The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-12

Have Used II.
From the New York Post.
The legend Of the Wandering jew, be-
yond any other ancient or medieval tra-
dition that has survived 20 our own time,
possesses the element Of fascination and,
ii might be said, also Of pathetic charm.
II is a myth. of course So the wise men
have said in every age Nevertheless,
. there have always been a few credulous
persons. like the writer, who are more
than half prepared TO believe in the actu-
aIity Of the wretcheS shoemaker. or what
ever he was, of Jerusalem, who, ennobled
now by twenty centuries Of patient an
guish and repentance, should still be trav-
cling where he lists, needing neither purse
nor scrip, and speaking every known
tongue, but who may not die because he
once did scott at the suffering Christ.
Verify. / say unto your, there be some
standing here. which shall not taste OF
death till they see the Son Of Man COM
ing in his kingdom" Matt. XVI, Is and
Mark tx, j. The commentators are prone
TO explain this solemn and momentous
declaration as applying 10 the destruction
Of Jerusalem. but then they may De Wrohsi
as they are by no means intallible guides.
1t must be confessed that the historian
evidence on which this legend IS pased y
extremely unsatisfactory, and, moreover,
the myth does not appear to have come
into being until twelve centuries after
the death of Christ. From that period
. until within the last century the accounts
are as plentiful and also as various as you
please. The only point on which they
really agree is that such an indfViduai
exists in an undying condition, wander
ing over the face OF the earth, seeking
rest and finding none.
The earliest alusion to the Wondering
jew is found in the Historic Major. that
famous narrative of the worlds history by
the monks of ST. Adams, which was TAX
en- up by Matthew of Paris, as the sue
cessor of Roger Of WendoVer, about l225.
The learned priest tells Of certain arch
bishop of Armenia the greater who came
10 England on a pilgrimage in rs ana
was entertained for some time at 81. Al
bans.
On one occasion the visitor was asked
If he knew aught of Joseph the Wander
er, a man of whom there had been much
talk Of late as one who was still alive,
although he had witnessed the crucihXioh
of our Lord The archbishop replied,
through his interpreter, that he had re-
ceived this same Joseph as a guest at his
own table just before leaving home, ana
often conversed with him and placed I'M
plicit belief in his story, which was sub
stantially to this effect: As Jesus was
being dragged forth from Pilates rest
dence to be crucihed Cartaphilus, por-
ter Of the hail. struck him on the back
with his hand and said in mockery: GO
quicker, Jesus 90 quicker. Why doest thou
falterE" Jesus Immediately turned upon
shalt wait till my return" And accord
ingly Cartaphilus is still waiting. At
the time of the crucifXion he was 80 years
Old and when he reaches the age of 100
he returns to the same age as he was
when our Lord suffered.
Some years after Christs death this
Cartaphilus was baptized by Ananias (who
also baptized the apostle PauD under the
name of Joseph. He dwells in various
eastern countries, but mostly in Armenia
He is a man of holy conversation, al
though a few words, and very crcumspecT
in his behavior When questioned he will
speak of things which occurred at the
suffering and resurrection of our LORD.
Never smiling, he seems to be always
looking forward with dread to the coming
of Jesus Christ, lest at the last judgment
he should find Him in anger, whom on
His way to death he had provoked to
just vengeance. He invariably declines
70 receive any money being satified with
slight food and clothing.
few years later Philip Mouskes after
ward bishop of Tourney, wrote his rhymed
chronicle O24D, which contains an account
of the Jew almost Identical with that de-
rived from the Armenian prelate. We
hear no more of the wanderer till the COM
mencement of the sixteenth century, when
various vague reports began to be circu-
lated concerning such person. Finally,
IN 1911, he was actually seen in Europe, il
we are to credit the narration contained in
a manuscript signed by ChrysOstomus Du-
dulaeus Westphalus, and dated Reval
Aug. J. 1913. This writer relates the story
as he received it by word of mouth from
Hamburg in 1922, appointed bishop of
Schleswig in 1862 and died in 1898. 1t seems
that DR.. Won Eitzen was in Hamburg in
the winter of l547, and on a certain Sun
day in church he observed a tall man, with
long hair, standing barefoot during the
sermon. He appeared to listen attentively
TO the discourse, and whenever the name
of Jesus was mentioned bowed himself
humbly with signs and beating of the
breast. Although the weather was bitter
ly cold, he was poorly clad, and, Judging
from his appearance, he was about so
years of age. Every one wondered over
the man, who, according to creditable wit
nesSeS- some OF high degree and title had
been seen in England, France Italy, Hun
gary, Persia, Spain, Poland, Moscow, Lap
land; Sweden, Denmark, Scotland and 9TH
er places.
The doctors interest being excited. he
sought this mysterious being out and ques-
TONED him privately. The man replied
that he was Jew of Jerusalem, by name
Ahasuerus, by trade a shoemaker He had
lived at the time of Christ, whom he re-
garded as a deceiver of the people, when
sentence of crucifiXion had been pronounce
ed by Pilot he knew that Christ would
be dragged past his house on the way TO
Calvary. Fastening home, he stood in the
doorway with his child in his arms TO
have sight of the victim. As the Saw
Jour was led by his door, bowed under
the weight of the heavy cross, he seemed
about to rest a moment on the step but
Ahasuerus drove him on with jealous rage
Jesus, obeying, looked back a moment and
said; Il shall stand and rest, but thou
~
words the man set down the child. follow
ed Christ, witnessed his agony and dealt h
on the cross, left Jerusalem and has ever
since been wanderer on the face Of the
earth. In whatever land he Travelled he
was enabled to speak its language; when
money was given him he distributed ii
among the poor
Never smiling. he always listened gladly
10 GODS word and waXed indignant when
he heard curses. On being questioned he
showed such perfect familiarity with the
worlds history since the death of Christ
that It was impossible TO doubt the truth
of his story The ReVel manuscript also
declares that this same Jew was Seen i'm
Madrid, 1915 in Vienna, 1882 and in Lu-
beck, 1901. The writer concludes his nara
ton with this sententious command:
What thoughtful God-fearing person
are TO think of the said person is at their
option. Gods works are wondrous and
past finding out and are manifested dav IN
day, only TO be revealed in fun at the last
great day of account
1t will be noted that the wandering idea
had become greatly accentuated in the de-.
Velopment Of the legend in the sixfeenth
century. At first it was only vaguely sug.
gested. In 1904 the Jew is said to have an.
peared in Paris. and one RudolDb Bofo.
reus, advocate of that city wrofe at ~
time. i fear lest I he apcuSaI ~