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 LIFE, LETTERS, AND ADDRESSES 
 
 OF 
 
 AARON FRIEDENWALD, M.D.
 
 f7^'
 
 LIFE, LETTERS, AND 
 ADDRESSES 
 
 OF 
 
 Aaron Friedenwald, m.d, 
 
 BY HIS SON 
 
 HARRY FRIEDENWALD, M.D. 
 
 PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION 
 
 ZU ^ovi (gdtimovt ^vue 
 
 BALTIMORE, MD. 
 
 U. S. A. 
 
 1906
 
 Copyright, 1906, by 
 HARRY FRIBDENWALD
 
 TO HER 
 
 WHO FOR THIRTY-NINE YEARS 
 
 HALVED HIS SORROWS 
 
 AND DOUBLED HIS JOYS
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 Intboduction 11 
 
 PAET I. 
 LIFE AND LETTERS. 
 
 Chapter L Family Antecedents 15 
 
 n. Early Life (1836-1860) 22 
 
 in. Student Days in Berlin ( 1860-1861) 33 
 
 IV. Student Days in Paris, Prague, and Vienna (1861- 
 
 1862) 59 
 
 V. Practice and Personality 84 
 
 VI. Work in Medical and Communal Organizations 108 
 
 VII. Letters (1887-1892) 125 
 
 VIII. Trip to Europe (1895) 157 
 
 IX. Oriental Trip (1898) 165 
 
 X. Letters (1899-1901) 203 
 
 XL Last Days (1902) 212 
 
 PAET II. 
 ADDRESSES. 
 
 I. MedicaI/ Addresses. 
 
 Introductory Address Delivered before the Class of the College 
 of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore City, September 
 14, 1881 221 
 
 Address at the Opening of the New City Hospital, January 
 
 1, 1890 233 
 
 Address Delivered at the Celebration of the Seventieth Birthday 
 of Professor Virchow, held in the Johns Hopkins University, 
 October 13, 1891 239 
 
 Memoir of Dr. George H. Roh#, Read at the Spring Meeting of 
 
 the Maryland Public Health Association, 1901 242 
 
 II. After Dinner Speeches. 
 
 Response to the Toast, " Our Candidates for Graduation, May 
 They All Pass a Successful Examination," at a Banquet 
 given by the Faculty of the College of Physicians and 
 Surgeons, January 1, 1880 247 
 
 Response to the Toast of " The Faculty," at the Banquet of the 
 Alumni of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, March 
 1, 1882 251
 
 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Response to a Toast at the Annual Banquet of the Alumni 
 
 of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, March 3, 1884. . 256 
 
 Address Delivered at the Annual Banquet of the Alumni Asso- 
 ciation of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, March 
 12, 1885 259 
 
 Response to the Toast "The Final Examination; Examine me 
 on the Particulars of my Knowledge," at the Annual 
 Banquet of the Alumni of the College of Physicians and 
 Surgeons, March 15, 1887 263 
 
 Response to the Toast of " The Specialist," at the Annual 
 Banquet of the Alumni of the College of Physicians and 
 Surgeons, March 15, 1888 268 
 
 Response to the Toast of " The Cap and Gown," at the Annual 
 Banquet of the Alumni of the College of Physicians and 
 Surgeons, 1891 272 
 
 Response to a Toast at the Annual Banquet of the Alumni of 
 
 the College of Physicians and Surgeons, April 19, 1893 276 
 
 Response to the Toast of " The College," at the Annual Banquet 
 of the Alumni of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, 
 April 15. 1897 280 
 
 Response to the Toast of " Music," at a Banquet of the Baltimore 
 
 Medical Association, about 1873 283 
 
 Response to the Toast of " The Babies," at the Annual Banquet 
 of the Baltimore Medical and Surgical Society, January 
 28, 1886 285 
 
 Response to the Toast, " Jollity, the King of Medicines," at the 
 
 Annual Meeting of the Liberal Club, January 1, 1889 289 
 
 Response to the Toast of " Matrimony " 294 
 
 III. Jewish Addresses. 
 
 Address on the Occasion of the Dedication of a Newly-Acquired 
 Plot of Ground, Delivered at the Simchath Torah Festival 
 of the Hebrew Hospital and Asylum Association of Balti- 
 more City, October 16, 1881 296 
 
 Address Delivered at the Simchath Torah Festival of the 
 
 Hebrew Hospital and Asylum Association, 1890 300 
 
 Address at the Purim Banquet held by the Ladies' Orphans' Aid 
 
 Society, February 27, 1885 307 
 
 " Charity," an Address Delivered at the Annual Banquet of the 
 
 Hebrew Benevolent Society, December 1, 1892 310 
 
 Address Delivered at the Annual Meeting of the Baltimore 
 Branch of the Alliance Israelite Universelle, March, 19, 
 1893 315 
 
 " A Trip to Palestine," an Address read before the Young 
 
 Men's Hebrew Association of New York, February 25, 1899. 318
 
 Contents. 9 
 
 PAGE 
 
 " Glimpses in Palestine " 338 
 
 " Lovers of Zion," an Address Delivered before the Mickvg 
 Israel Association of Philadelphia, December 23, 1894 342 
 
 Appekdix. 
 
 List of Published and Unpublished Writings 353 
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Aaron Friedenwald, from a Photograph taken November 4, 
 
 1901 Frontispiece 
 
 FACING 
 PAGE 
 
 Jonas Friedenwald, from a Photograph taken about 1865 18 
 
 Merle Friedenwald, from a Photograph taken about 1865 20 
 
 Aaron Friedenwald, from a Daguerreotype taken in April, 1860 28 
 
 Facsimile of a Letter of Professor Nathan R. Smith 30 
 
 Aaron Friedenwald (from a Photograph taken in Berlin about 
 
 1860) and Bertha Bamberger (from a Photograph taken in 
 
 1862) 32 
 
 Moses Friedenwald, from a Daguerreotype taken about 1860 40 
 
 Aaron Friedenwald, from a Photograph taken in 1863 84 
 
 Home (310 N. Eutaw Street), from a Photograph taken in 1903... 88 
 
 Aaron Friedenwald, from a Photograph taken about 1877 92 
 
 OflBce, from a Photograph taken shortly after Dr. Friedenwald's 
 
 Death, 1902 104 
 
 Aaron Friedenwald, from a Photograph taken April 16, 1891 154 
 
 Aaron Friedenwald, from a Photograph taken March 17, 1898 164 
 
 Dr. and Mrs. Aaron Friedenwald, from a Photograph taken October, 
 
 1899 202 
 
 Aaron Friedenwald, from a Photograph taken April, 1902 212 
 
 Mrs. Aaron Friedenwald, from a Photograph taken in 1903 214 
 
 Aaron Friedenwald, from a Photograph taken in April, 1902 218 
 
 Faculty of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore, 
 
 from a Photograph taken about 1884 260 
 
 Aaron Friedenwald, from a Photograph taken April 16, 1891 272 
 
 Facsimile of a Specimen of My Father's Handwriting 288 
 
 Note. — My father was very near-sighted; the cast in his eyes, seen 
 in some of the photographs, was merely apparent, and was due to the 
 glasses he wore.
 
 "There are three crowns: the crown of Torah, the crown of 
 priesthood, and the crotvn of hingdom; hut the croivn of a good 
 name excels them all." 
 
 — Ethics of the Fathers.
 
 INTEODUCTION. 
 
 My father's life was not a long one. It did not attain the number 
 of years which, according to the Psalmist, constitute a complete life. 
 Nevertheless it was full and well-rounded. Its relations with that of 
 the general community were many and intimate. So numerous and 
 broad were my father's interests, that a large number learned 
 to know him as a physician, as a teacher, as a public-spirited 
 citizen, as a loyal son of Israel, as a man. Uniting his attach- 
 ments and allegiances, he fulfilled the many and varied obliga- 
 tions of a busy practitioner and teacher of medicine without neg- 
 lecting his duties to his family, to the community, and to his people ; 
 and in rendering full justice to all the demands thus made upon 
 him, he still found time to satisfy the calls of friendship, of social 
 intercourse, of charity, and of religion. His life was full and com- 
 plete because he used the abilities with which he was endowed to 
 the fullest extent and to the highest and best purpose ; undertaking 
 much, and finishing what he had undertaken; living in conformity 
 with the highest principles, and ever guided by the most noble and 
 exalted ideals. 
 
 Added interest is given to a life like my father's by the fact 
 that whatever he accomplished, his position in the community 
 and in the profession, was due to none but himself. The 
 influences which surrounded him in his youth were not such as to 
 lead the young m^an to seek the higher pursuits of a professional life. 
 He had many a struggle, but the difficulties surmounted were the 
 crucible in which a strong character was formed, a character in 
 which there were developed and refined the noblest qualities of mind 
 and heart and soul. 
 
 Although his life was not filled with interesting events, much of 
 it being spent in the quiet industry and labor which shun the public
 
 13 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D, 
 
 gaze, it is interesting to study step by step the development of such 
 a life from its beginnings to the unfolding of its full manhood, to 
 trace the influence of environment and education, to learn the 
 views of life which guided it, the fundamental principles 
 which inspired it. The material which I possess is not as complete 
 as I should wish it to be. My personal recollections cover only the 
 latter half of my father's life. Some of his letters which have been 
 preserved reach farther back, but for the remainder I must rely 
 upon what he related of his early life, and especially upon the mem- 
 ories of her who for thirty-nine years was his faithful helpmate. 
 I have all the letters which I received from my father, and 
 by good fortune those which he wrote to friends and relatives when 
 studying in Europe as a young man, as well as the diaries he kept 
 during that period, have also been preserved. From the letters, 
 numbering many hundreds, I have made selections which are of in- 
 terest as bearing upon his vocation, his views, his character, or which 
 possess such general interest as warrants their publication in this 
 volume. From a large number of addresses of various kinds, I have 
 chosen a number for publication. I have also included a few after- 
 dinner speeches. All purely medical writings have been excluded as 
 unsuited to the purpose of this volimie. The selections have been 
 made so as to embrace his varied interests, medical, communal, 
 Jewish; to give an idea of his style, and to illustrate his wit and 
 humor. In the work of selection I have been greatly aided by Mr. 
 David S. Blondheim, to whom I desire to express my obligations. 
 
 As far as possible, I have used the letters that are in my posses- 
 sion to weave the story of my father's life, in the hope that he who 
 reads them may feel as did the poet : 
 
 " So word by word, and line by line 
 The dead man touched me from the past, 
 And all at once it seemed at last 
 His living soul was flashed on mine."
 
 Introduction. 13 
 
 The letters, together with the addresses, furnish the hest material 
 to picture the man as he really was, keen of intellect, sound in judg- 
 ment, broad in his interests, filled with admiration for the beautiful 
 in nature, in art, and in human life, fearless and independent, affec- 
 tionate and tender, " fearing God and keeping his commandments." 
 
 H.F.
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS
 
 CHAPTEE I. 
 Family Antecedents. 
 
 Hesse-Darmstadt is a fertile country of hills and valleys, inter- 
 spersed with rich pasture lands. It possesses many hamlets and 
 a few cities, Darmstadt being the largest town in the South and 
 Griessen the largest in the North. Jews have been settled in this 
 land for many centuries. The earliest mention of their presence 
 is toward the end of the thirteenth century, when " individual 
 Jewish families were to be found in many localities;" and from 
 this time on there is frequent reference to them, chiefly in the form 
 of repressive measures. Thus, in 1538, Prince Philip the Magnani- 
 mous, although he seems to have been at times somewhat kindly 
 disposed toward the Jews, promulgated a decree that they should 
 not resist efforts at their conversion, that they should build no new 
 synagogues, and that their commerce should be restricted. 
 
 His successors continued this policy of persecution, and frequent 
 threats of expulsion served only to vary the monotony of grinding 
 taxation. Thus the Jews had to pay " protection-money ; a tax for 
 admission; horse, fair, silver, wax, and quill taxes," as well as 
 dons gratuits at the accession of a new sovereign. 
 
 At the request of the Jews, a decree relating to dress was pro- 
 mulgated in 1773, with a view to restraining luxury; and in 1785 
 Jews were ordered to use the German language in book-keeping 
 and commercial correspondence. With the period of enlightenment 
 a more generous spirit swept over Hesse. Under Ludwig X. (1790- 
 1830) the "LeihzoU" was abolished, the Jews were permitted 
 to acquire real estate, and the way was paved for emancipation. 
 When Hesse was elevated to the rank of a grand duchy, after the
 
 16 Aaron Feiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 wars of liberation, the constitution of December 17, 1830, which 
 placed all the divisions of Hesse on an equal basis, granted the 
 Jews civil liberty. "A special edict (1823) regulated Jewish edu- 
 cation, and another edict (1830) organized the congregations." 
 Many years elapsed before all restrictions were removed.^ 
 
 The majority of the Jews in Hesse were small traders, though 
 there were also farmers among them. Most of them were poor, 
 many were very poor; for conditions such as have been described 
 did not lead to affluence. 
 
 My father's ancestors had lived in this country for many genera- 
 tions. Near Giessen,^ in the little town of Altenbuseck, lying in the 
 valley of the Buseck, three and three-quarters miles from Giessen, 
 Jonas Friedenwald was born on November 9, 1802. His father, 
 " Chayim, the son of Isaac," assumed the name of Friedenwald, 
 probably from the town of Friedewald." Jonas Friedenwald's 
 mother, whose given name was Biele, died in 1809, when he was a 
 boy of seven. On April 16, 1794, Merle Bar was born in Boben- 
 hausen, situated about four and one-half miles northwest of Alten- 
 buseck. She married a relative of Jonas Friedenwald, named 
 Moses Stern, and bore him a son, soon after whose birth her hus- 
 band died. The widow married again, her second husband being 
 Jonas Friedenwald, who was then some twenty years old, being 
 seven years younger than his wife. The couple owned a little farm, 
 part of which had been acquired by Jonas, and were hard-working 
 and industrious, raising by their unaided efforts sufficient produce 
 to support the family, including the aged father. They would go 
 
 ^ This account follows the " Jewish Encyclopedia," Vol. VI, Art. 
 " Hesse," from which the quotations are derived. 
 
 "The memory of Giessen lingered long in family tradition. A wind- 
 fall was always greeted by the words: " Zu Giessen kann man's 
 hrauchen." 
 
