davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-23

ment that raises the play above mere imi-
tation. Gordin was no Shakespeare, but
for once, in this play, he used another's
plot to make his own play.
The Devil, however, is cheated out of
Herschele's soul at the very moment of
apparent triumph. Despite the riches
heaped upon the scribe, and the business
career that threatens for a time to ruin
the holy Jews finer self, an accident in
Herschele's factory, in which the son of
friend is killed, awakens the former scribe
to sense of his own debasement. With
all the power that gold has brought him,
with all the domination over his friends
and fellowmen, it has taken away some
thing more precious-his joy in righteous
living. Believing himself beyond redemp-
ton, Herschele hangs himself, symbol
caly enough on his own safe, with the
blood-stained prayer shawl of the victim
Of the accident around his neck As the
Evil One is forced to confess: "Even the
power of money is limited, for though
through it man may be deceived, perverted,
mutilated in soul, yet he cannot be ruined
entirely" The piece stands out with par
ticular significance in the repertory of
reputed to love money above all other
things.
For the rest, Gordin's pieces cover wide
range of problems and themes, involving
filial duty, religious faith, racial weak
nesses, mixed marriages, and so on. His
great contribution to the Yiddish stage
lay in his bringing Of truth, character and
some art to replace the falsities of the
post Goldfaden school. Starting out not far
from the Goldfaden path he achieved a
personality of his own, despite the intru-
sion of the vaudeville element that had
to be endured for the sake of a public. He
was alive to his own shortcomings. II
want to say publicly" he wrote as early as
1897, "that the Yiddish theatre will never
be in a position to undergo normal de-
velopment as long as the intellectual Jews
continue to disregard problem so impor-
tant to the masses as the upbuilding of
literary, serious stage. The Yiddish theatre,
despite the hundreds of thousands who
form its audiences, cannot hope for the
arrival Of powerful, talented writer so
long as the majority of it's authors will be,
like me, men who take to dramatic writ
ingh through accident, who write pieces
only because they are forced to do so in
order to make living, and who, like me,
are isolated and see about them only igno-
rance, jealousy, rancor and enmity." The
words quite as good for Ammo Domini
1919.
Starting as collaboration of Gordin and
later achieving Independent reputation,
Leon Kobrin came to occupy an important
position in the Yiddish drama. Through
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-23

meeting, and Hamilton was soon admitted
into full fellowship with them. His rise was
rapid after that When the colonists entered
the war In grim earnest he was chosen cap
TAIN OF company of artillerists. From the
time Of his participation in the out-of-doors
meeting he had studied warfare from books
and with some of the leading soldiers of the
city
After Washington took the field Hamilton
and his company joined the American army.
One day Washington observed some earth
works which were better built than the usual
practice of that day. He inquired as to
their inventor and learned of young Hamil-
ton. After that Hamilton was made lieu
tenant colonel and member of Washing
tons staff Soon he became the generals
aided camp, and was closer to him than
others of his officers. In the midst of the
war Hamilton became of age. This event
called the attention Of the mature soldiers.
with whom he associated on terms of perfect
equality, to the strange fact of his youthful
ness. But in the end Hamilton's ability
drove away all thoughts of his youth.
Washington intrustcd him with many i'm
portant and delicate missions The viror
and at the same time the tact, diplomacy
and finesse with which he handled inflam
mable situations made Washington respect
in the highest degree his ability Washington
had the faculty Of recognizing the best minds
OF his country and having them about him,
either in the army or in his Cabinet when
he became President. So it was he who chose
Hamilton for the country's first Secretary
of the Treasury, and who helped the Sccrc-
tary to get issued the first Liberty bonds.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-23
A New Playground for.
''Manhattan's Human
Sparrows''
D. Dbl l.
By Pearl Spaulding

