The Southern Jewish weekly. [volume] (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1939-1992, 1941-10-17
ShoIem AIechem
AS 's'.;;... ! Knew Him
Especially written for the Southern Jewish Weekly
BY JENNY ROBERTS
Part V
THE AUTHOR ENERGIES
CCOpyrighted)
Part V

Not many weeks after Sholem
Rabinovitz arrived in the United
States I asked him how he had
happened to take the name Sholem
Alechem. Sholem said, "That
name has the secret of my 70
nance wrapped up in each letter
of it; listen and I will tell you
how I happened to add Alechem
to my given name Sholem."
when approached Reb Loew
and asked for his daughters hand
in marriage he would not hear of
such thing; and I did not blame
him. He was rich and I was a
poor teacher, how dare ask for
Olga's hand in marriage? When
I left his home I was heavy heart
ed and sad, but not discouraged.
I felt that I could find way to
change his mind" Sholem had a
twinkle in his bright blue eyes,
which were taking on the far a.
way expression that they fire.
quently had when he spoke of the
past. He continued, Upon my
return home 1 sat down and wrote
a book which I called the 1.-TWO
Stones" I told how two stones
were lonely as they stood apart
buffeted by the elements through
the years, and how two other
stones being united became hav-
en- of comfort in their beauty.
When I asked Reb Loew for his
daughters hand after he had read
the story, I likened the present
existence Of Olga and myself to
the existence of the two lonely
stones. Then I asked why we
could not be happily joined like
the second pair of stones. Why
should we quarrel-let us have
peace In answer to my plea
father Loew said, 'Sholem Alec
hem, Peace Be Unto YOU and
thus gave his consent to our mar
riage. In honor of that memorable
occasion, and to be ever reminded
of the Importance of Peace to al
life, took the name Sholem Alec
hem as my own"
They were the happiest of new
lyweds. Sholem was just twenty
three, and the young couple were
enjoying the use of their fabulous
dover. Soon after they married
they went to live in KEW.
Sholem carried his idealism to
an extreme, and having no bust
ness experience he soon became
the target of every schemer, in
ventor, and beggar. In a few
years after Sholem and Olga's
marriage the greater part of their
dowry was disappaited. Then
Olga's father died, and with his
passing, the tremendous fortune
dwindled. Every investment that
Sholem made was disastrous. In
! later years his wife transacted
their business; publishing, copy
rights, and all monetary arrange
mentS.
* 4
Shortly before his marriage,
Sholem came under the influence
of Mendle Moiche Sephorim the
author of the novel 'Kliatche."
Mendle Maiche Sephorim W a s
much revered by the young Sho-
lem. and in time their relation
ship became so close that the
writer was called uncle by the
Young ambitious writer. Before
many years had passed Sholem
Alechem had completely eclipsed
the fame of his old master.
Sholem had something to give
the world, a combination of smiles
and tears, that leaves not even
the most callous soul unmoved.
He possessed a gift of expression
that finds it's best counterpart in
the United States in the writings
of O'Henry. The pathos and hu-
NOR of such a story as the Gift
of the Magii" is familiar to the
reader of Sholem Alechem. This
vibrant mixture of pathos and
h,,mor has left a very deep i'm
nression not only on the readers