"Things are rather dead in the 'movement,' just now. But there is
something doing among the Jewish radicals, who, you know, are very
important in any radical movement here in Chicago. No wonder things are
lively when the Jews have such a leader as Mr. Kohen, whom one might
believe to be the long wanted Messiah, destined to lead his race into
the promised land, which is evidently Chicago. There was a hot time
about three weeks ago in the Masonic Temple meeting when this modern
prophet demonstrated to us who were not Jews that they (he and his
friends) were the chosen people who would not only liberate themselves
but also us from the yoke of capitalist oppression; and contrary to all
previous rules, they would do this without any consideration of moneys;
all that Mr. Kohen expected in return was due appreciation. I suppose I
ought to be grateful to Mr. Kohen, but somehow I am not. I ought, too,
to be grateful to our Jewish Madonna, Esther, but there again I am not.
Poor girl! she is really the Madonna of the Chicago movement. All the
sorrows and troubles of the Salon rest upon her poor shoulders, and she
silently suffers, sacrifices and redeems. Then there is little Sara,
another chosen one. It is she who is chosen to make men miserable for
the good of their souls. She has been very pensive since the great poet
B---- left, for now she has no one to worry about. I suggested to her
that she might worry about Terry, if she liked, and she said she would
try, with a weary little sigh. It was she who one day explained to me at
great length that all love except sensual love was of a transient
character. If, she said, man swears he loves you, but does not show any
physical interest in you, you can bet that his passion is of that
intangible sort that has the radiant tints but also the evanescence of
dew!...
"I am going to a ball next Sunday night. It's on the Jewish holiday in
memory of the time when poor Moses led the Jews from Egypt and they had
to eat unleavened bread. All the orthodox Jews will spend the day
praying in the synagogue, without tasting food or drink. They make up
for it the next day, though, you bet. The ball is given every year by
the radical Jews, usually right in the Ghetto, and nearly always the
followers of holy Moses jump on those who no longer follow, and there's
a hot time. Last year the radical Jews, mostly anarchists, had to have
police protection! The police are good for something, after all! What
should we do without them? We would exterminate each other without
delay!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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