The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-12

The House Next Door, Briefly the
play Is this: Sir John Cotswold. ths
and whose chtcfest virtue Is his pride
therein. "a
Story of tho Play.
by reason of spendthrift ways his
estates had become Impoverished and
lmortgaged 1t happens that these
mortgages are hold by his neighbor,
Sir Isaac Jacobson. a. Jew. Obsessed
by his pride of place and race. Sir John
hates this neighbor because he Is a
Jew. The fact that he and his fam
lily are indebted to this Jewish neigh
Dor for many kindnesses and courtc-
sizes, for the education Of his son. even
for the very roof over his head. does
not lessen his rage. The further fact
that Sir Isaac Jacobson Is the nobler
gentleman of the two. man not only
OF brains and ability, but Of inesttIna-
Bile beauty of character and of Hottest
sentiment. only adds fuel to the flame
of his hate. The children Of the two
neishbors growing UP together. fall in
love with each other and this fact
further intensities the situation. Final
realize how beneticent and beautiful is
the conduct OF his Jewish nelEhbor.
and with it comes the thought that
perhaps he has not been justified In
his prejudice. Tie moment he begins
to think Is tho beginning OF the end OF
his hatred. Founded in unreason. 1t Is
hound to disappear when reason is lis
tened TO. The play closes with Sir
with friendly purpose TO the house
| next door.
This is not the occasion to OFFER
any criticism of the play from a lit
! IT is remarkable production. Allow
Ing for the dramatic emphasis, intend
ed to stress the situations and the les
son. It is artlstically true to life.
10 fl,r fH,,f y Inn
which, from a Jewish point of view. we
would rather have had otherwise. But
even these things that grated on som
sitivc Jewish souls were fair and hon
be attached to them they served to
strengthen tho more acceptable por-
tons. that were distinctly creditable to
the Jewish name.
It's Theme rs Prejudice.
THE theme of the plays prejudice.
stupidity of prejudice.
1T might Ihaye dealt with other
forms of prejudice, with racial. social
Or class antagonism: 1t chose to deal
dice OF Christian again Mohammcdan
or of Protestant against Catholic. but
OF Christian against Jew.
Prejudice, as Its etymology suE-
gests, means a prejudginE Of an in
out full knowledge OF facts or condl-
tons, Judgment .unwarranted BIS
truth, concelvinS OF likes Or dis
cause or reason. Prejudice. in the form
OF race antagonlsm, is as old as hn-
lnanity. It is simply higher form
Of animal instinct that makes things
Or different genus to be at war with
one another.
"Thc Jews have been distinctive from
he beginning Of their history Not
3n a. natlonallyand trihaily d.d , tneS
put religlously rs we'll. When, tho
pagan world was STEPPED in polytheismI
and idolatry8 the Jew was Worshtpins
m incorrporeal Essence, who was. what VIA
Moral Ideal. Thus early they came to
suffer the fate Of those who arc diff
Eerent, who are disliked because they
ire different. But the full measure OF
reached until Chrlstianitybc became tho
state religion of tho Roman Empire
Tho Council at MEGA. in the first
lnarter OF the fourth century, not 40, only |
Christianity as the re-
igion Of the Roman Empire. but u
also defined the creed OF the church.
disposed of the heresy5 OF Arius and his
followers and placed the church upon
It's Unitarian basis.
Defenders OF NIon0thclsm.
Tho triumph Q #trinitariantsm wa
[ [.ll Of tragic moaning to the Jew.
AS the ueLcnQGI3sOI puFe 3 fllOnOtnclSnlI
he was a living and constant protest
against the trinitarian doctrine. The
whole fury Of the church was turned
against him., he was given the al
ternatiye Of baptism or death He
It's best to do him to death. I Will
not dwell upon the familiar vet ever
SAD. story Of the prosecutions and the
'uterings Of the Jews. Church and
state being ono for many centuries. he
'ound no refuge III ono from the other.
ic was thundered against in the pul-
1T and bounded In tho street. The
'asest charges. the vllest accusat ions.
ne bitterest fortunes. the most inhu-
nan treatment have all been endured
y him. In the theological doctrine
I the, medieval church the Jews had
etused and had nut to death the Mes
lah,5 Gods own and only begotten Son,
nd had incurred The wrath and ven
ennce of God. Thatf3this vengeance
hould not fail. the church made Itself
he most willing instrument for It's !
arriving out. And as one. on-JcWish / !
ritter has said No@iniustlce and no
ersccution could be too bad for those d
,honl God so evidently hated.
nut the Jewish race and the Jewish ,
ellslon survived itfall
Iorlnented. tortured, robbed, nut TO {
cath, hunted from cline totc Cline out h
Asts in every land, strangerss!ln every Il
afnGc. the tenacity Sof their char. :
cter was proof against every trial i.
M superior to every temp In 7
Ms UNEQUAL conbnt or the strong n
E ;.l i.e Weak. ! no ,synn gosue. has h
a,irlY beaten tho church. and has vim i,
tgn