The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-23
LETTER FROM ALBANY.
The Israelites Of Albany-Maggie Mitchell
in Fanchon
ALBANY. N. Y, Nov. 20, 1876.

THE ISRABLiTES OF ALBANY.
Editor Rutland Globe Among the va
rious nationaltes which are represented in |
Albany there are none that possess more
interest than the Jews. Perhaps there is
no nation on the face of the earth that, un-
der like untoward circumstances, have kept
the faith of their fathers ana not lost their
identity, Poets have satirzed them, dram
atists held them up to ridicue, and novel
lists loaded them with infamy and disgrace;
they have been ostracised and prosecuted,
driven from land to land and still the blood
of Abraham is kept pure in the veins of
the descendants of the children of Israel.
They number in this city about three thou
sand and are represented by Germans, b.
hemians, Poles, Hungarians and few
French Jews from Alsace and Lorraine.
They are extremely clannish, and although
marriage is strictly voluntary among them
it is exceedingly rare to find one marrying
gentle. Nay, more, in social and visit
ing relations it is rare to find them ming
ling with other people, though they are very
festive among themselves, and are noted
for parties and balls, at which the rich
dress and jewels, elegant toilets, bright
eyes and striking features of the ladies
form picture of picturesque and animated
beauty not often found elsewhere. He
brews at the present day are divided rei-
giously into two sects, the orthodox and
reformed. the former of which still look
forward TO the coming of the Messiah, and
pray for the peace of Jerusalem, in short,
expect one day to see the former glory
come back to Zion. The latter sect, how
ever, have ceased to expect personal Mes
siah and do not wish to be gathered back
to the barren hill of Palestine, although
they do lookl forward to the time when
peace, harmony and brotherly love shall
prevail And in this are they not far
ahead of many human who applies to
them the epithet of "Christ-killers, " little
seeing that The sect they thus abuse prac-
| tice the Christian virtues in as great de-
| gree as their assailants sin against the deca-
| logne. The orthodox Jews worship in a
| building on Fulton street, called Bethel
Jacob, and one on South Ferry street,
called simply BETHEL, while the Re
| formed sect have beautiful build
ing on South Pearl street, called the
| Synagogue of Aushe Emeth. The doc
trinal points wherein they differ are few.
The Orthodox Jews keep in their ritual
prayers for the return to Palestine; the
Reformers omit this. The Orthodox sect
celebrate all festivals two days and read the
Pentateuch through in public every year
the Reformers have only one day for each
festival and only read the Pentateuch once
in three years. But on the most cardinal
points they agree, and any who has the
right to call himself Jew must not omit.
These are the rite of circumcision and the
manner in which their cattle are slain
Just as scrupulously as did the children OF
Israel in the wilderness observe the cere
mony of circumcision, 80 do their de.
scendants in the city of Albany to-day
Every male child who reaches the age OF
eight years is subject to the bloody rite
which is performed by any person skillfu
enough, for which they receive a fee--tht
amount of which is left to the generosity
of the parents. The ceremony is accom-
panied by appropriate prayers, copgratu
lations, etc. After which refreshments arr
in order and general testvity prevails. The
} Sabbath OF the Hebrews begins Friday
, evening and lasts until. Saturday evening
and services are held Friday night and Sat
urday morning which consist, in Aush
Emeth, the only place have attended, o
prayers and reading of the law in Hebrew
a sermon in German, and singing IN Ger
man or English. In regard to the name
OF slaughtering. they discard pork alto
gether, and beeves, sheep, calves, etc., ar
8 killed by opening the iugular vein. Thi
5 can be done only by those who have passe
, a satisfactory examination by the rabbi an
are commissioned to butcher. Creature
r manned or blemished in any way, or tina
\ show the least signs of disease, are nc
eaten at all, but turned over to the less fas
4 tidious genties. The Orthodox Jews ais
f eat no oysters, but the Reformers do nc
e object to an occasional stew. And SO the
Y live, minglIng in busiae ss relations wit
r gentiles, and yet cherishng the faith c
their ancestors and looking with almot
e childlike credulity to the good time whic
, they expect is coming, but which, feal
J. alas, is yet long way off.
e MAGGIE MITCHELL
Maggie Mitchell has been playing here
crowded houses for week past In Far
D chon the Cricket, Jane Eyre, Little Bare
i foot and the Pearl of Savoy. She is {
winning as ever though over forty veal
old and the mother of four children.
Fanchon she is especially good and Will
listening we forget for time the crowde
v theater, flashing gaslights, dying cadenc,
Is of the orchestra and the glitter of til
d stage and see only beautiful though,les
y child playing on the sunny slopes of Franc
s dancing with her shadow and childish
n singing. 'I-y wish-y I-y had-y a-y string
1t for my shoe I-y know-y what-y I-y would.
# do-y do-y do" Then she becomes the gil
J. Fanchon, no longer cricket but lastir
, her first sorrow as she leaves the festival
g. st. Andoche and realizing in her love f,
Landry the possibility of new existenc
Hiding her face in her apron against Il
tree, those glossy curls in a dishevele
mass over her shoulder and breast, stanC
re the sobbing girl while as the many vi
le layers pass by from the festival, to IL
f. music of Balfe's wonderful song, we te
:, with her the depth of sorrow and the Gu
- tain falls between her and theater {
e tears. AS the acts pass on we find her
h sorrowing woman, pure and true, forcir
p her lover to be dutiful though it costs the
separation and if we find in the secor
period of her existence fantastic drea
Y, light surrounding her, here we see in Il
b betrothal of La Priche the lovelight of Il
| sOul envelO oinp her mira onf oaora