The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-05-16

dragged before some intelligent and re-
sponsible person, so that he could have
been Investigated.
1t may be interesting, before we dis
miss the subject OF the movements of
the Jew, TO mention that supertitious
fancy has connected him with that ter
rible plague, the cholera. The theory
has been advanced that the disease fol-
lows close upon the track made by the
wanderer in his pilgrimage over the
world, and that visitation from him is
certain indication of the coming plague.
Eugene Sue has made use OF this super
stition III his novel founded upon the
legend OF the Jew-a work, by the way,
which is far beneath the simple story OF
the Middle Ages in dignity, beauty and
mysterious interest.
In some accounts of the sufferings of
the aged pilgrim it is said that he has,
during his long and dreadful existence,
striven many times to end his life so
tremendously extended. He has gone
into the thickest of the battle and thrown
himself upon the spears of the enemy,
or in later times has stood at the can
mons mouth, but he has always remained
unhurt. He has been shipwrecked, but
he alone of all his companions has been
tossed ashore by the roaring waves.
He has leaped into burning volcanoes,
only to be belched forth unscathed; he
has plunged into the flame without suf-
fering from its fiery tongues he has
sought the lair of wild beasts to find
the hyena and tiger docile to his touch
and careless of provocation. Death has
been courted by him in every conceivable
form, but always it has eluded him, and
terrible destiny has thrust him back
into that life which has mt last grown TO
be curse. This story, it will be seen,
does not agree with those which de-
scribe him as an humble and patient
Christian, but it is striking and remark
able as embOdying an illustration Of
what the life to which men cling SO des-
perately might become prolonged for
centuries.
There has been great deal of con-
lecture as to the process by which the
story of the Wandering Jew was formed.
The scriptural texts given at the begin
ming of this article supply sufficient rea-
son for that part of it which refers to
the mere prolongation of human life,
but they give no limit or suggestion OF
the material of which the rest of the
legend is composed. Some persons have
supposed that the Jew was the emblem
of the gypsy race, which at one time
was thought to be of Egyptian origin,
and which is nomadic. The theory was
that the original gipsies were cursed
because they refused to shelter the Vir-
gin and Child in their flight into Egypt.
This, however, is not either consistent
or satisfactory. The most plausible ex-
PLANTATION is that the Wandering Jew is
really the type of the Hebrew race. The
Jews did offend Jesus, as Ahasuerus is
said to have done. They have been
driven from their homes, as he was
they have wandered over the whole
earth, as is alleged of him and they
have lived apart, distinct and peculiar
from other men, as he is said to do. The
difference between the type and the
reality is that Ahasuerus became n
Christian, while the Jews cling to their
old faith. But the resemblance is so
great that we think we are warranted in
asserting that the origin of the magnif-
cent fable may be traced to the historic
fact. -70-Day.