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The Soui itiehn Israelite Page 11 Scanning the Jewish Horizon lly DAVID SCHWARTZ WHAT’S IN A NAME? read the story some eight or s ago in Mr. Mencken’s, “The American Language.” It has been told imes since. You recall it—the f the Jew who changed his •om Kelly to Murphy. • Why are you making this second ihanur?" he was asked. you see, when I tell the peo- n <’W that my name is Kelly, they me what it was before, and I have atl swer Cohen. But if I become Murphy, when they ask me what it lV as before, I’ll simply say Kelly.” NAMED after holiday reminded of this story by a conversation recently with v Schneiderman of the American Jewish Committee, who recalled some piaintance who had changed his • ame from Cohen to Priest. Verily, in nothing are we Jews so ingenious as surgical operations on our nomen clature. You know the one they tell about the Jewish lad who was named Richard. "How did it get to be Richard?” mama was interrogated. "It was like this,” replied mama. "My son was born on Pesach, so he was I’esachdik, and “dik,” the last syllable, is short for Richard, as you know. Quod erat demonstrandum.” IT’S ALRIGHT, BUT— I think there is some observation in the Talmud to the effect that the re deeming virtue of the Jews in Egypt, which led the God of Israel to release them from their bondage was their adherence to the names of their an cestors. In general, I am in thorough sym pathy with the underlying idea of the Talmudists in this regard. However, :n the matter of changing Cohen to I’riest, will I be guilty of treason, if I confess a sneaking sympathy with the alterations. My reasons are. purely pragmatic. Its no fun at all, if you happen to be king up some Cohen in the New telephone directory, to plough way through eighteen columns " °f Cohens before you find just tf.» right shade of Cohen you want. And I presume the same difficulty s i n all of the large cities—Chi- I’hiladelphia, Detriot, Cleveland *mi the like. In the smaller towns, of ' se » °ne ought to be able to f vn to his heart’s content. V PICTURESQUE CONVERT • coming of Aimee Palliere to country revives interest in the 0 1 e business o f converts t o l Sm - I am of course, not using word business here in any com mercial sense. me one of the most intriguing '•orts to Judiasm will alw'ays be late Ada Isaacus Menken. There an interesting woman for you! everybody doing biographies, •body ought to do a book on her me current fashion. lfrre was a great actor, and not a bad writer, but above all a •eluus personality, who set such ‘ rn as Bre t Harte, Mark Twain and raving about her. Here was man, who can point to love af- h prize pugilists and prize literateurs. She left her Jewish hus band, Alexander Menken, who was re sponsible for her conversion to Ju daism, but Ada Isaacs Menken never left Judaism. She never could erase the influence of the Hebrew prophets from her flaming soul. On Yom Kippur, many Jews born to the faith might forget, but not Ada Menken. The theatre in which she played was always dark when the solemn notes of Kol Nidre were being intoned in the synagogue. FANNIE MUST BE IMAGINING I don’t believe it myself but Fannie Brice tells it. She was watching out at Hollywood, the making of a picture dealing with the Civil War. The Jewish movie magnate eyed the man who was to portray General Grant. “I won’t have him,” he said. “I won’t have any man with beards.” “But,” said the director, “we were looking for a man, who looked like General Grant, and he is the nearest resemblence we could find.” “He can’t wear no beards on my lot,” said the magnate, and “what is more, even Napoleon couldn’t.” DID YOU KNOW? That a Hebrew Book-of-the-Month Club has been launched in Palestine. That Herman Bernstein in spare moments is working on a biography of Ivan the Terrible. That Lew Brown, famous author of popular song hits complains that whereas of yore, he had a big appetite but no money, now he has the money but a bad stomach. That Irving Berlin, who can only play the piano in one key, has a specially piano adjusted to suit this condition. That Samuel Golding, banker, re cently threw a Bar Mitzvah party, for his son spending more than $00,000 for decorations and professional tal ent. Yes, it was held at the Ritz. That Lester Markell, just turned thirty, is Sunday editor of the New York Times at a salary above twenty grand. WHEN FANCY FAILS Even a man whose forte is humor— a manufacturer of humor, so to speak —sometimes has his fancy fail him. Now here Harry Horshfield, of Abe Kabibble fame, is springing this one: It is the story of a Scotchman who was delegated to break the news of her husband’s death to Mrs. MacPherson. “Be diplomatic—don’t shock her,” his friends cautioned. So Sandy knocked on the door; and when the lady answered he doffed his cap and inquired: “Are ye the widow Mac Pherson?” “Indeed, Pm nae such,” she replied indignantly. “Pm Mrs. MacPherson.” “Is that so?” bristled Sandy. “And how much will ye wager that you’re not a widow?” Harry, we’re surprised at you for springing such a whiskered nifty! We suppose that your excuse is the same as the one we have—when one is in that lazy, good-for-nothing mood those ancient stories help fill space. l)o You Know? that attractive home furnishings and modern home conveniences add to the joy and pleasure of liv ing. the tranquility of your dis- position, make home work easier and quicker? —that it's far easier than you think to own these pleasures and conveniences? That you do not have to have the ready cash to buy them, nor is it necessary to disturb your savings? that “the world’s largest store” has perfected an improved month ly payment plan that enables you to enjoy your purchases while you pay for them out of your income, —easily and over periods extend ing up to 18 months? —that you buy at the consistently low prices for which we are fam ous, strictly first quality mer chandise?—that you are assured of getting the best service at the lowest cost? Have You Visited the Store Near You to See the Outstanding Values Offered Everyday at Famously Low Pricers? Atlanta Birmingham Nashville Knoxville Chattanooga Greensboro Asheville Charlotte W inston-Salem Greenville Columbia Charleston Savannah Macon Columbus Augusta Sears, Roebuck AND CO. RETAIL DEPARTMENT STORE -v Ponce de Leon at Glen Iris