TAKES the ingenuity of a child TO
adapt circumstances to his own re-
II quirements and to invest the most
ordinary things of everyday life with
the magic of youthful imagination
And so the extraordinary interest which
the children particularly the boys) of the
Upper East Side are displaying in the miles
of grandstand seats that are being erected
on Fifth Avenue for New York's parade of
welcome for the 9th has transformed this
new playground into an object of romantic
import.
For many city blocks-all the straight
and narrow way from Fifty ninth to 10th
Street-stretch these countless graduated
rows of wooden seats Viewed through
childhood's visionary eyes, there is the
glamour Of romance in the bare, yellow
boards so soon to seat those who, with
happy, eager hearts, have Jared forth TO
meet their dear ones in the ranks.
And the small boy of Manhattan, with
out knowing exactly why, is irresstibly
drawn to the scene of the Homecoming
parade of the near future. All the way I'D
the Avenue of the Allies can daily be seen
animated groups of little chaps-increasin
in numbers and volume of sound as one an
proaches the upper Nineties, until just be-
fore 10th Street is reached a surprising
crescendo of childish voices is heard from
hundreds of boys and handful of girls
swarming over the seats like so many twit-
tering sparrows.
An infinite variety of amusement is of
fered, one popular diversion inveigiing
the more reckless youngsters into risking
life and limb by making innumerable
round trips from the top to the bottom row
of seats. Others hold chatty little confer
ences, usually on the highest possible perch:
while the favorite outdoor sport of all is
saving on the few loose boards not vet
in place.
But it is not this endless vista of plain.
prosaic seats that holds the children's will
o'-the-wisp fancies magneticaly, but the
thought that soon from that very VANTAGE
point can be seen the heroes of their boy
ish ideals-those who have inspired tho
ages-old admiration of small boys--the
khaki-clad big brother Americans WIN
marched away to fight for the peace of the
world and are coming back victorious.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-23
The Reaction
To Realism

1t was not long before the meagre intel
lectual food of these plays left much to be
desired from the standpoint of the more
intelligent immigrants. AS a result rea-
listic reaction arose, headed by Jacob Cor
din, who for many years produced rapid
succession of pieces, the frequency of
which may be explained by the fact that
he either translated or adapted Shake
speare, Goethe, Hebbel, Ibsen, Ostrovsky.
Hugo, Leasing, Schiller, Hauptmann, Goeol.
Grillparzer and others. In many cases the
adaptation is in the nature of a Yiddish
analogue suggested by the Gentle plot
Gordin knew little of the intimate lives of
the ghetto's people; he was never really a
part of them, SO that his realistic endeavors
could scarcely look to the creation of a
genuinely vital Jewish play. What he did
seek, and in measure attain, was the
problem play, although the Yiddish ele-
ment in the problem was too often super
fetal. AS fine a study of Gordin as has
come to my attention may be found in
David Pnski's little brochure on the Yid-
dish drama pamphlet important far be-
yond it's unpretcntous proportions.
Of Gordn's plays the best opinion wav-
ers between two as his best: "Mrele Eff
fros" and "God, Man and Devil" The first
is sort of Jewish Lear, with a mother
rather than a king as protagonst. The sec
ond, inspired by Faust" is in a great
measure truly original and deserving of
wide acquaintance outside the ghetto In
stead of a Faust have the poor Yid-
dish scribe Herschele; instead of Me-
phistopheles who tempts with the pleasures
Of youth and passion we have a demon
who seeks to purchase the scrbes soul
with sordd dollars and cents. Instead of
Gretchen who is seduced, we have a wife
who is abandoned (by taking advantage of
a religious custom) in favor of beautiful
niece. These changes from the German
original operate also in an altered environ
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-23

there. He wanted to enter the college, but
entire course in covering that course. He
wished to 90 through the curriculum as rap
idly as he was able to do the work His
request was refused. Then he went to New
York, where he made the same request to
the authorities of Kings College, the pres
ent Columbia. Here he met better luck and
entered the institution on his own terms
He went through the course like a regi-
ment of Pershing veterans through the
Huns. He began to study in his room at
a. m. and ended his evening study long
after midnight. Nothing could withstand
such energy, and his progress was remark
able.
For a time Hamilton, on account of his
foreign origin, was not IN accord with the
spirit OF the colonists, but gradually the
American spirit won him. Even before this.
however, he was not in sympathy with the
Tories, but had simply been observing
events
AT the age of seventeen he happened to
run across an open air meeting in the out
skirts of the city. Citizens of New York
were holding this meeting in order to select
their members Of the Continental Congress.
AS their formal legislative body was over
whemingly Tory, they took this means of
making certain of the selection of men of
real Amcricanism.
Hamilton became interested in the sneak
ers, and soon was on his feet delivering
thoroughly patriotic speech As he talked
the maturity of his intellect made his hearers
forget his youth. Some of the leaders of
patriotic thought in New York were at that
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-23
The Little Known Story of Drama Risen From Obsc,l-
rity to Produce Zone of the Great PLAYS of
the Twentieth Century"

