The times., 1899-09-24
FRIENDS OF LAST WEEK.

THE big hit is made by William Norris
in part similar to Dave WarhsIds we'll
known work" said the local correspondent
of New York paper ON Tuesday last, ana
it is not the fault of this correspondent
that the statement is correct only in its
first half. The average actor would GER
tainIy have taken the role of Melehitsedels
Pinchas from the atmosphere of Children
Of the Ghatto' and have played il pre-
cisaly as Mr.. Warfeld plays his lew-com
edy Jewish parts. The average actor has
no ntelligence-any actor who considers
himself above the average will tell one
that. But the remark made is hardly true
of Mr.. Norris, who has a habit of looking
through the humor OF character and see
ing its serious side. Though few in the
weeks audiences at the National realized
the fact, his portrayal was intended to
provide mere room for thought than for
laughter.
Those who have read Israel Zangwill's
book will not need TO be told that Pinchas
was the most carefully -sketched indi-
vidual in the story. The poet was Pole
"a slim. dark little man with long, matted
black hair. His face was hatchet-shaped
and not unlike an Aztsc's. His eyes were
informed by an eager brilliance' I'm
QCQOtGdiS lletlS vi HIS u dNtS were IlulCu-
loas. put they were not all. The fellows
very egotism was sublime; unapproached
by the egotism of even Svsngah, whose
self-love was marred by a grim apprecia-
tioa of its absurdity. If Pinchas ever
stopped for or stopped 10 introspection it
was to be conceited at his conceit. He
compared himself to Moses and Simeon
Wolf replied that Moses was the meekest
CT Biblical beings. Yes" quoth the
Phob eha
man" To this same Wolf he suggested
that both might be sent to Parliament.
'I,yl afraid not" said the labor leader
Ivy not?" was the reply. "Dere are two
seats. Wy should you not half de oder?''
Admirable, To "Reh" Shemuel he read a
simple acrostic such as might have been
composed by fifteen -year-old boy
Very pretty criticised the rabbi
Pretty" exclaimed Pinchas. sure that
he could not have heard Alright. Pretty.
She is beautiful. Read her again.' Such
assurance is without parallel The actor
who brings it fully into a part is not
merely a low comedian.
Further study of book and play convinces
one, however, that the nature of the poet
contained deeper things than this egotism.
He was a hypocrite and knave OF the
smallest sort. Nothing shows this more
clearly than the fact that the very re-
HSlOuS 10 WHICH ue StuCh must close
ly when before the "Rcb" he regarded
least when away. This he could do while
maintaining the respect of his nearest
friends, because he possessed the power
of adopting circumstances first and adapt
ing himself TO them afterward Pinchas
was neither genius nor scholar, but
he had the shrewdness to seem both. It
was this sharpness that made him the
admired OF the ignorant by whom he was
surrounded. "Melchitsedek Pinchas," he
remarked, while conversing with Wolf ON
his ambitions. do not those initials
M. P.-stand for Member of Parliament"
And Wolf was sileneed If not decided.
With equal cleverness did the Pole say
to "Reb' Shemuel when told that he was
seven years older than Hannah Jacobs.
Then / love her twice as much as Jacob
loved Rachel, for it is written, Seven years
were but as a day in his love for her. To
me fourteen years are but as a day In