irtue and culture. The
Jews are, according to our way of regarding them, a race made up of
nobles--for who has a longer and purer pedigree?--or they are a people
in a certain degree proud of being descended from slaves. I am indebted
to an old rabbi, whom I once met at the Baths, for a noble thought."

"What was it?" asked the Banker.

"He said to me--we were in Ostend at the time, walking on the sea-shore
and talking of the negro, discussing his capability for freedom and
culture, and this rabbi made a very beautiful remark----"

Clodwig paused for a time as if trying to recall something, then,
laying the finger of his left hand upon the bridge of his nose, he
said,--

"The rabbi declared that the looking back to a past time of slavery was
a great spur to ambition, and that many things which at first sight
appear strange in the Jews, may be accounted for by the important fact
of their tracing their history back to a period of slavery. They have
had implanted in them, by their bondage in Egypt, a pride and a
humility, a steady resistance to oppression, a quick perception of
injustice and of every injury inflicted on others, and hence a
sympathy, which is unparalleled in history."

"Certainly."

"A Jew with a coat of arms," continued Clodwig, "with helmet and shield
and all the gewgaws--the very sight of them should be an offence to
him, for at the time when men wore helmets and shields, his ancestors,
the Jews, were servants of the emperor, and almost outside the
protection of the laws. A Jew may become Christian from conviction,
because, apart from the dogma, he perceives the advance in civilization
and culture which the religion of Jesus has accomplished. Many change
their faith from want of deep principle, not having the courage, or not
feeling it to be their duty, to inflict upon themselves and on their
children a life-long martyrdom. But a Jew with a title is the most
ridiculous anachronism that can be imagined. To become a citizen, to
enter that class which is ever increasing in numbers and importance, is
the right and the duty of a Jew. But shall there be a union of Jewish
noble families, who, like others, shall marry only among themselves?
The more we think of the matter, the more absurd the contradictions
that arise. However, I did not mean to speak of the Jews, and pray the
company to pardon me for having thus strayed from our main point."

"Had we not better put an end to the discussion altogether?" s