The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-14
Tho Jews of Prague.

As long ago as the days when Jerusalem was
In its power and might II we are TO believe
tradition, there came q number OF Jewish mer-
chants from the East, and founded a colony in
Prague. They did not deal in cloths or clothes
then, but traticked extensively in slaves, the
captives taken in the Jewish wars So history
calls this the oldest Hebrew settlement in Eu-
rope. Go with us down to the River Moldau,
which divides the city into two sections-a dark,
sluggish stream, of little note in history. This
is the "Judenstadt," or jews town. The streets
are narrow, dirty, and extremely unpleasant.
The buildings are small, dingy, and dlthy, The
whole section has large wall around it, and
heavy gates. Within these narrow boundaries
exist ten thousand people-the "chosen people,"
II we may call them as they call themselves.
Catholic intolerance has walled them in, and
formerly locked the gates upon them at sunset
They have been prosecuted for centuries -otten
been the victims of massacre here in their poor
novels. Within the small enclosure they have
ten synagogues. Singular people They are
the same here to day as they were two thou
sand years ago; living in the same faith, wor-
shipping in the same manner, eating the same
food, observing the same customs. Time
changes everything but Jew-him, never. or
all the peoples of the earth they alone main
tain their nationality.
Fortunately, it is Saturday, the Hebrew Sab
bath. In one corner of the quarter stands
Notwithstanding structure, sunk into the
ground, for it is so old that the streets have
filed up almost TO its windows. 1t is a remark
able pile. The dust of eight centuries Is upon
its windows and the mold of years covers it.
lamps, is crowded to sufocatlon. IL Is the old
Synagogue, the reveIed spot OF Jewish worship.
There are a thousand voices mumbling prayers
and hymns in unison, each person with white
mantle around his neck, and head covered.
The features are the same that you have seen ia
Chatham street, in the rag market, and at the
money changers. They have no more changed
than have the customs of this peculiar people.
Around the room are Hebrew inscriptions, and
the books of the law are in the centre. 1t
would be sacrilege to sweep the floor or to brush
down the cobwebs that have grown black and
solemn through the centuries.
This is perhaps the oldest Jewish temple now
used at the present day. 1t is surrounded by
small burying ground, where tue stones are
piled one above the other In this little square,
scarce larger than the floor of small house, ten
thousand people have buried their dead for
eight hundred years 1t is considered a sacred
spot and hither come thousands of Jewish pill
grims every year. Each stone bears the mark of
the tribe 10 which the deceased belonged, and
you can easily pick out the descendants Of Levi
and Aaron. In the centre of the ground is
structure where the common grave clothes are
kept. When body is brought in, be it that of
same cerements, and buried in the same COM
mon field. But do not believe that the Jews of
Prague are Ioor because they huddle together
like ants and live in filth and rags. 1t were a
sad Impeachment upon their race. 1t is cur
rent in Prague that in many strong box in the
"Judenstadtn are boarded millions of Austrian
"guilders" aud precious stones of rare value.
But like "Shylock," they never leave their house
unguarded, and no "Launcelot' remains long IN
their service.-Lett6r TO Boston Journal