New-York tribune., 1903-06-07
BURIED GENIUS ON THE GREAT EAST SIDE.
SCHOLARS WHO WRITE FOR THE YIDDISH NEWS
PAPERS-STRANGELY PERVERTED CAREERS.

Tnss the most neglected and unhappy por-
their inhabitants men and women who under
different conditions and happier fortunes might
have beer counted among the great names of
the world in art, poetry and music is fact
not unknown TO the outside world. Almost pro-
verbisl the stories OF musicians. scholars and
artists who are buried under the slum life Of
each great city. Yet there is in the East Side of
New-York 6 realm of unexplored extent peo-
pied by those who may well be numbered among
the buried geniuses Of the sums. The lost
journalists OF the Ghetto those authors and
scholars whose immigration 70 a strange land
has dried their springs Of genius. numbed their
nner senses and reduced them TO the unhappy
necessity of earning living through "jargon''
papers, present one Of the most interesting
phases Of Ghetto life.
In the far of country from which they come
there is G proverb which characte-izes much
q the spirit Of journalism in those lands.
'Tt is true as If Il were printed in the news
paper" says one citizen another. when de-
string to emphasize the veracity Of a state
-nent- Different in fact ard in fancy is this
from the current American conception But il
is not only this difference that marks the Ghetto
Journalism These masters Of Yiddish pub
lie opinion scholars learned in Talmudic lore,
their philosophy is that of Maimonides, their
ecience that Of the medieval world. The discov-
cries OF Calico and Bacon are raferred to by
certain member Of this fraternity in q fashion
that suggests that they are. like those G Edison
and Marcoui, the work Of yesterday. Ages and
ages behind the modern American spirit
these noulders Of public opinion through the
Yiddish papers OF the East Side.
To understand this Journalism one must know
something OF the world for which the papers
exist. II is world OF the past made up Of the
vanishing memories Of long ago. It represents
the expression IN dying language Of race ideals
and race spirits which are destined ere long to
vanish. The first generation Of the immigrants
are wandering confused and appalled, through
the hrbbub OF American life. Out Of the semi
darkness Of the Ghettos Of Czernowitz. Warsaw
and Lennberg they have come suddenly over the
gulf OF centuries into tie hurly-burly Of TWEEN
tieth century American life in which their
learning and their ideals are valueless; they see
their children in the second generation growing
up TO a world and iTnbued with a civilization
they cannot understand. This is the world TO
which the buried journalists Of the Ghetto speak
and It is of this world that they themselves are
a bewildered and disappointed part
OF the American world and the American
r-esa this first generation know nothing; for
them Il does not aAIst. There is story told by
2 well known East Side resident which repre-
Eents the distance that separates the thousands
who dwell on one side Of the Bowery from the
rest OF the city. A well known Jewish citizen
went 10 an East Side rabbi and oesoughI MIN
70 abstain from granting rabblnlcal divorces
This form Of divorce is granted legally oy the
rabbits in Russia, Rumania and Gallcia' ana
they continue it when they come 10 this country
with the result that the people who ren1arrS
under 1t find themselves in prison for blgaTny-
1.oT,f7 don cd
the renonstrant for it brings the race into dis
rsnu.a The newspapers get hold of It. espe-
ciaIly the American press. and it will hurt the
Jewish race
WHY should we not be allowed TO DO it here?'
,rss IN. nassiona+e answer Are not per
rni+ted that liberty even in sutocratic Russia
II # IS denied us IN free America, then II Is
-zo-sa tyranny for US here than in prosecuting
Russia Besides. if it is printed in the Enshsh
press who viii ever see it? Who ever reaos inc
English press or cares what they print?' Al
most in sight OF Park Row. then exists a "oiiu
IN which the American press does not Peiie
rrate Here live thousands Of people Tor Whoiil
aH the things one commonly associates Win
everyday life do not exist
..you wonder al this statement" said well
known Jewish worker on the East Side. i re-
member once a Hebrew who was ccurting Ger
tain vvor7an and wanted TO meet her in secret
10 say the last decisive words Where DO you
think he chose as the best place in which 10
propose? Out in q public park. crowded WIN
thousands OF people,. But these thousands were
CyentfIee and they simply did not exist IN MS
world Unfortunately for the romance l. 100
wandered through that park, and when ne sa"
ne he buried his beard In his hand and hasteHeu
stealthily away For him he and l. WIN ms
sweetheart were the only persons IN thst
crovGed park" Such incidents. and they might
BE multiplied. typify the world for which 'hiS
class of buried journalists write. forever repro
ducing Europe in America, Russia In the Uhiteo
States Craeow IN New-York City-always
vaguely conscious that the real world is escap-
ing them
A glimpse az the personality OF some OF THESE
Journalists is not without interest, ano II IL
r,roposed TO present the exact portraits OF re"
who well represent many, refraining from the
mention OF names. TO keep faith with certain
Fast Side residents who furnished the foho"-
ing information
Confined in the dingy quarters Of fiddish
rewsnsper or the East Side is a novelist. whose
hooks published IN Russia many years ago. are
9Th read there Educated under the rigorous