davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The American Jewish world. [volume] (Minneapolis ;) 1915-current, 1922-05-19

Larry LnlS WINTER, newspaper ulS-
patches from Spain reported the ap-
pointment by the Government of
Madrid of special commission to in
vestigate series of documents pur-
porting to reveal the Spanish-J Jewish
origin of Columbus. From the same
sources, we were also informed that
at a formal meeting of the Portu-
guese Academy of Sciences, held on
January 13, 1922, a member of that
distinguished body advanced the
theory that Portugal was Columbus
birthplace. Only last week, a cable
dispatch from Alexandropol, Armenia,
dated April 26th, announced that Ar
menian savants who based themselves
on the alleged Spanish origin of
Christopher Columbus now claimed
the great Discoverer for Armenia. In
an interview given out in New York,
Manager Ray Soto, who is described
as an eminent Spanish churchman
and friend of Alphonso XIII, de-
clared: "It seems to have been es-
tablished beyond all doubt that Colum-
bus was Spaniard and not an Ital-
ian, and that he was a Jew. Colum-
bus concealed the facts as to his
identity from Isabella because he
knew that if she knew him to be a
Jew she would not have given him
money for his voyage"
What a unique example of the
spiritual mutation of the ages is thus
presented to us. A Catholic prelate
of the Spanish Church now prefers
to claim his kinship to Columbus as
a disguised Spanish-Jew, rather than
as an Italian Catholic and a canon
lied Saint. Whatever the ultimate
verdict of history may be as to the
truth about Columbus, if, indeed, a
supreme verdict there ever will be,
in the present stage, one cannot es-
cape the conviction that national pre-
judice and intense local pride are
proving valiant auxiliaries in this Bat
tie for Truth.
Indeed from the first, everything
surrounding Columbus invited contro-
versy and fed prejudice. Argonese
rivalled Castillians in protestations as
to which of the royal consorts rightly
belonged the lions share of credit
for the exploits of Columbus. In
Italy, during the lifetime of the Ad-
miral the pre- eminence of Genoa as
= the birthplace of Columbus has been
contested by no less than six other
towns who claimed this honor for
themselves. Today the number of as
pirants to this distinction has more
than tripled. His mysterious person
ality, his obscure antecedeflts, and the
mystic, confused, and conflicting mo-
tives of his life cast cloud of doubt
and uncertainty about him. This cloud,
Spanish scholars claim, was dispelled
The American Jewish world. [volume] (Minneapolis ;) 1915-current, 1922-05-19

in the last, twilight period of the nine
teenth century, and now all Spain, it
seems, is about to hail Columbus as
Spaniard and Jew.
If this theory is flattering to Span
ish pride, what lustre would it's vindi-
cation shed on the Jewish name! If
Spanish statesmen and churchmen,
men of letters and science, the flower
and intellect of the Spanish Nation
find such joy in the thought that Co.
lumbus belonged to the family of STEP
children whom Spain cruelty expelled
from it's home in 1492-that he was
possibly related to the Coloms who
were burned at the stake at Tara
gona in the summer of 1489-how
significant would be the claim of the
race to whom the Discoverer belonged
in body and soul. If, in the light of
history, men of faith have fondly seen
the Hand of Providence steering the
course Of Columbus little fleetas it set
out in search Of the new world on
the morrow after the Spanish Jews
began their exile, what a glorious
manifestation of divine justice would
be the revelation that the tool of the
Great Explorer of the Universe was
child Of the Chosen People, that he
who beheld the light of the new world
was a son of the people who were then
doomed by Spanish decree to walk in
the valley of the Shadow of death.
What unique significance would be at
tached to the otherwise strange open
ing sentence of Columbus journal,
"After the Spanish monarchs had
expelled all the Jews from all their
kingdoms and lands in January, in
that same month they commissioned
me to undertake the voyage to India
with a properly equipped fleet"
The fascinating possibilities of this
patent. One cannot help but admire
the fine insight which was displayed
years ago by the Hon. Oscar S. Straus,
who was then President of the Ameri-
can Jewish Historical Society, and by
his father, who stimulated and made
possible the researches of DR.. Kayser-
ling and his important volume on
Christopher Columbus in his relation
to the Jews. These contributions are
lasting; they have endured the test
of criticism. They bring us to the
very gate of the present Spanish
claim. They prove Columbus frequent
association with Jews, his indebted
ness to the scientific works Of his Jew
ish contemporaries, the presence of
Jews on his voyages of explorations,
and, above all, the indispensable sup
port which he received at the hands
of prominent Jews and influential
Marranos at the Court of Ferdinand
and Isabella, who personally advanced
considerable sums of money to render
The American Jewish world. [volume] (Minneapolis ;) 1915-current, 1922-05-19

