The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-04

ms Breast nor strength in my arms.
nor hope ahead q how long. how long.
hos oug?"-Blaiik. in his poem The
Slaughter" /
r HAVE read with deep emotion the
announcement in the Polish
Nora Gd-ettd OF q conversation
about the Jewish question with
q parsonage OF the higher spheres"
who is apparently well informed in
deed. A series OF measures---so this
"personage" states-has been proposed
and even elaborated for the purpose OF
ameioraiing the painful plight of the
Jewish people: the abolition of the
pale of settlement with regard to
larger and smaller towns, the abolition
Of the per cent. norm In the middle
and higher educational institutions
the es;ablishme of special Jewish
schools, the regulation of the question
Of en- grafton along new. broad and
sensible lines.
admit that ] did not believe the
good news at once. and those with
whom ! shared this news and who
were no less moved than l was also
regarded the information with a GER
tain degree of suspicion. which is quite
natural Cor Russian people who have
been foldled by life so rarely and 50
unw.llinely. But private reports are
confirming the news and to refuse to
believe it any longer would mean to
doubt the very sense OF the present
great 'liberating" war. which In erect
ing a brigh; temple OF a rejuvenated
the Poles. the Jews and Let's. And.
finally. ! am really unable to disbe-
lleve Il. for my soul has grown tired
Of waiting and repeating together with
the great Hebrew poet: How long?
How long? How long,"
Not long ago an old Journalist, who
has apparently grown blase and dis
illusioned. sneered at the word mir
aclc." which Is now being used so fire.
Quently; in his opinion, miracles do
not occur. In my opinion. there are
no miracles. II by the word miracle"
We understand the arbitrary violation
OF the natural, logical and inevitable
order Of things; but for me, who look
upon lie itself. and not upon multi
pication TABLETOP me logic Is the
creates. miracle.
Al, what would have happened "
logic had really rtigned in life. II in
tbs miserable human life Of ours.
where there are 50 many senseless
u.sfortunes, tears and wild affronts.
the simplest formula of twice two
equals four had not been the rarest
m.ra,,e-equ' valent to the transfer
nation of water into fine wine.
s,f {nnnrant nf
any crimes. perish now in this most
terrible Of wars 4 a clear syllogism
and not a dark and teri BILE allogism
lay at the bottom Of our complicated
and unfathomed existence? Logic
that t. the miracle: twice two equals
four-;hat Is the unusual good fortune
which So rarely falls To our lot
Nul Just as called il "A miracle and
rsiu.ced. as IL a miracle, In the sober
ing of Russia and the regeneration OF
Poland. so the approaching solution
~ the Jewish question" the most
ancient and The darkest OF allogisms.
sCHmS miraculous to me, waiting the
breath of holiday into my soul,
arpIsiug In me a feeling of bright,
great joy bordering on reverence.
Tho fact that for me. as for many
other Russian writer's, all this has
never been even a question does not
minimize the feeling Of the unusual
moss OF that which Is about 10 happen.
Even a simple brotherly kiss seems
almost a miracle and may move to
tears at time when the Staying OF
man hy his brothers has become the
law Of life and its highest wisdom.
not to experience this unusual feeling
Wien. together with the solution Of
This question my soul too Is sud
deulv liberated. emerging from the
closed circle Of painful and monot-
onous experiences. freeing itself from
pain which has accompanied me all!
my life and which has assumed the
symptoms Of chronic and incurable
suifcrngs from which We free our
selves only in the grave. II for the
Iors themselves the Pale of Settle
m"nt. the per cent. norm and other re-
srict.uus were fatal fact, which dis
tort"d all their life. 1t has been for
no. q Russian, something like a hunch
On my back, a monstrous growth,
which received ] know not when and
u.der what conditions. But wherever
may go and whatever ! may do the
appch is always With me; II has DIS
tIrnod my sleep AT night. and in my
vUsug hours. IN the presence Of peo-
pc il has filled me with a sensation
OF confusion and shame
J do not want to prove the sound
nos ana justice of the newly pro-
posed measures and break into door
which has always been open, but OF
''s nunch of mine I shall venture TO
... few more words. When did the
'IDE.sh question" come upon my
l1.k' | do not know. 7 was born
with H. under Il. But from the first
wom,ut when looked upon life con-
..tous,y until the present moment ]
l.c in its vicious atmosphere, I
breath" tx poisonous air with which
o ;hcso Questions" al these dark,
-.t."h UnhCdrnbio allog.sms, are sur
Rounded
Who needs :? who profits by It"
i j. exists and - supported, If it j.
'r'cmcntlv and invariably approved
'''lr must be "a definite reas for II.
evidently the Pale Of settlement, the
',u n" for educational institutions
md other re-tr!Ctions increase for
rJukiHd the sum of their pleasures
= "",' LIFE to the heights, broaden