The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-02-27
EXILES AT WORSHIP.
THE OLD HEBREW RITES OBSERVED.
A Solemn IsrotatIon for Their Adopted County.
Strange snd Stirring sesnes-Hou the
Babies Were Bsthed and the Men
and Women Were Attirsd.

and Women Were Attired.
PmLApELrlrrA, February %. Strange
sights were witnessed yesterday in the old
West Philadelphia depot where the Israel.
ite refugees from Russia, through the gen.
erosity OF the citizens, are afforded TEN.
porary home and shelter. With sundown
the Sabbath commenced-their first Sab.
bath in what they have been led to regard
the free and promised land, where they
would be permitted to worship God in
peace according to their consciences. As
evening approached certain air OF formal
ity aud an indication OF the near approach
of an important occasion became percepti-
BILE. Every man, woman and child had
rested, after the trying fatigue OF over six
weeks constant travel. They had bathed,
the men and children's hair had been cut,
boards had been trimmed and every person
was attired in clean clothes from head 10
loot There was an unmistakable Sunday
appearance about everyone who emerged
from the separate dressing rooms set apart
for the two sexes.
DEvoTIoNs AT THE BEDSIDE.
A little before six o'clock, according TO
old orthodox Jewish rites, all the mothers
oil children present took candle and after
making circle with 1t stood by the bedside
and blessed ii with prayer. These can
dies were then lighted by young girls and
placed on an altar improvised along the
shelf Of what was formerly the ticket win
dow and still bearing the sign The i'm.
mense space in which passengers used to
wait for the trains has been divided into
two parts and the part nearest Market street
including the ticket window, is filed will,
cot beds where the women and children
sleep, When the candles were lighted, look
ing very strange as they stood together Sc
cured to the flat surface and without any
other object whatever on the altar, ail
the women and children in the room stood
silent and engaged in their deyotions,
facing east, where the sacriGcial table, will,
the candles, was erected. The women's
prayers, different from the mems, it seems,
are never audible. This service on the
part OF the women is always preliminary
to the service in which the men engage. Il.
had no sooner finished than n small. SER
ious, dark-bearded man emerged from the
mems room and going into what was for
merly the restaurant and now used as the
dining room for both men and women
placed the "tallith" or iringed mantel over
his head and shoulders, opened his book.
printed in large Hebrew characters, turned
his face close TO the wall. looking eastward.
and began the special Sabbath service OF
thanksgiving.
THE MEN AT WORSHIP.
Very quickly and very quietly nil the
men gathered in rows, one rank behind
another and all facing the east. Every
man wore his hat during the service.
Small as had been their baggage, every
man had his well-worn and thinly thumb.
ed prayer book in his hands. After re-
peatlng in low, solemn voice, with that
rapidity Of short syllables which is a pecu-
larty Of the Hebrew tongue, number OF
selections about David, the simple shep-
herd, and Goliath, the proud possessor of
power, the canter sang in more ioyful
strains David's victory and the giants fall,
~ whlch all present in chorus intoned an
tiphonally some OF David's own songs, such
as: THE Lord is nigh unto all them that
call upon Him; He delivereth His people.
Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving;
sing praise upon the harp unto our God.
The Lord upholdeth all that fall and
raiseth up all those that be bowed
down. He preserveth the stranger,
He relieveth the iatherless and widows:
but the way OF the wicked He turneth up.
side down." A hymn from Samuel wins
then intoned, followed by the Command.
m!ent respecting "the Sabbath day, to keep
Il holy." Asa sort OF climax, the most
impressive part OF the service was then
reached, when the canter proceeded to re-
cite the usual prayer for rulers. With who
knows what reluctance, it has been their
custom in the past, according to the ritual,
10 pray for the Gar. For the first time in
their lives they sent up with one voice
Their prayer that "the President OF these
United States, in whose lands we Low rest.
and all others in authority, may be given
wisdom and spared to usefulness and pros.
perity." During this invocation all stood
with their faces upward, and some raised
their hands. In the special PRAYER for dc.
liverancc from bondage, which closed the
service, exclamations OF joy went up from
every throat. Following this the women
and children flied out and after solemn
blessing all sat down to their evening meal.
BATHING TIE BARIEs.
It was very late at night before the
ablutions OF the party, insisted upon by
the committee, were finished, and the wash.
ing Of the babies was scene such as has
never been witnessed hero before. Owing
10 limited accommodations and the hurry
the four large tubs, each about ten feet |
square, had to be filled at once. There
were iorty or fifty screaming infants and
children IN the tubs at once, splashing and |
kicking and fighting the ladies' who were
experimenting the difficult operation.
When they came ont there was not time 10 !
dress them, and they were put in bed lust
as they were. The transformation of the
men and women in their new clothes was
remarkable and made them look anything
but Russian. Blue polka.dot wrappers
dresses with flounces, tight.fitting basques
and variety OF other garments which peo. |
pie OF wealth had worn q little and laid !
aside made marked change in the
appearance OF the women. They
all insisted, however, on tinr the
red handkerchiefs given out around their
heads and could not be persuaded to take
them off The men were rugged out in
high hats and slightly worn suits, many OF
them Of late fashionable cut. Nj. Samson,
one oi the interpreters Of the courts, who
was present, talked considerably with the
refugees and found that they were all hap.
py and full OF protestations OF thanks for
the kind reception they encountered. The
women in meeting the ladies of the com.
mittec usually curtsy aud kiss their hands
with great politeness. The more they arc !
seen the more favorable tho impression
made by the strangers, and scores OF offers
Of situations are coming in; but the com.
mittec is in quandary about the difficulty
Of having to break up families, a thing they
do not want to do II they eau avoid i. <
meeting TO determine what disposition
shall be made Of the refugees will be held
on Sunday, and a meeting Of citizens will