El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-10-23

M Russia has the largest Jewish
w population OF any country IN
the world. Although their lot has not
always been an enviable one under the
ruIe of the cars. the great war has
found them loyal citizens Of their north
ern fatherland. willing and anxious to
contribute their sacrifices TO the sue
cess of its cause.
According TO private letters and DIS
matches from Russia, many Jews have
come forward to enlist; they have
opened and equipped hospitals Ior the
soldiers. and displayed an eagcrness 10
aid with their goods and their labor
The warmth of their patriotism has
beeu a surprise in MuscOvy- The posi-
ton of the Jewish subjects OF the ear
a. II was before the war, Is told IN a
bulletin Just prepared by the National
Geo9rapbic society. II reads as follows
More Than Half Live IN Russia
ANIore than one-half OF the world to-
+.I Jewish population. numbering about
5 500 600. dwells within the Russian EN-
Dire The total number of Jews m the
world numbers about 13.0OO.OOO- Inc
United States and Austro-Hungary. each
with 100000. Germany with oOy,OUU'
and the British empire with 100000, are
the other important homelands OF TINS
scattered nation
Russia however. today might be
looked upon as the true tatheTlahd OF
the Jewish people as the great body
~ Them live there. This comes prl-
mariIv from the cause that the SlaFs-
more especially the Russian Slavs, have
always been the most tolerant OF peo-
pies in matters Of religion. The RUSSIAN
church. properly speaking. Is not ms,
sionarv church That a Russian should
he a member OF the Russian branch Of
The eastern orthodox church Is regarded
almost as a law Of nature in AuScoVy-
while the Russian feels that II Is Just
a. natural and fitting that a az tar
sbouId be a Nohammedan. and that a
low should follow the Mosaic creed
Well Treated BY Poles.
at is true that most OF lhe Fl" ;
we're originally Polish subjects. anu IL
" ssiG mat colonies Of them lived in
the basin of the VOlga and the CrlIneti
500 years before the birth OF Cnrls l.
Through the years Of their 1lItefes-
r1ersecution the rule Of the Poles over
the Jews was light ana anllaole ~
and many hundreds Of thousands OF
them passed to this country Ihus,
with Poland. Russia acquired the
greater part of her Jewish subjects
Confined to One Section
sThe cars Jewish subjects are con-
fined. DE law 10 a utLAAlAAG pa u "a :
empire. known as the Jewish Pale OF
Settlement. This is an irregular belt
of territory. extending from the Baltc
to the Black sea. The Pale includes 70
land Iithuania White Russia, part OF
Little Russia and regions in the eau
casus. a belt Of land about 80 miles
wide along the international boundary
is also exempt The Pale proper,
wherein nearly all Of the Russian Jews
dwell. comprises the entire territory Of
Russian Poland and the government of
KovnO. Nitebsk. Wilma, MOhllev, NOlhy-
MIA, GrodnO. Nfinsk, ChernigOf POltava,
Kief. Podolia, Bessarabia, kherson,
Ekaterinoslav and Taurida- kOvuO,
Minsk Mohilev and Volhynia are the
most thickly settled by Jews. who. in
these governments. constitute about
two thirds Of the entire population
seldom Change Their Faith.
Some Jews were settled as aEricul-
( turists upon the southern Stappe. and
despite the strict law wealthy members
OF the nation are found in business in
PetrogTad and MOSCOW AL disabilities
] which attach 10 Jewish birth in Rus
STA fail way with the conversion OF one
Of the race 70 Orthodoxy. but ueverthe-
less such conversions seldom take
l place This curtailment Of the free
dom OF the Jewish subjects is NOT a
matter OF religious persecution but
{ rather an expression Of the Russians
dread OF the superior business ability
or the Jew.
There are. however. certain classes
! OF Jews allowed by the law 10 dwell
without the Pale. These are students
Z in educational institutions. merchants
3 OF the first guild. professional persons
ana skilled artesians. and such as have
I served % years in the army. Members
( OF these classes, nevertheless. must OBJ
| tam special permission to enjoy their
/ rights under the law. None are eligible
/ 70 government office unless they be-
1 come converts to orthodox