The morning call., 1894-11-04
MODERN Portals.
Rabbi Voorsanger Talks
About Them.
Must Not Despise Marriage-The ST
Nicholas ParlOrs Too Small for
the Clubs Admirers.

The PoTtia Law Club was in dilemma
last night. An entertainment had been
arranged al the st. Nicholas Hotel, the
proceeds of which were to be devoted to
furnishing the clubrOoms. There was a
musical programme and DR.. Vo0rsanger
was 10 lecture. The ladies had been quite
active ID selling tickets. Many lawyers
had been induced TO buy and most of the
Judges in town had invested in So worth
of the Portia pasteboards.
AS the people began to come a startling
discovery was made. The ladies in their
zeal had sold three times as many tickets
as the hall held seats. Indeed Mrs. Foley,
when she introduced DR.. Voorsanger to
the audience. remarked that the PoItia
Law Club was sorry to be inhospita bic.
but that many OF the mem bers had spent
the last few hours in urging friends to stay
away, Cd the ground that even if they
came they could not get in. She added
that the Portia Law Club had realized
quite a handsome sum by the sale of
tickets and that the money was needed.
Then DR.. Y oOrsanger began his lecture,
and as those people who could not get
into the hall were accommodated win
seats in the corridor all went well. for the
ra bei has a fine penetrating voice. Dr.
VOOrsaDger opened his remarks by refer
ring 10 his former exploit before the
Portia Law Club and stating that be was
glad TO have an opportunity Of defining
his position on the woman question.
incidentally he threw in Inc remark that
he believed Mrs. Clara Foitz had purpose
~ mlSTepTesented the financial condition
of the club. for previously to the garner
ing in Of the ducats from the sale Of
tickets the treasury had been able to stand
the strain of purchasing complete and
costly set of Carlyle's works. These works
had been presented to DR.. V0orsanger,
and he thanked the club for them.
Coming back to the subject of his lecture,
which was 'Portia." the Ia bbi stated that
be wished to talk about women in society,
using the term in its broadcast sense.
No man has ever said," affirmed the
lecturer, that woman'5 limit is domestic
Or tia: she is alone capable of being queen
of the home. No man has ever said the
keen eye, be it male or female, cannot
scan the heavens.
"No man has ever said that the skilled
hand, be it male or female. cannot WELD
the chsel. or hold the painters brush. No
man has ever said that the woman who
was capable should not lead the State.
No man will be disQuieted at anything she
undertakes, so long as she be not disQua-
flied by it to enter again the holy temple of
the home"
Referring to the character of Portia, the
rabbi thought she was of the earth
earthy-very much a woman, and she was
30 foolish as 10 think she ought to be al
lowed to pick out her own husband. She
wished 10 give her heart where she gave
her fortune, and rejoiced in besiowing
both on an utterly undeserv;ng man. With
regard to the story of the trial at Venice,
it was stated that Shakes eare's play was
adapted from an old Roman tale, in which
the Christian, not the Jew, exacted The
pound of flesh.
Then Rabbi Voorsapger proceeded to
point out what he considered several
glazing Inconsistencies in the Bard OF
Avon's story. He did not believe that any
Judge or DOge ever permitted a case to be
presented in which claim for pound oil
flesh was urged. A description Of the
young gentle woman PorIia ana her stately
home at Belmont was given, aud the
speaker added:
From Belmont came Portia to the trial
at Venice. dressed in the very latest
fashion, her dress covered with the gown
of d law student. though Shakespeare doe.
not te how she knew there was trial
The Dnge must have been exceedingly
near-sighted not to perceive in this dapper
young lawyer the wOmaD."
The character OF the dashing Bassanio
was handled by DR.. Voorsauger without
gloves. He said it was shame to waste
the good old name of gentleman on such
rake, a spendtbriit who had never earned
an honest COldT IN MS lie. me cnOlce
gang surrounding BassaniO also received
their share of stating. particularly Lorenzo
who stole child and made hersa thief.
VoorSanger expressed it as his opinion
that 1t was very unseemly under the cir
cumstances for PoItia to take Jessica into
her arms when she returned to Belmont
for that young woman had not only fallen
from grace, but had stopped to steal as
well. The advice given to the m odern
Portals who surrounded DR.. VoorsangeI
was not TO desplSe marriage or consider il
a disgrace.
Portla selected worthless man and
gave herself entirely to him, proving
thereby that she was woman.
Mrs. FOtz, at the conclusion of the ad
dress, made some well-timed remarks ant
reeited The quality of mercy is MOI
strained" very dramatically.
The following musical programme wa.
then performed: Sacred song, "Pens0'
(TostD, Miss Virginia FOltz accompanied
by NJ. Jos. ROeckel; encore. "Ai ChQlita"
recitation, 'Drifted Out TO Sea- Mile
Elena Roec6el; encore. Happy Orphans"
violin solo. Scenes de la Csarda" (Hubay)
Henry Bettman - encored; recitation
'Zngarella." Mrs. Fred Barto; song, Dol
Iy's Revenge" (RoeckeD. Nine. Euel
n-Roeekel-eneore, "Old Folks a
Home"
DR.. Rigdon for Coroner.
DR.. r. L. Rigdon, the Citizens Non-Partisal
nominee for Coroner, is the man to vote fo