The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-06-02
s Translated from tho Frenchl
THE PEARL NECKLACE.

There lived at Cordoya, many years ago, an
old Jew who had three passions he loved
aeaer,ee, he loved gold, he loved bis only child,
0vf1o bore the sweet name of Rachel. He loved
science, not for its own sake, not because it
~ras the means of the acquisition of truth, but
Soc himself-that is to say, through pride.
He loved gold, little perhaps becanse it
was gold, very much because it gave him the
s,,seans of providing luxuries for his darling
.rs,ikd, greatly also because without it he could
mot have made the costly experiments neces-
sssry in the pursuit of science.
Tie loved his daughter alone with the pure
and disnterested but passionate tenderness of
SaSesual love. In a word, he was savant, q
father, Jew.
His name was Rabbi Ben-Ha-Zelab and he
nraotioea medicine. He wrought such won
SterfuS cures that very soon his fame spread
ndroughout Spain, and from all parts of the
&iugdom the people came in crowds to consult
Him. He received his pati.nts in the after
noon. In the morning he slept, it was said,
Ssut how his nights were passed none knew,
ssald many were the speculations concerning it.
This only was known, that they were passed in
q. secret chamber, of which he alone possessed
= tI1eAkey, and it had been observed that this
Rysts1ieus apartment was sometimes illumi-
aatsd with many-colored flames, blue red, OF
green, wlIle q dense smoke issued from the
ctimpey.
The police OF the kingdom at length resolved
TO penetrate the mystery, which seemed to
. cious to the police of all countries.
One evening Rabbi Ben Ha Zelah saw two
dark, grave men watching his house. He lis
"To-morrow, a, dawn, we will know whether
ttts wretch is money coiner or n magician"
%be conscience of the poor old jew did not
1eproech him, for his life was pure and nno-
ceut but he had had great experience of the
world, and held AS an aSiem that Innocence is
He went still further, he considered ii ag.
gravating circumstance He often quoted the
'nld Arab proverb: IF were accused of hav-
ing stolen and pocketed the grand mosque Mt
Mecca, would Immediately Tun off as fast as I
could" lie said that justice was game of
'cards-and he was ne player.
What misauthropic ideas! How different
would his conclusions have been had he lived
nowadays! However, he had not the hap |
Finess of living in that Eden of justice, France
e1f 1866, he put the philosophy of the proverb |
:;nto practice. and left Coriova that very |
night taking with him all his treasures. The |
vtent morning at dawn the two dark, grave
found an unnhabited, dismantled dwell |
ing, which made them still more dark and
grave.
Rabbi Ben Ha- Zelab, disguised as q mer-
7spidly through Spain. On either side of his
saddle and securely fastened to it, was long |
wicker basket, in the shape of cradle. Bon |
Ha-Zela,h looked ever and anon at these baskets
with satisfaction, mingled with sadness, aud |
- ner urged on his mule, casting many back
ward glance, to be quito sure he was not pur
sued. In one of the baskets were his treasures
and his books: in the other slept peacefully
Gne Young daughter of the fugitive. Having
reached small seaport town, the old Jew
Iook massage in a-Fessei which about to
sail for Egypt.
Rabbi Een-Ha-Zelah had often heard of the
ca!tph Achmet Reschih, who celebrated |
iht"ughout the East for his love of science,
and the high consideration in which he held
ecienttto mep. AZ for imposters, charlatans
add empyrcs he held them in sovereign con-
<cmpt, and took real pleasure in impaIing
{ keDI,
This good pIiuco reignel in Cairo Thither
Ren-ii a-Zeiah bent his steps, for lie believed |
,issulsef, and with reason, to be 4 true savant.