wiEVernerr,/tInsn A ROM=
with new Ideas and new Ideals of
Brainin, with his literary activity,
beauty. At the present time, things served not only to refine the taste
European have gained full citizen- of the Ilebrew leader, but he also
By BERNARD SHELVIN
ship in Ilebrew letters; at the present helped create a new type of Ilebrew
time all the Ilebrew authors are Eu- writer, one who was well versed in
(Editor's Note:—Reuben Brainin's ropeans to a greater or lesser degree, modern science, had a good idea of
SiXtieteh birthday will be celebrated and Hebrew literature is, in some estheticism and was free of old time
on Sunday, Oct. 22. This article from cases, ultra-European, not infre- ignorance of all things worldly;
the pen of a well known Jewish jour- quently containing much of what is writers who were imbued not only
nalist presents, we dare say, an ade- unwholesome and unhealthy in West- with the synagogue spirit, but were
quate appreciation of the "Dean of ern culture.
well acquainted with the world at
Ilebrew letters.")
There was a time, however, when large as well.
Hebrew literature contained only the
There is one branch of Ilebrew
Both those who know Reuben beautiful and esthetic of European- literature for which Brainin is en -
Brainin from his writings and those ism, and that was the time when titled to the sole credit, and this is
who are also personally acquainted Brainin was the great factor of Eu- biography. Before Brainin, biog-
with him, will hardly believe that he ropeanization. Besides acquainting raphy had entirely been neglected and
is a man of 60. His style, his lan- his readers with European art and to this day, 30 years after his biog-
guage and the tone of his writings artists, he introduced into Hebrew raphy of Perez Smolenskin appeared,
speak of youth rather than age; likes literature European forms of Belle- there is none among our many biog-
wise, his conversation is so brilliant, Lettres, such as essays, literary criti- raphers to excel or even equal
so engaging and temperamental as cisms, biographies and interviews. Ile Brainin.
With his biographies Brainin broke
though he were 20 or 30 years also wrote sketches and stories which
were entirely different and far su- two existing customs: One was the
younger.
It is only when we remind our- perior to those of other Hebrew indifference of the Jewish people to
selves that Reuben Brainin has offi- writers, whether his predecessors or the lives of its great men. The Jews
had never before cared to know how
ciated at the journalist altar for the contemporaries.
True, among his contemporaries, their great men lived, worked and
last 42 years that we become recon-
ciled to the reality of his 60 years. there were other Hebrew journalists created—all they were interested to
It is only then that we begin to real- and publicists who helped develop learn was what they had left them as
ize thatBrainin has already traversed Hebrew into a modern living tongue, a spiritual heritage. Owing to this,
a considerable, part of his earthly but they did not stamp their contri- we had practically no biographies and
road and that he has accomplished butions with the seal of their own were without that branch of litera-
personality, whereas Reuben Brainin ture which exerts such a great peda-
a great deal during his life.
In his young years Brainin de- was not merely an interpreter, mere- gogical influence over the growing
viated from Gordon and the 'other ly a translator. Ile has imbibed and youth of every nation, books which
apostles of the assimilationist Has- assimilated in his being all the beau- kindle the imagination of the young
kalah movement not only in their tiful in European culture, and when readers and inspire them to follow
ideas, not only in their style and con- he later rendered it into the Ilebrew in the footsteps of their great and
text, but he had from the very start language, all that he wrote possessed good men. Brainin made a success-
of his career rejected the flowery a specific Jewish flavor. Jewish na- ful attempt to destroy this custom
language they had been using and tionalism embellished all his work with his first biography—that of Pe-
avoided mocking and Scoffing at tra- and his Jewish national ego is never rez Smolenskin,
Breaks • Tradition.
ditional Jewry, as was the custom of lost in his writings, no matter how
the Hebrew writers of those days. Western and worldly they may up-
The other custom was to regard au-
His strong national sentiment revolt- pear on the surface.
thors with the same sort of reverence
Oriental in Appearance.
ed against the wrong attitude of the
as were regarded the creators and ex-
Jewish intelligentsia toward the Jew-
Just as in his physical appearance pounders of religious Judaism. In
ish people, which found expression in Brainin remains decidedly Oriental, other words, the ancient principle
ridiculing the •old-fashioned Jewish no matter how Occidental his clothes "De mortals mil nisi bosom" (of the
mode of living. Instead of attempt- may be, so, too, the character of his dead say nothing but good) was prac-
ing to reform the Jewish Grotto by writings remains national Jewish, ticed. And here came Brainin with
"boring from within," as was the no matter how Western his style may his biography of J. L. Gordon and
practice of the writers of the Gordon be. Brainin is Jewish through and broke this tradition. He told a few
school, Brainin opened the windows through, even when he treats of a thing about Gordon that perhaps
of the Ghetto and let in the breeze non-Jewish subject. It was also his were not entirely complimentary to
of European culture, in order to ven- nationalism and his profound Jew- the late Hebrew poet, but which, how-
tilate the dust of ages, which had ac- ish sentiment that moved him to ac- ever, had taught people to do their
cumulated there.
quaint the readers of Hebrew not own thinking and not to worship any-
Introduces New Ideas.
only with European cultural currents one, whether dead or alive.
