El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-10-24

w Russia has the largest Jewish
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 Tor the
soldiers. and displayed an eagerness TO
aid with their goods and their labor
The warmth OF their patriotism has
been a surprise in MuscOvy. The posi-
ton of the Jewish subjects OF the car
as it was before the war, Is told IN a
bulletin Just prepared by the National
GeograDhic society II reads as follows;
More Than Half Live in Russia
aAlore than one-half of the worlds to-
tai Jewish population. numbering about
800. 900. dwells within the Russian EN-
Dire- The total number of Jews in the
world numbers about 100000. The
United States and AustrO- HungaTy, each
with 100000, Germany with 100000
and the British empire with 100000, are
the other important hOmelands OF this
scattered nation
Russia. however, today might be
looked upon as the true fatherland OF
the Jewish people. as the great body
Of them live there. This comes prl-
rnariIv from the cause that the Slays,
more especially the Russian Slavs, have
ALWAYS been the most tolerant OF PEG
ples in matters Of religion The RUSSIAN
church. properly speaking, Is not ms
sionarv church. That a Russian shoull
be a member of the Russian branch OF
the eastern orthodox church Is regarded
almost as a law of nature IN MuscoNN-
while the Russian feels that II IS Just
a. natural and fitting that a Tartar
should be a Mohammedan. and that
lew should follow the Mosaic creed
Well Treated By Poles
1T is true that most OF the Jew
were originally Polish subjects. anu ll
is said that colonies Of them lived IN
the basin of the NOlSa and the CIlhlea
500 wears before the birth Of Christ
Through the years Of their bitterest
persecution the rule OF the Poles over
the Jews was a light and amiable one
and many hundreds OF thousands OF
them passed to this country. Thus,
with Poland Russia acquired the
greater part Of her Jewish subjects
Confined to One Section.
''The cars Jewish subjects are con-
fined, by law, TO q definite part OF the
empire. known as the Jewish Pale Of
Settlement. This is an irregular belt
OF territory. extending from the Baltic
to the Black sea The Pale includes Pc
land. Lithuania, 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, Vitebsk. Wilma. MOhilev, Nolhy-
MIA. GrOdno. NIinsk, Chernigof. Poltava,
Kief, Podolia. Bessarabia, Kherson,
Ekaterinoslav and Taurida- kovnO,
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 agricul-
turists upon the southern Stappe, and
despite the strict law wealthy members
OF the nation are found in business in
Petrograd and Moscow. Az disabilities
which attach 10 Jewish birth in Rus
STA, fall way with the conversion of one
OF the race to Orthodoxy, but ueverthe-
less such conversions seldom take
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
OF the Jew.
There are, however. certain classes
OF Jews allowed by the law to dwell
without the Pale. These are students
IN educational Institutions, merchants
OF the first guild. professional persons
ana skilled artesians. and such as have
served p 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-
come converts to orthodoxy