 ' A small place in Hesse-Nassau, some fifty-five miles to the north- 
 east of Giessen, which gave its name to the treaty of Friedewald, 
 signed in 1551 between France and the League of Smalkalden.
 
 Family Antecedents. 17 
 
 into the field at daybreak, finishing tlieir farm-work before break- 
 fast, after whicli the husband would carry on his business as a small 
 trader. He was strong, energetic, able, and ambitious ; his wife was 
 prudent and endowed with excellent common-sense. Many years 
 later, long after she had passed away, her husband spoke of her 
 with admiration and love, saying that his marriage was the best 
 thing that had ever happened to him, for his wife had always given 
 him the best of aid and counsel. " Indeed," he added, " the only 
 time I made a great mistake was when I declined to follow her ad- 
 vice." 
 
 An increasing family and an early recognition of the poor pros- 
 pects which life in Altenbuseck offered led the couple to resolve to 
 seek another home by emigrating to America. They were the first 
 Jews from that neighborhood to take this venturesome step. All 
 their effects were sold, and the sum realized was sufficiently large 
 to cause Jonas Friedenwald to hesitate; — after all, might he not, 
 perhaps, begin some more successful enterprise with this money? 
 This was one of the times when the courage and judgment of his 
 wife came to his aid. Now that matters had gone thus far, she in- 
 sisted upon leaving, and her voice prevailed. They set out in Septem- 
 ber, 1831, upon a sailing vessel, the Louise of Bremen, with the aged 
 father, Chayim Friedenwald,^ Merle's son, Bernard Stern (1820- 
 1873), and three other children, Betzy (1825-1894), Joseph 
 (1827- ), and Isaac Friedenwald (1831-1904), the last an infant 
 some two months old, on the weary and hazardous voyage to Balti- 
 more. The passage, which lasted four months, was attended with 
 great hardships. Kosher meat had been smoked and packed for the 
 long trip, but unfortunately the captain of the vessel demanded that 
 it be placed in his charge; and, though it was explained by my grand- 
 
 ** Who survived the arrival in America sixteen years, during which 
 period he occasionally acted as cantor at the services of the Baltimore 
 Hebrew Congregation. He died in 1848, at the age of eighty-six.
 
 18 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 father that if this were done the Jewish law would forbid the use of 
 the meat, the order was obeyed. The entire family did not taste a 
 morsel of meat during all those months. Their sufferings were in- 
 creased by the fact that the wife and mother became very sea-sick as 
 soon as the ship started, and did not recover until the stormy trip was 
 over. In addition they had to bear the taunts and Jeers of their preju- 
 diced fellow-passengers, who charged them with being responsible 
 for the storms encountered. The captain, however, respecting the 
 father's faithful observance of his religious duties under a shower 
 of ridicule, allowed the family to use his own cabin for their devo- 
 tions. The ship arrived on Thursday, January 15, 1832, at the mouth 
 of the Patapsco, after meeting with great difficulty in making its 
 way through the ice which obstructed the bay from Annapolis north- 
 ward. As the river was frozen over, the Louise did not reach Balti- 
 more until Friday evening, Just before sunset. To avoid seeking 
 lod,gings on the Sabbath, Jonas Friedenwald left the ship on Thurs- 
 day night. He walked over the ice to the city, in which he found 
 shelter, renting from a coreligionist two small rooms in an upper 
 story, and awaited the coming of his family. The immigrants had 
 neither relatives nor friends to greet them;" they were penniless, 
 for all their slender stock of money had been expended on the 
 voyage over. On landing, the father found on the wharf a " fippenny 
 bit" (a coin worth about six cents), and this, the only money he 
 had, was the small beginning of what eventually became a modest 
 fortune. His sturdy self-respect led him to decline aid which was 
 proffered him, though he was so hard pressed that he had no money 
 to buy bread. A kind-hearted baker gave him a loaf on credit, 
 and as long as that baker remained in business he counted among 
 his best customers the family of the man he had befriended. On 
 the day after the immigrants arrived it was very cold in the bare 
 
 " There were at that time only three or four German Jewish families 
 in Baltimore.
 
 ^. 
 
 '^-T^l^iZ^ <^^//^ 
 
 JONAS FRIEDENWALD 
 
 About i86s
 
 QjAwnaaam^ sahol 
 
 as 
 as 
 
 olis nortli- 
 
 >u the 
 ag, the f . * fippeimy 
 
 money he
 
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 Family Antecedents. 19 
 
 lodgings, and my great-grandfather and Bernard Stern went out 
 into the woods near Patterson Park to get wood to make a fire. 
 Joseph Friedenwald, a little boy, shivering with cold, said to his 
 mother : " War en wir nur in unserem ivarmen Stubchen zu Hause 
 gehliehen!" The poor woman, who had braved and suffered so 
 much, broke down and cried bitterly. 
 
 But better times soon dawned. In a few days Jonas Frieden- 
 wald, who had decided mechanical ability, started out as an um- 
 brella mender, an occupation which he had learned shortly before 
 leaving Europe, with a view to supporting himself in America. 
 This work from the first yielded him an income sufficient to main- 
 tain his family, to lay aside enough to begin a general junk-business, 
 in which the entire household aided him, and, not long after, to 
 open near-by a grocery store, of which his wife took charge. Suc- 
 cess crowned their efforts, and a ledger of the years 1840 and 1841, 
 which is in the hands of the writer, shows numerous accounts run- 
 ning into several hundreds of dollars. This progress was aided 
 by the father's early acquisition of the English language, which 
 he learned to use with ease, partly by practice, especially in the 
 deliberations of Warren Lodge, A. F. and A. M., of which he soon 
 became a member,' and partly by reading the Baltimore Sun, to 
 which he remained a subscriber for sixty years. He later entered 
 the hardware business, in company with his son-in-law, and by the 
 year 1854 was in a position to retire upon a competence sufficient 
 to maintain his family in comfort, and to enable him to give freely 
 to all the needy who applied to him, as well as to various societies 
 and institutions. He was one of the founders of the Hebrew As- 
 sistance Society, later called the Hebrew Benevolent Society. He 
 was chosen its second treasurer, and continued to act as such for 
 many years. When the demands upon the Benevolent Society on 
 
 «He was for some years before his death the oldest Mason in Balti- 
 more.
 
 20 Aaron Fkiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 behalf of the sick and the aged exceeded its resources, it was at his 
 instance that the meeting which resulted in the organization of the 
 Hebrew Hospital and Asylum Association was held. When the 
 need for an orphan asylum for Jewish children became apparent, he 
 suggested the calling of a meeting at which the Hebrew Orphan Asy- 
 lum was founded. He reestablished the Hebrew Free Burial So- 
 ciety, and was elected its president, and various members of his 
 family united in donating the ground in which the society makes 
 interments. For many years he distributed to the poor Mazzoth for 
 Passover, and by a liberal bequest which he made this charity is 
 still continued.^ He devoted himself almost entirely to communal 
 and religious affairs, for he had a deep love for his faith and for 
 his people. His wise counsel aided many a Jewish newcomer to 
 establish himself. His benevolence, however, knew no bounds of 
 race or creed; his will, for example, contained, among other be- 
 quests, liberal legacies to the Baltimore Association for the Im- 
 provement of the Condition of the Poor, to the German Orphan 
 Asylum, and to the German Aged People's Home. His kindness to 
 the unfortunate, charity to the poor, and hospitality to the stranger 
 became proverbial. 
 
 In religion his attitude was uncompromisingly conservative. In 
 protest against innovations which he considered improper and even 
 impious he withdrew in 1871 from the Baltimore Hebrew Congre- 
 gation, and formed, together with a few associates, the Chizuk 
 Emoonah Congregation, which built a synagogue in Lloyd street. 
 In connection with this synagogue he aided in establishing and 
 maintaining a Beth ha-Midrash, together with a Eabbinical library. 
 
 His devotion to his religion appears in the following extract 
 
 ' This bequest was transferred, after the death of Aaron Friedenwald, 
 to the Hebrew Benevolent Society of Baltimore, the directors of which 
 agreed to apply the proceeds in perpetuity in accordance with the 
 wishes of the testator.
 
 MERLE FRIEDENWALD 
 
 About 1865
 
 aJAWl/l3a3IRl 3JR3IV1 
 
 i)han Asy- 

 
 Family Antecedents. 21 
 
 from a letter which my father wrote to me under date of January 
 1, 1888. 
 
 "I saw grandfather this morning and he inquired after you. He 
 had a cold, he told me, and regretted very much that he could not 
 go to synagogue early in the morning, particularly as for the first 
 time they failed to get minyan.^ Just think of it, at his age, on a 
 sleety winter morning, upbraiding himself for having neglected 
 what he considered to be a duty ! It is refreshing to see a man 
 clinging to duty throughout a long life, and praying for strength 
 to continue to do so." 
 
 His ninetieth birthday was celebrated in the synagogue by an 
 imposing service, at which a number of prominent rabbis delivered 
 addresses fitly commemorating his services to his people and to 
 his faith. He died on September 2, 1893, having nearly reached 
 his ninety-first birthday. 
 
 His wife had died long years before, on July 9, 1871. Her death 
 was a great blow to her husband, then a man of seventy, who made 
 a two years' voyage to Europe to recover from its depressing effects. 
 On the voyage out the vessel on which he sailed was wrecked, and 
 he was the last passenger to leave the ship, and the only one injured. 
 Before my grandmother died, she suffered many years of painful 
 illness, which nevertheless did not change the uniform kindli- 
 ness of her disposition. She was noted for her skilful use of the pithy 
 aphorisms in which Jewish wit is so prolific. I can truly say, in the 
 words of Solomon, that she was a " virtuous woman, whose price 
 was far above rubies. The heart of her husband trusted in her, and 
 she did him good and not evil all the days of her life. She opened 
 her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness was on her tongue." 
 
 * The quorum necessary for public worship.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Early Life (1830-1860). 
 
 After Jonas Friedenwald's arrival in America two sons were 
 born to him. The first of these, Moses, was born in 1834; the 
 second, born on December 20, 1836, almost five years after the 
 landing of the immigrants, was Aaron Friedenwald, the subject of 
 the present biography. His schooling began early, and he was able 
 to write when he was eight years old. He remarks in a letter dated 
 December 31, 1887 : " I remember well when I first began to write. 
 It was in 1844, and it does not seem so very long ago." He attended 
 the school maintained by the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation. 
 Among his first teachers was an Irishman named Eoss, a dominie 
 of the old school, stern and severe, but a thorough and efficient in- 
 structor, for whom he always cherished profound respect. In later 
 years he would repeat a jingling list of the counties of Maryland, 
 such as old-fashioned pedagogues delighted in, with the remark that 
 he had learnt it from Eoss. His early religious training was re- 
 ceived at the congregational school. His instructors were Mr. 
 Weil, Mr. Dannenberg, Mr. Sachs, and, later on, Eeverend Dr. 
 Henry Hochheimer, who, soon after his arrival in this country, pre- 
 pared my father for the Bar-Mizwah ceremony, and introduced him 
 to the study of Eashi's Biblical commentary. He early acquired for 
 the study of Hebrew a love which he retained throughout his life. 
 He was an apt scholar, and in later years looked back to his school 
 days as pleasant memories. His mother described him as very studi- 
 ous. Although he was always willing to help in any way he could, 
 she said, whenever he had a moment's leisure in the winter-time he
 
 Eaely Life. 33 
 
 ■would find a snug comer near the stove and read some interesting 
 book. He received scant encouragement at home, however, and 
 was looked upon as a mere dreamer. His brother Moses was the 
 only member of the family who could understand him and sympa- 
 thize with him. 
 
 An important influence upon the formation of his character was 
 that exerted by the late Eeverend Abraham Eice, the first Eabbi 
 of the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation and an intimate friend of 
 the family. Eice was a very pious man, whose congenial nature 
 and religious fervor attracted the thoughtful boy, and it is to his 
 influence rather than to any other that I should ascribe the con- 
 sistent religious views which marked the whole course of my father's 
 life. His loving veneration for Eice appeared in his frequent refer- 
 ences to him and in his unvarying custom of having the prayer for 
 the dead recited in his memory on the Day of Atonement. He 
 mentioned on several occasions his intention of publishing a biog- 
 raphy of the rabbi, together with a selection from his sermons, 
 «ome of which my father transcribed; this intention, however, was 
 never carried out. 
 
 His school days were soon over, and the earnest work of life be- 
 gan for him when he was about fifteen years old. His brothers, 
 who were engaged in the clothing business, employed him as a 
 book-keeper. He continued at this work till his twenty-first birth- 
 day, finding the position decidedly uncongenial. Many years elapsed 
 before he completely outlived the bitterness of this period. In a 
 letter written in his later life (December 22, 1887) to his favorite 
 brother Moses he says, " We are afforded . . . the consolation 
 that now we can look up higher than to those who ruled over us 
 then, and that many heartaches, disappointments, and humiliations 
 to which we were subjected then have also been interred." 
 
 But this period was not entirely spent in the drudgery of office
 
 24 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 work. The ambitious clerk was preparing himself for some broader 
 sphere of activity. His evenings were devoted in great part to 
 study and general reading. He took lessons from Mr. Jonas Gold- 
 smith in French, making considerable progress in that language; 
 and he learned to know English literature well, being particularly 
 interested in fiction and in history. The sciences, especially physics, 
 chemistry, and mathematics, were also diligently studied, and he 
 gained so thorough a knowledge of them that in later years his 
 children never brought him a question in science or a problem in 
 algebra or geometry which he could not nelp them to unravel. 
 
 At this time he benefited by attending the debates of a literary 
 society which met at the northeast corner of Calvert and Centre 
 streets. Later, about 1855, he was one of the founders of a similar 
 society, called the Hebrew Young Men's Literary Association, be- 
 coming one of the most active members of this body. In February, 
 1856, he was elected recording secretary, and several years later was 
 chosen president. The debates held by this society, which was com- 
 posed of a number of young men from eighteen to twenty years of 
 age, were a source of entertainment and instruction. A number of 
 speeches which my father wrote to deliver in these debates are still 
 in existence, and show that he had at that time a good command of 
 forceful English, For example, he opens an essay on " Patriotism," 
 written about 1857, in the following words : 
 
 " Of all the virtues which are calculated to elevate a person in the 
 estimation of his countrymen, which procure for him the respect of 
 the world and hand down his name to be revered by posterity, there 
 is none to be compared to Patriotism. . . . 
 
