Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-09-24
herded together like swine. in miser-
able houses that scarce allow OF sump-

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able houses that scarce allow of sump-
tuary laws, or the decent separation
of families; wretched barrack-like ten
ements, packed full from garnet to
basement, the last not unfrequently in
undated by the overflowing river, and
left half filled with its Shiny residuum.
1t is not our purpose here to dwell on
the prosecutions and degradations
which, through long centuries, these un-
fortunate people have been subjected
to. The tale darkens history, while
disgracing Christianity, not alone in
Italy, but all over Europe. But no
where more than in this city, erst the
centre of the earth's civilization, and
headquarters of Christianity itself. In
deed, nowhere so much. To see a
score of aged Jews with ropes around
their necks, forced to run the races of
the Corso, bounded on by jibs and jeers,
pelted with filthy missiles-to see
these wretched old men. the tears
streaming out of their bleared eyes, and
dripping from their long, grey boards
that is a picture of cruel brutality
not surpassed in the most barbarouS
lands or darkest ages. And such pic
ture was seen every year for centuries
upon centuries till the merciful Pope
Clement TX removed the disability"
Riderless horses now do the racing of
the Corso. but the Jews of the Ghetto
have still something to say to it.
They have to pay its expenses, provide
the prizes and cups! Besides this,
many another mulct is demanded and
collected from these prescribed pariahs,
whose persecution in Rome had not
yet in the year of our Lord 1S4S, reach
ed its cad.
1t were punishment enough to be
compelled to occupy a residence in the
Ghetto. A house in the lowest slums
of Whitechapel would be an airy pal
ace in comparison; and yet with Won
derful resemblance between the two
places. In the Roman, as the London
Jews quarter-in the Ghetto you pass
through streets of shops, every one
depository of "old clo' "-''roba yec-
chiz." With cast-off garments OF all
conceivable fashions and colors the
windows and doors are draped, only
the more common and cheaper being
displayed outside. The rarer and
costlier are shut up in capacious ward
robes within, for the Jew has habit of
secretiveness, and keeps his treasures
concealed; or more like, it is an in
stinct, drawn from his experience OF
being plundered. This in times past,
not now. Now he is too oft the plum
derer, outraged nature thus aveng1ng
itself. Enter his shop either in the
Ghetto or Petticoat-lane, in quest or
some costly article you suppose him 10
possess He has it, but will not say
So or at once show it to you. 1t takes
coaxing, in which, if you are success
full, he will uplift the lid of a box large
as a sailors chest, or pull out pom
derous drawer, and 10, the thing you
are looking for. In the Ghetto shop
it may be a rich scarf that draped the
shoulders of LucreZia Borgia; bit on
costly lace which bordered the stole OF
the extravagant Alexander Sextus, or
the wedding-d dress worn by Princess
d'Eite. Nor will he part with it for any
paltry price. He knows its intrinsic
value, and still better, that you set
upon it; can tell by the twinkle of
your eyes just how much you covet its
possession, and what you are likely to
pay for it. He will begin by asking
at least twice its worth, you offering
only half. Then chaffering succeeds,
but unsuccessfully, both sides standing
upon extremes. Parting, you pass out
of his shop and along the street, for, 1t
may be, fifty yards, with many other
shops intervening, all emporia CT old
clio. Then another dealer in these sa-
lutes you, saying he hears you are in
search of a certain article that you have
been bargaining for without buying.
He has one exactly the same, only
trife better, being in sounder condi-
ton. You enter to examine it, and find
the price lower, perhaps low enough to
meet your own; and, after closely
scrutinizing the article, you are i'm
pressed with a belief of its being the
same already inspected at the other
shop. But that must be fancy on your
part. You are assured it is so by the
traficker now in charge of you, who is
ready to swear to what he says. AL
together a different lot; finer in quail
itv. in better preservation, and so
much cheaperi You strike the bargain,
and carry off your prize, still, however,
under a lingering impression that the
piece of goods is the same. And you
are right, for it is, having been trans
ported surreptitiously from the first
shop to the second-not through the