The courier., 1898-11-12
ISRAEL zANGwILL IN CHICAGO.

Do not cay again that Chicago is not
intellectual when Der citizens will pay
dollar for seats or standing room to
listen to . lecture and then go awsy
contented with their moneys worth.
Zsngwill started his lecture course in
the United States by treating the drama
and eschewing reporters while everyone
longed to know what he thought OF his
own race and its destination. His 81
lence seems to have been for the pur-
pose OF giving him better chance to
observe the American jew in compari-
son With his fellow countrymen in the
old world. At least there was no doubt
left in the minds OF anyone who listened
to THE Ghetto az to what Zangwill
thought OF the edescendantso Of Abraham.
He reminded me Of the mother OF Ben
Hur as she caused the nations to pass
before the minds eye Of her discouraged
boy and pointed out to him the manner
in which the jews had led the world in
every art except the making OF craven
images. After the fall Of Jerusalem
and during the chaotic middle aQes
Zangwill showed how persecution AMI
the Ghetto had held the race together
with iron bands. Then he struck the
keynote Of his lecture with the ques-
tion, "Will the Jew survive the GhettoY"
"On the continent prejudice to great
extent still rivets them together, but
will free America and liberalism file the
chains? II co it will lead the Jewish
church toward absorption and extinc-
ton" There is a warning in this for
the Jew who leaves bis church not TO be-
come Christian but Upitarian or even
abandons this half way house" and joins
the ethical society which boasts Of hav-
ing no fetich. There is behind the
church the poetry, the history, the
tragedy Of the past. jews must and
should preserve their traditions. This
is the thoughtful side Of Zangwill's lee.
ture but more noticeable is the humor
that pervades the whole. In this he re-
minded me more OF Bob Burdett than
any speaker could think Of. His jokes
on the Schnorrer. the Jewish begQar,
were applauded enthusiastically. One
fellow OF this class came to rich friend
to ask for money to take lin to sea
side resort as his health was broken
down. ''But," said the wealthy friend.
"You have chosen the most expensive
resort in the country" Sir" said the
Schnorrer. 'Shall / think OF money
when my health is concerned" Ii is
this power to laugh which has helped to
keep up the spirit OF the race during
long years Of persecution.
When ZangwilI arrived at CHICAGO
his first visit was to the poor Jewish
quarter Of the city and later he found
time for the high buildings and stock
exchange. 1t was in this last place that
l first caught a glimpse OF the writer of
"The Master" wandering about. and at
once guessed him to be literary man
from England. His clothes hung loosely
on bis tall figure. His hair was rather
long and curled. A cape thrown back
over his shoulder gave him the air OF an
artist from Italy. He is not handsome
but as he remarked, IF Jew is beauti-
ful he is considered the fool Of the
family. which is consolation for some Of
u.s." He will not express himself much
but it is known that he will write book
treating OF our idioeynci asies so those
who are curious to know what he thinks
OF Us may be gratified.
The young author met the literary
people OF the city at dinner and enjoyed
an evening with the society peopl.' at