columbus eXpeQlClOn possible. Inc
statement of Monsignore Joseph H.
Mcmahon, which was reported in the
New York Times on November 20,
1921, in which he is alleged to have
discredited the part that the so-called
Jewish bankers played in financing
Columbus expedition-if correctly re-
ported-is not even Ineligible, for
the question is not whether Luis de
Santangel was repaid from the fund
of the Hermandad or any other source.
The crucial fact is that Santangel had
the courage and the vision to stake a
fortune on the successful outcome of
a venture that was decried as insane
and this fact is clearly admitted by
the Monsignore.
While Kayserling brought us to the
very threshold of the Spanish theory,
it would seem as if Jewish scholars
have been content to pause there for
a while and have adopted policy of
"watchful waiting" No doubt there
is both wisdom and dignity in this at
titude of reserve. The very allure
ments of the subject urge caution. And
it is altogether meet that we who
are not eaten with the desire to make
proselytes during life, should also not
plunge headlong to claim posthumous
conversions. In view, however, of the
intrinsic, compelling interest of this
discussion, and in view of the new
light that may be shed by the COM
mission, which the Spanish Govern
ment has appointed, | ventured to
feel that it would be desirable at this
time to present an account of the gen
eral foundations on which the Spanish
theory of the Jewish origin of Colum-
bus rests.
If Columbus had consciously aimed
to mystify posterity and to obscure
the place of his origin, his parentage,
the date of his birth and the life of
his youth, he could not have done so
more effectively. During his lifetime
and Immediately after his death,
while his sons and brothers were still
living and many of his friends and
associates were among the living, con-
troversy ragged about these elemental
questions. Yet all these mooted ques-
tions were such as could easily be re-
solved by an authoritative statement
on the part of Columbus or one of the
members of his family, but no word
of finality was spoken. His natural
son, Fernando, though fully aware of
these debates, some of which were
discreditable to his fathers memory,
and writing presumably voluminous
biography in defense of his father,
was so vague and abusive as to
strengthen rather than dispel sus-
picion.
Now, Columbus himself was not a
The American Jewish world. [volume] (Minneapolis ;) 1915-current, 1922-05-19
Was Columbus a Jew?
ANALYSIS OF THE SPANISH THEORY BY DR. ABRAHAM A. NEUMA

(ad meeting Society,"
The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-12-20
Santa Claus Comes to Town.

Happy shouts from hundreds of
childish throats greeted Santa Claus
as he stepped from 33 Tuesday fore
noon on his way to visit McGrath's
store and inspect ''Toyland' on the
second floor. The children of the
city schools had been notified that
Santa Claus was coming and were in.
vited to accompany him on his tour
of inspection of the many depart
ments of McGrath's.
Santa was evidently just from a
cold country, for he was all bundled
UP in red and white furs, carrying
an armful of toys and blowing big
horn. The interest of the children
was about equally divided between
Santa Claus and the wonderful array
of toys and playthings in such pro-
digal profusion on the second floor
at McGrath's.
In the grocery department Santa
Claus opened boxes and boxes of
candy for the little folks, and 1t
made the hearts of the older ones
present swell with gladness to see
the eager little faces light up with
holy faith and trust in Santa Claus
as chubby little fists gripped sticks
Of precious candy far sweeter than
any candy carried at the stores.
Santa Claus was as wild over
Brookhaven as the children were ov-
er him. .'This is splendid city.
and the little boys and girls of
Brookhaven are about the best in
the world. said Old Santa. as i.
left on number 4 for the north.
The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-12-20
Shocking Experience Of Two Brook
haven Men.

