Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1880-12-02
TIE JEWS m ENeLANp-With the spread

TIE JEWS IN ENGLAND.-With the spread
of enlightenment and the removal of their dis
abilities, a tendency has manifested itself
among the middle classes of the Jews to give
their sons University education, and to train
them to professions Many young men have
graduated in our universities some with
honors, and the unwonted spectacle has been
seen of Hebrew senior wraBgler. The two
ranches of the law have attracted numerous
Jewish lads. Indeed s legal pursuits seem to
4 be pecnliafly adapted to the bent of their
mind A member of the. Jewish body, Sir
George Jessel, by sheer strength of intellect
and without the slightest family influence, has
succeeded in grasping one Of the greatest
prizes of the bar. TheEe are also sone ftwo
other members or the legal profession who bid
fair to achieve eminence. and it is not unlike
"; that the Mastef Of the Rolls may not re.
main the only Jewish judge. Science in The
abstract does net find many devotees among
English Jews The Hebrew genius, never.
theless, from the time of the ancient rabbis. 10
our day, has always leaned toward mathemat-
ical studies; and among the great mathema-
ticians of the age may be reckoned Professor
. Sylvester late OF Woolwich. The Jewish
community does not appear Gbs shine in con-
structive genius. We doubt whether lit in-
cludes anygengineers, (uniessSi be few young
men beginning life 81 butthere are some Jewish
architects of fair replte, The, Israelites take
keen interest in politics. Several members.
of their body have represented and still
represent Christian constituencies in Par,1a-
ment.
In general literature the English Jews have
certainly not equalled the. performancessof
their foreign coreligionists. The Jews of
Germany have shed lustre on the literature of
their country. They have attaiaed the front
rank as arch8ologistsaand 1Orental scholars
The plays of Mosenthal and the novels of
Auerbach have gained European reputation.
In Italy the Jewish mind is equally active
Israelites guide the press, Gil professional
chairs, and enrich the literature of the land in
its various branches In France, too, in ad
dition to such illustrious scholars as M. Michel
Bieal M. Derenbourg, and some others, the
Hebrews are distinguishing themselves in the
lighter kinds of literature and are producing
galaxy of pungent journalists, of witty dra-
matists, of powerful nevelists. The English
Jews have cultivated literature to limited ea-
tent. Some Jewish professors, men of consid
cradle abilities, adorn their various walks, and
the community possesses several ripe scholars,
though death has thinned their ranks. These
gentlemen. however, are mostly English only
by adoption, and their labors, with some ex-
ceptions, must be regarded as contributions
to Jewish or Oriental lore, rather than as ad
ditions to purely English literature The
Anglo Jewish press is exceedingly well-con-
Quoted, and contrasts favorably with other
organs of opinion. Tie Jews possess no he
redltary aristocracy. 1t may be said of them
and more especially of the Ashenazta, or
Germans that every man is the son of his
own works, or at most of those of bis father
or grandfather. Of the Sephardtn, or PENN
sular families who imniigrated into this coun-
try, many have ceased to exist; but even when
they d0urished, with all their blue blood, they
were only honest merchants, and not ashamed
of their calling 1t is only when some of
these families embraced Christianity that they
abandoned the avocations by which they had
realized their fortunes, and their names may
at present be found among the landed gentry
of Great Britain, and even in the peerage
Now that their former disabilities have disap
peared, there is q tendency in, some of>the
wealthy Jewish families to acquire pern.a-
nent stake in the country. Being permitted
to hold land, they are investing part of their
capital in broad acres. The Rothschids, the
Monteferes, the Goldsmids the Sassoons, and
few others, have purchased an interest in
the soil of Great Britain. They may thus
found families destined to live for generations,
though it is impossible to say whether they
will form an exclusive Jewish aristocracy.
Religion is no longer an obstacle 10 England
to social or political advancement; Jews are
on the commission of the peace, and they
have served the civic offices of alderman,
and lord mayors.