Reuben Brainin was the first Eu- but also with European Jewish
•BrainIn was the first Ilebrew au-
ropean in Hebrew literature; the first savants and their teachings, with thor to have been entirely dependent
to introduce the culture of Jafet Into those who devoted themselves to Jew- on the output of his pen for a living.
the tens of Shem. Ile was the first ish science as well as those who pur- Of late, this is no longer a novelty,
to acquaint the Ilebrew-reading Jew sued lay reading.
but when Brainin began his career
as Hebrew publicist, every Jewish
writer had some other source of in-
come besides authorship, and it re-
quired a great deal of sacrifice and
energy on Brainin's part to be able
to remain a Ilebrew writer and He-
brew writer only.
1910 Hazelwood, near Twelfth
Garfield 1991
In spite of this, he has always
found time to encourage young tal-
ents as well as for communal work.
Brainin is not only a writer but a
man greatly interested and active in
Competent Operators. Expert Supervision.
all Jewish affairs. His public activi-
ties began with the Herz' era and his
; Marcelling, 75c. Shampoo, 75c. Hot Oil Treatments, $1.50. Scientific
Zionism has attained its highest de-
Scalp Treatment, 75c. Henna Shampoo, $2.00; Manicuring, 60e.
velopment on the American con-
Inecto Rapid and Henna Dyeing at Greatly Reduced Prices.
tinent. In Europe he was always the
first to assist in every undertaking
for the revival of Hebrew, and on
the American continent he has re-
sponded most readily to each and
every Jewish national movement.
During the few years which he spent
in Montreal, he was the center of all
Jewish activities, both of a national
and a local character, and through
the columns of the newspaper which
he edited there he constantly urged
the Canadian Jews to become active
in various Jewish causes, and his
urging as well as his personal co-
operation brought about splendid re-
suite in the development of a cultural
Jewish life in Canada. Since he set-
tled in New York he has continued
to devote a great deal of his time
The Pearl Dress Shop manufactures dresses to
to the Jewish cause or rather causes.
REUBEN BRAININ
The Sanitary Beauty Shop
EVA TESCH
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIl
la My Gowns Represent the
Supreme Art of Dress
Manufacturing
suit the requirements of the individual. We follow
methods employed by the famous Parisian houses
known everywhere for originality of styles.
You have known me for the past eight years as
the "Famous Waist Lady" and the reputation I have
gained in the past I shall always cherish. I shall be
pleased to have you visit my shop and see the array
of gowns and wraps on display,
pearl Press ,i511013
"The Original Ideal Waist Lady"
Fourth Floor — Fisher Arcade Cadillac 6134 I
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
FINE REMEDY FOR A
SICK BUSINESS
A
proper mixture of good paper, printer's ink and
brains, to be administered frequently in gen-
erous doses. Let us fill the prescription. •
Ferris -Fowler-Cmpany
wee...boss's°
Printing of Quality
• .• • • • •
Marquette Building
. • Phone* Main 4224-4225
.
• •
'
•
.
State of Michigaq,
City of Detroit
Bonds
, List Upon Request
Keane, Higbie & Company
431 Griswold St.
Main 2963
Detroit
arosisomusswounswo....Nuftuki
Russian Opera Co. Coming
MUSIC
4 stWeck,
Giovanni Martinelli Opens De-
troit Concert Bureau Course
at Orchestra Hall.
Giovanni Martinelli, one of the
leadnig tenors from the Metropolitan
Opera Company, gave a recital last
Saturday evening at Orchestra Hall
under the auspices of the Detroit
Concert Bureau. Not only was this
the first recital in this particular
course, but it marked the official
opening of the fall musical season
for Detroit. Mr. Mertinelli's singing
has improved a great deal since last
season. His voice has taken on new
shades of beauty and has gained con-
siderably in color. Ile was especially
liked in "Celesti Aidi," which he sang
with much feeling and excellent tone.
Ile was assisted by Laura Robertson,
also from the Metropolitan, who dis-
closed a voice of good quality, al-
though at times very uneven. Miss
Robertson might become a very much
more satisfactory artist if she would
put a little more fire and passion into
her singing. In her duet with Mr.