 " Would the justice of an Aristides, the piety of a Washington, 
 the wisdom of a Franklin or a Jefferson, the valor of a Jackson have 
 occupied such a great [place] in the minds of their countrymen or 
 on the pages of history had not their patriotic deeds caused uni-
 
 Early Life. 25 
 
 versal admiration and enthusiasm? . . . He who is imbued 
 with that noble feeling is fearless of danger, regardless of sacrifice, 
 when his services are required either to check the baneful influence 
 of party spirit and to quell the dangerous agitations that ambitious 
 demagogues may occasion at home, to defend the sanctity of his 
 country from the invasion of a foreign foe, or to break the fetters 
 of an enslaved people." 
 
 His views upon public speaking are expressed in one of these es- 
 says as follows: "When has there been such an extraordinary 
 striving for the acquisition of eloquence as there is in the present 
 time? Almost every school boy, dazzled by the brilliance of the 
 position occupied by eloquent men, is led to the erroneous belief 
 that the culture ... of his perhaps overvalued abilities will 
 make him a second Cicero, or flatters himself destined to fill the 
 position left vacant by Clay, Calhoun, and Webster. ... I 
 grant that study, perseverance, and application may contribute to 
 the gracefulness of position, to the development of the voice, to the 
 beauty of language, to the impressiveness of speech, and to the per- 
 suasiveness of argument. . . . Was it art that enabled the 
 fathers of the Revolution to kindle enthusiasm within the hearts 
 of the people, that brought about such glorious results? Was it 
 . . . studied rhetoric that fired the people to action, that caused 
 them to forget the dangers of war and fly to arms to do the bidding 
 of th-eir country ? ... It was their patriotism, which was dis- 
 played in every word they uttered. It was their love for the cause 
 of humanity, which flashed from their countenances. It was their 
 devotedness to their coimtry, which characterized their . . . 
 illustrious careers. It was their sincerity, which was as palpable 
 then as it was afterwards in their struggles upon the fields of 
 battle. . . . 
 
 " While the heart bled, while humanity groaned under the iron 
 heel of oppression, when it was seen that even in exile there was
 
 26 Aaron Peiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 no refuge from the cruelties of the tyrant, then every appeal in be- 
 half of freedom became eloquent, for it was the effusion of the 
 soul. . . . 
 
 " Let a man be as perfect in oratory as art can make him, if 
 there is the least blemish upon his character, if there is anything 
 that can cause it to be suspected that he is more a preacher than a 
 practice! of morality, all the resources that he can bring to bear 
 will be fruitless and unavailing. . . ." 
 
 It was the custom of this society to have a written report of each 
 meeting submitted by a member selected to act as critic. A volume 
 of such reports, extendiuig from November 12, 1856, to February 
 21, 1858, is in my possession. My father's name occurs frequently 
 as a participant in the discussions, and the book contains a number 
 of reports written and signed by him in a characteristic hand, al- 
 most identical with that of his latest years. From this book the 
 following excerpts are taken. As critic of the meeting of December 
 21, 1856, at which the subject, " Do Circumstances ever Justify 
 Crime?" was discussed, he takes exception to 
 
 "... One argument, however, which appears to me to be very er- 
 roneous. [The debater] said that the crime of perjury would be 
 justifiable should its commission be the means of saving an inno- 
 cent person from an ignominious death. If we examine upon what 
 principle the taking of oath was instituted, the fallacy of the argu- 
 ment will at once appear. In the taking of evidence in cases of 
 law, why will not the plain statement suffice? What importance 
 is added to it by an oath? It is justly supposed that, when a man 
 is conscious of certain punishment, it will act as a great means to 
 prevent him from committing crime. And, as the commandment 
 says : ' Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain, for the 
 Lord will not hold him guiltless who taketh his name in vain,' who 
 then can expect to be held guiltless if he calls the name of the 
 Lord to witness the utterance of a falsehood?"
 
 Early Life. 27 
 
 At the meeting held on November 29, 1857, he recited a poem. 
 The critic of the meeting remarks : " His solemn tone of voice was 
 well suited to the character of the piece he had chosen, and only at 
 the end of some sentences degenerated into a singing tone." 
 
 As critic of the meeting of December 27, 1857, he mentions the 
 late Dr. A. B. Arnold, then a physician of ten years' practice, whom 
 he describes elsewhere as the " guardian of our society." He speaks 
 thus of Arnold, who had taken part in the debate : " The doctor's 
 remarks were delivered in his usual agreeable and impressive style. 
 The manner in which he constantly scans the arguments of his op- 
 ponents without losing sight of those he intends to establish is one 
 peculiarly his own." 
 
 His humor sometimes appeared in these criticisms. He thus flays 
 Mr. N"., who was to have given a historical reading : " He caused the 
 audience a double disappointment. First, the piece of poetry which 
 he read was entirely devoid of historical interest; and, secondly, his 
 reading was as bad as his selection." 
 
 He derived great advantage from several years of activity in this 
 society. In after years, when he was noted as an orator from whose 
 lips an address, a lecture, or an after-dinner speech flowed with 
 equal grace, and as a speaker who was never at a loss for the fitting 
 word, he assured the writer that as a young man public speaking 
 had been most painful and embarrassing to him, and that only long 
 practice had overcome this difiiculty. Usually, though not always, 
 he wrote out what he intended to say, and after one or two readings 
 of his manuscript he would be prepared to deliver an address com- 
 bining the order and finish of a set speech with the freedom and 
 spontaneity of impromptu discourse. 
 
 On April 22, 1858, he was received into Masonry, and on June 24 
 of the same year he became a Master Mason in Amicable Lodge, 
 No. 25, A. F. and A. M. Though not active as a Mason, he re- 
 mained a member of this lodge until his death, forty-five years 
 later.
 
 28 Aaron Fkiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 When my father reached his majority, he informed his parents 
 that he was resolved to give up business and to study medicine, and 
 accordingly he entered on March 6, 1858 the ojB&ce of Professor 
 Nathan E. Smith, known among the medical profession as the 
 " Emperor," and one of the most prominent surgeons of his day. He 
 also took out cards for the courses at the University of Maryland. 
 This step marked the turning point of his life. He had long looked 
 forward to intellectual work, and was obliged to overcome great 
 difficulties in the shape of prejudices and other obstacles which 
 blocked his path. His studies meant a new life to him, a life which 
 released him from an occupation thoroughly distasteful, and opened 
 the way to activities which he had long looked forward to and never 
 ceased to love. 
 
 One day, soon after he entered Professor Smith's office as a pupil, 
 he walked into the university infirmary and found a note, unsigned, 
 making an insulting reference to his religion. He immediately 
 wrote underneath the scrawl : " The man who wrote the above lines 
 is as great a coward as he is a scoundrel, or he would have signed 
 his name"; and then added his own, "A. Friedenwald." In a 
 short time he was confronted by a number of students, one of whom 
 demanded menacingly to know if he had written those words. He 
 emphatically affirmed that he had, and stood so plainly ready to 
 answer for what he had done that his opponents left the room one by 
 one, not daring to molest him. His election to the " Push Club," 
 a secret university organization, named after the famous Dr. Ben- 
 jamin Rush of Philadelphia, membership in which was an indica- 
 tion of scholarship and character, soon followed. Dr. N". G. Keirle, 
 who was at that time an advanced student, and remembers the in- 
 cident well, recently told me of an epilogue to this story. Many 
 years later he met my father looking for Dr. 0., the author of the 
 unsigned note, in order to assure him that he bore him no ill-will. 
 Dr. Keirle, who told my father that Dr. 0., who had for many years
 
 AARON FRIEDENWALD
 
 1 e- 
 
 parents 
 
 - ij le, and 
 
 i Trofessor 
 
 - as the 
 
 lay. He 
 
 ^be TJniverfei iryland. 
 
 He had long looked 
 
 opened 
 
 the wa; ver 
 
 ,->mif]i's nfficp :is a nnnH 
 
 ^^ iiAv 
 
 He 
 
 ready to 
 
 I'n.Ai one by 
 
 QJAWnaaairtr^'MOfiAA Rnsh Club," 
 
 oMivi^ffirtHv.!', ■ >r. Ben-" 
 
 . indica- 
 
 • . Keirle, 
 
 tlv in- 
 
 Ma7:iy 
 
 :" the 
 
 vearf^ 
 
 jed note, :-v^-ill-. 
 
 , who to 'iV years
 
 Early Life. 29 
 
 been a clerk in a drug-store, had recently died, was deeply touched 
 at the sorrow which this information caused him. 
 
 As the affair of the anonymous note would show, my father was 
 a man of courage and sturdiness. He was fully able to take care of 
 himself. One day, when a very small boy, he came home crying 
 that another boy had given him a whipping; whereupon his father 
 gave him another, with the admonition to defend himself better in 
 the future. He profited by the lesson. Swimming, driving, and 
 fishing were the favorite sports of his younger days, though he and 
 his brothers were also fond of wrestling. He became expert in all 
 of these forms of exercise, and developed an active and muscular 
 physique. As a little boy he was in the habit of swimming in the 
 harbor, close to his home at the foot of Bond street; and once nar- 
 rowly escaped death, haviAg been caught under the rafters of the 
 wharf. On another occasion he and his brother Moses, at the risk 
 of their lives, saved a boy from drowning. 
 
 His courage was seen on more than one occasion. In his younger 
 days there was a body of " Know-nothing " rowdies who were in the 
 habit of disturbing balls, picnics, and other gatherings, and often 
 broke them up. My father and his friends twice gave these worthies 
 an unpleasant reception. On one of these occasions the roughs at- 
 tempted to disturb a ball given at the " New Assembly Eooms." 
 They entered, and were about to resort to their usual tactics when 
 the gentlemen present, who were prepared for them, locked the 
 doors, and soon laid every one of the unbidden guests flat on the 
 floor. Then the doors were opened, and each one of the invaders 
 was carried from the hall by two bearers, one at his head and one 
 at his heels, and unceremoniously tumbled out into the street. This 
 was the last time my father and his friends were ever molested by 
 these gentry. During the time that he was a student of medicine 
 he stopped one evening at the clothing store kept by his brothers. 
 A fellow suddenly rushed in, snatched an armful of clothes, and
 
 30 Aaron Fkiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 dashed away at full speed. My father immediately started after 
 him; presently the thief dropped the goods, but the pursuer never 
 slackened his pace. The rowdy ran over to the opposite side of the 
 street, drew a revolver, and shouted : " If anybody comes near me, 
 I'll shoot." Without a second's hesitation, my father rushed at him,, 
 seized him by the throat, threw him down, snatched the revolver out 
 of his grasp, and, holding it at his head, kept him prisoner until a 
 policeman arrived to conduct the thief to the station-house. On 
 another occasion my father was seated in the rear of the second of 
 three carriages in which a picnic party was riding. The inexperi- 
 enced driver of the first carriage carelessly allowed his horse to 
 get too near the edge of a steep embankment. The vehicle was on 
 the point of toppling over, when my father, seeing the danger, 
 cleared the front seat, leaped over the dash-board, ran up, and, at 
 the risk of his life, stopped the horse. It was all done in the twink- 
 ling of an eye. 
 
 The incident just mentioned occurred during my father's student 
 days at the University of Maryland. This period combined hard 
 study with the pleasures of friendly intercourse with congenial 
 fellow-students and teachers, and he often alluded to it in later life. 
 His most intimate friend among the students was Alexander Bear, 
 of Virginia, who, after graduation, enlisted in the Confederate 
 Army, and later settled in Nebraska. Both were frequent visitors at 
 the home of Dr. A. B. Arnold. It was Mr. Bear who introduced my 
 father, at a picnic in 1859, to Miss Bertha Bamberger. This ac- 
 quaintance finally led to their betrothal and marriage. 
 
 Among my father's teachers at the University of Maryland there 
 were several who should be specially mentioned. Foremost among 
 these was Professor Smith. For two years my father remained in 
 his oflSce, and the relations between them became very close. Smith 
 won his imbounded admiration and esteem, both as a surgeon 
 and as a man, and that this esteem was returned is shown by
 
 4 ^ hj ^
 
 Early Life. 31 
 
 the following certificate, given my father on the eve of his depar- 
 ture for Europe. 
 
 University of Maryland, April 22, 1860. 
 It gives me great pleasure to bear unsolicited testimony to the 
 superior merits and qualifications of my young friend and recent 
 pupil, Dr. Aaron Friedenwald. 
 
 Dr. Friedenwald is a recent graduate of the University of Mary- 
 land, and has been a private pupil of my oflfice during two years. 
 He has seen much of my practice and has aided me in many sur- 
 gical operations. He has applied himself with distinguished in- 
 dustry and intelligence and in all respects he has commanded my 
 highest respect and confidence. 
 
 I there [fore] commend him, without reserve, to the kind offices 
 of all with whom my name may have influence. 
 
 Nathan E. Smith, M. D., 
 Prof, of Surgery, University of Md. 
 
 There sprang up between master and pupil a firm friendship, 
 which ended only with the death of the former in 1877. 
 
 Professor Charles Frick, the able, original, and enthusiastic in- 
 structor in materia medica and therapeutics, was another favorite 
 teacher. His death in March, 1860, shortly after the commencement, 
 was a great shock to my father, who cherished among his most 
 valued papers the introductory address delivered by Frick at the 
 beginning of the session of 1858-1859, Professor Joseph Roby, 
 one of the best anatomists this country ever had, also made a deep 
 impression upon him. In later life my father often spoke of him 
 as a most remarkable man. The genial Professor G. W. Miltenber- 
 ger, who outlived his pupil, occupied the chair of obstetrics. He 
 always remained a fast friend of my father's. The other instructors 
 were -Samuel Chew, professor of the principles and practice of 
 medicine, William E. A. Aikin, professor of chemistry and 
 pharmacy, and Berwick B. Smith, demonstrator of anatomy.
 
 32 Aaron Feiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 Dilijgent study marked the future physician's work at the Uni- 
 versity of Maryland, and a successful conclusion crowned the activ- 
 ity of two well-spent years on February 28, 1860, under which date 
 Dr. Miltenberger, as Dean of the Medical Faculty, informed him 
 that he had passed the final examinations. The commencement ex- 
 ercises took place at the New Assembly Eooms, at the corner of 
 Lombard and Hanover streets, on March 3, 1860.
 
 AARON FRIEDENWALD AND BERTHA BAMBERGER
 
 32 
 
 ' ihf^. Uni- 
 
 date 
 
 .' corner of 
 
 n3£)R3aMAa AHTH3a QUA QjAwnaaami i/ioaaa
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 Student Days in Berlin (1860-1861). 
 
