Returning  to  the  city  we  drove  through  the  Jewish
quarters,  which  are  as  distinct  and  clearly  defined  as  is
the  Chinese  settlement  in  San  Francisco.  Here  I  ob-
served a  race  of  people  so  wedded  to  their  ancient  cus-
toms and  religions,  as  to  resist  every  practice  and  senti-
ment of  those  by  whom  they  are  surrounded.  Polish
Jews  are  as  different  in  character  from  the  Jews  of
America  as  any  two  races  having  a  common  ancestry  can
be  ;  they  are  marvellously  exclusive  and  homogeneous  ;
over  their  places  of  business  they  have  signs  printed  with
Hebrew  letters  ;  their  costume  never  varies,  every  man


504  BUBSIAN  NIHILISM  AKO

among  them  wearing  a  long-tailed  coat,  reaching  to  their
knees,  and  buttoned  up  tight  in  front;  around  the  neck
they  wear  a  coarse,  woolen  comfort,  and  a  little  cap
crowns  their  head.  I  have  no  language  at  my  command
that  could  describe  their  filth  ;  they  literally  reek  with
stenches.  I  was  told  that  though  bacon  is  abhorrent
to  them,  on  account  of  religious  prejudices,  yet  the
Jews  use  it  on  a  certain  occasion,  viz  :  when  a  Jew  pur-
chases a  new  shirt,  his  next  act  is  to  procure  a  piece  of
bacon,  with  which  he  thoroughly  greases  the  gar-
ment all  over ;  he  then  puts  on  the  shirt  and  does  not
take  it  off  for  one  or  two  years,  or  until  it  is  entirely
worn  out.  The  bacon  is  used  to  prevent  vermin  from
getting  on  their  filthy  bodies.  I  am  quite  prepared  to
believe  this  statement,  since  only  such  a  disgustingly
nasty  practice  can  account  for  the  odor  which  they  carry
about  them.
