te ve Grere P. Pere.
By GILENT MAILi
arms of Judaism. After that, 1 in¬
S Dr. Arthur Schnitzler and 1Jews believe and hope he is,
terested myself deeply in the in¬
stands midway between these two
numerable problems that confrent
A were sitting in the warm and
extremes. He accepts his Judaism
the Jew.
embracing comfort of a long,
as naturally and as unconsciously
I have expended much thought
soft couch, discussing ramblingly
as he does his color. He is a Jew
on the Jew and now, I feel with a
innumerable matters of Intellectual
in heart and in soul, just as he is
firm conviction, that the two most
interest, I had the precious oppor¬
an American or German; he is
important influences in the life of
runity of studying at close range
proud of his race’s heritage, but
the modern Jew are: anti-Semitism
one whom 1 consider the great
he keeps all this to himself. When
and Zionism. Dur age has been
literary flgure of our age, a literary
the Jewish race needs him he will,
unkind to striet religious worship
Higure who ls as great a Jew as he
of course, offer himself in a way
of all kinds. The modern Jew has
is an artist. And this close study
that will be most useful. In short,
surrendered much of his tradition,
of the man revealed clearly that
he is a Jew in actlon, in feelings,
much of his striet religious observ¬
Dr. Schnitzler feels and looks his
not in blatancy.
ances. He remains a Jew, how¬
age polgnantly. He is almost
Often, I strove to live In just
ever, because of something that is
seventy years old, and the deep
that fashion —that Is why, every
in his heart. The two influences
wrinkles of his face, the, grayness
once in a while you will find people
that will tend perpetually to keep
of his beard and hair, the heavy
who discover suddenly that 1 have
the Jews inextricably united, that
bags under his eyes, his stooped
given up my race. Because 1 re¬
will tend to keep them constantly
back, his tired lock all speak the
fuse to be a publicity agent for my
conscious of their race are anti¬
ract that his seventy years weigh
race, does that mean that 1 deny
Semitism and Zionism. Hate al¬
heavily upon him.
It? Ot course, that Is absurd. To¬
ways defeats its awn purpose. It
Remarkable, is it not, that a
day, as well as yesterday, the prob¬
does not destroy its victim but rather
body so weary and old should couch
lems of the Jews are uppermost in
encourages him to flourish and
a spirit, fresh and buoyant as
my mind. Time and again, 1 have
grow. Anti-Semitism has achieved
gouth itself? For though Dr.
tried to clarify the position of the
this same end. It has not de¬
Schnitzler feels death may not be
stroyed the Jewish religion but, on
Jar away, yet never does the real¬
the contrary, has made it firmer,
ization bring him pain or anziety.
stronger, more imperishable than
Younger men than I have been
it ever was before.
known to die,“ he sald softly and
As for Zionism, it interests me
peacefully—and 1 could clearly see
not as a political solution. I am
that the contemplation of death
interested in it because there is
did not frighten him in the least.
nothing that serves to unite a race
610
have worked hard during my
or a creed as the common striving
life and when the time comes, I
for some far-distant goal. Whether
am quite ready to go. Of course,
Zlonism will or will not solve the
as long as life is spared to me,
problem of the Jew, I cannot tell.
there will be more and more work
I am not a prophet. But I do
for me. T am now at work on three
know the mere striving for the goal
books and, should they reach com¬
is a healthy influence; the mere
pletion, I shall begin work on other
effort of having all Jews working
books. However, I am always
for an ideal so nympholeptie will
ready to drop my pen because I
react as à vital impetus to bring
know that I have worked wisely
all Jews closer and closer to¬
and well during my lifetime. My
gether.“
conselence, at least, is clear.“
What did Dr. Schnitzler belleve#
But Schnitzler’s conscience may
would be che destiny of the Jew.?
well be clear on another point too,
Who can tell?“ he answered.
as I told him. For he Is one of
good as
those rare artists who did not sell
Nour guess is asmine—
56# 4
71
d
bie aanl fer #iel ame #n „ Tan.
are both in the wrong. It is not#
he lived as a Jew throughout bis
given to anyone to look into the#
entire life. There are not very
kuture, you know.“
many great Jewish artists like him
DR. ARTHUR SCHNITZLER
But, I insisted, “surely vou!
who do not become so immersed in
—
have certain theories?