 My father resolved to continue his medical studies in Europe be- 
 fore entering upon the practice of medicine. Such a journey was 
 rarely undertaken in those days, and consequently the preparations, 
 both on the part of the traveler and on that of his friends, were much 
 more elaborate then than they are now. His friends of the Hebrew 
 Young Men's Literary Association presented him with a gold-headed 
 cane and a set of resolutions expressing their " sincere sorrow at 
 parting with one who has been eminent in the faithful discharge of 
 his duties and who, being one of the founders of the Association, has 
 labored zealously for its welfare." 
 
 A few evenings before his departure he became engaged to Miss 
 Bertha Bamberger. The engagement was not announced until his 
 return to America, about two years later. In the diary of his 
 European trip, in referring to a game of chess with a friend, he 
 writes (under date of May 31, I860):" This game puts me in mind 
 
 of the last game I played in Baltimore. It was with [his 
 
 betrothed] ; some time ago I first sought her company for the pur- 
 pose of having an opportunity of playing chess with a lady. I soon 
 found that her conversational powers were far more attractive than 
 her chess-playing. . . . This was the game in which occurred 
 that lasting check-mate." 
 
 On April 26 he left for New York to embark on May 1 upon the 
 steamship Hammonia, of the Hamburg-American line. In New 
 York he received a letter from his eldest brother, Bernard Stern, 
 giving him good advice and proffering assistance, if needed, add- 
 ing: " I hope you will be the^ bright star of our family, which will
 
 34 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 give pleasure to us all and to yourself, I would acquire knowledge 
 not only in the branch of medicine, but in all branches, so that you 
 may become a professor in time. This is my wish and that of 
 us all." The advice was heeded, and the wish fulfilled. 
 
 His letters and a diary kept at that time may now take up the 
 thread of the story. After seeing the sights of Hamburg, he pro- 
 ceeded on the twentieth of May directly to Berlin, and matriculated 
 at the University. " Matriculating in our country takes about five 
 minutes, here very nearly the whole day. On going in and stating 
 my desire to matriculate, was asked for my credentials; handed in 
 my diploma. Was then asked for my passport; told him that it 
 was in the hands of the police department; was told to go for 
 it ; and, finding the clerk in a good humor, obtained it, contrary to 
 the rules ; it was necessary to go about a mile in my police district 
 and get the sanction of the head of the police there, to ask for my 
 passport. Was driven in a DroschJce to the university, and, after 
 signing six or seven documents, was fully matriculated. It was 
 then necessary to go to the Dean of the Medical Faculty and get 
 another document, then to return to the Qudstur at the university, 
 to pay for my tickets, then to the various professors' residences to 
 get my Anmeldebogen signed." [Diary.] He enrolled himself for the 
 following courses: AugenJcranlcheiten und Aiigenheilhunde, von 
 Graefe; M edizinische Klinih, Frerichs; Chirurg-augendrztliche 
 Klinik, Langenbeck; Klinih fiir Augenkranke, von Graefe; and, 
 somewhat later, Poiliologie, Virchow; and a practical course in 
 ophthalmoscopy under Liebreich. 
 
 The first letter he received from his father expressed the hope that 
 his religious attitude would not be altered by his stay abroad. He 
 replied : 
 
 Berlin, May 28, 1860. 
 Dear Father, 
 
 I hope you will not be too much concerned about my religious 
 deportment; for, though I will not promise to equal your piety, I
 
 Student Days in Berlin. 35 
 
 shall always look upon it as an example with feelings of pride, and 
 will endeavor to approach it to such a degree, at least, that when I 
 shall meet you again, I shall not give you cause to regret my present 
 absence from home. . . . 
 
 Berlin, May 28, 1860. 
 Dear Friends, 
 
 I have no doubt you are very anxious to know how I stand my 
 absence from home. Well, not having expected to find things quite 
 as comfortable as I had them at home, I have not been greatly dis- 
 appointed. My situation is, however, comfortable enough to pre- 
 vent any serious degree of homesickness; and, though I often think 
 of home and the dear ones I have left behind, as I know that many 
 a devout prayer for my success arises there, it is more with feelings 
 of pleasure than of pain. Every thought of home acts as a fresh 
 stimulus to my energies, and makes me anxious that my return 
 should be more satisfactory than speedy. . . . 
 
 I paid my respects to our minister, the Hon. Joseph N. Wright;, 
 a few days ago, and was cordially received by him. I felt perfectly 
 easy in his company; before I left, I felt as though I had known 
 him for years. He invited me to repeat my visit. His deportment 
 presents a strange contrast to the haughtiness of the Prussian offi- 
 cials with whom I came in contact. It has made me fall in love 
 afresh with everything American. 
 
 A few evenings since, being in a beer garden, I heard some one 
 in the crowd whistling " Yankee Doodle ;" I was affected as by an 
 electric shock, was almost involuntarily drawn to the spot, and 
 found that the melody emanated from a respectable-looking, well- 
 dressed young gentleman. I accosted him with, " What right have 
 you to whistle my songs?" No further altercation took place, he 
 having established his right by stating that he was an American, 
 and a Baltimorean at that, who was here to serve an apprenticeship
 
 36 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 in a very large mercantile establishment. After this, of course, we 
 had a fine time together. . . . 
 
 This morning brought me a letter from David and Eebecca and 
 one from Moses. You cannot imagine with what joy I read them. 
 It used to amuse me to see our good aunt Eoschen read the letters 
 she received from Germany, but now I can appreciate her feel- 
 ings. ... I could hardly read the letters on account of the 
 continued stream of tears which they caused to gush forth. . . . 
 
 Berlin, June 17, 1860. 
 
 Dear Parents, 
 
 I will not attempt to describe my joy on receiving your letter 
 dated May 31. I heard on the morning of the fifteenth of the 
 arrival of the steamer, and I felt sure that I should receive a 
 letter from home. Every time the bell rang, I was on my feet and 
 listening anxiously to hear some one inquire for me. At last my 
 Wirth, of whom I had inquired so often about letters, and who, in 
 consequence, knew my anxiety, came into my room with the most 
 pleasant countenance I ever saw, and two letters in his hand. In 
 a moment every muscle in my body was quivering; how often I 
 read them over I am now unable to say, but it seemed to me that 
 I should never get tired of reading them. I went to the lectures, 
 but, despite all my efforts, my thoughts were across the 
 ocean. . . . 
 
 I am very much pleased with Berlin; it is a most beautiful city, 
 and offers me professional advantages far superior to all I had ever 
 anticipated. In one branch of medicine, die Augenheilkunde, Ber- 
 lin surpasses every other city in the world. To this branch I am 
 at present devoting the most of my time, though I also visit the 
 clinics of internal diseases and those of surgery; but in these 
 branches they are not much ahead of us. . . .
 
 Student Days in Berlin. 37 
 
 Berlin, June 17th, 1860. 
 Dear Brother Stern, 
 
 Say what you will of Europe, it cannot be denied that one can 
 enjoy himself here. In whatever direction you start out from the 
 city you encounter places of public amusement, which I know no 
 better way of describing than to ask you to picture to yourself 
 Paradise as described in the Bible with the addition of lager- 
 beer. . . . 
 
 Berlin, June 17, 1860. 
 Dear Brother Mose, 
 
 Every Sunday afternoon I spend in the company of ^'s 
 
 family, and I enjoy myself very much with them. His married sister 
 is a remarkably intellectual lady; she is quite a poetess, and has a 
 most amiable disposition. Durin,g the week, I attend lectures from 
 ten A. M. to twelve o'clock, then from 2 P. M. to five o'clock, and 
 twice a week from 5 to 6, when I receive private tuition in Latin. 
 The rest of the day I spend in my room studying. Occasionally 
 during the evenings I take a walk with a young friend of mine; 
 sometimes I go to some beer garden, sometimes I stay at home ; and, 
 as I find that my correspondence is rather large, I think I shall be 
 forced to do this often. . . . 
 
 [Diary, June 24, I860.] 
 [He called upon some friends.] They proposed to visit two fe- 
 males older than most of the old maids in our country. If I were in 
 their company, at a loss for a subject for conversation, and especially 
 if I wished to choose one upon which . . . they could inform 
 me, their appearance would suggest " ancient history." One was 
 about forty, the other thirty-five . . . and oh ! how homely ! 
 
 Berlin, July 16, 1860. 
 Dear Father, 
 
 . . . I feel very much at home here already, and I like the
 
 38 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 place so well that I shall probably spend the next session here; it 
 commences October 1. 
 
 "We had a grand celebration of the Fourth of July at the Ameri- 
 can minister's; all the Americans in Berlin were invited, there be- 
 ing in all about fifty guests. It came off in the evening. You will 
 probably read an account of it in your papers. There was a splen- 
 did table set; the ladies were waited upon, while the gentlemen, in 
 true democratic spirit, helped themselves. . . . 
 
 After about an hour's entertainment in the dining hall, we were 
 conducted to the spacious parlor, and then the speeches commenced. 
 The various states were called upon, and those who were present 
 to represent them responded. When old Maryland was announced, 
 all my patriotism was aroused, and I made a regular Fourth of July 
 speech, which I had prepared for the occasion, 
 
 Berlin, July 16, 1860. 
 Liehe Mutter, 
 
 Ich hoffe dass Du Dich wieder von Deiner UnpdssUchJceit erholt 
 hast; Du wvrst gewiss oft denTcen, wie es Deinem Aaronchen geht, 
 nnd wie es ihm in der Fremde gefdllt. . . . Wegen mir soUst 
 Du ganz un'besorgt sein, denn, ohschon ich Dein Aaronchen bin, 
 bin ich dock alt genug, mich in der Welt herumzv^chlagen. 
 
 Berlin, July 16, 1860. 
 Dear Brother Stern, 
 
 I was very happy to receive your kind letter, but I am not able 
 to write you a great deal of news, as for the last two weeks, with 
 the exception of Sundays, I have been exclusively occupied with 
 my studies. You know my wants are not very numerous, and 
 therefore I feel very comfortable here. As regards my studies, the 
 facilities which Berlin offers far exceed anytliing that I could have 
 expected, and, if for nothing else, I could not fail to become at- 
 tached to the place.
 
 Student Days in Berlin. 39 
 
 Without having lost any of my patriotism, or changed my notions 
 of republican government, I must confess that I cannot find as much 
 fault with the government here as is generally done. The manner 
 in which I think we ought to judge whether a government is good 
 or not is by what the people who live under it say. The talk of 
 outsiders can lead only to prejudiced opinions. The people here 
 enjoy themselves and seem contented; and, as I never hear them 
 complain of the government, I must conclude that it is a good one. 
 The present Prince Eegent is an excellent monarch, and he is 
 spoken of by all with the highest respect. The military here, I 
 think, cannot be surpassed in the whole world, and I can well under- 
 stand now why the Prussians speak of their soldiers with so much 
 pride. I see a good deal of those who guard the palaces, and of 
 what is regarded by those living here as necessary to royal pomp, 
 for which I know no better designation than " monkey shines." 
 Berlin is a beautiful city, abounding in . . . institutions for the 
 promotion of the arts and sciences. In one thing I was greatly 
 disappointed; I expected to find the professors grey-headed men. 
 Graafe, the greatest oculist in the world, is only thirty-five years 
 old. Though I have not confined myself exclusively to any par- 
 ticular branch of medicine, I have paid most attention to the dis- 
 eases of the eye, surgery, and microscopy. To the latter branch, 
 which is a very important one, there is no one in Baltimore who 
 has given much attention. 
 
 Berlin, July 22, 1860. 
 Dear Father, 
 
 I have till now devoted the most of my time to the study, under 
 the renowned Professor Grsefe, of AugerbheilTcunde, in which branch 
 America is behindhand more than in any other. I attend the medi- 
 cal and surgical hospitals every day, so that I may be posted on all 
 branches of the profession. ... I continue to prosecute my 
 studies with a good deal of zeal, and have no doubt that, if I con- 
 4
 
 40 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 tinue to enjoy good health, my sojourn in Europe will be very 
 profitable to me. . . . 
 
 I intend to go to Paris at the close of the session, in March ; and, 
 as lectures do not commence there before May, I shall have two 
 months to practise French, which will be very advantageous to me. 
 So, with the lessons in conversation which I shall take here next 
 winter, I think I shall be pretty well prepared to enter upon my 
 studies in France. I have not taken any lessons in French here 
 yet, but I read a good deal. My time has been too much taken up 
 with my other studies. , . , 
 
 Berlin, July 23, 1860. 
 Dear Brother Moses, 
 
 Your letter, dated July 3rd, 1860, was handed to me a few hours 
 ago; I think it unnecessary to say how glad I was to hear from 
 you, for, judging by your own feelings, you can imagine it far bet- 
 ter. You must excuse me for not writing as often as you would 
 wish, for the family is so large that to write to each of its members 
 separately consumes more time than you perhaps imagine. It is 
 now eleven o'clock P. M., and, to get through with all the writing 
 I have to do, I shall be compelled to encroach a good deal upon the 
 night; and I have a lecture to attend at seven o'clock tomorrow 
 morning. . . . 
 
 Berlin, July 23, 1860. 
 Dear Brother, 
 
 . . . Pretty women are about as scarce here as sensible ones 
 are in Baltimore. . . . 
 
 You ask me to give you a description of Berlin and its people. 
 Dear Mose, I can now appreciate how difficult it must be to describe 
 a place, especially one of the character of Berlin. Oh, how I should 
 wish to have the descriptive faculty of Walter Scott! But, not 
 having it, and not having time to give full scope to it if I did have 
 it, I must content myself with an outline description, leaving it to
 
 &a 
 
 MOSES FRIEDENWALD 
 i860
 
 QjAwnaaami 8380m 
 
 irum 
 I- bet- 
 
 Berlin and its people, 
 scribe 
 !iould 
 , not 
 
 . leaving it to
 
 Student Days in Berlin. 41 
 
 your lively imagination to fill it out. It is a large city of over five 
 hundred thousand inhabitants, with fine streets ; the business places 
 and private dwellings are not so handsome as in New York. The 
 public institutions are numerous and magnificent; the collections 
 of science and art would alone repay one for a trip across the At- 
 lantic. Every other person you meet wears a uniform. The mili- 
 tary are as fine as Prussian Americans claim they are; there is a 
 great deal of intelligence among the people; the men I think a 
 little conceited ; the women, homely. The city abounds in places of 
 amusement of various kinds, which are well encouraged. Every 
 one here is bound to enjoy himself. You would like to know in 
 what a European city differs from an American one. A city here 
 has many fine parks, ornamented by the most beautiful statuary; 
 besides, it is surrounded by such fine scenery and so many places of 
 public amusement that upon Sundays and holidays the city is nearly 
 empty. What I have seen until now forces me to conclude that Ger- 
 many is the repository of science and art. 
 
