Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-11-12
Increase of the Jews.

I Increase of the Jews.
An intelligent writer in the North American
). Review supposes that no class of immigrants has
increased more rapidly in this country than the
Hebrew. In 1850 man might count upon his
fingers all tile synagogues in the land, now there
are at least quarter of a million Jews, from
eighty to ninety synagogues, and multitude OF
smaller communities where anucleus exists, which
will soon grow into synagogue. The city OF
New York alone has twenty synagogues and
thirty thousand Jews about one-twentieth OF
the population being such. There are synagog-
ues in all the chief cities of the sea-board; two
| in Boston, five in Baltimore, three in New Or
leans, two in Charleston, and four in Cincinnati
| &c. ttt 49, - -
! The statistics Of the Jewish population are a.
mong the most singular circumstances Of this
most singular of all people. Under all their Gu
lamities and dispersions they seem to have re-
manned at nearly the same amount asin the days
of David and Solomon. never much more in
| prosperity, never much less after ages of suffer-
ing. Nothing like this has occurred in the his
Tory of any other race; Europe in general hay-
ing doubled its population within the last hum
dred years,and England nearly tripled hers with
| in the last half century; the proportion ofAmer-
lea being still more rapid, and the world crowd
| ing in constantly increasing ratio. Yet the
Jews seem to stand still in this vast and general
movement. The population of Judea in its most
palmy days probably did not exceed, if it reach
ed, four millions. The numbers who entered
Palestine from the wilderness were evidently
not much more than three millions, and their
census, according to the German statists, who
ly the same as that of the people under Moses
ioho milf Tbat, thus diefr
ted:
In Europe, 1,916,O0O of which abont G5s,000
are in Austria.
In ASIA 7Ss,0Oo, Of which 100000 are in A.
static Turkey.
In Africa 100000, of which 100000 are in
Morocco.
In America. North and South, $1,000
If We add to these about $4,000 Samaritans,
the calculation in round numbers will be about .
3,130,000.
This was the report in 1925 the numbers
probably remain the same. This extraordinary
fxedness in the midst of almost universal in
crease is doubtless not without reasonif we are
even to look for it among the mysterious opera
tons which have preserved Israel separate
race through eighteen hundred years. May we
not naturally conceive that people thus pre-
served without advance or retrocession; dis
persed yet combined broken. yet firm; with
out country, yet dweers in all: everywhere
insulted, yet everywhere influential without q
nation, yet united as no nation ever was before
or since, has not been appointed to offer this ex-
traordinary contradiction to the common laws OF
society, and even the common progress of ma
ture, without cause and that cause one Of final
benevolence, universal good, and divine grand
eur.
THE EMPEROR NICHOLAS BEDcHAMBER.-The
Nord has published the following details of
a visit made by its correspondent to the bed
room of the Emperor Nicholas at st. Peters
burg: "The person that acted as my guide
did not say whittier he was takingme. He con-
Quoted Inc to an arched room of very moderate
dimensions, and lighted by q single window
looking into q court This room was both stu
dy and bedroom Before the window was
placed desk, on which was pocket book half
open few sheets Of paper and some pens,
crumpled up handkerchief, small statuette OF
the Prince ofWaes in the dress OF sailor, and
water-color drawing representing children. A
straw-bottomed chair was placed at the desk
which was much the worse for wear, and bore
many marks of being cut with pen-knlte.--
Near this desk was an old sofa. covered with
green leather, with well-worn cushions. Oppo-
site, on console ornamented with mirror,
was dressing case, in leather, the simplicity
of which showed that its owner did not indulge
in any refinement of the toilet On the CHM
ney-piece was a small time-piece in black mar
BILE, on which stood bust of the Count de Beck
endorf There was no looking glass on the
chimney. Half concealed by the timepiece was
statuette in bronze of Napoleon l., similar to
that in the Place Vendome. Some pictures Or
namented the walls, representing military scenes
painted by Horace Vernet, German artist. A
bust of Marshal Radetzky stood on the console;
portrait of the Grand Duke Michael, brother
of Paul, was hung half concealed in the corner
of the wall in one corner Of the room stood O
common soldiers musket and on q small table
was the helmet of general without plume,
and bearing marks of long service.
Near the sofa, and parallel with the desk, was
an iron camp bed On this bed, which my
guide told me to press with my hand to see how
hard 1t felt, was q mattrass covered with leather
and pillow stuffed with hay. There was folded
upon the bed an old grey uniform cloak, and at
the foot of it, on well worn carpet, was pair
of morocco leather slippers. | contemplated
with surprise this austere retreat in remote
corner Of one of the most magnificent palaces of
Europe When | had seen all the guide said
"This is the study and bedroom of the Emperor
Nicholas. At that desk he sat for nearly thirty
years, and on that bed he drew his last breath.
That old cloak which he always wore when in
this room, belonged to his brother Alexander
On that carpet he knelt down and prayed morn
ing and night, every day of his reign These
slippers, which he wore to the last day Of his
life, were given him by the Empress on the day
of his marriage With that musket he himself
taught his children the manual exercise; and
this helmet he always wore in the streets OF st.
Petersburg.
A WE'LL OF GAS IN MIcHIGAN.-We learn from
the Mt. Clemens Advocate that gas spring has
been discovered on the premises Of Mr. Rose, a.
bout four miles above New Baltimore, on the
border of Lake ST. Clair. Some workmen had
been for considerable time engaged in digging
a well on Mr.. Roses premises rod or so north
west of the house, which is of brick and newly
built, and had, by digging and boring in all, at
tanned the depth of seyenty-fve feet They had
drawn up the augur to the place where they left
off digging and commenced boring, and there
left it, with some other tools, and were at din
ner, when they were startled by violent noise,
at first like an explosion, and then followed q
roor ELa Whlowinp off, q large steam boiler, ac-