Waterbury Democrat., 1902-06-30
HUMoR OF RUSSIAN JEWS.
Sn American Theatrical Exponent Gives Some Expressions of
 Their Wit and Wisdom.


 Their Wit and Wisdom.
 David Warfeld, who has put the Russian Jew on the stage, writes this to show the humoHi in the man he por- trays, says a New York evchange.
 It IS only of late years that the American people have begun to ap- preciate the fountain of humor which is possessed by the Russian and Rou- manian Jews. For a hundred years years, at least, they have borne the same relations to eastern and south eastern Europe as the merry Irishman has among the English-speaking races.
 Not that they are to be compared with the Irish in any way. Irish fun is rollicking, and is the bubbling over of healthy effervescence. Jewish humor, on the other hand, is intellectual, rather than physical, and is the utter ance of the mature man recognizing grina or laughing incongruity in things about him.
 No matter how busy the Russian He brew may be, he finds something anus ing in his environment. From the most unpromising topics he extracts some quaint merriment. What an odd mix ture of satire and wisdom is to be found in their business sayings:
 If man believes you are selling at loss he'll buy all you've got"
 ''A nickel minute is better than dollar an hour.''
 Five men working together are bet ter than ten men working eparately."
 Make believe you are busy and the banker will give you credit"
 "A man who marries an extravagant woman puts two mortgages on his shop"
 This tendency towards making sport of the unpleasant things of life runs down into the simplest words of their speech. The term saizes" means mot wanted" and also a trap"
 The practice of dishonest man go- ing into bankruptcy and coming out with a small fortune in his wife's name is summed up in the word "dalles," which means bankrupt's assets and a, safe investment.
 ''Mechulle" means a wife's name, but it also signifies man who does DuSlnGSS III HIS Npll6
 A .sschadchen' is both a marriage broker and a prevaricator.
 During the election excitement of 1896 the financial questions involved were summed up in pithy Yiddish words or phrases. Free silver was called s'stuss" and the output of the silver mines "schmus;" but "stuss" also means gambling game of cards and ''schmus'' means dirt.
 They are masters in that variety of humor which springs from negative in- congruity. A Jewish father, asked why he did not keep dog, replied, My children might bite him.''
 A number of criminals few years ago made arson a business, and after a time the insurance companies, to pro- tect themselves, blacklisted any man who had three fires. When the Rev. Dr. Talmage's third church burned down one of the East side papers said, 'sIt is to be hoped that the blacklist rule does not work in the next world"
 What could be more delicious than the story of pretty girl who went into a restaurant where she found her self the only customer? While she was eating her plate of ice cream man en- tered the place, walked over to her table, removed his hat very respect fully and, pointing to the chair by her side, said:
 Excuse me miss, but is this chair engaged?"
 What makes the fun all the more att tractive is the pacific and ofttimes pa. thetic expression of the Russian Jew ish physiognomy. There is, indeed, close connection between the two. For centuries the people have been op- pressed and downtrodden and the cruel usage has left its imprint upon both face and form. Debarred from most enjoyments, they were compelled to rely upon themselves for entertain ment and in this way they evolved, slowly and painfully, keen sensibili- ties and creative and perceptive pow CTS in regard to humor, music and con- versation.
 In all three they have developed themselves to such an extent that they surpass nearly every other community. Their superiority in music is known to every lover of the art. Their genius for fun and their power of social en- tertainment are just beginning to be known to the public.