 Some weeks ago I visited a Masonic lodge and was present at an 
 initiation. I shall have a good deal to say to you about this when 
 I return, but till then " mum is the word." 
 
 . . . I read your remxarks upon politics with a great deal of 
 interest; I deeply deplore the split in the Democratic party, for I 
 think it makes Lincoln's election as good as certain. 
 
 Darmstadt, August 9, 1860. 
 Dear Parents and Eelations, 
 
 I have been absent from Berlin since the first of August; have 
 visited. Dresden, Leipsic, Niirnberg, Fiirth, Munich, Ulm, Stutt- 
 gart, and Heidelberg; and, after scrambling over the hills of the 
 latter, some of which are eighteen hundred feet high, I feel too tired 
 to describe my highly interesting journey in the way that I should 
 wish to. I have been in a continual ecstasy for the last nine days,
 
 42 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 and feel that I could never forgive myself had I not seen some of 
 the wonders of Germany, and made myself acquainted to some ex- 
 tent with the noble character of its people. I have interchanged 
 ideas with the intelligent Prussian, heard the melodious talk of the 
 charming Saxon, drunk beer with the jolly Bavarian, grasped by 
 the hand the honest, though much abused Schwab, and enjoyed a 
 chat with the clever Badenser, and after ejaculating repeatedly 
 " What a people and what a country ! " I have come to the conclu- 
 sion that there are more honest people in the world than my pre- 
 vious experience had taught me to think there were. . . . 
 
 I have been enjoying excellent health, and hope, very anxiously 
 hope, to hear the same from you. The only thing that troubles me 
 is mother's health; I feel very much concerned about her, as you 
 seem not to write very explicitly concerning her condition. Please 
 do not leave me in a painful ignorance or, what is worse, an awful 
 conjecture. 
 
 I shall be with our folks on this side of the ocean in a day or two, 
 and shall spend some time with them. I have loafed enough, and 
 I am goin^g to work again in good earnest. . . . 
 
 The traveler next passed through Giessen to Bobenhausen, his 
 mother's birthplace, where he met a number of relatives ; they were 
 overjoyed at his visit, and he spent the remainder of his vacation 
 with them. 
 
 Bobenhausen, September 9, 1860. 
 Deae Brother Mose, 
 
 . . . You were quite right in supposing that, though there 
 is in Europe much to please the eye which we cannot boast of, yet 
 in the aggregate we are far better off, and you err greatly when you 
 think that the sights in Germany will so dazzle me as to render me 
 unable to appreciate the advantages which we Americans enjoy 
 under our republican form of government. It is only by foreign
 
 Student Days in Berlin. 43 
 
 travel that we can properly estimate how much happier we are, 
 imder a government based upon the principles of equality, civil and 
 religious liberty, etc., than those are who are forced to recognize in 
 another their superior, because he is the offspring of a rotten 
 . . . system called here the nobility, and those who live where 
 it is decided whether one is eligible to certain positions or not, ac- 
 cording to the number of gods he puts his trust in. Though I must 
 bear testimony to the many improvements that the governments of 
 Europe have been forced to introduce, yet there is much left undone. 
 As regards the scattered tribe of Israel here, their burden has 
 been somewhat lightened. There are many positions which their 
 faith excludes them from, and this is a fruitful source of conver- 
 sions. I have inquired as to what their complaints are in this hilly 
 and stony region, and I find that their position is not an enviable 
 one. There are in the immediate neighborhood of this place vil- 
 lages in which Israelites are not permitted to live. The Jews also 
 have to contribute to the liquidation of the church debt. Starker 
 Tahak, niclit wahr? In other respects they are exposed to fewer 
 abuses than we mi,ght be led to suppose. I have travelled a good 
 deal through Germany, but have not heard the word " Hep " used. 
 I have made a good many inquiries, and am told that the " Ri- 
 shuth " of which we have heard so much is fast becoming extinct. 
 Even in Bayern our co-religionists delight to speak of the rapid 
 emancipation which is going on there. In Austria I have not been, 
 and there their lot is still deplorable. I have been thus explicit in 
 my description of affairs here in order to show you that, while I 
 can admire the beautiful things of the old world, my antipathy 
 against political oppression, and particularly that which is directed 
 against the members of our faith, has not in the least subsided. 
 
 BOBENHAUSEN, September 9, 1860. 
 Dear Brother Joe, 
 
 Yours dated August 22 was received with great gratification.
 
 44 Aaron Feiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 You do not wish it to be considered an answer to mine; I shall 
 therefore consider it sufficient to comply with your request to 
 send you a copy of my Fourth of July speech at Berlin. You 
 must take into consideration that it was composed at a time when 
 I was so occupied with my studies that there was but little oppor- 
 tunity left me for that reflection which a good speech requires. All 
 the time that I could afford to devote to its composition was two 
 hours in the afternoon of the Fourth, and I committed it to memory 
 while dressing. Had it not been that I knew that the folks at home 
 desired it, I would not have spared that time. 
 
 Mr. Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen, 
 
 It was a son of Maryland who first sang so beautifully of the 
 Star-spangled Banner, and she will be the last to erase from it the 
 star which represents her devotion to the Union. 
 
 I am happy to meet you here this evening and to join in the cele- 
 bration of an event to which not only is the happiness of the Ameri- 
 can people ascribable, but which has also exerted a mighty influence 
 for the advancement of mankind in every quarter of the globe. 
 Have we not just cause to be proud in pointing to the position that 
 the United States has assimied among the nations of the earth, as 
 proving the practicability of those sacred principles set forth in the 
 Declaration of Independence? Not yet have all of those passed 
 away who gazed with troubled emotions on that cloud of adversity 
 which hung over the colonies, who felt the galling effect of that op- 
 pression to which they were then subjected, and who heard the dread- 
 ful clanking of the chains which were then being forged to fetter 
 them still further ; and a country which was forced to contend against 
 innumerable influences that were calculated to stunt its growth and 
 render gloomy its future, a country which was bereft of every hope, 
 except that which it could place in the patriotism of its sons, has, 
 by establishing those sacred principles, reached a position securing 
 the happiness of its citizens, and expressing a national greatness
 
 Student Days in Berlin. 45 
 
 commanding the respect of the world. The scoffs and sneers which 
 were directed against the struggles of the sage heads and brave 
 hearts of '76 have long since ceased, . . . except where they 
 reflect their own insignificance; and while anthems of gratitude 
 are now ascending to heaven from every portion of the Union, from 
 the Atlantic to the Pacific, for the blessings accruing therefrom, a 
 prayer of the true lovers of humanity everywhere for their continu- 
 ance is mingled therewith. When we contemplate the greatness 
 which the Union has attained, despite the many difficulties against 
 which it was forced to contend in its organization and since then, 
 must we not be convinced that the principles of truth and justice 
 "upon which it was reared have elicited the protection of Divine 
 Providence, and that its stability is unquestionable? Let this be a 
 •consolation to those who, from an intensity of enthusiasm, imagine 
 danger to the Union, and let it teach the world that the tendency 
 of American statesmanship must still be onward, onward ! 
 
 September 9, 1860. 
 Deae Niece Lina, 
 
 For the present I shall not preach to you, for I imagine you to 
 be too good a girl to require it; but, if you should find that my 
 sermons are of any assistance to you in repelling those foolish no- 
 tions to which many of our young ladies fall a prey, you can have 
 them at short notice. Though I am always pleased to receive your 
 letters, and under all circumstances find them interesting, permit 
 me to lay down several principles to guide you in their composition. 
 
 First, under all circumstances let them be grammatically correct ; 
 for, while a little slang in conversation is often pardoned, when per- 
 petrated in the august presence of pen, ink, and paper, and by those 
 from whom better can well be expected, it becomes a target for the 
 most painful ridicule. 
 
 Secondly, in the construction of your sentences strive to bestow
 
 46 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 upon them that polish which is expressive of education and refine- 
 ment. In our age of civilization, language has ceased to be merely 
 a series of articulations by which persons may imderstand each 
 other, but has also become an index to one's intellectual resources. 
 Thirdly, do not tolerate the old-fashioned idea that letters must 
 necessarily be news-mongers; regard them more as vehicles of 
 thought. In times gone by, in order to prevent any company that 
 was assembled from falling asleep, when there was no unusual oc- 
 currence to relate, hobgoblin stories were abundantly invented. 
 Now, when people think more, it has not been found impossible to 
 hold a conversation, even if one's neighbor has not broken a leg; 
 and grandma can continue her knitting without being frightened 
 as she formerly was by having her attention drawn to haunted 
 spots. As letters are nothing but the means of holding a conversa- 
 tion at a distance, they have undergone a similar change. . . . 
 
 BoBENHAUSEN, September 9, 1860. 
 Dear Brother Stern, 
 
 Besides the ladies there is much else here which I do not think 
 as beautiful as in America. I have acquainted myself a little with 
 affairs in the interior of Germany, and find that they present a great 
 contrast to what I have seen in the cities. While the cities are re- 
 positories of science and art and everything has a refined tone, in 
 the country, and especially about here, ignorance and poverty 
 abound to an enormous extent. There is little done for education 
 outside of the cities. The government thinks that those subjects 
 '.vho know the least are the easiest to govern, and therefore it makes 
 knowledge as difficult to acquire as possible. They talk a great 
 deal about making children go to school seven and eight years ; let 
 me explain this to you. Children have but from one to two, and,. 
 when further advanced, three hours' school a day; and this under 
 persons who are half teachers and half farmers. They are taught
 
 Student Days in Berlin. 47 
 
 to read and write and cipher a little, and that is all. Whether this 
 is the case in all the provinces of Germany I do not know, but so 
 it is in Hesse-Darmstadt. 
 
 People lead a wretched sort of life here; even those who can af- 
 ford it seldom eat meat. The Jews, who live far better than the 
 Christians, have meat but once a week. I have often heard it stated 
 that, despite all this, people are healthier than with us; this is not 
 so. Our country people look far better than people do about 
 here. . . . 
 
 BoBENHAUSEN, September 10, 1860. 
 Liehe Mutter^ 
 
 Ich hoffe, wenn dieses Dich antreffen wird, doss Du von den 
 Klauen der schmerzhaften und langdauernden Krankheit welche 
 Du dulden musstcst, hefreit sein wirst. In heinem Falle lasse den 
 Muth sinhen; set guter Hoffnung. . . . Schon oft war eine 
 dunMe Wolke iiher Dir ausgedehnt, und dock wurdest Du aus der 
 Gefahr, die Dir droMe, gerettet. Nach dem Regen scheint die 
 Sonne; mogen ihre Strahlen Dir bald Heil und Segen Iringen, und 
 zeigen dass Sx'tty "lom jB''"' nSi Dir ^h , " es schldft und scMum- 
 mert nicht der Hitter Israels." . . . 
 
 On September 29 my father left Bobenhausen for Frankfort. 
 Here he spent the Feast of Tabernacles, visiting the synagogue of 
 the distinguished rabbi, Samson Eaphael Hirsch. 
 
 [Diary, October 1, I860.] 
 " I was very anxious to hear Dr. Hirsch, about whom I had 
 heard so much. I was not disappointed. The subject of his discus- 
 sion was the Feast of Tabernacles, and so beautifully were the pur- 
 poses of the various ceremonies explained that I felt very sorry for 
 evejy time I had forgotten to " bless the lulah." 
 
 On October 3 he left for Mayence and Cologne, returning to 
 Berlin on the morning of the fifth of October.
 
 48 Aaeon Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 The courses for which he was enrolled during the following 
 semester were: Demonsirations-Cursus def pathologischen Anato- 
 mie, Virchow; Ueber Krankhafte Geschwulste, Virchow; Ueber 
 allgemeine Pathologie und Therapie, Virchow; Ueher Augenkrank- 
 heiten, von Grgefe; Klinih fur Augenkranke, von Gra3fe; Cursus der 
 Augenoperationen, von Graefe; Ueher Kinderkrankheiten, Martin; 
 Ueber Syphilidologie, S. Barensprung. 
 
 [Diary, October 15, I860.] 
 " This being the fiftieth anniversary of the University, there are 
 a great many preparations to celebrate the event. This morning 
 the Festzug takes place. The professors in their gowns and red 
 caps head the procession, followed by guests from abroad and then 
 by the students, with the banners, dress, and colors of their Verhind- 
 ungen." . . . 
 
 " This evening there is a great torchlight procession in celebra- 
 tion of the fiftieth anniversary of the university. I participate, 
 and take part in the Commers." 
 
 Berlin, October 19, 1860. 
 Liehe Mutter, 
 
 Nach langer und grosser Yerlegenheit hdbe ich die freudige 
 Nachricht erhalten, doss Du Dich jetzt viel hesser hefindest. Wie 
 glucklich mich dieses gemacht hat! Gott sei dafiir gedankt. Moge 
 er Dich bald von dieser grausamen Krankheit ganz befreit 
 hah en. . . . 
 
 Berlin, November 2, 1860. 
 Dear Father, 
 
 . . . I am not able to write you much, as I have not paid at- 
 tention to anything but my studies since the session commenced. 
 I am at lectures and clinics from eight o'clock in the morning to 
 five, six, and sometimes seven o'clock in the evening; and at night
 
 Student Days in Berlin. 49 
 
 I am in my room to digest what I have seen and heard during the 
 day/ So all that I could write you about Berlin would be the 
 dreadful tale of the sick, the dying, and the dead, a subject which 
 I do not think can interest you. . . . Eest assured, dear father, 
 that I fully appreciate the importance of the mission which induced 
 me to leave my home, my country, and my friends, and that I shall 
 spare no effort to make my absence profitable to myself and satis- 
 factory to my friends. . . . 
 
