Intermountain Jewish news., 1925-12-17
Cermany's "Elders
of Zion''
tContinuationl

strnts Zeitung," which has clrcllhuoh
OF $50, 100. the "Berllner Morgcnposl'
400 900. and II host OF others, Including
the 'Beriiner Allgemcinc Zeltung," the
"vossische Zcitung," "Bazar,' Die
Dame" magazine devoted to women's
nrairs and corresponding to the "Pie-
torinl Review"
The ''numerus clausus" which Is so
popular In many European universities
has received new Interpretation from
the energetic leader OF literary anti
Semitism In Germany. Bartels finds
the cause for n great deal of the de
cadence OF the modern German youth
In the disproportionste number of
Jews who occupy positions at the lead
ing universities. Quoting statistics
which were compiled in 1910, he de
clnrcs that the percentage OF Jews In
professorial positions was entirely out
Of proportion to their population. For
example, the number of full professors
was TTe; honorary professors, 1870
special professors. 1870; and In
structors, 1870, whereas the Jews con
stitute only 1isT OF the German pop
ulntion.
In reading Bartcls fiery dcnunci-
ations OF the Jews 1t seems that for
him the Jews represent the lowest, the
most vulgar, the most contemplate Of
peoples. Thus, when his standard Of
literary judgment brings him TO II de-
precation Of amy German writer, he I'M
mediateIy finds some evidence of Jew
ish blood in that person. He con
cludes that Thomas Mann. author Of
Death In Venice" is not the best type
of influence in German literature; he
then discovers that this evil influence
must be due to the fact that Mann Is
married to n Jcwess. He feels anita
gonistic To Heinrich Mann, therefore
he traces the latter's ancestry to Poriu-
guese forebcars, and concludes that
there must he some Jewish blood In
him, IL he is Portuguese.
Jews have contributed more than
any other element OF the population To
the moral dccadcnce of modern Ger
many, is the sensational charge drawn
up hy Adolf Bartcls. Eroticism and
general immortality in German litcrn-
ture are due largely to Jewish writers
and poets, according 10 Germanys
most popular critic. He bases his
charges OH the eroticism which he finds
in the works of so many of the Jewish
writers, pointing TO the writings Of
Heinrich Mann, Max Br6d, and Gcors
Hermann. He also accuses Jews Of
adulteratins the purity Of German
literature by importing foreign in-
fiucncc. He secs Stefan Zweig ms the
greatest culprit in this RESPECT, pointing
to his translati0ns of Baudelaire and
Verhaeren. Another influence TO be-
ware of Is Hams Heinz Ewers, who be-
cause of his continuous travelling is
moulded to n great extent by the coun-
tries he visits. Thomas Mann, too, has
aided in the deterioration of pure Ger
man literature, because of the Jewish
influence to which he is subject
Bartel's animosity toward Jews is
not confined to men. lie seeks in the
| few Jewish women writer's further ac-
completes in the plot to ruin Germany,
pointing to Lily Braun, and Else La>k-
cr-Schiilcr, who is "A rabid ero,icist. lie
Is rather gentle in his attitude toward
Jewish women writer's, however. de-
claring that their influence Is really
not 50 deleterious, in view of the fact
that croticism and perversion are for
cign to the whole sex.
His anti-Jewish animus forces Bar
tells to deprecatc the authors whom he
grudgingly comedies greatness. He de
clnres Jakob Wassermann to be the
greatest Jewish writer of the day. but
warns good Germans to he careful of
him because he is n Jew. lie goes cut
of his way to show that the Jewish
writer's are an evil influence because
they are Jews first and Germans see.
ond. if at all. They are charged with
/ iiJt'tihS illo nltIU"
ture. and with the commerciulzation Of
all literary activity. Bartcls declares
that Jews are never disintcrcstcd
literary artists; they are always bent
on achieving success primarily. Their
art Is governed by their caserness TO at
thin fame. In the achievement Of that
end. they ruihlcssly violate all the laws
of dccency and mofnlity, trampling up
on all those who may he in their way.
The rise of this new form of anti
Snmiiism will undoubtedly he feared by
Jews in Germany more than any other
| brand of antngonism. The Jews of
Germany have always found their high.
est metlia of expression In the world Of
literature. II bounded aud condemned
hy their non'Jewish ueighbors, they
could always seek refuge In writing or