The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-30
A PiOus Race

of American witnesses. The result was that he did not wait for trial, and skipped out of the country"
 PiOus Race
 As far as I can learn the American Israellte does not stand high among his fellows of Jerusalem. The most of the Jews here pride themselves on their piety. They think themselves above the Jew who has suffered long contamination by mixing with foreigners, and they es- pecially despise the American. Meeting one on the street they may slap him on the stomach and snee1ngly ask how much pork he ate when he was in the United States. In this I refer to the fanatics, who are composed more es- pecially of the Spaniards and the mem bers of the Ashkenazim. These people have inner circles of religious aristocrats, some of whom are supposed to have magic powers of healing. Among them are many men of education and culture. men who know the Bible from beginning to end, and who speak several languages. One can tell nothing of the Jerusalem Jew by his dress, for a dirty, ragged old man Is often a scholar.
 And still the dress here Is about the same among all classes of the Israelites The boys and men wear coats without belts, which reach from the neck to the feet. They are full and are slightly open at the front, showing gowns under them Many of the Spanish Jews wear black turbans or velvet caps, with wide fringe of fur outside. Some wear broad brimmed felt hats, which come far down over the forehead, half hiding the ears. They do not shave, and long beard is a sign of wisdom, dignity and piety. They wear the hair long. and each has long curly lock on each side of his face, in front of the ears. These locks often reach down to the breast, and are allowed to grow, according to a saying in the scrip lures. which states:
 Thou must not mar the corners of thy beard"
 Many of the Jews never cut the hair in front of the ears for fear of touching the beard, and see boys with the rest of their head shaved and these two ear- locks left.
 These Jerusalem Jews have fine faces. Many of them have high foreheads, strong noses and mouths and beautiful eyes. Som, are fair and others have olive eomplexions. Their hair is of all coiors from jet black to blonde and fiery red, and there are many old men with boards of silver.
 s A Good Place to Die
 Indeed, the most of the Jews of the Holy City are old men and old women, many of whom have come here to die. Jerusalem Is to the Jews what Benares is to the Hindoo They hold a supersti- ton that this city Is on the direct road to heaven and that they must come here in order to attain the latter place. am told that many of the Jews of this city believe that if they should die in other lands they will be dragged under the earth through the globe to the Mount of Olives, where the resurrection is to take place, There is Jewish cemetery on the side of that mountain which contains thousands of tombs. and it Is there that the Jews are laid away. It is said the soil from that spot Is sent all over the world in order that 1t may be put in Jewish coffins. Not Q few of the old men who live here have left their busi- nesses to come. Some have given their foreign estates to their sons and relatives and receive allowances from them. Not long ago one such came to the American consul and said he would like to leave some money to found a synagogue in Jerusalem. He looked dirty and ragged, and the consul asked what he had to leave. He replied that he owned under other names six good houses in Jerusalem and that the money from these had been saved out of an allowance of 5000 a year which his sons In New York had been sending him.
 How the Jews Keep the Sabbath
 The Jews of Jerusalem are far more particular as to the observance of their religion than are the Jews of America There are more than 100 synagogues in this city, and in all of these worship is held. have attended many of the serv- ices and find the churches usually full. The men read Hebrew aloud. They come In their best clothing. and some of the old men are gorgeous in rich gowns of velvet and silk.
 The Sabbath here begins Friday night, and 1t does not end till 6 o'clock The beginning is just s soon as the stars can be seen Friday, after which no work of any kind must be done. Neither fire nor lamp may be lighted. and the most of people light their lamps before the dark comes and hire Gentilea to come In at bedtime to