A wet sidewalk, sagging tele-
phone wire, an iron post and me-
tai roof saturated with Juice, play
ed pranks with Homer Adams and Ed
King early Saturday morning. Mr..
Adams. who is the general manager
Of popcorn and peanut machine in
front Of Kings Drug Store. took
hold of the iron post supporting the
roof over the sidewalk. An instant
shock made him try to turn loose,
but he found he couldn't let go. Ed
King, hearing the commotion. rushed
to the aid Of Adams, and attempted
to drag him from the electricity
loaded post. King was knocked into
the muddy street. but his interfer-
ence lessened the force of the Juice
so much that Adams broke away.
An investigation conducted
with the utmost caution developed
the fact that the entire roof was
charged with electricity, supposed to
have leaked from a sagging phone
wire that had come in contact with
the wet metal of the roofing. Asier
from a severe shaking up, neither
Mr.. Adams nor Mr.. King are very
much the worse for their thrilling
experience.
The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-12-20
Alleged Drug Addict Breaks Into
Drug Store.

Mandy Lyons, a colored drug ad-
dict, is causing the local authorities
lots of worry. Mandy, it seems, has
a thirst for paregoric, and when the
local druggists learned that Mandy
was using it as a beverage instead
of remedy for collie, they shut down
on Mandy's supply of her favorite
fluid. So Mandy resorted to des-
perate measures. and got herself
mixed and tangled with the meches
of the law to an extent that may
mean Mandy's retirement from the
scene of activities for quite leng-
thy spell.
Sunday morning Mr.. Mullins, pro-
prietor of the Service Drug Store,
found the glass in the back door
broken, the catches and bars remov-
ed and the door itself standing open.
Drops of blood led from the broken
glass to the prescription shelves.
When an inventory disclosed that
nothing but paregoric was missing.
Mr.. Mullins was convinced that the
secret visit had been made by a
drug fiend.
Chief Case was called TITS one
of three, said the Chief. "Then
look for the one with bleeding fin
ger on the right hand, said Mr. Null
Inns. The Chiefs first visit was to
the home of negro man known to
indulge in paregoric, but both hands
being without cut let him out The
next call was on Mandy, and, sure
enough, the right hand disclosed a
badly cut finger. with blood drops
still spattered over the floor, and a
bottle of paregoric, bloodstained, in
her possession.
Mr., Mullins does not feel like
pressing a charge of burglary, as
Mandy did not bother thing in the
store except her paregoric. The
officials feel, though. that period
in the pen would be good thing for
Mandy, as 1t might give her chance
to overcome her desire for drugs.
The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-12-20
Clean Up Pecan Orchards.

A. & M. College, Miss.-So much
damage was done in Mississippi pc
can groves this year by the pecan
shuck worm and the hickory twig
girdler, that the State Plant Board
is advising pecan growers to rake up
and burn all empty hulls, dead limbs
twigs and other trash under the
trees.
Some growers state that 90 per ct.
of their nuts were lost this year on
account Of the shuckworm. This
pest spends the winter in the dry
hulls and becomes a grown moth in
the spring. laying eggs on the young
nuts that fall as soon as the worm
bores inside. These young nuts that
fall in the spring should also be
burned in order to lessen the NUM-
bers of the fall generation.
Burning the limbs and twigs un-
der all pecan. hickory, and persim-
mon trees is important as a control
for the hickory twig girdler which
did considerable damage this year.
The eggs are laid in the twigs which
are then cut off smoothly, as the in
sect must develop in dead wood. I'm
less these dead limbs and twigs are
burned. thhe grown girdlers will
come out the next spring and sum-
mer and repeat the damage of the
previous year
The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-12-20
WEEVIL SITUATION is
MOST FAVORABLE YET
Dusting Method Highly Effect
i've Says Sec. WaIlace--Air-
planes Also Help.

Washington. Dec. 17.-Steps TAX
en- by the department of agriculture
to combat the cotton boil weevil
have brought about situation more
favorable than ever before Secre-
tary Wallace Informed Senator Har-
ris of Georgia. in a letter made pub
lie today by the senator.
Mr.. Wallace declared his depart
ment had found effective the busting
method and also the new method
developed in Florida and had re-
quested the cooperation of the war
department in the further testing OF
the possibility Of airplane dusting.
with these two major and high
ly promising developments of the
past year to thoroughly test out the
coming season." the secretary wrote,
"the scientific forces of the depart
ment will be fully occupied and those
who have been studying the prob
lem feel very confident that out of
these methods and the ones now in
use will be found satisfactory COM
bination for practically all condit-
IONS"
The agriculture secretary's letter
was in reply to one from Senator
Harris enclosing a communication
from a constituent who expressed
the belief that half had not been
done by the department which should
have been done.
The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-12-20
oiling Floors Of schOolhouses.

