Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-04-05

The increase Of the Hebrew population Of
the United States did not become sufficiently
rapid 90 be marked until after 1850, so that
the phenomenon of their immigration into
the country is an affair Of but a quarter Of a
century. Basing present estimates of their
numbers on the census of 1870, they are now
reckoned to be not less than $50, 600 strong
in the whole country. In 1850 there were
but II, 600 of them Considering that the de-
preston Of business and the depreciation in
all kinds of property have involved commerce
and trade more than any other interests, and
remembering that the Jews are welded by
long habit to trade above every other interest
or vocation, it will be at once understood why
immigration from this source has fallen away
as it has for the last three or four years. The
life of the Jews in the United States, wholly
separate as it is from the common life in one
sense, is n fact of sufficient sngularity to pro-
woke a study of its own and in the recent
issue of the North American Review we note
the first of series of articles on this most
interesting subject written by distinguished
member of that race, Gustav GOttheill, in
which are to be met numerous timely illustra-
tions of their life and character so far as both
are modified by circumstances. The sketch
of the radical Jewish character is as clean-cut
as a cameo profile, and helps one to under
stand the secret Of the success of this peculiar
people in the face of unreleved adversely.
The preliminary tribute paid by the writer
to his race is subduedly eloquent in its tenn
per and style. He admits that their more
recent settlement in this country affords
probably the most instructive phase in the
modern development of Jewish history" The
Hebrew in tins country finds a larger meas
ure of individual liberty than he had ever
enjoyed anywhere before. Their congrega-
tions number 400, and their institutions and
societies 1j7, making in all jj7 organizations
The membership is estimated to be about &c.
600, and the value of the property held by
them not far from SS,000,0 600. There are
fourteen public institutions under the exclu-
sive control of Jews, some of them being un-
sectarian in their benefits These institutions
are not connected with the congregations
But there are other hospitals supported by
them besides those included in the above
enumeration. There are numerous societies
devoted to the care of the sick all over the
land, the principle on which they are based
being that of mutual helpfulness. There is
not Il place in the Union says this writer
where even handful of Israelites dwell that
has not its charitable society. The united
Hebrew charities of New York expend $40
600 annually for the support of the poor.
Mayor Ely recently made the statement that
while the Jews form ten per cent. of the pop
ulation of that city, they contribute less than
one per cent. to the criminal classes. Out of
5000 persons in the various public institu-
tions, only 33 are Jews. There is common
opinion that the Jew possesses the magic art
Of securing wealth, but it will be found that
the only secret Of his prosperity consists in
his genius for patience, courage, diligence,
economy, and consecration of earnings to the
comfort and elevation of his family" 1t is a
secret with which it would be well for the rest
of us to become more familiar.