The Denver Jewish news., 1919-05-14
FOES IN EXILE.
BY ISRAEL GOLDBERG.

At last, after eighteen years of un-
rcmittent sweat-shop toll. Mende Bai
lin came into his own. ana so high
did hc rise In worldly estate that at
lie annual elections of the little CON
gregation of Pitt street. of which he
retly aspiring member. lie was elect
ed second trustee to the utter rout and.
confusion of YOssel Eulkin. his i..-
yeterate foe and rival.
Not that Mendel had finally won
the first prize in the lottcry-a wind
fall that he never gave up praying
Tor and hoping for-or That he had
inherited from one of those distant
and wealthy relatives on wmpse ac-
count he claimed 50 much prestige.
or that he had picked up In some out
oi-the-way alley the big bng." lost by
some fabulOusly rich individual. that
he never gave up looking for, as il
such individuals would frequent Mem
ders alley. No. Nothing sensational
had befallen Mendel. What happened
was simply that his son and his dangh-
ter. whom he had kept at college. III
spite of the added hardships this
course imposed on him, had at last
finished their studies; the son had
become a civil engineer, the daughter
was lording ii over class of tots in
public school, and Mcndel Balm. al
ready in his sixties. could turn his
back on the sweat-shOp and rest his
weary bones.
In the beginning he WIS Dewildered
and almost dazed by the limitless
stretch of time at his disposal. but
soon enough he began to spend most
OF it in the little synagog where his
worshippcd. And then,
with time and money at his disposal.
he also began to achieve his ambi-
tions. In the first place, the news of
his material enhancement of itself
gave him considerable prestige in the
eyes of his fellow members, and. III
the second place. he succeeded in wilt
ming over the beadle to his side by
handsomely for the he'll
eft of that influential parsonage
W henever Mcndel had the honor of re
ceiving II turn at the reading of the
Law. Yossel KulSin. his enemy,
watched these maneuvres Of Mcnde4
with dismay and forcboding. lie also
made some extra efforts, especially
before the election. bur to ne avail
The. two found themselves opposed for
the office OF second trustee. aid the
victory was carried off by Mc,ldcl.
Just how the enmiiy of the two
arose nobody could tell and. accord
ing to Beril Faivush. the wag of the
synagogue. they themselves the pril-
cipals, had already forgotten its origin
Some said that the two had fallen OUT
in contest over a turn at the LAW
others said the two had qiarrelcd over
the question OF seats for the Holy
Days, or some other question nf prior
ity. Mcndel, especially, had the rep
utation of being "a great sticklcr on
BE that as it may. however,
the two never spoke to each other. al
ways sought means of opposing each
other. and looked upon themselves as
bitter enemies.
And this election was the first &c.
c;ision in the whole career uf their
that Mendel carried Iff the
.'AIendel," lie spoke to himself thnt
night as he walked home rather UNI
from celebrating the victory.
"Mendel. in your old age, thank God
you are becoming man-tliat your
enemies may not rejoice 5vec you,
he added in Hebrew
When. however, n man has fvcd in
oLscurity for sixty years, even tho his
high merits were unjustly suppressed,
it is but rarely that he can achieve
lustiIg greatness thereafter. And 50
ii was destined that Mendel should not
enjoy the fruits of his victory for long
" hat happened was simply that anoth-
cr step was made in the development
and elevation of the Bailins. With an
daughter, eager.to open her
to young men of station. and
an unmarried sou anxious to introduce
Ia the family young ladies who could
raise his station. the three tenement
roomlets on Pitt street. that Mendel
had occupied for eighteen years, be
Inme an impossible abode. And so, one
fine day, in spite of his prayers anu
protests. and with the reelihg of n