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THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE December 12, 1986 Page 13 ( ontinued from page 12 tul, as the romantic intrigues of the novel are resolved in two happy marriages. Beyond its comparative value with other books about the Civil War, “Differences” stands on its own as a special document of American Jewish history. One is most struck by the social atti tudes of the Jewish characters and their non-Jewish neighbors’ perceptions of them. External anti-Semitism seems to be at very low levels in this day before the birth of modern social and “racial” anti-Semitism in the 1880s. The worst anti-Semites in “Differen ces” are the Jewish characters themselves. The Goldmans’ neighbors see the Frenchness and Germanhood of the Goldmans as their most ethnically prominent character istics. As Jewish Yankee Louis Welland’s unpopularity in Clai borne County grows, he is treated to anti-German slurs: “Mr. Wel land, have you ever in your his torical researches discovered tra ces of a nation that was continu ally occupied with attempting to free the slaves of others, while it never succeeded in liberating it self from slavery? It was a nation of Teutonic origin. 1 think.” When Madame la Generate, the Gold- mans’ aunt, rebukes her whist partner, Mrs. Waddlekins. for being a poor strategist, this august dowager recalls: “General Wash ington was in the habit of remark ing to my grandfather, ‘The French area perfect nation. They never commit faults. They attri bute them to others.”’ Alter this remark is made, the insults fly between the two women, but not once does Mrs. Waddlekins attack her interlocutor’s Jewishness. Later when Antonia Goldman is chosen to present a Confederate flag to the boys marching off to war. Mrs. Waddlekins objects because the girl’s family is of for eign origin: “Would it not be bet ter to choose a matron whose family has historical associations with our great men and whose ancestors have lived and died in Claiborne County to present this Hag to our valiant warriors?” Still later in the book a certain unsavory, embittered character reproaches Louis Welland for believing in “a God of aristo crats, in a religion that is a system to protect the rich.” But the con text of his exchange with Wel land he seems to be targeting Judaism less than Welland’s per sonal system of social beliefs. In any event, the Jewish char acters in “Differences” ooze with enough anti-Semitism to make up for the gentile characters lack of it. It is not that the Goldmans SOCIAL WORK Regional Director Career opportunity in the world's largest Jewish Youth Serving Organization. Re gional position available in the Atlanta area. Ad vanced degree in social work or related field. Strong Judaic background, super visory capablities and ex perience required. Group development experience, training and program plan ning with youth required. Send resume to.- Ruth Cantor B'NAI B'RITH Youth Organization 1640 Rhode Island Avenue. N W Washington. D C 20036 Equal Opportunity Employer M/F Differences attempt to deny Judaism among themselves. Mayer says they are “firmly attached to a rational interpretation of their religion,” and notwithstanding that they even practice shchitah. But with outsiders the subject of religion is broached with embarrassment. There is even mutual surprise on the part of Jewish characters who identify themselves to each other as Jews: “He (a servant) kills the poul try we use, in accordance with an old custom of the family,” said Goldman, in reply to Welland’s look of mirthful inquiry. “Excuse me," said Welland, blushing, “I understand the cus tom. ” " We are a Hebrew family, sir, ” said the old lady with dignity, and unobservant of the embar rassment of her niece and her husband, “and it is a religious custom. ” “I know it, madam," he rep lied, smiling, “and I have the honor of professing the same faith. ” There was a pause of astonish ment... In a further refinement on Jewish anti-Semitism, we learn that the Goldmans, as landed aristocrats, look askance at other German Jews who are newly rich by virture of being “in trade.” In New York with Charles Gold man. Merrins points out their “overdressed” womenfolk “with yellow skins and weazened faces” at one of the German-Jewish clubs. Charles finds most of these same young ladies to be “ill-bred, tainted by the pecuniary difficul ties that overshadowed their childhood or by the coarse dis position of their parents. Their acquaintance with the actual worth of money and the opera tions of commerce have blighted their finer sensibilities... I want a wife whose soul has been so above the power of circumstan ces that money is an article that does not enter into her calcula tion of life.” Accordingly Charles betrothes Emma Reichenau. the daughter of a “liberal” German non-Jew (who is also a merchant but apparently a very well-estab lished one). He persuades her to convert to Judaism by wooing her with univeralist sweet nothings: “God is God, whether adored in the Jewish, Christian or Mohammadan manner.” It remains to be pointed out that the Jewish characters in “Differences” take differing posi tions on the issue of slavery. The northerner Welland is an aboli tionist, and the Goldmans are slave-owners. Madame la Gene- rale warns her servant girl. Juba, to ignore Yankees who will tell her that she is free. “It is not so,” says the old lady. “We have bought you and paid for you, and if you run away you steal our property. God would punish you for it.” Thus Mayer accurately mirrors the division of northern and southern Jews on slavery and the “evenhandedness” of Isaac Mayer Wise himself on the issue. The novel is so abounding in statements belittling blacks, however, that one concludes Nathan Mayer sides with the favorers of slavery. There were 150,000 Jews in the United States at the time of the Civil War, enough to make their presence known in many ways. A total of 10,000 Jews served in the war, 7,000 onthe Unionsideand 3,000 on the side of the Confe deracy. It was during the Civil War that the U.S. Army began the regular appointment of rab bis as military chaplains. The secretary of state of the Confe deracy, Judah P. Benjamin, was a Jew. The prominence of Jews in the cotton trade in the South led Gen. Ulysses S. Grant to order the expulsion of all Jews from areas of Kentucky, Tennes see and Mississippi under his control. (The order was rescinded by an angry President Lincoln.) All these historical facts are well- documented in any number of American Jewish histories. The day-to-day life of Jews in Civil War America, however, has never received such a clear illustration as in “Differences.” Bloch and Company, which published the novel in 1867, stills exists and functions as a publishing house. One cannot help wishing that during its Mosaic year in 1987, “Differences” could have a re publication as a Jewish compan ion piece to “Gone With the Wind” and take its rightful place in the annals of popular Civil War literature. ‘...“Differences” stand on it own as a special document of American Jewish history. One is most struck by the social attitudes of the Jewish characters and their non-Jewish neighbors’ perceptions of them. The worst anti-Semites in “Differences” are the Jewish characters themselves.’ CAFE lOTISSEI\IE <D 3 O Z X) c o -C o> if 2 Q & Smidrfumks to our valued friends and neighbors who have given us their support and continued patronage through out our ordeal. / Ron Lazarus Scott Ardolino Judy Ellison Danny Ellison ; Boli ss«fe’ s ' ,arkl " s t 'v^'» J ft un \ e ss acce ptabj«i \ en0 * o noi\naV^ amsU parkas P Morning cvV \c our S Sanis said Zon mg M- “VJe ,\p e y have a ' ^ *«*•*'£ jrssssw asKSfenrarr ■, S?W"S.*«'55 a (zed on ace Hood said- d te \t )CC " he ban l,u * ' baequ“ ve businesses. ot v pe h 0 * e put cause e * c ep u0 seV era\ re ‘ ma]° r ' jL { a ct '■b e V _ busi- V /^fand 'Soltis. land Ro«» e "Vrdered Intown's Chat & Chewery Open 7 days / Continuously serving lunch & dinner • Luncheon specials from $3.95