Our school house is also our COM
munity center, so we try to do ev-
erything possible to better condit-
ions for both. We have just oiled
the floors and the result has been
satisfactory.
First, we gave the floor thorough
sweeping, then applied the oil with
corn-brooms over which we had tied
burlap sacks, a crude outfit but ef-
ficient and expenseless. These brooms
spread the oil thoroughly and cas-
lily. The floors being open, soft wood,
they require heavy oil as a first
application, so we gave them a drink
Of cylinder oil which we secured
from a garage. This oil, having been
used to wash out motors which were
to be overhauled, is little dark, but
answers the purpose splendidly. To
10-gallons of oil we added 2 gallons
of kerosene as a dryer. Hardwood
floors require less oil and unused cy-
Under oil requires more kerosene.
The result was a cooler, more san
itary, dustless room. 1t will be a
continuous pleasure to the entire
community to say nothing Of the ben
eft to the children whose many feet
track in dirt which becomes dust in
the air they breathe. We expect to
give second application in a few
weeks.
Suggested dust-downs are: three
parts slightly dampened sawdust and
one part salt; or sawdust we'll sprin-
kled with oil. The former is better
to use when sweeping carpets and
the latter when cleaning bare floors.
Mrs. Smith in the Progressive
Farmer.
The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-12-20
Property Values Decline.

Jackson, Miss, Dec. 1S.-The to-
tai property valuation for assess
ment purposes in Mississippi for the
current year will show a decline of
from $1S,OO0,O0O to $40, 900, 900,
according to Chairman Duncan L.
Thompson, of the State Tax Com
mission.
The principal decrease will be in
personality values, due to shrinkage
in merchandise stocks, etc. The
largest item of assessment is realty,
and this remains unchanged from
last year.
Assessments for the public service
corporations will remain almost the
same as for the previous year. The
only notable reduction thus far made
is that of the Columbus & Greenville
Railway, now in the hands of receiv-
ers. and the sole purpose of the COM
mission in reducing the valuation of
sold for junk, and thus depriving an
mprn seen + he ste aoii228392393
important section of the state of
railroad facilities.
Although there is a reduction of
from $1S,000,000 to 100000, 900 Wis
ible in the recapitulation, this does
not mean notable loss of state re-
venue, as compared with the total to
be collected.
Eight years ago, when the State
Tax Commission was created, the to-
tai assessment for Mississippi was
only $441,497,562 the increase with
in less than decade being more
than ninety per cent.
The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-12-20
Banner Pecan Year Closes at Virgins

Virgins, Miss, Dec 18.-Wiggins
is closing its banner year of the
pecan industry. Management of the
Mississippi farms announces it sold
its entire crop at so cents per pound
and that a market at that price could
have been found for all paper she'll
nuts grown.
The success that has greeted the
raisers Of the paper shell nuts has
been so great that many farmers
who had few trees of the small
variety are top working their trees
into paper she'll trees. The owners
Of pecan groves experience no diff
ficulty in selling their product. as
the demand far exceeds the supply.
Many additional trees are being
planted.
The paper shell pecans grown here
are so large that a dozen of them
will fill dinner plate and weigh a
pound. The raiser received more
than four cents apiece for them. One
grower who previous to this year had
made only tax money out of his
grove sold $1,000 in one shipment
and found a ready market for his
entire crop in New Orleans.
The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-12-20
Would Avoid Solons Meet.