Martinelli from "Carmen" she seem-
ed to be short of breath, which ne-
cessitated the tenor in cutting off
some of his top notes. A large au-
dience greeted the singers and there
was much applause for both artists,
and a beautiful basket of rose' for
Miss Robertson. The next attraction
to be brought here by the Detroit
Concert Bureau will be the famous
Russian Opera Company, who will
give us an entire week of opera sung
by some of the most famous Russian
artists. A full orchestra, elaborate
stage settings, will be brought here
for this occasion, which will be one
of the very few outside of New York.
CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC
BRINGS UKRAINE CHORUS
TO DETROIT OCTOBER 28
OLGA KASANSKAYA
Soprano, Russian Grand Opera Company.
Considerable interest is being
manifested by the music lovers of
this city in the announcement made
by Detroit Concert Direction, Inc.,
that the Russian Grand Opera Com-
pany is being brought here for eight
'performances to be given at Orches-
tra Hall, bgeinning Oct. 21.
It was htis Muscovite operatci or-
ganization which startled this coun-
try last winter, coming unexpectedly
and unsolicited from a five-year tour
of the Far East and Orient, and cap-
tivated the opera lovers of two dozen
cities in their brief tour here. Never
before had the United States the op-
portunity of hearing a genuine Rus-
sian company of singers, presenting
the seldom-heard masterworks of
their native land. Not only was the
company given an enthusiastic recep-
tion on the part of the general pub-
lic, but professional musucians and
critics flocked to each and every per-
formance. In more than one in-
stance their performances were made
the subject of special editorial com-
ment in newspapers.
The company comprises 90 mem-
bers, which include principals, double
chorus, ballet, orchestra and technical
staff. Complete scenic effects and
costumes are carried for over a dozen
different operas, which include not
only those from the Russian but the
standard works from the Italian and
French repertoires.
The operas chosen for presentation
in this city are: "Snegourotchka,"
Rimsky-Korsakotf; "Demon," Rubin-
stein; "Roussalka," Dargomizsky;
"Rigoletto," Verdi; "Boris Godun-
off," Moussorgsky; "Eugen Onegin,"
. Tschaikowsky; "Czar's Bride," Rim-
sky-Korsakolt; "La Juive," Halevy.
POLES RIOT IN SYNAGOGUE
DURING NEW YEAR SERVICE
WILNA.—(J. C. 11.)—Breaking in-
to the synagogue at Krasnof, near
here, while Jews were at prayer on the
first day .of Rush ha-Shanah, Polish
soldiers caused a near riot. Chande-
liers were torn out of their places and
lighted candles overturned. "The
Poles," eye witnesses say, "turned the
synagogue into a barrack."
The Krasnof Jews have asked Mr.
Wigodsky, a prominent Jewish leader
of Wilna, to lodge a complaint with
the authorities concerned.
What promises to be the musical
sensation of the season, the Ukraine
National Chorus, will visit Detroit on
Saturday evening, Oct. 2)). It is be-
ing introduced to this country by that
genius =pressen°, Max Rabinoff,
who is always interested in offering
Russian Novelties , and who first pre-
sented to America the Russian ballet
with Pavlowa and Mordkin.
The chorus, which arrived in the
United States last week, made its
American debut at Carnegie Hall on
Thursday, Oct. 5, to an enthusiastic
and capacity audience of 2,000 peo-
ple, more being turned away because
unable to get seats.
The Ukrainian National Chorus
sings, as the people of the Ukraine
have always sung, of its legends and
of its splendors. First come the songs
of the heathen Ukraine, then of the
Christian era, of the Tartar period,
of the Cossack government which
was the golden age of the Ukraine,
then the period which finishes with
Mazeppa.
l'rofessor Alexander Koshetz is
the chorus conductor, jointly with
Mlle. Oda Slobodekaja, soprano of
the Petrograd Opera. M. Nicholas
Stember will be at the piano.
GALICIAN UKRAINIANS
MAY VOTE SEPARATELY
WARSAW.—(J. C. B.)—Separat e
voting places will be provided for
Ukrainians in Galicia participatin g in
the parliamentary elections, in s e.
cordance with the decision of the Po.
lish Sejm confirming the autonom y
clauses for Eastern Galicia. .4,s...rd.
ing to this scheme, there will 1,, a
general voting precinct and one for
the Ukrainians. No so-called Palish
precinct has been provided, the Jews
having conditioned their participation
in the elections on the establishment
of a general and not a polish pre-
cinct.
GIVE REFUGEEES A DAY'S
NOTICE TO QUIT VILNA
VILNA.—(J. T. A.)—Refuge e : re-
turning as repatriates from Itu.sia
were given twenty hours notice to se it
Vilna in an order issued by the Chief
of I'olice today. Persons disregardin g
the order to leave the Vilna terribly
voluntarily, will be forcibly deported,
it is announced.
