The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-02

the native proverbs, so that it is fire.
quently difficult to ascertain the original
home of this or that aphorism. The diff
ficulty is still greater when the adage is
Transmitted by means of a homely garb
and is given the appearance of spon-
taneous growth.
The Jewish proverbs are subject to the
same laws and, consequently, reflect the
philosophy of the European nations, more
particularly those among whom they
live or have lived. The average popular
morals of the Jews, as they betray them
selves in these maXims, are neither bet
ter nor worse than those of the Germans
Russians, Poles, and they may as well
be studied from the large collections of
the German folklOristS as from the slim
lists of the Jewish writer's on the sub
Ject About the middle of the century
Dukes made an anthology of rabbinfcaI
saws perpetuated in the Jewish writings.
and Tendiau eXpatiated at greater
length on those current among the
Jews of Germany. In these writer's and
In the selections of more modern times
there is, after the reduction of the ele-
ments common to all the other nations.
a certain residuum which is distinctly
Jewish-that is, which is the outgrowth
of special characteristics and in its en-
trety cannot easily be reproduced else
where.
wisdom in which is reflected the Jews
conception of religion and relation of
man to man, his view on married life AMI
his treatment of women and children
his love of learning and praise of work
but also his practical sense and admiral
non of wealth. There are also MANY
adages which tell of centuries of suffer-
An8' ana almost the largest single divi-
sion treats most especially with the blind
alley Of Jewish poverty. We find here
the same themes that form the stock in
trade of Judeo-German literature. and
even as there pungent wit pervades
the tragedy of life and heightens the dis
mai feeling superinduced by the self-ab-
neSaton and self-depreciation that runs
through the mind Of the humble Jew
1t is with this aspect of his proverbs.
Ss 1t manifests itself in the collected
paws of the Russian and Galician Jew.
that we shall try to get acquainted now.
Gods justice is frequently proclaimed
and mans relations to Him are to he
guarded by his actions to his fellow men
lie who has no shame before men has
no fear before Cod" yet God Furnishes
MIN whom he loves; and with Datent
sarcasm, which freely mingles with his
plouS devotion the Jew exclains Cool
VIII help, wish to God. God would helm
until God helps" In the meantime GOOD
will to all men is the surest kav +,
heaven and Acts of kindness are delr-
er In the eyes of God than almsgiying."
MANY precepts enjoin strict honesty. for
Better a pain in the heart than a shame
IN the face" yet recognizing the general
dup1city Of man, we are not to tr71St
implicitly to appearances, but Treat me
ike rabbit and watch me like a thief >,
somehow the rabbi does not fare well
III puphc opinion, which credits him with
greater number of foibleS than Is al
lotted to common mortals: lyon NAV
De able TO stand a rabbits eating and
horses drinking, but it is not pos
sible to tolerate rabbits drinking and
horses eating" 1t is not only the
rabbi, but the Jew In general Of whom
the Jew has no high opinion, for even
Moses could not get along with the
Jews, and "a good Jew prefers to take
rather than give" with Jew it is good
TO eat shalet, but not from the same
dish and "a Jewish evil eye is worse
than Christian magic" In general. the
Christian is to be preferred Cor all ordi-
nary purposes of life: Better In the
hands of the Gentiles than In the mouths
Oh the Jews 1T is best to live among
Christians and die among Jews"
just as English fairy tales may begin
with the words "Once upon a time There
lived king," so Jewish nursery sforia &c
commence with the sentence: Once
upon time there lived rabbi and his
"lle' hehce Inc pfoYerb says: "A rabbi
without a rabbits wife is bur half q
Story" This adage expresses the fun
damental principle of the marital rela-
tons, on which the whole Jewish life
IS based. Indeed, "a house without a
housewife Is wagon without wheels, .
and though marriage does not always
lead to happiness, lit is better to be a
young widow than an old maid;" but the
Jewish old maids are rare, for "a Jewish