The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-14
SHOLEM ALEICHEM,
HUM0RIST, is DEAD
Fifty Thousand Jews Plan to
March in the Funeral Pa
ado Tomorrow.
KNOWN THE WORLD OVER

In every country Of the world where
the iiddish tongue and literature sur
vive there is mourning to-day. Solo
mon Rabinowitz. Sholem Ale!chem,
their Mark Twain. the man who could
tighten the darkness Of the Russian or
Galician Poles with the kindly hunor
OF his pen. who could see romance and
brightness in their humiliation, is dead.
He passed away yesterday at his home,
96s Kelly street. The Bronx. from "A
complication Of diseases.
Although many Of his writings, be-
cause OF their literary merit. were sue
ccssfully translated into other tongues.
Sholcm Aieichem was essentially a writer
for his own people. His humor was
based on the characteristics of his own
people. which would not appeal par
tjcularly to those without SPECIAL knowl-
edge. There was nothing Of the Potash
and rerlmu;ter type in his stories. but
there were amusing little bits about
the schRorrers. the beggars. the patr!-
arChs. the young. the Old. all moving
In their own world with their own in.
stincts controlling them. Ii was that
which made him SO popular wherever
his coreligionists were TO he found.
Rabinowitz. or Rabinowicsz. as II
would be in Russian. was born at kieff
in 1853, and lived there the g,cater part
Of his life. He studied originally for
! the rabinate. hut just as he was about
TO enter the university to complete his
/ education in the ancient theology. he
married and that ended hat career. Lat
ter he became a writer in spite OF him
srlf, for when ne abandoned his original
intention he embarked upon a business
career, which ended when he los, no,
only all he had. but his T.fe's dowry
as well.
There was a home To keep M then
and mouths to feed. lnstinct!vcly he
turned 10 writing Tor the press, for the
magazines and for the stage. II was
his career. and Almost immediately H.
won success. His pen name. which
comes down from the ancient Arabs
greeting, Go be with you.' became
known and his works We're eagerly
bought.
Rabinowitz was never a money maker
his friends say. lie won his first grca'
success IN 1901 when he trayeile,
through Russia, giving readings from hi'
works in aid Of Zionist societies. II u
said that by this means thousands 81
Iubles were collected. but the man nevej
received "A cent for his services, lie 81,
not ask for any. Following the pro
gramIIe of 1906 Rabinowitz visited hi
country after n narrow escape from
death at the hands of the mobs at kicil
Here he Mas f.ted and extolled.
He returned to Russia. writing for th'
stage, for the newspapers. and givin.
readings. and the outbreak Of the grea
war found him in Germany, whore h
had been delivering lectures. He va
at once arrested, but later deported, an'
after a ed.ou Journey arrived in thi
country in December. 1914. with HI
wife and two children. to be met by
committee OF 1000. A week later h
was accorded a public reception a
Cooper Union by the leaders Of all fac
lions of Jewish thought. and there h
moved his great audience alternately I
laughter and tears by extracts from hi
writings. He made his home here there
after, delivering lectures throughout tn
country. and intended to become a
American citizen, He had taken out hi
first papers as long ago as 1907.
The Jewish community has made ar
~rangenients for IL monster funeral pa
rade 1t was announced that 5000
Jews. many Of them locked out an
striking rloakmakers, will march. TIL
parade will start at 80 A.. NJ. to-lnor
row from the residence OF the dead hu
morist and will proceed through Eas
Side streets, past the Jewish newspape
offices in Rutgers Square and the Edu
cation Alliance at Jefferson street an
East Broadway. II then to the Ha
Nevuaah Yiddish cemetery In Brooklyn.