The Jewish refugees were panic
stricken by this order coming on the
eve of the High Holy Days, beginning
Friday evening. They had nowhere
to go when ejected from here;
YIDGESCOM MAINTAINS 3.500
JEWISH CHILDREN IN KIEV
CHICAGO.—(J. C. ill — Informa-
tion concerning the work of the Kiev
Yidgescom (Jewish Public Commit-
tee) is contained in a letter received
here by the secretary of the local Kiev
"Landsmanschaft" showing that 3,-
4.19 children are cared for by 69 in-
stitutions. In a number of these
schools the children are taught such
trades as shoe-making, carpentry and
tailornig. There are also music schools
and art studios, the report adds, foun-
ded by the "Cultural Leaue" affiliated
with the "Yidgescom."
ARABS DEFER BOYCOTT
JERUSALEM.—(J. T. A.)—The
economic boycott against the Pales-
tine Jews decided upon by the Arab
Congress which met at Nablus recent-
ly, has been postponed, the executive
committee of the Moslem Christian
society announces.
Although no reason is given for the
postponement, the repercussion of the
Near East crisis producing a state of
excitement and restiveness is believed
to be the cause, the leaders holding
probably that the boycott would not
be effective now.
MEISNER OPENS OFFICE
Harry II. Meisner, the only Michi-
gan Jewish certified public accoun-
tant, who has had many years ex-
perience in federal taxation, hos
opened offices at 1530 First National
Bank building. Ile occupies a suite
with Johnson, Finkeleton, Lovejoy Sz
Chilson.
Ile who gives charity in secret is
greater than Moses.—The Talmud.
Charity is the salt of riches.—The
Talmud.
&Closed Car
Show / ,
A Communal Worker.
As a Jew with a warm national
heart, he cannot possibly shut him-
self up in the four walls of literature
at a time when the Jewish Rennais-
once demands his active co-operation.
With a people where a writer became
the leader of the movement for its
revival, in which every other Jewish
author has assisted, it was only na-
tural that Brainin should also par-
ticipate. The truth is, however, that
proportionately Brainin gives too
much time to communal work, too
much from the point of view of the
interests of Ilebrew literature. But
Brainin has always been versatile and
prolifis. As an author, he has always
his strength in a number of fields.
What is more, he has always excelled
in every field and, reading his writ-
ings, one feels that the author con-
centrated all his energy and devoted
himself exclusively to some one par-
ticular branch of literature, he would
have developed into a giant whose
influence would have been felt even
in the Itierature of othre nations.
Brainin is richly endowed and, be-
ing a good-natured man. he throws,
like a kind-hearted philanthropist, the
wealth of his talent to all sides, and
( finds satisfaction and happiness in
responding to needs of the time.
His sixetieth birthday finds Brainin
still young and active in a number
of movements. Nevertheless, it is
high time that Brainin gradually
give up•his communal activities and
once more devote himself entirely to
things of eternal worth — Hebrew
letters.
WHO IS A PROLETARIAN
IN RUSSIA? ASKS PRESS
RIGA:—(J. T. A.)—The Russian
press .iq Yiddish has been debating
for some time the question of the in-
clarlitentss of the word "proletariat."
Does it, it is being asked, include self-
employing workers such as tailors and
carpenters. The question is especially
agitating the "Jewish sections ' and
opinion is divided between the
"Rights" and the "Lefts". The for-
mer, headed by Communist Merejhin,
insist that a self-employing workman
is entitled to membership in the Com-
munity Party and to be ranked as a
proletarian. The left-wingers are op-
posed to this 'flew. The discussion,
thus far academic, has undoubted
practically implications insofar as
they relate to .the \ large number of
Jewish artisans. '
.
.
QTYLE, smartness and beauty
Li that make even blasé New
York lift an eyelash—.
Five distinguished:closed'. die
models, superbly finished, richly
upholstered,- completely ap•
pointed—
Mounted on a chassis that is
good for 100,000 miles—
The real stars of the closed
car show—
ROSSO-ASIATIC DEMAND
EUROPEANS QUIT ORIENT
LONDON.--(J.
B.)—The evac-
uation of all European troops from
the East Is likely to form the princip-
al demand of the Congress of the Rus-
so Asiatic peoples to be convened
jointly by the Turkish nationalists
government at Angora and the Mos-
cow government
The importance of this congress fol-
lowing the Ketnalist victory should
not be under-estimated. In all prob-
ability the congress may go no far as
to demand the withdrawal of Britain
from Palestine and Mesopotamia and
of France from Syria.
.
'T
•
Grand Central Palace, Sept. 23 to 30
CROSSTOWN CORPORATION
Distribaton for Michigan
Woodward Avenue and Putnam Avenue
Service 24 Hours a Day
Phone Northiny 1576
Desirable Territory Available in Michigan.
THE
CHANDLER MOTOR CAR COMPANY
CLEVELAND