is said and done, consist of four or five
stage-worthy productions, numerous folk
songs for which he provided music of Pc
culiar charm, a good variety of poems, and
the historical distinction of having laid the
foundation of Yiddish drama that for too
long remained without worthy superstruct-
ure.
He had come among an ignorant public
whose tastes were of the most uncutured
He had quickly discerned the elements in
their amusements which could be fused into
a stage, and had set about the work with
astonishing energy. Handicapped, until he
came to Russia, by the absence of women,
he trained men for female parts. And, al
though his pieces are by no means realistic
plays, he sought realistic effects wherever
he could obtain them. Thus, the soldiers at
the end of the second act in his carly piece
"The Recruits" were real soldiers hired for
the occasion, since our producer feared to
intrust the parts to civilians. Wherever
possible in minor roles Godfadcn would
seek out in private life the very types for
which the play called and train them for the
performance. AS an example of this there
is an anecdote of Goldfaden and a cobber.
III OHe VI tHe early Gays a CODDler was
needed in a quarrel scene. The part was
more than mere "suping," and Goldfaden
was short of actors. Setting out about town
he found a poor fellow at the bench, told
him the plot then and there, rehearsed him,
put him on the stage. and made an actor of
him
Goldfaden's real contribution lies in his
genuine folk-humor and his carcatures of
Yiddish types. Some of the latter have
furnished new expressions to the Yddish
tongue, and a Kuni-Lemel, as a byword for
awkward, inconsequential simpletons is as
we'll known to Jews as for instance is Pooh
Bah among the English The first to write
for an actual Yiddish stage, Goldfaden i'm
pressed his form upon all his immediate
successors, thus founding a distinct school.
Song and dance (even to-day so popular as
to be intruded into really serious plays)
form the basis Of the pattern Look at the
posters by which Yiddsh plays arc advcr-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-23

the smutty character tended to disappear;
thus in "The Sale of Joseph" there was no
Objectionable matter even in the clowns
mouth. This play also introduced the
tragic element into Yiddish drama. AS
early as 1913 an Amsterdam version of
"Ahasuerus' initiated Yiddish operetta,
type that has chung tcnaciously down to
the present day, and which has, perhaps,
prevented the fuller development of worthy
Yiddish drama. Just how we shall see
somewhat later on.
Yet, despite this slow development, there
was nothing like genuine Yiddish theatre;
for that more educated populace was
needed-one that would look upon the the.
atre as an institution rather than as
holiday appurtenance. This was to be &C.
complished in great measure by the Has
kala movement originating among the
German Jews and having for its chief OBJ
ject the extinction Of the fanatcsm Of
the Khassidic sect and of the Yiddish dia-
lect. Its effect, in Russia, was really to
strengthen the vernacular, while satire
against the Khassidim produced some Of
the most humorous pieces in the Yiddish
repertory. Yet most of these early Russian
dramas we're not written primarily for the
stage, though they were in a dramatic
FORM
When I refer to Godfaden as the founder
Of the Yiddish stage, / may be taken lit
orally we'll mctaphoricaly. He actu-
ally built the stage of his first productions,
wrote the plays, trained the actors, painted
the scenery, and what not else. The pieces
were at first constructed around songs No
set dialogue was written down hut ynorn or
less in the fashion of the comedia DELI arte
the writer got his two chief actors to-
gether, gave them hints as to interpreta-
ton and suggested an outline of whatever
action the piece contained. While the songs
were being learned the dialogue would be
worked out, and if the actors forgot the
exact words the audience would be none
the wiser Cor the sadder) for the actors
improvisations The first play was thus
merely hodge-podge of songs, quarrels,
curses, amorous complications and horse
play aplenty. Not the play, but the fact
that now, in 1875, the Yiddish' stage was
actually established, is the important item
here. Goldfaden, who had already achieved
q reputation as poet, was not to stay in
Rumania long; his later success in Russia
was cut short by decree September IA,
1889 forbiddng further productions In
Yiddish. The Yiddish stage had lasted but
five years in Russia. In later European and
American activities Goldfaden added moth
ing to his achievements, at the head of
which stand such operettas as, the peren-
NAL "Shulams," "Bar Kochba" and 9TH
ers; when he died in New York he left
an intellectual legacy that will, after all
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-23
When Alexander Hamilton FlOated First Bio Loan

