The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-10-01

Songs OF n semitic.
At this time, when the atrocious pcrsccu-
tions OF the Jews. which wcro the darkest blots
on the history OF the middle ngcs. are revived
in Russia 1t is well that tho iniquity and hor-
ror OF such a reaction should be enforced by
vivid and eloquent presentation. A peculiar
pcrtincnce and interest attaches. therefore, to
the dramatic treatment of n narrowing incl
dent In the Jcw batting OF the fourteenth CEN
fury which fills the greater part oil Il small VOL
ume entitled Songs of a Senit", by EMMA bAZA-
RUS. The facts on which the tragedy called
The Dance to Death" arc founded
are taken. wo nre told. from German
narrative bearing the same name. which
was itself compilation from authentic
documents. The scene is laid for the most part.
at Nordhauscn at tho time when the scourge
known IA tho black death. which proved so
fatal to the England Of Edward Ill. had begun
to spread its ravnges over Germany 1t was an
age whom, even during seasons OF general pros
perity. the Jews. who were suffered to reside in
the outskirts Of European towns held therlive
by n thread. and any unusual calamity was In
variably laid to the charge OF tho hated ntrud-
ers by popular rancor and cupidity. The out
break Of the mysterious and specially de-
structivc plague. which laid Europe waste from
Palermo to Edinburgh. gave the signal for ex-
ccptionally widespread and bloody assault
upon the Jews. Tho havoc caused by this out
burst of savage fanaticsm was but partially re-
strained by tho fact that sovercigns and their
councillors for the most part did not share tho
popular superstition. and tried to intcrposc the
shield of their authority between their Chris
tian subjects and the victims OF prejudice
still the knowledge that this particular persc-
cution was Il scOuntenanccd by both the Pope
and the head OF the holy Roman empire. en-
abod the Jews in some parts of Germany TO
profit by the compassion and urarice OF the To-
cal rulers. 1t follows that the complete destruc-
ton OF n given Jewish community might often
he determined 10y the private grndSc OF an in
dividual counsellor or courtier ;nnd il was just
such an incident which has supplied the mate
rial Tor this dramatic poem.
In Tho Dance to Death" which ia n drama
in i've acts and in blank verse. is set forth the
tragic story of the Jewish colony at Nordhnu-
sen which without distinction Of ago or SOW. is
condemned 10 death by fire, not because the
hurghrrs Of the town are infected with the
venom Of religious anmosity-for such docs
not seem to he the case-but because the Land
grave Of Thuringia happens to be heavily in
debtcd tO the Jews Of Nordhauscn for adj
vanccs and because one Of his counselors
Henry Schnc;len. who has his ear. has suffered
ms he supposes. gicvous injury ~ the hands OF
one Sus- Kind Won Orb. the most conspicuous
member OF the Jewish settlement. We could
wish that the author had included in her notes
some explanation Of the noble particle
Won" conferred upon German jew
in the fourteenth century. But. waiv
ing this inquiry as of no great impor-
lance we would point ont that the supposed
wrong had never been inflicted. but on The
contrary Won orb had rescued Schnctzens in
FAINT daughter and had brought her up a his
own child and in tho Hebrew faith. The young
girls beauty Is OF the pur'st Saxon tyne, and
wins tn. passionate anil honorable affection of
the Prince Of Me!sson. the son and heir Of the
I.andgrave. The knowledge That the Prince is
resolved to make her his wife. and that the
union can BE- shown TO h. unohjrrtl"nah'c 10y
iniubtable proofs OF her paternity which are
in his possess ion cnh,ldras Won Orb ~ couI-
sci his fellow jews not to fly from the threat
cned persecution. Tn" proofs, however arc
unlurkily conNdrd To the Prince ard are thus
brought hy n series If accidents to tho knoWl-
edge of Schnetzcu'S enemy. who resolves 10
glut his revenge ~ making The father preside
over the frigniul scene in which his daughter
is burned alive. Such. In fact. il the narrowing
elimination Of the tragedy whose pa;hos and
terror are strikingiy brought out hy the care
ful treatment OF incident and graduation Of in
tercst. For proof that Ia" plot is skilfuliy
evolved we must refer the reader to the play
itself assuring him that. regarded merely rs
an effective reproduction Of a remarkable mar
rative il will abunduntly repay perusal. But
the degree 81 the authors success in charac-
teriaa;ion, and the often felicitous quality OF
her di"tion. may be cNempiled by one or two
extracts. Take. for instance the appeal adj
dressed 10 the Municipal Council Of Nord-
hansen who have voted t. do the Landgraycs
bidding and put the whole colony of Jews to
death by fire by Susskind Won orb. whose
majestic nicn and noble character rccal! not
indistinctly the lincaments Of Irssing>
Nathan:"
Noble lords.