their art as to forget their race and
*#
Jews with my pen. I am a Jew,
Very well,“ he answered, “since
its problems. Nor are there very
first and foremost—and that fact
vou call them theories, I shall teil
many Jewish artists who have so
never escapes out of my min1.“
frequently enlisted their art for
you what they are. But remember,
I was interested to know how
I am not prophesying. To me, it
the cause of their race. Who does
Dr. Schnitzler first became so deep¬
scems that the destiny of the Jew
not know that Schnitzler’s pen has
ly interested in Judaism. He
lies in an independent, self-respect¬
been an indefatigable ally of the
ing assimilatior. He will fit grace¬
answered: Anti-Semitism üirst
JTew? When he felt the poignant
drove me to sympathize with my
fully in the country in which he
stings of antl-Semitism levelled
race—just as it does so many
borrowing much
finds himself —
against the Jew, he wrote Prof.
others. My father, a very cultured
from it, giving much to it. That
Bernhardi, a supremely subtle
physician, had almost no affiliation
does not mean that the Jew will
study of anti-Semitic hate among
with his race. Conzequently, I re¬
lose his individuality. Nor does it
physiclans. In The Open Road,
ceived no religious training in my
mean that the Jew will abandon his
he discussed the problems of the
race. It will merely mean that his
childhood and youth. I knew I
Jew with such clear vision and
was a Jew, but the fact did not
race will be Jwish, his country,
sanity that the Jew begins to un¬
have very much meaning to me.
Zor instance, American or German
derstand himself far better than
—and that both will blend into a
ever before. And the number of
It was during my University
perfect harmony. The Jew will
artieles which he wrote of timely
days that 1 ürst became conscious
Jewish interest Is incaleulable. He
have found, at last, peace on
of the fact that I was a Jew. In
was never too busy, when his race
our University, we organized alearth.“
called him for ald.
I was, therefore, eager to dis¬
cuss with such a man problems of
Jewish Interest, for I knew well
that what Schnitzler would have to
say about Jewish matters would
not only be of interest but also of
significance.
This business of being a Jew,“
he said to me, when T asked him if
he still interested himself as deep¬
ly In Jewish matters as he did
when ha was younger,is a very
subtle art. It requires the utmost
tact and talent to live gracefully
as a Jew. Some Jews will con¬
stantly flaunt their Judaism to
vour face; such exhibitionism is,
to me, disgusting. It is as repel¬
lent as the egotism which drives
some people constantly to promul¬
gate their greatness to yon. Other
Jews, however, go to another ex¬
treme and actually deny their race.
Such wenk-kneed fear is equally
disgusting.
•The Intelligent Jew. — and he
is by no means so frequent as we
By GILENT MAILi
arms of Judaism. After that, 1 in¬
S Dr. Arthur Schnitzler and 1Jews believe and hope he is,
terested myself deeply in the in¬
stands midway between these two
numerable problems that confrent
A were sitting in the warm and
extremes. He accepts his Judaism
the Jew.
embracing comfort of a long,
as naturally and as unconsciously
I have expended much thought
soft couch, discussing ramblingly
as he does his color. He is a Jew
on the Jew and now, I feel with a
innumerable matters of Intellectual
in heart and in soul, just as he is
firm conviction, that the two most
interest, I had the precious oppor¬
an American or German; he is
important influences in the life of
runity of studying at close range
proud of his race’s heritage, but
the modern Jew are: anti-Semitism
one whom 1 consider the great
he keeps all this to himself. When
and Zionism. Dur age has been
literary flgure of our age, a literary
the Jewish race needs him he will,
unkind to striet religious worship
Higure who ls as great a Jew as he
of course, offer himself in a way
of all kinds. The modern Jew has
is an artist. And this close study
that will be most useful. In short,
surrendered much of his tradition,
of the man revealed clearly that
he is a Jew in actlon, in feelings,
much of his striet religious observ¬
Dr. Schnitzler feels and looks his
not in blatancy.
ances. He remains a Jew, how¬
age polgnantly. He is almost
Often, I strove to live In just
ever, because of something that is
seventy years old, and the deep
that fashion —that Is why, every
in his heart. The two influences
wrinkles of his face, the, grayness
once in a while you will find people
that will tend perpetually to keep
of his beard and hair, the heavy
who discover suddenly that 1 have
the Jews inextricably united, that
bags under his eyes, his stooped
given up my race. Because 1 re¬
will tend to keep them constantly
back, his tired lock all speak the
fuse to be a publicity agent for my
conscious of their race are anti¬
ract that his seventy years weigh
race, does that mean that 1 deny
Semitism and Zionism. Hate al¬
heavily upon him.