 Berlin, December 4, 1860. 
 Dear Father, 
 
 In a few days it will be Chanuklcah, though I do not expect to see 
 anything here to remind me of it, as the only holiday which those 
 of our coreligionists with whom I am acquainted here celebrate in 
 the family circle with any zeal is Christmas. This is the great 
 progress which those who claim to be the most enlightened have 
 made. They free themselves from the ceremonials of our religion, 
 and embrace similar ceremonials of another. They ridicule ortho- 
 doxy for seeking to commemorate a great epoch in the history of 
 the Jewish nation through the burning of Chanukkah lights, but 
 imitate the Christians in having Christmas bushes, hung with lights, 
 etc., thus insulting the memory of their forefathers by regarding as 
 a festival a day which initiated for them centuries of oppression. I 
 do not wish to affect piety, but when I see that the tendency of en- 
 lightened Judaism here, instead of ridding itself of what may 
 really not be compatible with the age we live in, is rather a gradual 
 sneaking into Christianity, the old forms of our religion have an 
 especial charm. Dear Father, you entertained great fears on my 
 departure that I would entirely forget our religion, but rest assured 
 
 i*A large mass of neatly-written notes in my possession give evidence 
 of the care with which he recorded at the end of each day what he 
 had heard and seen.
 
 50 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 that what I have seen of " enlightened Judaism " here has disclosed 
 our old, assailed, insulted orthodoxy in a more beautiful form than 
 I had yet beheld it. . . . 
 
 Berlin, December 4, 1860. 
 Dear Brother Joe, 
 
 . . . The people here are courteous to strangers, and know 
 how to entertain them. In one thing the German differs greatly 
 from the American; he knows how to enjoy himself. I attend the 
 soirees of the American minister here, and was present at the re- 
 cent Thanksgiving celebration, but I find American society so dry 
 that I greatly prefer the society of my German friends, I hesitate 
 not to say that the Germans have as many advantages over us so- 
 cially as we have over them politically. . . . 
 
 [Diary, December 21, I860.] 
 I purchased two books. Dr. Grgefe's Klinische Analyse and Vir- 
 chow's Cellular-Pathologie, which I propose to study through during 
 the holidays. 
 
 The weather is very cold and the heating is inadequate to render 
 me comfortable in my chamber. Though I have had my room 
 heated as well as this can be done by my Wirthin and her porcelain 
 stove, my fingers are stiff as I write this. I study in my rooms with 
 two coats on. 
 
 Berlin, December 31, 1860. 
 Liehe Mutter^ 
 
 . . . Du wirst oft, ohne Zweifel, an Deincn Sohne, der so 
 weit uber den Ocean von Dir entfernt ist, denJcen, und wunschen, 
 mit ihm einige GedanJcen zu wechseln. Nicht minder, glaube es, 
 sind seine GedanTcen mit Dir heschdftigt. Denn sei der Reiz der 
 Fremde noch so gross, . . . so findet man dock nirgends die 
 zdrtliche und liehevoUe Mutter. Wie oft wunsche ich, ein Jcleines 
 Stiindclien in Deiner Gegen/wart zu verweilen. Und wenn wir audi
 
 Student Days in Berlin. 51 
 
 den Schmerz der Trennung fiihlen mussen, so hleiht uns dock 
 die Freude der Hoffnung ubrig, uns ivieder gliicklich anzutref- 
 fen. . . . 
 
 Berlin, January 21, 1860. 
 Dear Father, 
 
 . . . I have paid most attention lately to the diseases of the 
 eye, as it is in this branch particularly that we are behind hand in 
 America. A great many who, with us, are condemned by physicians 
 to perpetual blindness are here . . . restored to sight. . . . 
 I feel myself particularly fortunate in being able to enjoy the in- 
 struction of Professor von Grsefe, who is now without doubt the 
 greatest oculist in the world. I attend all of his lectures, clinics, 
 and operations, and learn to perform all the operations on the eye 
 under him. We practice a good deal in this way on the dead. 
 Though I have taken a particular fancy to this part of the science, 
 I visit the other hospitals as much as I can, and I devote myself 
 particularly to those things which we have no good opportunity of 
 studying at home, as, for instance, midwifery and the diseases of 
 women and children. I shall remain here till the middle of March 
 or the first of April, and then I shall repair to Paris. The session 
 will probably commence there about the first of May. I shall prob- 
 ably like Paris very well, as I can now get along very well in the 
 French language. I have studied it a good deal during my sojourn 
 here, and have a good deal of opportunity to speak it and to hear it 
 spoken. I meet physicians here from nearly every part of the world, 
 who come to enjoy the great advantages which Berlin offers. I meet 
 Americans, Eussians, Poles, Frenchmen, Hollanders, Greeks, Eng- 
 lishmen, etc. I feel very contented here, as I am every day more 
 and more convinced of the great professional advantages which my 
 visit to Europe gives me. . . . 
 
 You may imagine how anxious we all feel here about the present 
 distracted state of politics in America. Whenever there is an ar-
 
 52 Aaroist Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 rival of a steamer announced, all the Americans here hurry to the 
 minister for the news. Every fresh report, till now, has been the 
 harbinger of greater evils. I have given up all hope of a peaceable 
 settlement of the gi'eat trouble. 
 
 While you are in the midst of political commotion across the 
 water, things are far from presenting a peaceable aspect here. You 
 probably have heard that, on the first instant, the King of Prussia 
 departed this life, and was succeeded by his brother, who is now 
 King Wilhelm I. This event has caused but few tears to flow; and, 
 had not all public places of amusement been closed for three weeks, 
 the Prussians would have had nothing to complain of. The present 
 king is very popular. He has annoimced his opposition to the 
 policy of Denmark in Holstein, which will probably lead to war; 
 and, as Napoleon has allied himself with Denmark, the situation 
 will no doubt assume a serious character. Besides this it is expected 
 that Italy will again, next spring, form the scene of human slaugh- 
 ter. Hungary is in a very rebellious condition at present, and, un- 
 less Austria relents in her tyranny, she may be forced to part with 
 another piece of territory. If folks could appreciate the danger of 
 so many governments adjoining each other, I have no hesitation 
 in saying that there would be but few who would favor a severance 
 of our Union. They would be inclined rather " to bear the ills we 
 have, than fly to others that we know not of." 
 
 There is a great contrast presented between politics here and in 
 America. While there is a tendency to form a United Germany, as 
 folks here have long convinced themselves that only in union is 
 there strength, Americans are willing to destroy the Union and with 
 it the greatest guarantee of their future prosperity. I just feel like 
 making a few stump speeches in the " States," not that I flatter 
 myself that I could dissuade secessionists from their design, but 
 that I might tell them what great fools they are. Though I have 
 met Americans here from every portion of the Union, I have not 
 met one who is in favor of secession. . . .
 
 Student Days in Berlin. 53 
 
 The attitude taken in this letter is the more significant, inas- 
 much as he " confesses," in a letter written at this same period, that 
 his feelings were " strongly antagonistic to the North." 
 
 The following extract is taken from the " Maryland and Virginia 
 Medical Journal," Volume XVI. (January-May, 1861), p. 348, 
 under the heading of " Foreign Correspondence." 
 
 "We take pleasure in announcing to our readers that we have 
 made arrangements with a competent medical gentleman, a gradu- 
 ate of the University of Maryland, to furnish us with a series of 
 letters from the principal medical centers of Europe. The first of 
 the number, a letter from Berlin, we give below. — Editors." 
 
 Berlin, January 24, 1861. 
 
 Messrs. Editors : — In conformity with your request, I shall now 
 communicate to you some of my observations in the medical sphere 
 of Berlin. I have been here during the greater part of two sessions 
 of the University, and, having availed myself of the superior clinical 
 facilities which this place affords, in the various branches of the 
 profession, I am led to believe that I shall be able to furnish you 
 with some interesting facts. 
 
 I have foimd that the medical luminaries here are zealously de- 
 voted to the cultivation of the science, on the basis which distin- 
 guishes medicine of the present day from that of former times. In 
 regarding nothing as reliable which does not emanate from ample 
 observation, scientific research, and rational deductions, they have 
 been able to free [medicine] from many of the false notions which 
 had gained a stronghold by tradition, and to contribute a great deal 
 of valuable material to its reconstruction. 
 
 There are three hospitals connected with the University of Ber- 
 lin — the Charite (to which add the famous Pathological Institute), 
 iJie'Kdnigliche Klinik der Urdversitdt, and the Obstetric Hospital. 
 I need only announce the names of Virchow, Graefe, Frerichs,
 
 54 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 Traube, Langenbeck, Jiingken, Baerensprung, and Martin, in connec- 
 tion with the institutions I have named, to convey to you an idea 
 of their character. The Charite is a large and magnificent edifice, 
 in which the following clinical lectures take place daily : — two medi- 
 cal clinics, the one by Frerichs, the other by Traube; a surgical 
 clinic by Jiingken; a clinic for venereal diseases and diseases of 
 the skin by Baerensprung; a gynecological clinic by Martin; and a 
 clinic for diseases of children by Ebert. Langenbeck conducts a 
 surgical clinic at the Kdnigliche KUnik der Universitdt, and Eom- 
 berg has a clinic on the diseases of the nervous system in the same 
 institution. Martin delivers clinical lectures at the Obstetric Hos- 
 pital three times a week. 
 
 I think I will best meet the object of this correspondence by 
 writing what I think may interest you in relation to the names I 
 have mentioned. I shall begin with Dr. Albrecht von Grsefe, Ex- 
 traordinary Professor in the University. He has for many years 
 diligently applied his genius to the study of ophthalmology, and 
 has thereby contributed much to the progress which this branch of 
 science has made. Among the many great merits which may be 
 claimed by him, the one standing paramount is his satisfactory de- 
 scription of glaucoma, the explanation of its symptoms, and what 
 is more than all, the treatment which he has proposed for it, and 
 successfully practiced. He has proven beyond a doubt that the phe- 
 nomena which this affection produces, depend on a preternatural 
 intra-ocular pressure. He has called attention to the tense condi- 
 tion of the globe of the eye in support of this view, and has demon- 
 strated with the ophthalmoscope the pulsation of the arteries of the 
 retina, which never becomes sensible to sight under any other 
 condition. 
 
 As Grsefe's highly valuable contributions on this subject have, as 
 I believe, not yet appeared in English literature, you will, perhaps, 
 indulge a few sketches from my notes in connection therewith.
 
 Student Days in Berlin. 55 
 
 [Here follows a full description of the different forms of glau- 
 coma, and of the nature and treatment of the disease, in the course 
 of which my father says] : 
 
 Having noticed that excision of a piece of the iris, in pursuing 
 other indications, greatly reduced intraocular pressure, he tested 
 its efficiency in glaucoma and found it fraught with the happiest 
 results.* 
 
 Grsefe has under his charge a fine hospital, the Augen^Klinik, 
 devoted to the diseases of the eye exclusively. Here he delivers 
 clinical lectures three times a week, each lasting two hours ; in addi- 
 tion to this, he also delivers theoretical lectures on the diseases of 
 the eye. He also conducts a practical course of operative ocular 
 surgery, in which, supplying his pupils with phantoms, eyes, rabbits, 
 and subjects, he offers them every facility to qualify themselves in 
 this branch. His assistants, Drs. Leibreich and Schweigger re- 
 spectively, teach the application of the ophthalmoscope, and the 
 normal and pathological anatomy of the eye. 
 
 Graefe is in the prime of life, and devotes himself entirely to the 
 interests of the science. . . . 
 
 My father wrote for this Journal two other letters, which were 
 not published, owin^ to the suspension of its publication at the out- 
 hreak of the Civil War. In one of these letters, written from Ber- 
 lin, he says: 
 
 " One of the principal objects which attract medical men here 
 
 ^ My father recognized the importance of Graefe's discovery, which 
 proved to be one of the greatest advances in surgery made during the 
 nineteenth century, although such medical lights as Wharton Jones 
 and William Mackenzie found " little in it worthy of imitation " 
 (1853). Graefe had announced his discovery in 1857, and an English 
 translation of his memoirs was published by the New Sydenham So- 
 ciety in 1859. A few articles on iridectomy were published in Great 
 Britain before 1861, but the first mention of Graefe's discovery which 
 I can find in American medical literature is that made in my father's 
 a,rticle. Active discussion of the subject in America began in 1863. 
 5
 
 56 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 from abroad, is to pursue the study of Pathology. There is proba- 
 bly no other place where this branch is cultivated so successfully, 
 and where its study is facilitated by so many advantages. This is 
 attributable to the merits of Professor Rudolf Virchow. I am per- 
 suaded that a few words with reference to this great man will not 
 be uninteresting to the readers of your valuable journal. I am not 
 so bold as to attempt to pass an encomium on his genius ; the efful- 
 gence in which this is reflected from his many contributions to 
 science would render the praise of even the most accomplished pen 
 superfluous. There is one trait of his character, however, to which 
 I may be permitted to refer. I allude to his indefatigable industry. 
 Even those who are perfectly familiar with his many works, and 
 who fully appreciate the amount of observation and research which 
 the subjects on which he has so ably written require, will have 
 formed but a low estimate of the degree of his application unless 
 they have observed him in his sphere of labor. During the session 
 of the University he devoted three hours each day to imparting in- 
 struction, embracing a demonstrative course of Pathological Anat- 
 omy and Microscopy, for which the Charite furnished abundant ma- 
 terial, a practical course of Pathological Histology in which his 
 pupils are exercised in making microscopical preparations, and a 
 theoretical course of lectures on General Pathology, including Gen- 
 eral Pathological Anatomy. It was mainly through his exertions 
 that the Pathological Institute was established. Here he makes his 
 scientific researches and imparts his oral instructions in that agree- 
 able style so peculiar to him. His assistants, Drs. Hoppe and von 
 Eecklinghausen, contribute in no small degree to the utility of this 
 institution; the former, who conducts a demonstrative course on 
 Physiological and Pathological Chemistry, has recently been elected 
 to a professorship in the University of Tiibingen ; the latter conducts 
 a practical course in Anatomical Histology. When we take into 
 consideration the immense amount of labor which Virchow has de-
 
 Student Days in Beelin. 57 
 
 voted to medicine as an academical teacher, as author of the Cellvr 
 lar-Pathologie and Gesammelte Ahhandlungen, as editor of the 
 Archiv fiir Pathologische Anatomie, of the Handbuch der 8pe- 
 ciellen Pathologie und Therapie, as one of the editors of Canstatts 
 Jahresbericht der Gesammten Medicin, through his activity in the 
 medical societies of Wuerzburg and Berlin, and as one of the physi- 
 cians to the Charite, it would hardly be supposed that he could have 
 found the time to apply his talents in another direction. But this 
 has nevertheless been the case. Virchow is as patriotic as he is 
 scientific. In '48 he took a prominent stand, through his mighty 
 pen and eloquent public speeches, as the champion for the people. 
 Since then he has never permitted an opportunity to escape him 
 when he could render any service to the cause of political reform. 
 The course which he has pursued as a member of the Stadt Ah- 
 geordneten Hans, and of the National Verein, which has a united 
 Germany for its aim, has won for him a high place in the esteem of 
 the people. [Here follows an interesting description of Virchow's 
 recent discovery of amyloid degeneration.] 
 
