The Jewish advance. (Chicago, Ill.) 1878-1881, 1880-06-11
[ IT..
THE SINGER AND HIS THREAT.

THE SINGER AND HIS THREAT.
While the wagon was being prepared
for the journey by Solomon, and Ella
kom was arranging some little business
matters in his store preparatory to leav-
ing the city, young man of noticeable
decency in dress and of genteel deport-
ment introduced himself to the old man,
as the tenor-singer of the synagogue
choir.
" | came to request you the young
man said, to take me along with you
to the wedding of your son. I will per-
haps have the chance to earn some
money among the guests, for I can en-
tertain them with fine songs and with
most interesting sleight-of- hand perfor-
mances Thus you would confer favor
upon me without any loss to yourself.
I feel certain that the guests will be
pleased with me, and will thank you for
bringing me with YOU
Eliakom became angry at the singer.
He had to make q two days journey.
and how could he take anybody along
without the risk Of spending something
on HIM
"There are fools enough everywhere"
he replied. / do not see the necessity
Of encumbcring myself with one on
journey which has already cost me more
than | can we'll afford
The synagogue singers in Lithuania
receive no salary. The congregation
provides only for their board but for
the rest they must look out for them
selves. For the pur-ose of gaining the
other necessames otafife they en-
tertain social and wedding parties with
songs. legerdemain and mimicry. Sam
uel. the tenor was known as the best
singer and juggler in the community.
He was welcomed at every social party,
not only by the Jewish population, but
also by the non-J Jewish inhabitants, and
even by the officials of that place He
spoke the Russian, Polish, and even the
obsolete Lithuanian languages with the
purest accent, and could mimic every
body with remarkable skill. from
drunken peasant to a commanding
officer of the army. He knew the best
songs that are contained in those Ian
guages, and sang with sonorous voice
and good effect. All his various accom-
plishments and talents were rendered
so much the more acceptable by the
strict morality Of his differences. How
ever we'll received be might have been
in any quarter, he never took advantage |
of the welcome that was extended to
him. He often threw his audience into
roars Of laughter but it was never at
anybodys expense. In short, though |
Samuel was the pet of society, he never
became its tyrant, and that is about the
best that can be said of any popular
character
The miser's rude refusal to take him
along was very deeply felt by the poor
artist. His eyes sparkled with indigna-
ton and his face flushed to the roots of
his hair. He hesitated a moment, and +
then raising his hand he said sternly
and with emphasis;
Mark my words, Eliakom, lam going
to teach you a lesson which will make I
you either wiser than you ever were or +
cause you to die more miscrably than
you ever lived" And heleft the house. !
About half an hour aftcrward, as the +
wedding party was on the point Of start
ING, and Eliakom in his coat with Solo
mon at his side was seated in the wagon
ready to take the reins, young man ap-
preached him and asked whether his un-
Gle from the county was there, as he had !.
been intending to make some purchases
Of Eliakom.
About what time was your uncle TO
call on me ?" asked Ehakom,
Let me see. He wanted to 60 to \. +
at one o'clock, He would be detained
there for about an hour or so, and then
! I