Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-06-23

by coupled shafts OF colored marbles
Beneath the arcade, a broad band sur
rounded with exquieitely carved foliage
contains the arne of Leon and Castle
and Is edged with the elghty-fourtb
Psalm IN Hebrew characters Opposite
the holy Of HOLES Is the gallery Tor
women, with It's gllded lattlces. behind
which they were concealed from The
view OF male worshppers. according to
the universal custom Of the East. The
two pulplts OF the rabbis are mere
slits IN the walls twenty feet from the
floor and entirely destitute OF orna-
mentation. In 1894 Isabel gave Fl Tran.
sito 20 the Catholic order Of Caiatrava.
then the holy Of HOLES was converted
into an archve and the gallery OF the
Jewesses became a dwelling for the
guardian OF the church. The exteriors
Of both these old synagogues are very
dilapldated and have suffered from so
many coatlngs Of whltewash that the
cOl0rs and many OF the stuccO designs
have been quite obllterated An around
are narrow streets. TO this day inhabit-
ed by none but lsraelites. Their houses
are so small and so densely populated
that they look more like rat holes than
human habltatlons but are said TO be
cleaner than anywhere else In Spain.
II that be true, may heaven save us
from sight and smell Of the dirtlestl
The history Of the Jews I'm Toledo ls
peculiarly narrowing. After living In
prosperity and perfect security under
the benehcent reign OF the Moors their
trlbulations began when Christians
took the city. First they were taxed
thirty pieces OF silver per capita, the
same being the
WAGES OF JUDAS IsCARIOT.
the betrayer. In 1897 the Jewish market
In Toledo was suppressed. A few yeare
later their synagOgues were taken from
them. In 1890 the followers Of the meek
and merciful Jesus plotting the fur
Their oppression and robbery OF the Jews.
circulated false story 20 the effect
that the rabbis had stolen and crucifed
a boy named Juan PasamOnte. I'm order
TO preserve his heart IN a hostia as a
charm against the lnuQisltlon. The abb
surd tale Is commemorated In a fresco
near the beautiful clolster gate called
"El NIno Perddo" aud like the similar
story Of st. Hugh Of Lincoln, r. o ia
vorlte theme with poets and painters.
I'm l47S every Jew who had not been
baptized was nut under the ban: and
when the Inquisition was established In
Toledo. 1900 jews became good Cath
olics M a single strokel In 1892 every
unbaptlzed jew was compelled by Fer
dnand and Isabella "a leave Spain, and
upwards 10000 Of them were cruelty ex-
PEELED and their property conhscated.
Thus Spain lost her best citizens, be-
cause Of course Il was only honest men
who chose Punishment and poverty
rather than become false 70 their faith.
As they went forth from the gates of
the city which they believed had been
founded by their ancestors away back
IN the days OF Nebuchadnezzar. they
must have felt that their time OF cap
tlvlty had come again, and that once
more as an Outcast people. they had
TO hang their harps upon the willows.
Jewish persecution ended long ago In
Spain. and now they may worship when
and how they will; but being descend
ed from those who forswore their faith
Ia time OF trouble, they are not, as
rule, the most desirable neighbors.'
FANNIE r. WARD.