Jackson, Miss, Dec. 18.-Just how
a special legislative session during
the next six months can be avoided
is problem that is causing much
discussion among the state officials
who are familiar with financial con-
ditions at the treasury.
Gov. Russell has repeatedly de-
clared against special session and
emphatically stated that he has no
intention of convening the lawmak-
ing body, but the growing deficit,
which promises to reach the $4,000
900 mark prior to the session of 1924
may force him to call the lawmak-
ers to Jackson.
Responsibility for existing condit-
ions is placed principally on those
members of the lower house, famil-
iarly known as the 'low pressure
crowd, who forced a reduction of
the tax levy at the session during
the early part of the current year, in
the face of certain knowledge that
there would be slump in the state
revenues, and no corresponding re-
duction of expenditures.
Today the treasury is practically
bankrupt. There is a possibility that
sufficient funds may come in during
the next week to pay December sal
aries of state officials and employees,
but 1t is rather doubtful.
The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-12-20
Wrestling Match a Disappointment.

On account of the absolute refusal
of Henry Furr. for reasons explained
on the stand, to carry out his en-
gagement to wrestle with Gustave
Hanson at the Palace Rink Satur-
day night, just after the prelimin-
aries to the main attraction had end
ed, goodly crowd of fans were dis
appointed. ALI admission fees to
the contest were promptly refunded
as the crowd made their way from
the rink
Dooley Harris and J. L. Sartin; G..
L. Sanderford and Tom Nixon; Red
Brinson and Harry HICKMAN; Russell
and Mars, of Pearlhaven; each In
two rounds of sparring, were part of
the preliminaries, every contest be-
ing called draw by the referee
The last preliminary was sparring
exhibition between Eddie Blue, Of
Brookhaven, and Young Cameron. of
New Orleans in a three-round bout,
Blue gaining the decision after a
spirited contest.
The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-12-20
Rub-My-Tism for Rheumatism.
Shower Of Rolling Pins and Kitchen
Tins

The Euzelian juniors met togeth'
er with Miss Eula Poole, one of theil
number at the Homer c. Powers
home last Friday night and planned
raid on the j. e. Barron residence
where in blissful ignorance of any
such thing, Miss jeanette, the fai,
bride-to-be of tomorrow, was dream.
ing only of orange blossoms, requi-
ted love and rosy romance.
Perhaps it was the merry Jingle
of Christmas sleighbells in the dis
tance or perchance of beautiful alu-
minum ware and Kitchen things
that aroused the entire household
for before the 80 or more merry in
vaders left, the Kitchen Shower
had covered over the large living
room with articles unaccustomed to
such distinction and social promi-
nence."
1t was very happy event and
the Euzelians themselves were de-
lighted to be the prime movers in
1t. Delicious fruit was served during
the social hour enjoyed informally
and later the articles so thoughtfully
contributed for the brides Memphis
home were packed away for ship
ment there.
The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-12-20
Wanderer Is Slain
As He Starts Home

Starkville, Miss, Dec. 17.-Twen-
ty-four hours after z. G.. Gill, a
farmer near here, received a letter
from his son, Clarence, "a years old,
that he was starting home for the
holidays, he learned that the latter
had been murdered and robbed of
the savings Of almost year.
The young man had contributed
generously from his savings since
his departure. He had worked thru
several states and it is believed he
had about $500 when slain. He
packed his clothing on the night he
wrote his father, and started for the
train. His body was found next
morning in freight car near Cen
tralia, Ill.
Police believe that Gill had been
followed by someone who knew he
was carrying money, and after
stranging him, left the body In the
car. Besides his father, Clarence
Gill is survived by four sisters.
The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-12-20
Program District Sunday School Con

District Four Sunday School Con.
vention to be held with Johnston
Station Sunday School, Sunday, De.
cember 31st, 1922.
1000 - Convention called to or.
der by chairman.
1915 = Roll Call of Schools anG
enrolment of delegates.
1O:S0- Reading by Annie Belle
Burns.
1O:45- Sunday School Lessor
conducted by Rev. R. D. Stringer.
11:00-Paper by Miss Alice Da.
Wis, subject selected.
11:15-Paper by Miss Courtney
Brown, subject selected.
11:30-Convention Sermon.
Business and adjournment.
1:15-Devotional.
1:30-Paper by Mrs. L. E. Dickey
subject selected.
1:45-Tithing a Bible Doctrine
Rev. S. A. Williams.
2:15-Why We Should Study the
Bible-Rev. w. R. Johnston.
2:30-Value of Correct Impress
ions on the Child in the Sunday
School.
3:00-General discussion.
Business and adjournment. r
-COmmittee.