The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-06-26
Our New York Letter.
The Hilton-SeIigman AHair-Race Preis.
dice-Thc Fight of the Telegraph Cen.
pnnies-A Pertraiturc Of Hay Gould.
New YORK, June 23I 1877.

New YORK, June 23I 1877.
Such furry as we have had about the af-
fair between Mr.. Hilton and Mr.. Ssligman!
1t is Just one of those things which sets New
York ia bazs for forty eight hours, is talked
about more or less for exactly nine days and
thereafter passes out of the thought or memo
ry of ninety-nine per cent of the population o.
completely as if nothing of the kind had ever
happened.
When 1t was discovered that Joseph Selig-
man had been refused Accommodations at Henry
Hilton's hotel at Saratoga people stared ct
each other in amazement at first, and then
pretty generally got worked up into . fever of
indignation. That q gentleman so entirely
irreproachabls and withal so gentle and unas.
suming should have been considered otharwis,
than great catch for any tavern. was in it,
self astonishing. But then it is very seldom
that we hear of an inn keeper who is worth
score or two of millions. aud case so excep-
tional, admits of some display of caprice on
the part of the landlord. The Grand Union
is to great extent a whim and plaything Of
its recent proprietor. he is introducing into it
Improvements and innovations hitherto quito
unknown to any watering place hostelry. II
there is Dovelty that happens to strike his
fancy he adopts it without waiting moment
to consider whether it will pay or not. He
makes rules to suit bis fancy. His sway is ab-
solute. He is uLder no restrictions or limita.
tlons. All around him shear and obey"
Last year the Jews, who are peculiar
people in the art of finding out where they
can get the most for their money frequented
the Grand Union in great numbers. Now it 10
impossible to deny that there is a deep rooted
prejudice in social circles against ths Hebrews
as race. 1t has existed among so-called
Christians in all lands for many centuries.
Civilization has done much 10 abafs it aud will
ultimately eradicate it, as it must all other an
tipathies based on distinctions of caste or
creed. But its roots extend so far into antiq-
uity and its branches spread over 80 much of
the earth's surface that it is not at all surpris-
ing that it yields so slowly even before the en-
lightenment and culture of our favored age.
1t was not till after many years of persistent
effort that Rothsehild, notwithstanding his
wealth, and that all absorbing British love of
wealth which is stronger trait in al EGG
lishman than even his dislike, could obtain ad-
mission to Parliament! The world moves.
From Shylock to Rothschld there are marks
of great progress. From Rothschild, vainly
seeking the place in the Commons to which the
peopls of London had chosen him, to Disraeli,
Prime Minister of the realm, there 10 gain
which shows how much more rapidly the mora |
elevation of the race is progressing than 1t did
three centuries or even one generation ago.
But the Jews have some weaknesses which
nj nd at, late tho
them. A great many of them are "loud" in
manner, fiashy in dress and obtrusive, beyond
the limits of simple good breeding In the
display of their wealth. These are things
which are much more noticeable ct summer
resorts than anywhere else, because ct such
places people naturally live great deal out of
doors and in public sight. II is conceded that ct
the Grand Union last summer there was too
much of this splash and glitter to suit the
taste of the quiet and unpretending guests,
and numerous complaints were made. Then
again 1t must ba remembered that the Christian
Sabbath is the Jewish holiday and the children
of Israel avail themselves of the enforced ab.
stention from ordinary occupations which the
general observance of it entails upon them,
BY amusing themselves at cards and many
other recreations inconsistent with the sanctity
of the Lords day, which the Jews keep quite
as piously as the Christians, only the two do
not occur at the same time.
However, there is but one hotel keeper In
Saratoga who could have ventured to exclude
so opulent class. 1t matters very little to
Judge Hilton whether the establishments makes
or loses money compared with the satisfa ction
it gives him to have his own way. But he has
issued his orders and he win stick to them
whatever may be the consequences. he will
have sympathizsrs of course, but the better
sense of the community will be against him.
He has set bad example and done an oct
that is not iii accordance with the golden rule
or common courtesy even. What makes the
matter worse is that Mr.. Selgman has none Of
the faults which Mr.. Hilton's restrictive policy
was aimed at. Ee is absolutely without the
pride of wealth, the ostentation or the
aashiness which constituted the grounds for
rejecting other guests Of his race. He is on
the contrary remarkably modest and unprstsn. .
tious, one of the kindest and most lovable OF
men, doubt whether he ever evinced 50 much
temper before in his life as marks the hasty
letter he wrote to Judge Hilton, when he had
been denied the accommodation he sought 1t
is very seldom there is any gall in his ink or
any uncharitableness on his tongue That
letter, by the by, was not intended for publl-
cation. 1t so happened however that news
paper reporter overheard Mr.. Ssligman's
lawyer talking about it to a friend with whom
he was lunching, and having got clew he
followed 1t up with the pertnacity so oharac-
terisric of the profession, until he got the gist
of the story for publication, and the next day
the letter itself was in type The fame was