The Denver Jewish news., 1925-09-17

by in sas.G have ceted the most 5ommcni "''
Questions that are ordinarily restricted to the do
main Of religion have uncomfortable habit of pokng
their nsiscncios into erature-thc question, for ex-
ample, as to whether the Jews constitute a race or
religion? For the purposes of considering what Jews
have done and how they have been concerned in the
literature, published in English that has poured
the shelves in the past year. it would be convenient
for ones of fitness subscribe the theory that
Jews constitute To that their only bond
is religion is to set precedent for list of publications
which enterprigng booksellers may fit prnt "The
Mohammedans in Literature of 1885, "Thc Taoists in
Literature of 1926" "The Reform Jews in Literature
Of 1926" "The Orthodox Jews in Literature of 1926
1he Baptists in Literature of 1925" 1t would be rare
perseverance for the cataloguers to discover Just what
is the private faith of all those who have written during
that 1t is not impossible to forcsee the many
law suits that may arise from publishers confusion
of pious Mormon with suspect Methodist.
Broadening ones field to the bond of race, one dis
covers that Jews have not particularly distinguished
themselves in the past year They have written much
nconsequent material, proportionatcly, their neigh
bors. They along with their couitrymen, have failed to
produce much uniquely outstanding literature.
The Jews a whole, however, are becoming more
than subjects for dramatists and novelists and
even poets. Explanations in such constitute
branch of dogmatic5 Perhaps the Jew such is be-
coming = phenomenon, and the chroniclcrs of
humankind are Fastening to cngrave for all time the
faatures characteristics and other acntfcations of this
vanishing species of mankind. Then again the advo-
Gates of the Committee for Good Will between jew and
| Gentle, may assert that the jew is becoming a more
ntcligiblc individual under their tutcage. The Jew
has been dssected and analysed before his nonJewsh
friends and he has been shown to be human they
with their blessings and their handcaps. The non-Jew
ish novelist thus begins feel that he is coming into
contact with rich storehouses of virgin material Or
the other hand the real explanation for the gradual
cmergence of the jew into non,Jewsh literature espe
cally in the United Staes may DC credited to the gen
eral recognition which tine Jew has attained Thus fan
he has been engaged in digging for existence satisfied
with any scraps and crumbs, but he is becoming
force in society in economics, in politics-and i'm
portantn art and literature The great opportunity
which non-Jewsh scholars and authors have of meeting
numerous Jewish fellow workers in similar fields wa.
unprecedented up until the War, generally speaking
There are two books of the year 1925 which hold
almost equal right to be termed the best book OF th
year One is Ben Hecht's "Humpty Dumpty,' the ohe
is Louis Goding's "Day of Atonem0nt.' Both vehe
protests the former against society in general
the latter against Judaism in particular. Both docu
mcnts of two Jewish souls out of alignment with thei
milieu. Hecht and Golding adequately represent TIVE
strains in Jewish life. The is urged to forget thu
badge of outcas people, by absorption in large
environment the other attempts to seek the solution
attempt unsuccessful Certainly, Hecht and Goldng rep
resent the nth degree of Jewish civilization. The da!
may come when both such types will back to ac
tice Judaism in mystic embracement OF a ong-sough
anodyne. They may find in Judaism integrated b!
modernity a refreshing viewpoint with which to scal
the passing show,
Still speaking of the better type of literature Ben
iamin DeCasseres' mirrors of New York" and Maxwell
Bodenheims "Replenishing Jessca" are desirable con
trbutions to the altoomeagre stock Of good reading
The former purports to be expose of Philistinsn
and other nfrmites; but its "Times Square Playboy
type of English and viewpoint not refreshing
the sophisticated bits of satire life of the com
mon people of the states Carl Van Nechten's, for eX
ample. Bodenhcm's "Replenishing Jessica" represent
the third of that poets stages in his attempt to fin
stature as a novelist. dissatisfied with himself, he cal
scarcely find perfection in others. 1t is only to be re
GREETED that the public hue and cry raised certain
unmportant elements of his book should detract tn
attention from his genius a worldarst. Considered
strictly its merits in relation to the other novels tha
have been written, "Repenishing Jcsscl easily rank
as the best prose written by poet during the year
G. B. Storm piques ones patriotic ctiorete. Sine
her marriage to Godfrey Holdsworh, the English jour
nalis she would have to be omitted if only Jews-by
religion to be admitted to the category o. jews
writing during the year. But since we have chosen th
more spacious realms Of Jewsby-race, must mention
her 'Matriarch" and Thunderstorm" The only noin
of resemblance between the two is light touch o
amused irony "Matriarch" however, has the proper
tions of a distinguished novel For breadth and treat
ment it deserves classification Of the most sub
stantal books of the Treating Of the cosmopo