 The third letter is devoted to the surgical work of Professor Lan- 
 genbeck of Berlin, and especially to his scientific operation in joint 
 resection and to his contribution to the surgery of the veins. 
 
 Berlin, February — , 1861. 
 Dear Moses, 
 
 . . . I feel proud of old Maryland for the conservative char- 
 acter she has exhibited, and would rather identify myself with her 
 interests alone, than be linked either to the ruthless domineering 
 of a debauched, black Eepublicanism under the influence of victory, 
 or to the hot-headed, impulsive, fanatic, unreliable, irresponsible 
 " cotton politicians " who have for years boasted of chivalry, and 
 who have shown a craven spirit at their defeat, a defeat which they 
 inflicted upon themselves. With South Carolina I have not the least
 
 58 Aaeon Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 sympathy, for I consider that she has insulted the whole South by 
 her precipitate action, seeming to be led by the ambitious design 
 of being recognized as the leader in a movement in which they all 
 had a common interest, to disdain to await their co-opera- 
 tion. . . . 
 
 In a letter dated February 26, 1861, he says: "My antipathy to 
 the " Black Eepublican " party has probably led you to suppose that 
 I join in the sentiments of the secessionists. This is, however, 
 not the case. I regard the Union as a holy institution, against which 
 no tongue can speak but in blasphemy, against which no hand can 
 be directed but in sacrilege. I rely upon the good sense and patriot- 
 ism of the American people for a speedy settlement of existing dif- 
 ficulties. The border states have proven that a healthy public opin- 
 ion exists in them ; and, as they are the bone and sinew of the Con- 
 federacy, I have no doubt that they will be able to reconcile the 
 extremists of the two sections of the country with each other/' 
 
 Berlin, March 10, 1861. 
 Dear Father, 
 
 . . . All the lectures I attended have ended, with the ex- 
 ception of one which will be closed in four or five days, and then 
 I shall set out for Paris. 
 
 I have studied French pretty closely during my sojourn here, 
 and I feel convinced that I shall not experience much difficulty 
 when I shall be forced to hear and speak that language exclusively. 
 Since my departure from America I have enjoyed the great blessing 
 of uninterrupted good health and fine spirits. With Berlin I have 
 every reason to be satisfied, having been able to acquire a good deal 
 of valuable knowledge, and to enjoy, at the hands of the friends 
 that I have made, genuine German hospitality.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 Student Days in Paris, Prague, and Vienna (1861-1862) . 
 
 On March 20 he left Berlin for Paris. "I thought my legs 
 would freeze." But he met agreeable companions, and "we 
 enjoy ourselves very well, at least as well as one can with the 
 stiff limbs which twenty-four hours' continuous travel inflicts." 
 [Diary]. 
 
 Paris, April 15, 1861. 
 
 Dear Parents, 
 
 . . . First of all you are no doubt anxious to hear from me 
 how I like Paris. Despite all the descriptions I had heard, it so far 
 surpassed all the anticipations I had formed that, when I first ar- 
 rived, I felt like an Eastern Shoreman who for the first time sees 
 a city. I might write you a good deal about the city itself, but I 
 cannot postpone saying a few words in relation to that which inter- 
 ests me more, viz., the facilities which it offers for the object of my 
 visit. 
 
 Since my arrival here I have regularly attended the clinics at 
 the hospitals and the lectures at the University,' and found that my 
 studies in the French language enabled me to understand all that 
 I heard. There are a few branches of the profession for the study 
 of which Paris offers facilities probably far surpassing those in 
 any other place in the world, which, I am convinced, will repay me 
 for the time I shall spend here. In general, however, I find the 
 
 ^He attended the ophthalmological clinics of Desmarres, Sichel, and 
 Fano, the surgical clinics of Nelaton and Chassaignac, and also several 
 courses in obstetrics, surgical anatomy, and other subjects.
 
 60 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 instruction given here somewhat superficial, and I do not believe 
 that I shall learn as much as I did in Germany. I shall be able 
 to inform myself in those branches for which Paris is so Justly 
 famous, and, as I do not wish to lose any time, I expect to spend 
 next winter in Vienna, if nothing transpires before that time to 
 cause me to change my mind. It is impossible not to like Paris, 
 and I feel very comfortable and contented here, though I was forced 
 to accustom myself to a mode of living hitherto strange to 
 me. . . . 
 
 Paris, April 30, 1861. 
 Dear Brother Moses, 
 
 I have received yours of the eleventh inst. with accompanying 
 papers, informing me of the deplorable state of politics in the 
 once United States of America. Disagreeable as it must be to those 
 who are eye witnesses of the dreadful drama, it is no less painful 
 for one at a distance to observe into what nothingness our country 
 is sinking in the eyes of the world. The commencement of war by 
 the affair at Charleston was in itself laughable enough, yet points 
 to all the calamities of a civil war. My feelings in regard to the 
 subject which brought on this great political calamity are, as I 
 should judge from the tenor of your letters, at variance with those 
 you entertain. 
 
 The election of Lincoln has been assigned by the Southern states 
 [as the cause] that would prevent a reconciliation of the differences 
 existing between the various sections of the country on the slavery 
 question. What was it that elected Lincoln? Did not the cotton 
 states, by dismembering the opposition, bring it about? It was as- 
 serted that, after a Eepublican triumph, there would be no protec- 
 tion to the institutions of the South. This assertion came from a 
 quarter which was least affected by the political change! South 
 Carolina, which had not lost a " nigger " for fifty years, declared its 
 independence, while Virginia, Maryland, and Kentucky, with every-
 
 Student Days in Paris, Prague, and Vienna. 61 
 
 thing to risk, still remained loyal to the Union, and would have 
 continued to do so, had they not been forced to protect their South- 
 ern brethren in case of collision. Besides, the basis upon which 
 the Confederate States rest, the right of secession without the con- 
 sent of the other states whenever a state pleases, does not appear to 
 me to be one upon which a sound fabric could be raised. . . . 
 I am as much opposed to the Republican party* as you are, but I 
 do not feel disposed to unite myself with every one of its assailants. 
 So much for politics. ... 
 
 Paris is a great place for surgery; in fact, it is the only place 
 where it is well taught, and to this branch I shall for the most part 
 devote my attention while here. . . . 
 
 Paris, June 2, 1861. 
 
 Dear Father, 
 
 . . . Paris is such a delightful place that it would be impos- 
 sible not to be satisfied here. On the whole, I think I shall profit 
 considerably by my sojourn here. I am a much greater admirer of 
 the German medical institutions than of the French. In Germany 
 everything connected with medicine rests upon a sounder basis, and 
 one can place more reliance upon what one hears there than he can 
 upon what he hears in Paris. There are several branches of the 
 profession which are cultivated with greater success here, and I 
 have applied myself particularly to the study of these subjects. I 
 agree with you that I am fortunate in being so far removed from 
 the scene of those dreadful political agitations now raging in 
 America. I am perfectly convinced that, if a few more had had an 
 opportunity of comparing the political institutions of Europe with 
 those of our hitherto happy country, there would be considerably 
 less eagerness evinced for a dissolution of the Union. 
 
 'His political views changed in time. He later became a stanch 
 Republican.
 
 62 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 Paris, June 2, 1861. 
 Dear Brother Moses, 
 
 Your letter of the sixth ult. lies before me. Though I have kept 
 myself pretty well informed concerning the political proceedings 
 at home, thanks to the London Times, your account was neverthe- 
 less interesting. The papers which you sent me I have not yet re- 
 ceived; but, as they generally come a little later than my letters, 
 I may receive them in a few days. I cannot share your secessionist 
 views; this may be due to my being removed so far from the field 
 of action, or, perhaps, to our different way of thinking; the latter 
 seems to me to be more probable. The Union has always appeared 
 to me as a sacred structure, against which no hand could be raised 
 save in sacrilege. What is it that caused so many to abandon this 
 sentiment, which they were hitherto prepared to defend by all the 
 means at their disposal? Is it, perhaps, the triumph of the Ee- 
 publican party at the last election? In considering the question, 
 let us lose sight of those who, during their entire existence, have 
 been so impregnated with nullificationism, who have gained such a 
 world-wide notoriety on account of their pecular disposition to tar- 
 and-feathering, who hitherto worshipped with such zeal at the 
 shrine of the Bowie knife, the revolver, and the " Brooksing sys- 
 tem," that no excess in which they may indulge requires an expla- 
 nation. Excluding these men, whose views do not deserve any con- 
 sideration, I think the rest over the spirit of whose dreams there 
 has appeared such a sudden change may be divided into three 
 classes: first, those who, dreading an intolerable degree of emacia- 
 tion on their expulsion from the trough at which they have so long 
 indulged in the process of fattening themselves, explain the election 
 of Lincoln as a subterfuge in order to resort to the next best means 
 of " saving their bacon ;" secondly, those who honestly believed that 
 the chan,ge which took place in the administration on the fourth of 
 March was incompatible with the safety of the South ; and, thirdly.
 
 Student Days in Paris, Prague, and Vienna. G3 
 
 those, — and these, I think, form the largest party, — who, under 
 the pressure of an excited state of public opinion, were compelled 
 to swell the ranks of the two parties first mentioned. 
 
 As regards the professional politicians, I am persuaded that, after 
 the course which they pursued in the Charleston convention, there 
 can be no doubt remaining as to their motive. It was evident then, 
 and the result of the last election has proved it, that the Democratic 
 party of the South, with the aid of the large conservative party in 
 the North, had it not been dismembered by the proceedings of that 
 convention, would have placed a national candidate in the Presiden- 
 tial chair. It is all " moonshine " to speak of the dissensions then 
 existing as resting upon abstract questions. I cannot understand 
 how there can be any who support the opinion that " squatter sove- 
 reignty " — a doctrine to explain which would require the talent of 
 a Philadelphia lawyer — was the rock upon which the Democratic 
 party foundered. Is there the least ground for entertaining this 
 opinion, if we do not shut our eyes completely to the history of that 
 party, teeming as it does with instances of compromises, conces- 
 sions, and everything that offers the least prospect of carrying an 
 election ? I cannot for the life of me think otherwise than that the 
 leaders, feeling that their demoralization had reached a dqgree 
 which, if it did not threaten immediate defeat, would at least ab- 
 breviate their political existence, considered it expedient to take 
 time by the forelock and grasp the doctrine of secession, in order 
 to begin a new career. They were no doubt disappointed in this, 
 as they did not expect at the time that it would cost even more 
 blood to sever the Union than it did to cement it. 
 
 It is a matter of no little surprise that those who honestly be- 
 lieved that the institutions of the South were rendered insecure by 
 a Eepublican victory were those who had the least to lose in that 
 event. This fear would never have moved the people of Virginia, 
 or Maryland, or Kentucky, or Missouri, or Tennessee to think of
 
 64 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 severing their alliance with the North. South Carolina, Georgia, 
 and Alabama, who would be compelled to search their archives 
 for years to find a single case of the abduction of a negro by the 
 " underground railroad," were the first to think of additional pro- 
 tection for their property. If there is no protection for the institu- 
 tions of the South under the Union, with a Constitution recognizing 
 them and a President sworn to obey the Constitution, what would 
 the slaveholders have to expect, if the North were relieved of its 
 present obligation ? When we hear of the great enthusiasm and un- 
 divided sentiment in favor of secession existing in the South, are 
 we really to believe that the Union sentiment which existed but a 
 few months ago has been completely metamorphosed? I, for one, 
 am not of this opinion; an excited public opinion can easily force 
 people to abandon principles which they entertained before. 
 " Those who are not with us are against us " is the powerful argu- 
 ment to which the secessionists have resorted, and which has forced 
 so many under their banners. We Baltimoreans have had suffi- 
 cient evidence of the force of excited public opinion. I recollect 
 very well when it was nothing less than dangerous to say the least 
 thing against " Know-nothingism," which is now, thank God, so 
 completely defunct. As it was then held that everything anti- 
 " Know-nothing " was un-American, so now everything Union is 
 confounded with Abolitionism. 
 
