Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-22

is not TO be supposed that even IN the
earliest times the Jews were unfamiliar
with the pure German, for history re-
cords that in the beginning Of the thir-
teenth century Jew--Suskin Won Tun-
bug. a minncsinger--is known to have
composed in German poems Of rare lite
rary merit. In the fourteenth, another,
Joseph Won Hochs.adt. near Augsburg,
in Bavaria, wrote q biography Of his
teacher in German. in which he states
that he is compelled to write in German.
as mosto of his people do not understand
Hebrew, and Of his intentions to make
the book popular among his own peo-
pl,--an eyide.sce Of the general igno-
rance Of the old Hebrew language. To
illustrate the extensive use Of this dia-
lcct, the renowned historians Drs. Jost
and Steinschneider have published list
Of manuscripts and printed books writ
ten from the thirteenth century TO re-
cent date in .Jowish-Gcrman and the
number is over 400.
The study of this language has be-
come popular Of late years with philolo-
gists, and many important discoveries
of literary value have resulted from it..
for the jew, with characteristic tenaci-
ty, has retained in this jargon many
words which are to-day obscure in their
native tongue. Many famed philologists,
such as the brothers Grimm, Hoffman,
and Sandus. acknowledge their indebt-
edncsS to il in solving many obscure
passages heretofore clouded in their
original meaning. IL has well-estsb-
lished literature Of its own, and to
all the various departments Of poetry.
fiction, ethics. Jurisprudence, aud other
branches of science numerous con-
tributions have been made. The Bible
from llelvcn, Joscphus. and other
classics were long since translated. and
it is interesting to note that among the
first works Of this kind is book by a
woman. Rebecca Tiktiner. who trans
lated novel, The Duties of the
Heart" which was published at
Prague in 1909. Some Of the poems
possessed a high lyric value. aud have
been translated into pure German,
kompert, a renowned German novelist,
Kulka, Trendlau. and, Of years. the
better-known Auerbach. have often in
troduced Jewish characters into their
works who use these peculiar Jewish
German idioms exclusively in their con-
! ycrsatiOn. " Alt Babele 49, The Old
Grandmother lis well-known and
/ popular German story, the name OF
which is expressed in this corrupt
I German and Hebrew. Karl Frances
and Sachor Masoch have done n great
deal toward making known the literary
merit of these peculiar compositions.
Within a few years its use a. vehicle
for spreading general news and informa-
ton has been largely practiced.
The newspaper field has been extern
Sively covered by it. There are to-day
newspapers published in this language
in Jerusalem, Bagdad, Australia, in
Germany. England. aud other places in
Europe, aud in our own country IN
New York and Chicago. In the two
last-namcd places the newspapers cater
generally to the wants of the Poles and
Russians, and more especially to the
cmigrants from these countries, who
have been lately coming in large mum
berS and who read this language and
10 other. 1t is printed IN Hebrew
characters. which. when express
ed yocally, form this peculiar
German. Ii is \ very remarkable fact
that the purert German can be express
ed by the use Of Hebrew characters
and while the construction of the Eng
lish language precludes their application
to it in any way, every syllable known
to the German tongue can be written
Moses Mcndclssohn. who, in 100, frs
translated the Bible into German with
Hebrew characters. may be SAID to hay,
given the dcath-blow to the use of Thu
iargon among his co-religioniSts in Ger
many. but the orthodox Poles repudi
atcd his effort, and still retain their old
State language.
The large predominancc Of cultural
sounds in the language, and the marked
absence of Soit-SpOkcn sowcls would
seem to indicate an impeachment to it,
successful application TO opera, although
the reports of the performances now be-
iug given in the Fast speak 80 highly o.
it.. In the drama. where action alone is
the great essential. the merits Of the,,
Polish and Russian Jews are scarce t.
be doubted. Jews IN all ages and clime'
have been credited with marked quail
ties for the stage-inherent, perhaps
through the intensity of their bitter ex
periences and naturally strong emo
tional and romantic temperament. But
after all, the garb of language plays but
minor part IN the expression Of tru,
dramatic fire.