The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-02-04
The Jews or Russia.

"To be the poet Of the Podolian Ghettow
Such Is the avowed ambition OF KARL EMIL
FRANCIS. and he fully justihes his claim to the
title. The Jers Of Barno,o tAppletons) 10 col
lection OF short stories descriptive Of the man
ners and customs OF an ordinary IsIaelitish
community in Poland. These scenes. evidently
painted from life. though little more than
sketches. are full OF color. force. and realism
glowing and transfused with poetic beauty.
The modest little volume throws more light
upon the pretexts assigned BY Russian
spologists for tho recent prosecutions OF
the Jews in Russia. than could be
shed by library Of polemics and in
dictments. Here We see with our own eyes
the actual social condition in which are en-
gendered. on ono side. such antipathv and vio-
lence on the other. such moral strength and
physical weakness OF resistance. Herr Fran
EOS. with the burning sympathy OF o patriot
and the skill OF a master In his art. dscloses to
the Western World this dark corner Of misery
and superstition. More light more light! is
his aim. for he we'll understands that this Is
the first essential preliminary to reform, with
out and within. He comes to help and heal.
not to whitewash or apologize: he will not
cover sickness with a mask Of health. nor
ignore the noxious weeds OF error and bigotry
that flourish In this nosome atmosphere Never
theless We feel throbbing beneath every line
OF his book an undercurrent OF profoundest
rity. in every word We see. written with his
hearts blood. a protest against the indignities
and injustice hesped upon his unhappy
people. For Notwithstanding all assertions
to the contrary. we have Herr Francois own
authority for stating that he 10 Jew by birth
and conviction.
Such book as this In which the whole
truth is divulged. Is liable to much mis-
4 tructfop m fho ~ NJ ;uJin nA
ers. 1t is therefore all the more to be re-
GREETED that this msconstruction Is almost in
vted by the lll-advlsed. unsympathizing tone
OF the writer who furnishes an introduction to
the American edition. Mr. Barnett Phillips
finds little In the volume save that which
should bring the burning brand Of shame to
the cheek OF every intelligent Jew" As we
take 1t. u friendly or even kindly eye would
see on the contrary in these melancholy pic
lures fur more cansa for sorrowing CONF passion
indulgence. and even encouragement than for
anger and humiliation. In this gloomy by
way. side by side with the coarsest weeds,
spring the tenderest blossoms OF love. piety
and self-sacrfce. Charity. domestic virtues
coniugal fidelity. Hlial reverence. confluence
sobrety and strict probty. form the fulo OF life
In this austere community Herr FRANCIS. by
his courage and candor In concealing none
OF the blacklist shadows. earns claim to our
equal confidence in his portrayal Of the reliev.
ing lights. We will not dwell on these with
longer insistance than he does himself. But
taking his unfortunate people at their worst
We find that theirs are not the vices OF
depraved or corrupt race; their sins are the
exaggerations Of difficult virtues. inaexible
justice. religious fervor degsnersted into
superstition. and indomitable pride In revolt
against wrongs and insults for which no re-
trASs vista Evan thar nna a. vol 81 Val aau
is but the inevitable sequence Of the system Of
caste established by their oppressors. and Of
that physical feebeness entaied BY protracted
suffering. which. In default OF other weapons
resorts to intellectual and moral barriers
against external attacks. Are these the loath-
some. objectionable crimes Tor which people
deserve to be mobbed. pllaged and extermi.
natedp The philosophical student recognizes
them US the natural results OF . policy Of op-
preston and repression that has damned up
all the healthy normal channels OF activity
proper TO people endowed with intense mental
energy and unsurpassed will power They can
be broken. they cannot be bent. What they
need Is liberty. Bring them out Of these hid
eous Podolian alleyways. into the sunshine Of
freedom. into the broad thoroughfare OF COM
mon rights and equal conditions; open to them
the ordinary avenues OF human vitality These
are no untried experiments; the result will be
what 1t has already been In England France,
Holland. Italy. America. the transformation OF
the crushed and narrow bigot into the states-
man. the humanitarian the poet. the scholar.
or. at the very least. the loyal. honest citizen.
The literary inertia Of this book are OF q high
order. The full beauty OF the authors rlch
and picturesque style 10. however. but i'm
perfectly preserved In Miss Mscdowalls trans
lation. Herr Francois method Is simple one
seizing the most salient features OF Jewish life
he groups In each story few. typical chsrac-
ters around some significant religious rite or
socisl custom and thus the inausnco and