Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-12-03
THE JEWS.
Noteworthy Representatives or the
Chosen People In Many Fields
or Activity.

New York Sun: "The latest claim made
on behalf of the Jews is that Wilhelmj is of
their race. This makes four Of the best violin
players Of the woodland some will say the
very best-descendants of Abraham, viz:
VIeuxtemps, Wieniawski, Joachim and Will
helmj. Three OF these have played to Ameri-
can audiences, and the fourth, Joachim, has
become known TO those who had not heard
Of him before through having had the de-
gree Of doctor OF music conferred upon him
recently, with much ceremony, by the Uni
verslty OF Oxford. To the Jewish race be-
l)ngs also Llchtenberg, the youthful and
promising violin player, whom Theodore
Thomas introduced to public notice last sea-
son. Rubinstein, the Russian pianist and
composer, whom New Workers heard not
l)ng ago with rapt attention; Goldmark. the
composer of SaLiuHtdld and other works of
the highest rank, are Jews, and SO are
Strauss and Offenbach. I4ucca is a Polish
Jewess, and Patti is also claimed as one of
the race. This is certainly a pretty good
showing for the chosen people, whose
numbers in Europe and America do
not exceed one in a hundred as compared
with the other populations. All of the Ameri-
can operate managers-Strakosch, Gran and
Maretzsk-are of Hebrew origin, Maretzek's
name having been Meyer Itzig; and DR.. Leo
pold Damrosch and Carlberg, the successor
OF Theodore Thomas. are marshaled II the
same host. Wagner, the musical genius OF
Bayreuth. persists in saying that there is nc
true mnsic In the Jewish soul, but ne has
among his followers and admirers many
Jews, who subscribe literally in aid of his
musical projects, and pardon his lnvectives
IN view OF his achievements. Those who thus
sound his praises he probably credits with
better taste than most OF their brethren, and
doubtless views them as exceptional cases. 1t /
8 interesting to note what a part the Jews !
rave been playing also IN other fields. The /
pest sculptor IN Russia II not the only one of !
INV consequence, was an ignorant boy, and
8 the son of Polish Jews. He is pronounced a
rue genius, and is the pride Of Russian art.
The frst actress of France Is Sarah Bern
harit. a Jewess, like Rachel, her great pre-
decessor. and like Janauschek and MOdiesks,
two Of the most admired players OF our day;
Galnbetta, the preserver of the French re-
publ; Lasker the leader OF the liberals IN
the German parliament, and their best orator.
and beacons6eld, the prime minister OF Eng
iand, were born of Jewish parents; and Cas-
tellar, the eloquent Spanish statesman, Is said
= De OF JeWlsh descent. CremleuX, the lead
ing lawyer oftFrance, and now, or lately,
minister OF justice; Judah p Benjamin, for
merry one OF the leaders of the Southern
COBfsderacy, and now pronounced by Prof
Dwight the foremost lawyer Of England, and
Sir George Jessel, one Of the most eminent
Of English Judges, were born and reared as
Jews. Many of the most eminent journal
lists of Germany and some of the first schol-
airs belong to the long prescribed race, and it
is Jews who practically control the newspa-
per press, not only of Vienna, but also of
Rome, where, until within few years, the
Ghetto still existed. Among the noteworthy
men Of America few are to be counted of
Hebrew origin, although they appear credita-
bly, in all departments of activity; but this is
not strange in view of the fact that, with the
exception of the small body known as Portu-
guese Jews, all of the race that are Of ma
ture years are immigrants from the conti-
nent Of Europe, and are unable to use Eng
lish as a native language. Nevertheless,
Wisconsin has had Jewish governor, and
the Federal senate had an able jewish mem
Der in Judah P. Benjamin. Whether the
opinion that the Jews have shown themselves
eminently gifted as a race be correct or not,
it certainly cannot be denied that they have
contributed their quota to the famous per-
sonages Of the present day"