Federal government assume the war in
debtedness of the old confederation of
thirteen states, but he also wished to have
the war debts of the individual states as
sumed and funded. The Northern states
had borrowed far more money than the
Southern, and naturally the South, which
had practically paid its own way during
the war; fought the assumption of the state
debts.
Hamilton argued that to assume the debt
and fund it would be to create q blessing
in disguise. He believed and asserted that
such a debt would be the "cement"-
phrase is his-which would bind the union
closer together.
Under Hamilton's influence and that of
his chief, Washington, the nation estab-
lishcd it's tradition of financial rectitude,
and issued the first great Liberty Loan. 1t
is in keeping with that tradition that the
American nation Of to-day, which has grown
to more than 100000 inhabitants from
the original 100000 continues to float
great Liberty loans and to buy War Saw
ings Stamps.
If Hamilton, the physical man, had been
as immortal as hs fame, and he were alive
to-day, we may be sure he would be pow
crful figure, taking active part in the present
Liberty Loan and making great efforts to
help the campaigns for War Savings Stamps.
Hamilton was born on the island of Nevis,
in the West Indies, January II, 1857; he
landed in Boston as a boy Of fifteen in
1772 He was prccocious after his twelfth
year and showed genius which was mature.
From Boston he journeycd to Princeton, and
called upon the president Of the college
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-23
The Villain
In YiddiSh

First to the "lbretto" A bejewelled
villain, in silk hat, sojourning in Russia
makes away with the heart of simple
village maid. She is dazzled by his cx-
cellent manners and his passionate prot
estations of perennial love, thus being led
to spurn the honest affections of two re-
ligious students. OF course the gem
bedecked villain plays her false, for he
has sweetheart Or two in America. And
such an America! Where chorus girls fit
in conventionaized Old World student cos
tunes; where the atmosphere reeks with
the perfume and powder of cabarets;
where from the heavens hang gaudily-col-
ored, Urbanesque globes of silk, while un-
derneath, bridge Conveniently near for
would overflow its banks were pebble
dropped into it.
But the villain, it seems, is no villain at
all! (How could he be, since he is played
by Boris Tomasheffsky in propra persona p
For just as he is to we'd sweetheart num-
Der one-the American girl-he beholds in
the tower-clock over the bridge not the
hour but the face of her whom he has
deserted on his Russian trip. The reves
suddenly cease, and we are carried back to
Europe, where the poor, credulous heroine
is nursing a fatherless child The student
lovers are as faithful as ever to her-as
faithful as are her good looks; whereupon
for consortng with woman unclean thew
arc accommodated by the irate Rabbi
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-23

the right to levy taxes, but had issued pa
per currency, which became so deprecated
that the pay of colonel for month dur
ing the war would not buy his horse a
bushel of oats. In addition, the individual
colonies had issued paper money and had
contracted debts. All of these tokens of
debt had fallen far toward the zero point
in value.
When Hamilton made his proposals to
Congress the debt contracted by the Con-
tinental Congress, with interest unpaid,
amounted to s54,OO0,000, while the states
had incurred obligations for $25,0O0,000
more. OF the national debt $12,000,00o was
owing abroad. There was no question as
to whether this should be paid. All parties
to the struggle in Congress agreed that it
must be paid.
But the original holders Of the domestic
war debt had in many cases sold their GER
tificates at great discount and these were
now in the hands of spectators. A con-
siderable body Of opinion in Congress held
that the spectators should not be paid the
face value Of the certificates, but that only
the original holders should be paid, if the
debt was assumed by the Federal govern
ment and funded.
Hamilton, however, contcndcd that the
debt was founded upon a valid contract,
and that to discriminate between tho orig
inal holders and the then holders was to
interfere with the right of assignment. He
also showed that it would be impracticablc
II discriminate, ms no adequate method of
doing no IVES possible to devise. He car
ricd his point.
Hamilton not only wished to have tho
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-23
Beginning of
The Purin Play