It? Ot course, that Is absurd. To¬
ways defeats its awn purpose. It
Remarkable, is it not, that a
day, as well as yesterday, the prob¬
does not destroy its victim but rather
body so weary and old should couch
lems of the Jews are uppermost in
encourages him to flourish and
a spirit, fresh and buoyant as
my mind. Time and again, 1 have
grow. Anti-Semitism has achieved
gouth itself? For though Dr.
tried to clarify the position of the
this same end. It has not de¬
Schnitzler feels death may not be
stroyed the Jewish religion but, on
Jar away, yet never does the real¬
the contrary, has made it firmer,
ization bring him pain or anziety.
stronger, more imperishable than
Younger men than I have been
it ever was before.
known to die,“ he sald softly and
As for Zionism, it interests me
peacefully—and 1 could clearly see
not as a political solution. I am
that the contemplation of death
interested in it because there is
did not frighten him in the least.
nothing that serves to unite a race
610
have worked hard during my
or a creed as the common striving
life and when the time comes, I
for some far-distant goal. Whether
am quite ready to go. Of course,
Zlonism will or will not solve the
as long as life is spared to me,
problem of the Jew, I cannot tell.
there will be more and more work
I am not a prophet. But I do
for me. T am now at work on three
know the mere striving for the goal
books and, should they reach com¬
is a healthy influence; the mere
pletion, I shall begin work on other
effort of having all Jews working
books. However, I am always
for an ideal so nympholeptie will
ready to drop my pen because I
react as à vital impetus to bring
know that I have worked wisely
all Jews closer and closer to¬
and well during my lifetime. My
gether.“
conselence, at least, is clear.“
What did Dr. Schnitzler belleve#
But Schnitzler’s conscience may
would be che destiny of the Jew.?
well be clear on another point too,
Who can tell?“ he answered.
as I told him. For he Is one of
good as
those rare artists who did not sell
Nour guess is asmine—
56# 4
71
d
bie aanl fer #iel ame #n „ Tan.
are both in the wrong. It is not#
he lived as a Jew throughout bis
given to anyone to look into the#
entire life. There are not very
kuture, you know.“
many great Jewish artists like him
DR. ARTHUR SCHNITZLER
But, I insisted, “surely vou!
who do not become so immersed in
—
have certain theories?
their art as to forget their race and
*#
Jews with my pen. I am a Jew,
Very well,“ he answered, “since
its problems. Nor are there very
first and foremost—and that fact
vou call them theories, I shall teil
many Jewish artists who have so
never escapes out of my min1.“
frequently enlisted their art for
you what they are. But remember,
I was interested to know how
I am not prophesying. To me, it
the cause of their race. Who does
Dr. Schnitzler first became so deep¬
scems that the destiny of the Jew
not know that Schnitzler’s pen has
ly interested in Judaism. He
lies in an independent, self-respect¬
been an indefatigable ally of the
ing assimilatior. He will fit grace¬
answered: Anti-Semitism üirst
JTew? When he felt the poignant
drove me to sympathize with my
fully in the country in which he
stings of antl-Semitism levelled
race—just as it does so many
borrowing much
finds himself —
against the Jew, he wrote Prof.
others. My father, a very cultured
from it, giving much to it. That
Bernhardi, a supremely subtle
physician, had almost no affiliation
does not mean that the Jew will
study of anti-Semitic hate among
with his race. Conzequently, I re¬
lose his individuality. Nor does it
physiclans. In The Open Road,
ceived no religious training in my
mean that the Jew will abandon his
he discussed the problems of the
race. It will merely mean that his
childhood and youth. I knew I
Jew with such clear vision and
was a Jew, but the fact did not
race will be Jwish, his country,
sanity that the Jew begins to un¬
have very much meaning to me.
Zor instance, American or German
derstand himself far better than
—and that both will blend into a
ever before. And the number of
It was during my University
perfect harmony. The Jew will
artieles which he wrote of timely
days that 1 ürst became conscious
Jewish interest Is incaleulable. He
have found, at last, peace on
of the fact that I was a Jew. In
was never too busy, when his race
our University, we organized alearth.“
called him for ald.
I was, therefore, eager to dis¬
cuss with such a man problems of
Jewish Interest, for I knew well
that what Schnitzler would have to
say about Jewish matters would
not only be of interest but also of
significance.
This business of being a Jew,“
he said to me, when T asked him if
he still interested himself as deep¬
ly In Jewish matters as he did
when ha was younger,is a very
subtle art. It requires the utmost
tact and talent to live gracefully
as a Jew. Some Jews will con¬
stantly flaunt their Judaism to
vour face; such exhibitionism is,
to me, disgusting. It is as repel¬
lent as the egotism which drives
some people constantly to promul¬
gate their greatness to yon. Other
Jews, however, go to another ex¬
treme and actually deny their race.
Such wenk-kneed fear is equally
disgusting.
•The Intelligent Jew. — and he
is by no means so frequent as we