Intermountain Jewish news., 1926-01-28
The Re.lncarnati0n Of Max
NOrdau
by RENE STRAUSS


The announcement that Mile. Maxs Nordau,
daughter Of the late Dr, Max Nordau. In
| tcrnntionally famous philosopher aud critic,
IL coming to America for \ lecture tour
under the auspices Of the Seven Ar!r iSs
turc Burenu Sew York. has created n ~
In literary and artistic circles, both Jewish
and non Jewish. whil. In this country
Milo. Nordau will lecture on The Feniihist
Europe" Modern Tendencies In Art aHd
Literature" !" she win also give intimate
| "reminiscences Of her father, who Ia uni
yr!sally regarded as one Of the most color-
| fui personalities Of the last half century.
The author here compares the illustrio,ts
father and famous daughter, and brings
out the astounding points OF similarity,
The Editor.
Critical. unconventional, Fearless.
Accurate, Pessimist optimist. That wars
DIR. Max Ncrdau, whose death early In
1923 removed one OF the most colorful
, personalities OF the last half-century.
Not that Nordau could be categorized.
Few were the realms OF human activity
into which he had not deIved, and in
most eases become master Of Ply
sician, by vocation, philosopher, by tenn
permanent, Journalist by circumstances,
critic. by racial Inheritance. dramatist
and novelist, by avocation. Strargest
Of all his years Of dynamic activity In
the general world did not dim his Jew
ish consciousness.
To the European, Max Nordau was
pre-eminently philosopher and critic,
mordant and fearless. To world -Jewry.
Max Nordau represented an outstand-
ing champion of the rights OF his pco
pie. TO the average man of letters
Nordau was the author of "Degener-
alton" "On Art and Artists" ".rhe Con-
ventional Lies Of Civilization" Para
doxes' and innumerablc other volumes
To The Jew, Nordau was the COLLEAGUES
of Dr. Herzl, inscparable leaders In the
molding Of the ultimate destiny OF the
Zionist movement. There were many,
Of course, to whom Nordau was an
athcma. both among Zionists and non
Zionists. The attitude that minor
few adopted toward Nordau Is evi.
denced in an incident which occnred
In Paris. December 1898 At that time
Herxi and Nordau were considering
the British Governments offer of land
| for n Jewish settlement In East Africa.
Both men were Immediately accused Of
treason to the cause of Palestine, and
during Zionist Ball in Paris, Jew
named Louban Chain Sclik fired Two
shots at Nordau unsucccssfully.
! Norduu was not by any means n mere
dreamer and visionary. His role n
Europc's most ruthless critic did not
interfere with his intimate knowledge
OF world affairs. He was just as much
and as outstandingly politician as n
philosopher. His reputation along the
former lines reached even TO Amcricn.
For many years before his death. he
was "A regular contributor to the New
York American on European politics.
His Keen insight and analytical powers
no doubt secured for him the position
OF Paris correspondent of the Vienna
Neue Frcie Pressc which position was
than that of Austrian Ambassador to
France. II was the correspondent who
recorded French public opinion and the
attitude of the Government. and thus
nodded sentiment in Austria. Those
who knew him well remember how his
elaborate rooms in Paris, before the
War. were constantly visited by
Frances foremost men and women of
affairs. While he was discussing phil.
osophy with member OF the French
Academy. therc were usually in the
nnieroom an eminent painter coming Ia
ask Nor,lau's opinion on his latest work,
duchess needing the physicians care,
II member of the prevailing French
Cabinet anxious TO ask Nordau's opin-
ion on II certain political matter, and
II producer offering TO stage Nordau's
latest drama.
But above and beyond Nordau's
other distinguished characteristics was
his unsurpassed power of oratory.
Whether he was upbraidng the mod
crnists In art and literature. whether
he was dcnouncing the adoption of n
new political program, or whether he
was appealing TO Jews TO come 10 the
aid of Zion, he was always equally
effective and convincing. There is not
another Jew in modern times, probably,
who ms achieved n reputation cqtal To
Nordau'S for power Of oratory. Had
he not devoted most Of his life to The
arts Norduu would undoubtedly have
become one of Europe's leading states
men.
His lubors for his country, his zeal
Gus interest in his people. were misrr-
ably rewarded during the last years of
his life. France proved as fckle ns
Israel. Just as the War started. Nor
dau denounced the Germans and their
manifest program. Sometime after