10 return to the Purim play, whence the
iiadish drama derives: this appeared circa
'oo A. D., at the beginning of the period
which for about five centuries was to prove
everywhere so barren for the drama. Yet
.ne first printed specimen dates only as
isf back as 1908, and is in Yiddish. Dur
.as all these years, of course, Jews had
'een writing drama, but it is a question
whether they all belong, therefore, to Jew
ssn dramatic history There was SPANS
nfss written drama, "Celcstina," written
W Jew; there was Da Silva in Portugal
mere were the Luzzatos in Italy, and so on.
1nese are not connected with the popular
origin OF the drama in the Purim plays,
'au perhaps properly belong to the history
=. me drama in their respective countries.
inc turin play was popular product, and
ssss now far its influence radiated may be
s.saefed from Gorin's assurance that
'AsAespeare himself acted in an English
ops OF such play, probably the "Godly
queen Esther" CORN further suggests
s3ae ~ this play the immortal William
aay nave had suggested to him his own
Jester type.
'ae character of the Purim plays was
s~1ay high; the nature Of the festival
s ss that; there were smut, sacrilege,
vasseufvying OF sacred texts, in some
s ssss 20 bad that copies of the play were
80. burned. Then came the important
q. taxing other biblical subjects for
purposes Of representation; hence such
.'5 mt as hermann Won Limberx's
80 pay, THE Sale Of Joseph alternating
~. version Of David and Goliath. In
fasim plays the comic man was Pickel-
uiss ngure, OF course, not original
~ she YIddish writer's. In this connec-
IS Me author points out the interest
u ~. mat tho comic types in the drama
II. ~ gay we're Ia ali countries named
p;.s., o'ehes Thus in Holland We find
nc ssaert'ng; n France, Jean potagc; in
~. D'sner Maearorl; IN Germans. Hans
y England, Jack Pudding.
ftos ,,. important change IN the plays not
ssA On The tale of Esthcr WA that
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-23
By B. w. Babcock

~ NE hundred and twenty-nine yearr
ago last month the Congress of
the then newly born United States
of America was in ferment.
Alexander Hamilton, our first Secretary OF
the Treasury, had formally proposed to tho
Congress for its action the first Of the
financial foundations upon which rest to-
day not only our Liberty bond and War Saw
ings Stamp issues, but our whole system Of
government finance. rSs
And the Congress was by no means in
agreement with the Secretary, who, before
he ended his endeavor, had the support of
President George Washington. Hamilton's
proposals were debated during all of Febru-
airy, 1890, and throughout March, too. 1t
was not until the concluding days of tho
latter month that part Of his plan was
formulated in legislation, and this only
after the notes of Southern members of
Congress had been secured for it by a bar
gain for the locating of the future capital
city of the nation in the South.
The situation which led to Hamiltons
proposals was not unlike that facing those
in charge Of War Savings Stamps and Vic
tory Liberty bond issues at the present
time. The United Statcs had fought a great
and victorious war. A debt, huge for that
time, when there were only 100000 inhab.
itants in the United States (less than the
present population OF Now York City, and
when New York City itself only numbered
$4,000 people, had been contracted.
The Continental Congress had not had
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-23
By Isaac Goldberg

tised down to this very moment, and nine
times out of ten you will discover the in
evitable phrase, init eesange und tanz"
with song and dance). And just to see
how little the model has progressed, let
us transport ourselves for the moment
into the Tomasheffsky Theatre, let us say,
and watch performance of a typical
operetta like that entitled "Mazel Tov!"
q. e., Congratulations, Good Luck) which
RECALLED the East Side at the time Russa's
liberation from the Car thrilled the
world
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-23

The Talmud must be their only love- and
jealous sweetheart she is,