GHETTO TRAGEDIES

The MM Co.

Ghetto Tragedies

BY

I. ZANGWILL

AUTHOR OF "CHILDREN OF THE GHETTO,"
"THE KING OF SCHNORRERS," ETC.

Philadelphia
The Jewish Publication Society of America

Copyright, 1899,
By I. ZANGWILL

Norwood Press
J.S. Cushing & Co.—Berwick & Smith
Norwood Mass. U.S.A.

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PREFACE

The "Ghetto Tragedies" collected in a little volume in 1893 have beenso submerged in the present collection that I have relegated theoriginal name to the sub-title. "Satan Mekatrig" was written in 1889,"Bethulah" this year. Anyone who should wish to measure the progressor decay of my imagination during the ten years has thereforematerials to hand. "Noah's Ark" stands on the firmer Ararat ofhistory, my invention being confined to the figure of Peloni (theHebrew for "nobody"). The other stories have also a basis in life. Butneither in pathos nor heroic stimulation can they vie with the literaltragedy with which the whole book is in a sense involved. Mrs. N.S.Joseph, the great-hearted lady to whom "Ghetto Tragedies" wasinscribed, herself walked in darkness, yet was not dismayed: in theprime of life she went down into the valley of the shadow, with noword save of consideration for others. I trust the new stories wouldnot have been disapproved by my friend, to whose memory they must now,alas! be dedicated.

I.Z.

October, 1899.

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CONTENTS