 10 be oi
purer blood aud hi yhsr rank N ihe nation. sico-
p,s y viii he remembered clanus 10 be of the Sc
phtFani.
II has not been easy, however, % CLOSE the syna-
gosne against the se1rchIng aud subtle spift OF
rrf,rn OF laie years there have spp-sFea esen
, I.,,eI s.stics ana professors tis gFesi point OF
ne Tanul. OF ora hw. 10 sriier "HA sone nili'of
gfFsrsucs lb.ut lons riiIias, aad other n3siTrs HoE
a,nts ~ hlrlSouy Win Engiisa hssii-. Ga g =
grounds of spp-s. nsF g! !ue "'S Of's sui''.
"a s,,. .ters of both The S-aaT.lI.ls ga the
Askepasim have been drawn away 10 the ke;orfn
81 Concreg1tiou.-LSvnd0n AfaSz4szr