The Jewish advance. (Chicago, Ill.) 1878-1881, 1881-08-12
CHICAGO, AUGUST 12, 1881.

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the clergyman, even before it was
abolished by law. 1t was he who one
night sounded the tocsin and convoked
the peasants in order to read to them
the freshest news from the Vienna
Diet.
1t could not be said that Stephen
Parzik had any partisans in the village.
He was one of those isolated and incom-
prehensible natures, as we often find
them in society and as also the village
produces them. In his opinion no one
was wild and seditious enough, and
therefore he showed them his contempt
whenever an opportunity was offered.
Quite peculiar were the relations
which connected him.with the house of
the Jew. After Magdalena's apostacy,
his daughter, who was then ten years Of
age, had entered Joseph's house and
worked there now in the capacity of a
maid-servant; she had, as it were,
been brought up by the Jews. With
tender love the girl was attached to her
master and nothing could induce her to
return to her fathers house. Stephen
considered this girl likewise as an
apostate and called her "Jewess'; but
more than once he had expressed him
self that he did not care much about it
and that he would rather have her born
as Jewess, for the Jews were we'll off,
had not to pay 1.-THE to their clergy,
needed not go to confession and pos
sessed all the money in the world.
We can easily understand why man
like Joseph was 10th to come into con-
tact with the free-thinker Stephan
Parzik, why he felt horror when this
wild, rude nature, this 'rebel against god
and men" as he called him, entered his
room. Between him and the peasant
was wide, deep chasm which kept them
far apart and prevented every cordial
approach.
Quite different were the circumstances
under which these two men met to-day.
Joseph felt no longer his former aversion
to an intercourse with this wild peasant;
to Stephens greeting from the other side
of the street." God give you freedom
and rest from all devils" he smilingly
replied, Stephen, I know nothing of
your devils"
Joseph knew by experience that the
peasant never disliked to enter into
discussion about his political" views;
instead of nodding in silence at Ste
phen's greeting, as he used to do, the
Jew answered in so many words, hoping
thereby to engage in conversation with
the deacon"
His expectation was not disappoint-
ed. Stephen came with Slow wide steps
towards the store. While he was ap-
preaching, Joseph could not help ad-
miring the remarkable" face of the
peasant; it showed sturdy sternness;
Tor the first time in his life Joseph
clearly perceived that Stephen Parzik's
countenance was beaming with the light
Of higher intelligence than the faces
of all the other inhabitants of the vii
lage.
You do not know who are my devils?
said the deacon" who had stopped on
the threshold of the store. You have
livedso long in the village and you do
not know who are my devils?
We forget many things in this world,
Joseph replied with cunning smile
The clergymen, said the peasant with
such stentorian voice that Joseph
thought the parson must have heard
these words in his pulpit; the priests
have ever been the devils of the world,
When l was nineteen years old, [ was
also to become such priest, but [ did
not feel inclined that way.
Listen, Parzik, said Josesh, you think
you can sell me calf for an OK? Do you
imagine that like one of your saints you
will be able to fly with spread wings
straight forward into heaven?