New-York tribune., 1902-08-25
THE JEWS DAUGHTER.
FURTHER COMMENT ON THE MIDDLE
AGE MYTH RECENTLY DISCUSSED
IN THESE COLUMNS.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.


the above subject contributed by your able cor
respondent, H E x, and much struck by the
evidence he gathers concerning recent American
versions of this curious legend. He writes on this
subject with characteristics thoroughness and IN q
manner clearly indicating that his researches have
been limited to the rather meagre Enghsh
sources It is. in fact, rather remarkable that no
elaborate English of this subject Of the
Blood Accusations to have appeared thus
far. volumnous German and other foreign
works dealing with it I much struck by this
very fact few weeks ago, when enjoyed the PRIV
ilege of reading in proofsheet the article on TINS
subject written by Professor Strack, of Berhn TOT
the forthcoming third volume of THE Jewish En-
cyclopedia. =. including the valuable photography OF
the article. Professor Strack and Dr. Chwolson are
the authors of the most comprehensive works on
this general subject The dearth of English material
on the subject is all the more striking when we re-
member that the vile slander, applied to the
Jews. originated in civilized lands in Merrie Eng
land and then swept all Europe, with shock
ing cruelty, bloodshed persecution in its wake
Notwithstanding scores of Papal and Imperial pro-
nunciamentos against it. Perhaps this lack of Eng
lish works the subject in modern times simply
indicates that the sober minded, sensible Anglo
Saxon of our day. unlike certain other races, has
taken stock in the cruel slander. Some of your
readers may recall that the Archbishop of Zante
arose, in 1888. at the Worlds Parliament of Re
ligions in Chicago, to denounce the charge ana 10
call the whole assembly to do so: he knew that
in the superstitious East. in event the legend
stin had. unfortunately for civilization too much
vitality. In interesting study of one form OF
this legend. by Mr.. Joseph Jacobs entitled Little
ST. Hugh of Lincoln published in his volume en-
titled Jewish Ideals and Other Essays as also'
with somewhat fuller notes in transations of the
Jewish Historical Society of England, Mr. Jacobs
also adopts the American negresss tale of the
Dukes Daughter the last and furthest re-
moved version of the story adding Thus the pref
udices Of the Middle Ages have begun TO die away.
even in the memory of the folks" The other Amer
lean versions discovered by your correspondent were
obviously known Mr.. Jacobs.
The origin of these Jewish blood accusation
stories recently engaged my attention in the
preparation of a paper read last month before the
Jewish Chautauqua Society at Atlantic City. on
The Jew in Pre-Shakespearian Literature
(printed in The Philadelphia Jewish Exponent
July H. 1902. OF course pointed out by your
CORRESPONDENT similar blood accusations were made
against other and creeds at various times IN
history including particularly the early Christians
But there is a gap of a thousand years be
tween these early versions and the first appearance
of the charge concerning the Jews In Europe, 10
wit Norwich. about 1144, in connection with the
ST William of Norwich story. Well known as Is
the Little ST Hugh of Lincoln story. when your
correspondent seems 10 treat as the basis OF the
English versions, this other legend antedates IL py
about century. and is very interesting as throw
ing light on the genesis of the superstition eX-
tract the following passages from my above clted
paper read before the Jewish Chautauqua Society;
The very recent publication of the contemporary
manuscript chronicles OF St; Thomas of Monmouth nth
concerning St William OF Norwifh' I edned rords eS
an opportunity TO study and speculate as TO the
eHsa egq OF 5FS asf Wm of supposed
martyrdom Eazar Norwich Je" SiI waS Gr1 I1'r yu
dered by his Christian debtor, Sir Simon de Movers
G said cadse was by Bishop
Norwich who retaliated by bringing fSt"Eq Wam inS
OF Norwich incident OF years previously; II "a -
thus a bs ana o Is Of VINO
the ehrSniesE Of the i, nGdsp tr oBasi geth Of
possessing the remains OF this saint the heo posss
sion OF these holy relies Some e mp
with the writings OF early church historians ba Is os
F4yea eer veFsion 9y Snf in The Prioress note
by him Writing 1886 having occurred not
= Engand at ala aan2a 9sf rers sypeccay to yonge
Hugh Of Lincoln" but this is Enthusiastically done
Chaucer thus had clearly in mind an Asads Incl be
dent hnown % in his TGnce gay has similar rem
niscen favor for though II the G jews werg al OF rec
trf the priest who stirs up the prosecution in
declares that his complaint is one whlch 40, nao n9s
sa 3eea hepaq 3 II that other past has in
sPTed bT hn rsen our aPa to R Asia
the church StSrap m r9fsgs e o} t& Shrstan child as
having occurred in a suburb OF Antlocn IN the year
AS though here were no elements 5to ot n ransa
Gf otheT esgrh revTsd By e a
anent William of Norwich, for the purposes above above
6 e%s wee ane Sdund fe To y
The charge once spread abroad slfHlidr bSns GIdI
brought rt eraps m the best known
Of tfesc Il egcnds is that which little St Hugh Of
n is PaTs fhg e5crbed in his ehronce
MATHEW of fParg PARIS it's Wa no the ballads Mr.
1acnhs ponts out the suggestive fact that King
d an his rights to amerce the Jews 10 his brother
RGhaTd eH6dpt and that f9ya Hagh Of
yieIdad large sums to the crown both forfetures
sro,a executed accused and from the otnero
siich navments. According to one Contenlp99laaLy a
the Jews ey shef who s had been inn
prsoned while the Dominicans deserEe thds creot,
acc fber 10 Of the Matthew Of account to the
earlier Wis Of and comparison Of the
with their miracles and numerous olnel polra nt 81
on n y Roem and IS reso
element at least the extent Of making TINS Sae
fate n 6ef1 III honoT 6on Of the Virgin and thus
Idads 5hf Is sonc IN chaueer
t ,be circumstance that by miracle the chiid
CONTINUES con tb singhs aseoVered ' in its hiding The
baiIads dealing with this theme take b Fng !ue
IahpeSd pnd Scotch ballads collects eighteen different
versions but the , rmefv hs rendered. mean
ng1egs not merely remains but Is o go by 2
di1 1Semorselessly killing him without purpose
bg horTible story English serssure f.. horrible m PIE
and base sander as 1t is snd murders Of Jews
thrnughout the centuries and which mas not oeeh
MhoiiT eradicated even in our day
snace will not permit entering into the question
-, inst at this time and place any such charges
against the Jews were bound TO be popular among
the English masses. hiA-> o. ~
New-York Aug 20, 1902
RIDDLE AND ITS ANSWER.