Friday, Deeember 5, 1947

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE

Laura Hobson Exposes
Polite' Anti-Semites
•

Beads Mizrachi Unit

Gentile writer who, in order to
secure material on anti-Semitism
for a series of articles, poses as
a Jew himself.

In its own way, the book ex-
poses the subtler brand of anti-
Semitism poison that infects every
section of American life, and par-
ticularly that class which claims
to be "liberal."

Author of 'Gentleman's Agreement'
Proves Her Point at a Mock Trial

By LILLIAN NELSON
Before Laura Z. Hobson started
writing her book, "Gentleman's
Agreement" she approacheti the
publishers with this remark. "I've
got an idea for a book that the
magazines will never look at, the
movies won't touch and the pub-
lic won't buy." She was wrong
on all three counts.
An
international
magazine
bought the book before it was fin-
ished. While it was still in the
galley and proof-reading stage,
the novel was purchased by
Twentieth-Century Fox Film for
close to $100,000, and by the time
it was out on the market, it re-
mained a best seller for five
months.
Mrs. Hobson had underestimat-
ed her own ability. Her study of
the social and economic aspects
of "polite" anti-Semitism in
Arrierica was so skillfully present-
ed that it became palatable and
useful reading to Americans.
"So long as there is anti-Semit-
ism in this country," says Mrs.
Hobson, "I shall not hide the
fact that I am Jewish, and I shall
not cease to fight for the cause of
liberty for everyone, every-
where."
FATHER AN EDITOR
Laura Zametkin acquired the
name of Hobson through mar-
riage. She was born in New York,

the (laughter of Michael and
Adella Zametkin. Her father be-
came prominent in the United
States as an editor and as a labor
organizer.
"I was fortunate," says Mrs.
Hobson. "I grew up in a liberal-
minded family and I knew from
the start what pitfalls lurked for
liberals."
After graduation from Cornell,
Laura Zametkin wrote copy for
an advertising agency, then turn-
ed to a position as reporter for
the old New York Post.
In 1934, she joined the staff of
the Luce publications—Time, Life,
and Fortune—and remained there
till 1940. By 1935, however, she
had already had her first short
story published, and from then
on, an unbroken series of short
stories were published in Col-
lier's, Ladies Home Journal and
other topflight magazines.
The success of these induced
her to give up her promotional
work for Luce and devote her-
self to creative writing.
HER FIRST NOVEL
Three years later, she published
her first novel, "The Trespassers."
This was her first major attempt
to analyze a contemporary prob-
lem. "The Trespassers" considered
the disorientation of European
refugees and their difficulty in
securing entrance into America.

Page Nineteen

SCORES INTOLERANCE

DR. II. RAPHAEL GOLD, was
installed last week in New
York as president of the Ha-
poel Ilamizrachi of America.
Dr. Gold is a practicing psy-
chiatrist in New York.

With an emotional impact that
few books of this type achieve,
the novel is a devastating expose
of the bigotry and prejudice
which has seeped into the very
pores of America.

Recipe
of the Week

VIENNA TORTE

% cup butter

154 cups powdered sugar
4 eggs
4 squares chocolate
1 cup ground nuts

Cream butter and sugar well:
then add egg-yolks, one at a time,
mixing well after adding each
one. Melt the chocolate, and mix
In nuts, and then add to first
mixture. Fold In the stiffly beaten
whites of the four eggs. Divide
batter Into three equal parts, set-
ting one part aside, and pouring
the other two into two small
greased, glass baking-dishes. Bake
In a moderate oven of about 325
degrees, for about 20 minutes.
When cool, put together, using

An opportunity for Mrs. Hob-
son to prove her point was pre:
sented recently at a mock trial
in Stamford, Conn. On the basis
of the novel, and using it as a
measuring rod, 250 residents of the unbaked third part as a til-
It was, in substance, an in-
the Stamford community were ling. Chill and sprinkle with
dictment of the quota system
adjudged guilty/of anti-Semitism. powdered sugar.
which prevented the entrance of
Nazi-oppressed refugees into the
A member of the Americans
United States.
for Democratic Action, Mrs. Hob-
Social and Club
From 1943 to 1947, when "Gen- son is an interested and interest-
tleman's Agreement" appeared, ing student of political affairs.
News Headline
Mrs. Hobson worked exclusively She insists on being identified
on her second novel. The plot with the progressive movement,
Is Monday Noon
of the book concerns itself and is not afraid to express her
with the experiences of a young views publicly.

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