Mark Twain's 'Anti-Semitism' Refuted t By PHILIP stomowrrz Thus, the record regarding Mark his parts, no slowing of his ener- (Copyright 1370, erA, inc.) gies, no dulling of his alert and Twain stands fully attested to and Was Mark Twain an anti-Semite aggressive mind. All things are Maxwell Geismai has aided im- as has been claimed on numerou mortal but the Jew; all other forces mensely in clarifying the Twain- occasions? Maxwell Geismar, on e pass, but he remains. What is the Clemens attitude toward the Jews. of America's most distinguishe d secret of the immortality?" literary critics and authors, wh 0 exposed the anti-Semitism of Henr V BY BENNETT CERF Try and Stop Me James, denies it. He makes ref erence to it in his notable wor k "Mark Twain: An America We have it on the authority of says," counseled Goldwyn, then Prophet" published by Houghto n Barrister Irving Engel that a little- clinched his advice with a parting. Mifflin Co. and he produces evi publicized but self-indulgent sister "Don't even ignore him!" o o o dence to the contrary. of old J. P. Morgan used to lunch Geismar often disputes what ha s frequently at Delmonico's deluxe An old Hollywood couple were been alluded to as Twain's "lin - restaurant located on Fifth Avenue congratulated for staying married gering anti-Semitism." The note d at 43rd Street. She complained to 24 years. "We had to," explained critic and the author of the lates her brother one day that there was the wife grimly. "Neither of us work on Mark Twain-Samuel Clem no place in the neighborhood where would take our kids!" ens refers to anti-Semitic trend she could conveniently cash a O0 • among American writers and i n check. J. P. Morgan promptly did relation to the bias which he ha S what any good brother would do QUOTABLE: Election day can't be far off exposed in Henry James and i n under the circumstances: he other authors, Geismar has thi S started the Fifth Avenue Bank to when a candidate recognizes you to say: provide her with the desired facil- across the street — and dodges traffic to come over and shake "Clemens was accurate and per ity! o o o your hand. — Kin Hubbard. suasive when he attributed the Leisure time is when your wife The news isn't ALL bad — de- fear and hatred of Jews to eco- nomic causes where, just as in spite the gloom dispensers on late can't find you. — Clint Wiley. There is nothing more embarras- modern colonialism, financial gain evening newscasts. A report from could be linked with moral hypoc- Moscow, for instance, reveals the sing than watching a student do risy; though he was perhaps over- fact that our old adversary Nikita something you told him was abso- generbus in attributing to all Jews Khrushchev has taken. up paint- lutely not possible. — Pat Rose. Every masterpiece was written the virtues that only some pos- ing as a hobby. This marks an sessed. He did not really .under. interesting switch; as it's certainly this morning" — Thornton Wilder. When small men cast large stand the meaning of the whole better to have dictators ending up heritage of Jewish culture in the as painters than painters ending up shadows, it is a sure sign the sun is setting. — Nathaniel Lee. historical epoch of Judeo-Christian as dictators! o o o Men use thought only to conceal civilization—but he was also open their wrongdoings and speech only to suggestion and quick to correct Famed movie producer Sam his own ignorance. Perhaps, all in Goldwyn, in one of his more be- to conceal their thoughts. — Vol- taire. all, this particular essay should nign moods, was attempting to • • • be regarded as a typical example buck up a director whose ego had Dorothy Parker, whose sharp of American thinking about the been bruised by a cruel critic from Jews, in an area where Clemens the effete East. "Don't pay any tongue and—when she wanted to had admittedly not done much attention to what that no-good trot it out — irresistible charm made her famous in the exuberant thinking for himself; and one aftermath of World War I—was should compare Twain's relatively 'advanced' views about the Jews Mimi Benzell, 47, Dies born prematurely in West End, New Jersey, on August 22, 1893. with the embedded anti-Semitism Met, Broadway Star Years later, she was to say that of Henry James and Edith Whar- it was the last time she was early ton in the same period, and of NY Radio Hostess Willa Cather and Ernest Heming- for anything. • • • way—even of Theodore Dreiser and . Thomas Wolfe—in a later and sup- A long-married couple in New posedly emancipated period. York had a most unusual experi- In any study of the vein of anti- ence the other evening. They stay- Semitism that has run through the ed home all alone for dinner! No American novel ever since the tides prevues, no charity balls, no pro- of European immigration began in test meetings, no little parties for the 1880s and 1890s — a study 22 close friends—just Papa with a which would be of particular in- new book to read and Mama with terest, and one which hasn't, to her knitting. After a while, Mama, my knowledge, yet been done— who had been fidgeting quite a bit, Mark Twain would come off not suggested, "The least you could too badly. Our only regret should do is talk to me while I knit." "I be that this master artist does not have a much better idea," answer- come off better; and the protruding ed Papa. "You knit to me while edges of Twain's opinions • about I read!" • • • the Jews show, perhaps, how deeply this strand of prejudice _ is Cleveland Armory nominates as woven into our whole cultural "poem of the week" this four-liner fabric. found , in an eighth-grade student's "In some versions of 'Concern- notebook: ing the Jews,' even Twain's famous "Hickory dkkory dock, quip, 'A Jew is also a human be- BENZELL The mice ran up the clock. ing; worse I could say of no man,' The clock struck one; is watered down for fear of further MANHASSET, N.Y.