, 1872-10-22

Characteristics of the London Jews.
OF the twenty Thousand Jews who reside in
London, three-fourthn Of the number are in
cluded in q small radius from Aldgate Church.
Popular notions concerning them are erroneous.
They have thirst for gain, strong and deeply
rooted, but their hereditary passion is not graft
fed 80 freely as people believe ssThe greater
part Of them are poor, and much destitution
prevails among them" Bays 3 missionary OF the
Mnories: "eome are often in want Of the nee
essaries Of lite, and some are scarcely able to
obtain suf6ciency to support existence. This
is most prominent in the case Of the Dutch
and very bountiful; but even they fail to admin
lister sufficient relief" Though as . rule even
middle class Jews are not remarkable for clean
Iness, they enjoy better average health than
their GENTLE neighbo1s, and evince q strong
taste for fine, ahowy clothing. Neither are the
as the ordinary run OF vulgar EngliBhn1en, and
the women receive q greater amount OF respect.
As partial Eet-oR to this honor awarded to the
weaker vessel, She is accounted greatly inferior
uP in blank Ignorance; = Hebrew proverb,
s'Every one that teacheth his daughter the law
is considered as II he taught her transgression,"
showing the national sentiment in regard to fe-
males. The jews contemn 3 swoman's testimo-
ny, aud refuse her 3 seat with men in the public
congregation. In numbers OF instances girls
are purposely reared IN total ignorance, not so
much as q knowledge Of the alphabet be-.
ing communicated. Even among men the
standard Of education ia not high, not more
than five in every hundred being supposed to
know Hebrew. Both men and women are fond
Of light amusements, and find much satisfaction
in the theatres, as we'll as at the large taverns
where dramatic entertainments are provided.
The advancement Of education during the pres
ent century has led to wider expression OF
opinion 30 that, while numbers who can
judge for themselves reject the superstition Of
the Talmud, and advocate reform, others still
adhere to the letter Of tradition. While, how
ever, we speak about the spread Of knowledge in
the Hebrew nation We may remember that edu-
cation progresses slowly among people whose
children, on attaining the capacity Of earning q
shilling day, are sent to labor rather than to
school. But youthful Jews among the poor
does national prejudice entirely exclude
them from the benefits Of Christian instruction.
Their children are taught in Christian Sunday
schools. and indeed the Jews themselves have
copied our example Of opening the Scriptures to
youth on the Sabbath, and they also employ re-
lgious itinerants among the poor and sick Of
their own persuasion. The Jews are sober
people, the women being especially circunspect
in this matter. ~ can not charge my memory, ?"
eays visitor in one district " with having wit
messed single case Of q Jewish woman under
made to honor the Sabbath by perpetuating the
Mosaicl observances but even the Orthodox,
who burn two candles on white cloth during
Friday evening, and Hho refuse to
work, will yet descend to many frivolf-
ties. The Germans are most easy
OF access, though their seeming iberallty, is
sometimes rooted in indifference. The Poles
and Dutch are reputed to be the most bigoted.
They know the Bible," ne are told. "say their