The Denver Jewish news., 1924-09-11


Know of Jewish origin; Ancestor
Translated Bible in Fifteenth Cen |
tury.
Not many have the opportunity to
give moments thought to the appear.
nnce of n new book.
II lovers of beauty afford themselves |
the occasional opportunity of reading
the latest books of fiction and poetry,
scanty attention is given TO books deal |
Ing with historical matter. In our
times cf toll and speed we direct our
eyes mainly TO the future; the past is
left in the able hands of the historian.
The Knights of Columbus, the Cath
Ollie Fraternal Order, has decided to
issue a series of books on the contrlbu.
tions of the various races and national
tiles towards Americas growth The
first of this series has now appeared.
1t is The Jews in the Making of
1t is an interesting book dealing
with almost every branch Of American
life. The titles Of the chapters, alone,
are sufficient to give one conception
of the task the author had set for him
self.
''The jew in the Discovery OF Amer
lea" "The jew and American Ideals"
The Jew and the Economic foundation
of America" THE Jew In the Revolu-
tionary War" "rhe jew in the Civil
War" 'The jew in American Life"
The jew in the American Theatre"
''The Jew in American Literature"
''The jew in American Music and Art"
The Jew in Science" "The Jew in
Professions" "The jew in Religious
Life"
One cannot very well expect a book
which contains but two hundred sixty
t2GO) pages to cover all of these sub
jects adequately and In scholarly
manner. II does. however, succeed in
giving one vivid sketch frcnght with
valuable information, the gathering of
which in itself is tremendous task.
They are facts picturesgucly presented
in this most interesting and instructive
volume.
Credit is due to the leaders of the
Knights of Columbus who have. in the
words of DR.. Edward +. McSwecncy,
in his excellent introduction to the
book, recognized that ''under the cir
cumstances there is all the more reason
that the priceless heritage of racial
achievement by the descendants of va
rious racial groups in the United States
be delivered" and ''it has cyerc.zed no
censorship and set II standard for writ
ers that will justify historical writing
the Truth"
The question of whether the world
owes the discovery of the New World
to the Jewish race, will, 1t seems, never
he solved. The old legend of ISabella's
Jewels being responsible for the dtscov-
cry Of America, was lately substituted
by another one, that it was Isabclla's
jewels, who made this contribution.
Not long ago, the Spanish novelist,
Ibanez, while visiting here, gave weight
10 this opinion.
But the shores of America have re-
Gently welcomed another member of the
Columbus family. A party Of Spanish
nobility, headed by the Duke D'Alba,
came participate in the International
Polo Games. The Duke D'Alba is the
18th to hold this title and the tenth
Of his line TO possess the ScOttische title
Of Duke of Berwick" He is a direct
desccndcnt of James II of England,
the last of the Stuarts. | is also
claimed that he is desccndent of
Christopher Columbus.
Among his family archives there are
twenty letters, which, it is claimed,
were written by Columbus personally,
and one of the charts used by the dis
covcrer of America.
Asked by the representative of the
Jewish Tclcgraphic Agency whether he,
knowing the traditions of this Columbus
family and being in possession of valu
able records, could support the opinion
maintained by many scholars, that
Columbus was either Marano or of
Jewish origin, the Duke stated that
this opinion is not supported by any
historical data that have come to his
attention. The Spanish Academy of
History had, several years ago, inves-
tigated the historical evidence sub
mittcd to prove the Jewish origin of
Columbus, but could not find it CON
vincing. the Duke stated.
The Duke, however, confirmed the
report that he has been instrumental
in publishing recently, under the
To-.