St. Landry democrat., 1879-04-19
RAKON.
Ese Jewi In Population Of the Old Posi"h
Capital.

Cornhill Magaz,e.
There are not many sights in Krakow
and if there were | should not attempt
to describe them, since nothing is duller
than the guide book.like enumeration OF
details into which one slides in trying to
be exhaustive. Still, the Jewish town
ought to be mentioned, for the Jews are
the most striking feature in the popula-
ton of the city. They were, as old
writer's say, brought hither by King CAS-
imir the Great in the fourteenth century,
and settled in the suburb which they
ptill inhabit, and which is called from
him the Casilnir city. 1t is altogether
unlike the inner city, with streets wider
houses comparatively loW and mean, and
an indescribable air OF dirt and squalor
pervading every thing. There is an lm~
mense hustle Of buying and selling
going on-a sort of perpetual rag fair
chiefly in wearing apparel, but also in all
sorts of articles Of domestic utility, fur
niture, pots and pans, shovels and grid
irons, pottery fall cheap and ugly. and
small groceries. The dealers are mostly
outside their doors, where, indeed, the
greater part of their wares are displayed,
and solicit the passer by in Polish, He
brew, or, more rarely, German.
There are altogether in Krakow, whose
total population amounts to 10000, over
10000 Jews. The great majority are
Orthodox or Rabtinicsl, and are dis
tinguished by their long straight coats OF
cloth, or alpaca, coming almost to the
ankles, tall and narrow-brimmed hats,
and little wispy curls On either side OF
the face. Such a hideous dress creates
prejudice against them, which is IN large
measure unjust, for they are a valuable
element in the population of Poland, and
get on better with the christians than is
the case further east, even in Germany.
A few have begun to drop the peculiar
dress, with the strict observance of the
Jaw, and may before long be absorbed in
the body OF the people. Though the
race would seem to have kept pretty
much to itself all these centuries, there
great diversity of complexion among
hese Polish Jews. Many are fair in
face; some have sandy hair; but the
characteristic features are seldom absent.
In Poland, as elsewhere, they are towns
folk, never settling down to til! the soil :;
and their busting activity makes them
seem even more numerous in Krakow
than they really are, 80 that a stranger
might fancy it a Jewish city. It is by
no means stagnant or decayng; for the
converging railways and its position ina
fertile country make it place OF con-
siderable trade. But this hardly quail
fies the air o. melancholy that brood
over it.
The Poles are b. nature, like their
nearest relations, the Bohemians, q
bright and vivacious people. Those who
know the slavonic race best generally
agree in holding them to be its most
highly gifted branch. And here in Ca
ljcia they do not seem te have much
misgovernment to complain Of, nor per-
laps anything more than the pedantry,
Journalism and backwardness which char
acterize Austrian rule everywhere. The
Polish tongue reigns, and Poles are
freely admitted to the best posts under
government which industry and talent
can win. Nevertheless, the sense of the
past, of the downfall of their monarchy,
and the apparently destined extinction
Ct their nationality, seems to lie like
load upon their souls Krakow, With its
grand old houses, its picturesque crowds,
lts pleasant gardens ensirdling its houses,
iss bells, Ginning ceaselessly in the
clear summer air, is withal 4 place of
sadness.
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