The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-25

stands the name of Israel Zangwill, the
writer who when little more than youth,
created sensation in the literary world
by the force of his graphic pictures OF life
in the London Ghetto. Indeed, lit may be
said that this man, young though he be, is
the foremost writer of the day in England.
He has been styled by his admirers 1.-The
Dickens of the Ghetto" and with much
reason, for never, since the death OF the
author of David Copperteld" and PICK
wick" has an author arisen who has, by
the power of his pen, now humorous, now
pathetic, so thoroughly endeared himself
to his readers.
Israel Zangwill was born in Plymouth,
England, and is still in the early thirties.
He possesses a striking personality, being
considerably above the middle height, with
q peculiar, hawk-like cast of countenance,
strongly suggestive OF Henry Irving. Gang
will received his early education at the
Jews Free School, London, where, after
passing all the grades, he was appointed
pupil teacher, and was assigned small
class of a score of youths. In the course
of two or three years he received the de-
gree of c. T. (certifcated teacher) from the
London School Board and continued his
labors at the Free School for two or three
years longer. He suddenly took dislike
to his profession, dislike which he did
not hesitate to express to his colleagues.
His distaste was probably augmented by
the fact that orthodox Judaism, of the
ultra conservative variety, was one OF the
subjects" inculcated by the code And
Zangwill was by no means Of the orthodox.
It was reported that some Of his opinions
brought him into collision with the
authorities. A failure to meet their views
on certain matters led to his resignation
from the Free School staff, and he drifted
into journalism.
The first paper with which Fang
will was connected was Ariel. 1t was
small comic publication, run on the lines
of Puck, and was solely devoted to wit and
humor, with a short story run in every
fortnight. The paper was short-lived, its
publication ceasing within twelve months
of the date of its birth.
In 1887, a project was mooted for new
London Jewish journal. 1t was to be
owned by a syndicate, and was primarily
designed to compete with the Chronicle,
the oldest Jewish newspaper in the world,
and which had been in existence since
1910. The new paper was called the Jew
ish Standard, and to this publication Gang
will contributed personal and editorial
paragraphs over the signature of "Mar-
shallik." His experiences while on the
staff of the Standard were decidedly
curious, and they afforded him much IN
teresting material for the second volume
of his greatest work. 1.-The Flag OF Judah,
is the transparent disguise with which he
invested the publication over which ne
presided.
During the period of his connection with
the Standard, Zangwill succeeded in rem
dering himself tolerably unpopular to the
weather element of his co-religionlsts.
He wrote paragraphs, personals, squibs,
verses. notices-all of the liveGest charac-
ter. He was witty at everybody expense
and he was a merciless satirist He seized
and held up to ridicule various communal
institutions which had been held sacred
through centuries of tradition. His venom
was largely directed against the London
rabbinate, and this was the cause OF his
being ostracized III certain quarters. After
a couple of years he severed his connection
with the Standard, which only survived
his departure few months.
ZangYiIl never was newspaper man
in the American acceptation of the
term. Such reporting as he did was always
of the kline that readily lent itself to critical
analysis. He has, however, done consid-
cradle work in connection with the Lon
don magazines. He was associated with
Harry Quilter in the publication of the
Universal, one of the very high-priced
Journals, which was short-iived. He was
also associated with Jerome K. Jerome in
the Idler, and formed one of that ia
nous coterie of bohemians, among whom
were numbered such literary lights as
Conan Doyle J. M. Barrie and Jerome.
He was member of the 1dler's Club,
a small odclup formed of members
of the Idler staff, which dis
cussed various interesting subjects in the
pages of that magazine every. month:
The Idler still flourishes in England and
has some circulation in this country. At
present it only receives the aid of an
occasional contribution from the pen Of
one of its founders. The Pail Mall Maya
zine has for some considerable time past
contained five or SIX pages OF matter
monthly, written by Zangwill under the
caption without Prejudice" His work on
ali of these various publications is marked
by breeziness quite his own. His book
reviews are noticeable for the spirit of fair
ness and the eruditlon which they exhibit.
1t is mainly through the medium OF his
critical reviews that he is known to Ameri-
can readers.
During the last FIVE or six years Israel
Zangwill has made several appearan ces on
the public platform as a lecturer. Some
months ago he lectured pe1ore several
learned bodies in Glasgow on ''The Present
osition of Judaism" These lectures
were very we'll received, one of them being
reprinted in the North American Review.
In consideration of his platform work in
Glasgow, the Mayor and corporation of
that city waited upon him with engrossed
complimentary resolutions of thanks.
Zangwill is also said to have dramatic
ambitions. Some color is lent to this idea
by his six Persons" which appeared on
the stage of the Haymarket Theater, Lon
don, on which he also appeared as an
actor in the copyright performance OF
Hall Gaines 1.-THE Mahdi.'
But it is as a novelist that the name OF
Israel Zangwill will go down to posterity.
Fugitive essays and sketches in magazines
cannot be taken as criterion of his ability.
His first novel, 1.-THE Children of the
Ghetto" is mastery exposition of the
life of the London Jew. To Israel Gang
will belongs the credit of having shown the
Jew TO the world in many novel phases of
his character. He has exhibited his petty
failings, and vanities, and vices. Yet his
work does not partake of the nature of a
caricature. Rather should it be said that
he has exhibited to the world finished
drawing. with all the lights and shades
haonfiFu1lu M orlad bo daeira