--Mimi Ben- The others escaped with minor controversy." zell, Metropolitan opera and Broad- injuries." The famous essay "Concerning way performer and radio person- 0 1071, by Bennett Cerf. the Jews" by Mark Twain ap- ality, died here Dec. 23 at age 47. Distributed by King Features Syndicate peared in Harper's in September, Miss Benzell played Gilda in 1899. The famous Twain comment the Metropolitan Opera's produc- in that article was: tion of Verdi's "Rigoletto." She Troops on Bar-Lev Line "If the statistics are right, the also performed in "La Boheme" Get a Touch of Home Jews constitute but one per cent of and "Mignon." the human-race. It suggests a nebu- In 1981, Miss.Benzell performed SUEZ FRONT (ZINS) — The lous dim puff of star dust lost in In the Broadway play, "Milk and Bar-Lev Line is actually not- a the blaze of the Milky Way. Prop- . Honey," which was set in Israel, line at ail, but a series of mole- erly the Jew ought hardly to be and later hosted a daily radio hill clusters along the eastern heard of; but he is heard of, has always been heard of., He is as talk program on WNBC in New banks of the canaL prominent on the planet as any York City. She also served as di. Everything possible is being other people, and his commercial rector of the Nassau County Office done to lighten the burden of Is- importance is extravagantly out of of Performing and Fine Arts. raeli forces at the front lines. proportion to the smallness' of his Miss Benzell was born in Bridge- bulk. His contributions to the port, Conn., and attended Hunter Music is piped in to the messhalls, world's list of great names in liter- ature, science, art, music, finance, medicine, and abstruse learning are also way out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers. He has made a marvelous fight in this world in all the ages; and has done it with his hands tied behind him. He could be vain of himself and be excused for it. The Egyptians, the Babylonians and the Persians rose. filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream.• stuff and passed away; the Greek and the Roman followed and made a vast noise, and they are gone: other peoples have wrung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is- now 'what - he always' was, exhibiting no decadence, no in firmities of age, no weakening of College and the Mannes School of Music, She is survived by her hus- band. concert manager Walter Gould, and two children. Third Reich's Rise Probed in Guide to Speer Book NEW YORK—A 21-page study guide analyzing Albert Speer's "In- side the Third Reich" has been prepared by European specialist Jerry Goodman of the American Jewish Conanittee to stimulate un- derstanding by the American pub- lic of the rise of totalitarianism in Germany. The study guide, based on the recently published memoirs of Hit- arts war production chief,. Las- c usses the origins and nature of National Socialism. . and there are gas-fueled ranges in the galleys. Modern plumbing and toilet facilities are accessible through a network of bomb-proof corridors. Hot showers are available bare- ly 10 yards from the front line, and regulations require that each soldier shower at least twice a week. The daily menu includes at least one meat meal, and seasonal fresh fruit is served for dessert. Outposts are visited at least once a week by entertainers, who have performed even under fire, in a bunker. There is still no place to go in. Aft-duty hours, .and_ until _the Israel soldier goes home on leave, he is stuck within the perimeter. • THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 28—Friday, January 1, 1971 Mapai Wins Labor Vote; Sapir Succession Seen TEL AVIV (ZINS) — The Mapai faction scored a decisive victory in balloting at the National Con- ference of Labor, while the other major factions — Ahdut Avoda and Rafi — ran a poor second and third. According to an unofficial com- munique from the central elections committee, the vote was as fol- lows: Mapai 70 per cent; Ahdut Avoda 17 per cent; and Rafi 13 per cent. Political observers view the election returns as signifying a decisive endorsement of Mapai, whose top figure is Finance Min- ister Pinhas Sapir, now in line for the premiership of Israel. His lead- ing rivals are Moshe Dayan and Yigal Allon. C. jizoian, CUSTOM FURNITURE & CARPET CLEANING ON LOCATION J. J. CLARKE STUDIO Portraiture of Distinction For Your Wedding Formals - Candids - Direct Color Phone 549-7170 3223 W. 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