New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-20
PHILOSOPHER FOR SALE.
after Wife 7oith Money, He Nearly
Loses HIS O70n.

The latest intended victim of the East Side
schatchens IS Solomon ]. Silberstein author OF
several philosophical works who claims among
his friends many men well known in financial
and public life, who have, he says, contributed
to his support for the last eighteen years, that
he might continue his philosophical studies and
the production of books It was the desire to
publish one more book that got him into trouble
matrmonially.
Mr.. Silberstein has been engaged these many
years in All attempt to overthrow the Newton
ian theory of gravitation. He began his con-
troversial life in his native town of Kovno, Rus
STA, when he was seventeen years old, at which
age he became a rabbi and, as a result was
forced to flee the prosecutions of the orthodox
rabbis and come to this country Here, after
six years of selling cigars over the counter In
Hester-st he succeeded in attracting the at
tention of Professor SeIigman Of Columbia Uni
versity, and Professor Seligman. with the late
Leonard Lewisohn he says. supported him for
many years that he might prosecute his studies
at leisure.
He studied and published books and gained
wealthy friends. living on the lower East Side
and for the last several years the upper East
Side finally coming to his present home at
No. 70 East 109th-st., until two years ago, when
through criticisms of the Jewish Theological
Seminary and the Jewish Encyclopedia, his
friends fell away from him. Then his wife died
That was a year ago in October, and MI Sill
bernstein was left at the age of sixty years with
two young children. money and an earnest
desire to bring out another philosophical trea-
tise.
After much thought, he could see no way out
of his difficulties except to marry young
woman of means. He, therefore. placed himself
in the market, informing a certain MI Ldh-
darsky of this determination. Mr.. LandarkSky
conducts a real estate business on the East olae
and does little matrimonial brokerage diSo.
He brought forward no candidate himself, nuI
three weeks ago a man describing himself as
Friedman, of 11Sth-st., appeared and said that
he had an attractive young woman with S3,OOO
who would like to assume the name or Sllper-
stein. The sum seemed somewhat minute, but
Mr.. Silberstein requested a trial and the young
appeared at his house
She was of attractive personality, but deficient
in education, and Mr.. Silberstein became suspl-
cious. Why" he asked does a young woman
like you want to marry an old man like me?"
"Ah" she replied. Il would have my name
go down the ages with Solomon J. Silbersteins'
The philosopher was mantfestly pleased II
shall be as you say, my child he said, stroking
her head kindly.
Previously. however, Friedman had exhibited
a bank book showing a savings bank deposit or
So 600 to the credit of the bride to be-
Contrary to his natural instincts Mr.. SLIDER
stein did not investigate the genutneness of this
alleged bank deposit, but hurried on the pro-
ceedings. A rabbi brought in contract
drawn up and Mr.. Silberstein, the rabbi and
the young woman affixed their names. At this
point Friedman again took an active part In the
affair. He put forward the proposition that Mr..
Silberstein should contribute $50 as frais de
guerre. But, the prize secured, the authors IN
stnct once more asserted itself, and he said:
when the ceremony is performed and the
money is placed in the bank to my credit then
will I pay you: In the historic words Of that
great hero of my adopted country, Millions for
defense, but not one cent for tribute.
With these words. the schatchen and the bride
elect faded swiftly from the scene, and Mr.. Sill
bernstein is once more in the market