 Now a few words with regard to Maryland. I might at first say 
 something about the right of secession, but I may dispense with 
 this at present, as I have referred to it in my previous letters, and 
 as my letter is attaining an inordinate length. It appears to me 
 that the Southerners have no more right to secede from the Union 
 than they have to cut their throats. You may call it heroic on the 
 part of South Carolina to hoist the palmetto flag, but as she thereby 
 dragged Virginia and Maryland and Kentucky, etc., into this great 
 difficulty against their will, I call it treacherous and faithless. If
 
 Student Days in Paris, Prague, and Vienna. 65 
 
 all the Southern states felt the necessity of secession . . . things 
 would have had a different aspect, but if one Southern border state 
 had refused to secede, then all the rest should have renounced the 
 idea of secession as a necessary concession of the majority to the 
 minority. . . . You will excuse me for digressing from the 
 consideration of the position of Maryland. What I have said about 
 secession was not intended at all to present in full my views on the 
 subject of secession itself; it was intended merely as the basis of 
 the views I hold in relation to the course which Maryland ought to 
 pursue. It would be superfluous on my part to say whether or not 
 Maryland should at once join the secessionists and bid defiance to 
 the government of the United States. You admit her position in 
 that case would be highly perilous. I fully share your views on this 
 point. What is she to do? Is she to remain a passive spectator 
 and await the chance of war, and thus heap upon herself both the 
 hatred of the North and the distrust of the South? I think when 
 we take into consideration the result of this trouble her position is 
 clear. I have no doubt that, even in case of the triumph of the 
 North, — and everything is in favor of this, — a final separation will 
 take place. Supposin,g this to be the case, what would be her posi- 
 tion in a Southern Confederacy, with her history in this troul:)le? 
 Why, it is clear she would be about the smallest end of nothing 
 whittled to a point. At the same time, how much would she be 
 exposed to Northern aggressions, not such as have hitherto been 
 known, aggressions instigated by simple theories, and having their 
 limits set by the law, but aggressions incited by both hatred of 
 slavery and desire for revenge. In a Northern confederacy, what- 
 ever temporary inconveniences she might suffer, her future would 
 be brightened. In a short time she would be able to rid herself of 
 slavery, and enjoy all the advantages of the other free states. 
 Should her sympathies for the South prevent her choosing the 
 means necessary for her future prosperity, this would be sickly
 
 66 Aaeon" Feiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 sentimentality. The cotton states did not shrink from plunging 
 her into all the calamities of a war centralized upon her soil, and 
 why should she now ask South Carolina, or Georgia, or Virginia 
 what should be the course she should pursue? It is evident that 
 slavery cannot exist in Maiyland for an indefinite time. Whatever 
 be the result of the approaching civil war, the time for slavery in 
 Maryland is limited. Statistics show that it has been gradually 
 decreasing. In fact it will not pay in our state, when we take into 
 consideration the fact that there is perhaps no other state from 
 which so many slaves run away. Let Maryland prepare for this, 
 and she will hold a firm position. Her soil is fertile and impreg- 
 nated with mineral wealth, while as a manufacturing state she 
 would receive a fresh impetus. Immigration would be encouraged, 
 and her soil would thereby rise in value sufiBciently to compensate 
 her in a short time for all her losses. I think her interests are 
 with the Union. She ought to be faithful to it. If the South par- 
 tially succeeds, it will hold such an imbecile position as will be a 
 warning to all future secessionists. You must not misunderstand 
 me; I am as much opposed to black Eepublicanism as ever, but I 
 think our duty is to the Union and our own state. You will of 
 course perceive great incoherence in these lines. I have written 
 just as I thought, in order to give you an idea of what a Marylander 
 so far from home thinks. As for it being a galling sight for Balti- 
 moreans to see Northern troops infesting their city, permit me to 
 say that our townsmen can stand a great deal. Any body of men 
 who could so long tolerate the anarchy of " Know-nothingism " 
 can also have a little forbearance towards Northern troops. I do 
 not pity them in the least. . . . 
 
 On June 22, 1861, he wrote: " The more I see of European cus- 
 toms the more I am convinced that we have much more to be proud 
 of than the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution."
 
 Student Days in Paris, Prague, and Vienna. 67 
 
 Paris, June 34, 18G1. 
 Dear Father, 
 
 . . . I am very much engaged at present, and it will perhaps 
 not be uninteresting to you to hear how I spend my time. I get 
 up generally about seven o'clock A. M., which you will probably 
 not consider very late when you hear at what time I go to bed. I 
 take breakfast in a cafe in the neighborhood of my room, and am 
 at the hospitals from eight to ten. The time from ten until twelve 
 I employ in study at my room, which is quite near to the hospitals. 
 At twelve, I take a second breakfast, and the time from that hour 
 until two I spend at the famous clinic of M. Desmarres for the dis- 
 eases of the eye. From two to three I attend a lecture at the Uni- 
 versity; from three to four I am again engaged in study in my 
 room; between four and five I attend another lecture; and I em- 
 ploy the time from then until seven in private study. At seven, I 
 go to dinner, after which I take an hour's walk in one of the beau- 
 tiful parks which they have here in such abundance. I then gen- 
 erally spend an hour in the cafe to read the papers, enjoy the bene- 
 fits of French conversation with my acquaintances, and then re- 
 turn home; and my books keep me up until a late hour. During 
 the last three weeks I have not gotten to bed before one o'clock. 
 So you see I am not spending my time in idleness. I am enjoying 
 uninterrupted good health, and I derive such great pleasure 
 from my studies that I feel I cannot lose a single moment, with the 
 exception of those which I set aside for a little recreation. 
 
 Dear Brother Stern, 
 
 . . . Paris is divided into various quarters. I live in the 
 Quartier Latin, for the most part inhabited by students and gri- 
 settes. You can easily imagine that it is a lively quarter. We will 
 spend a day together here. Imagine it to be Sunday and that I am 
 quite at your disposal. We get up at an early hour and seek a bar-
 
 68 Aakon Friedenwald, M. D, 
 
 ber's shop. We first meet a 3'oung man with a portfolio under his 
 arm, his eyes testifying that he did not spend the night in a most 
 satisfied manner. This is a student, more likely returning than 
 coming from home. We next hear a rustle of crinoline and silk, we 
 look behind us, and find them partly enveloping the figure of a fe- 
 male. I say partly, for the low-necked dresses of the Quartier Latin 
 would indicate that the necks of women extend much farther than 
 is usually believed, while the exposition of ankles would far exceed 
 anything you ever beheld at the crossings at Market Space, even 
 when the Falls overflowed. This is one of the proudest and appa- 
 rently one of the happiest beings in the quarter. She is a grisette. 
 We have now reached a barber's shop, very similar to those we see 
 at home. You take a seat and are surprised at the person occupying 
 the next chair; under an innumerable quantity of ringlets you dis- 
 cover the features of a female having her hair dressed. This is 
 another heroine of the quarter. 
 
 We shall now take a Parisian breakfast. You may wish to go 
 to a cafe, quite a fine place. I prefer a cremerie, which, though 
 not quite so elegant, is much cheaper. In the former place your 
 cofl[ee, bread, and butter will cost you about twenty cents; in the 
 latter, where you will receive substantially the same things, your 
 outlay will not exceed six cents. You must not inspect the hands 
 of the waiter too closely, however, for if you have not a stomach 
 quite as strong as the one with which I am blessed, you may per- 
 haps not relish your coffee. You will be in very agreeable company ; 
 on one side of you there will be fine broad-cloth, on the other a 
 blouse. This is not uncommon here, where equality reigns su- 
 preme. . . . You will be surprised at the capacity of the bowl 
 containing your coifee, the dimensions of which will nearly equal 
 those of an ordinary wash-basin. You will readily agree with me 
 that the coffee in Paris surpasses any you have ever tasted. The 
 quality will be quite as satisfactory as the quantity. We will now
 
 Student Days in Paris, Prague, and Vienna. 69 
 
 take a little stroll. After wending our way through the narrow 
 streets of the Quartier, whose sidewalks permit only two to walk 
 abreast, you will be happy to find yourself on one of the boulevards. 
 These are broad streets, with fine trees planted on either side. Here 
 you would be able to spend a day quite pleasantly, observing the 
 doings of the lively Parisians. Here you notice hundreds of men, 
 women, and children vending little articles, such as pens, pencils, 
 WTiting-paper, shoe-strings, fruit, maps of Paris, and the like, each 
 endeavoring to out-yell the other in proclaiming the superiority of 
 the articles in quality and inexpensiveness. In passing one of the 
 public squares, you will see a large crowd collected to witness an 
 acrobat performing his wonderful feats in the open air. He assumes 
 a supplicating attitude, and asks for only one more sou before at- 
 tempting his miraculous tricks. ... In another portion of 
 the square you see, mounted on the top of a carriage, a little girl, 
 fantastically dressed, beating a drum. This collects a crowd. A 
 man with a tremendous moustache stands up in the vehicle, and 
 holding a box of salve in his hand, commences a tirade against char- 
 latanism, which casts so much unjust suspicion on the intentions of 
 the real benefactors of humanity. He assures you that, in thus 
 coming before the public, he is animated only by a sincere desire 
 to help suffering mankind. He claims to have discovered a sure 
 remedy for sprains, coughs, neuralgia, headache, ulcers, and " the 
 thousand natural ills which flesh is heir to." You will wonder how 
 well the fellow understands his business. I cannot leave you here 
 long, else you will begin to think that your system is out of order, 
 and in consequence be mulcted in the sum of one or two francs. 
 You will behold little squads of people collected in other portions 
 of the square, attracted by men exposing the wonders of the elec- 
 trical machine, raffling off ginger cake, and exhibiting objects under 
 the microscope. 
 
 The fine buildings we shall pass, as well as the show windows,
 
 70 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 arranged with Parisian taste, will not fail to elicit your admira- 
 tion. The churches, palaces, and other public buildings, you will 
 agree with me, surpass anything of the kind in our country, with 
 the exception, perhaps, of our fine Capitol at Washington. The 
 other buildings, however, cannot be compared to the magnificent 
 ones on Broadway in New York, Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, 
 or West Baltimore Street in Baltimore. After seeing our large 
 warehouses at home, one must wonder where people do their large 
 business here, for the places where business is done here deserve 
 the designation rather of shops than of mercantile establishments. 
 
 People here live quite differently from what they do in our 
 country. Every building is used here for both business and dwell- 
 ing purposes. Parisians content themselves with a few rooms in 
 one of the six or seven stories of their buildings, a story which they 
 choose according to their stations and purses. We will examine 
 one of these houses together. The first floor is devoted to mercan- 
 tile purposes; the second may be likewise, or it may contain the 
 apartments of some baron ; in the third you will find a very respect- 
 able family occupying a few rooms, too economical to go further 
 down, and too proud to go higher up; in the fourth, families who 
 have to manage to make both ends meet ; in the fifth you will be as- 
 tonished to find how elevated a position honesty occupies in Paris; 
 and in the sixth, you will have an example of what is poorer than 
 poor. 
 
 Without ascending to the seventh, you will not object to a little 
 fresh air. We will therefore take a stroll through the Jardin des 
 Tuileries, and the Champs Elysees. We shall pass the Louvre, so 
 famous for its paintings, statuary, and antiquities, and the Tuileries, 
 which, you know, is the Imperial palace. We will not occupy our- 
 selves with these buildings, though they are of great interest, as I 
 wish to show you as much of life as is possible in one day. It will 
 take us about an hour to walk through the garden of the Tuileries.
 
 Student Days in Paris, Prague, and Vienna. 71 
 
 The garden is a magnificent one, with beautiful statuary, fine foun- 
 tains, and large ponds. In consequence there are a great number 
 of people attracted here. You will notice thousands of women 
 •with their caps and with babies on their arms, — these are nurses, — 
 numbers of little girls jumping rope, and men and boys playing 
 various games of ball. Coming from our Puritanical city, you 
 must not be too much surprised to observe priests, even on Sunday, 
 watching the game, and not failir^g at an opportune moment to put 
 in their kicks. In another portion of the garden there will be a 
 fine military band, performing for the amusement of the jolly 
 Parisians. I have, however, heard better music in Germany. All 
 the walks are lined with chairs, upon one of which you will take a 
 seat, and a woman will come to you for two sous. The chairs are 
 supplied by a private company. If you object to this, you can 
 choose a bench, if you are able to find one, and you will have your 
 seat free. 
 
 As we have no time to lose if we wish to study Parisian life in one 
 day, we shall have to proceed further. Passing through the Jardin 
 des Tuileries, we arrive at the Champs Elysees. Here we find the 
 most beautiful avenue, ornamented on either side with fine trees. 
 We shall meet here a perfect throng of pedestrians and fast horses. 
 You will wish to have your horse and buggy to join in the spirited 
 *' Gee-long." You will feel tired enough when you reach the end 
 of this endless chain of avenues. Here you see the " Arch of Tri- 
 umph," built in commemoration of French victories. It is a 
 beautiful structure, and bears on its vast columns the names of the 
 various places where the French flag floated in triumph. . . . 
 
 Returning, we must not forget to notice the many gardens, where 
 
 you can both get a fine cup of coffee and hear a fine concert. We 
 
 shall now mount to the top of an omnibus to reach the Closerie, 
 
 which is a fine garden to which students and grisettes and strangers 
 
 6
 
 72 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 flock in the evening to join in the merry dance. ... It will 
 be ten o'clock before I can get you away from here. 
 
 We will now go to the cafe in the Quartier. On the first floor I 
 shall meet a few friends and take a cup of coffee with them. If you 
 go to the second floor, you will find students and grisettes puffing 
 away at their cigars. You inquire what are the attractions of a 
 cafe. Here you find all the leading English, French, Italian, Swiss, 
 Eussian, and Polish papers, and enjoy a game of chess, dominoes, or 
 cards. Things are quite different here from what they are in Ger- 
 many. If you go to a beer saloon in the North of Germany, you 
 have the advantage of hearing good music; but, if you are a 
 stranger, you will be prevented by the stiffness of the manners of the 
 people from entering into conversation. In the South of Germany, 
 people are very clever; but, if you desire to enter into conversation, 
 you will have to confine your remarks to the subject of beer. In a 
 cafe you meet people from every part of the globe, and you will have 
 a little world under your observation. I still have much to say, but 
 you see my letter has attained an inordinate length. If you have en- 
 joyed the day in Paris, we may take another stroll at some future 
 time. . . . 
 
 He remarks in a letter to his betrothed dated July 17, 1861, " I 
 find that I have incurred no small amount of displeasure " [from 
 his family] " for the free expression of my political sentiments." 
 
 Further on in the same letter he says : " I have no doubt that 
 you are very much amused at the manner my mother speaks of 
 me. . . I cannot wonder that she speaks of me as if I were only 
 a little bit of a boy. Sometimes, when I think of my many engage- 
 ments, extensive studies, and, above all, my grave responsibilities, 
 and that, despite all, my spirits are about the same as when I played 
 marbles on the street, I cannot decide whether I really have ceased 
 to be a boy or not." [He was at that time twenty-five years old.]
 
 Student Days in Paris, Prague, and Vienna. 73 
 
 Paris, July 20, 1861. 
 
 Dear Father, 
 
 . . . It is rather fortunate for me that I do not share your 
 secessionist sentiments, for in that case I should not be able to budge 
 from this place. A few days ago I went to the American consul 
 (not minister), to have my passport stamped. On presenting it 
 the followiuig dialogue occurred. 
 
 " Where are you from ?" 
 
 " From Baltimore." 
 
 " Are you a secessionist ?" 
 
 " Sir, I am astonished at this question." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 " I never knew that an American citizen, claiming the protection 
 of his country, would have to submit to a catechism as to his po- 
 litical sentiments." 
 
 " Our orders are positively to require an oath of allegiance to the 
 constitution and government of the United States previous to grant- 
 ing any claim on the service of this consulate." 
 
 " Do you follow this rule with the citizens of every state when 
 they present their passports to you ? " 
 
 "What makes you ask this question?" 
 
 " Simply because, if this rule applied exclusively to the citizens 
 of the Southern states, I should scrupulously avoid any action which 
 would be an acknowledgment that my state favored secession." 
 
 " All citizens are treated alike." 
 
 " Being loyal to the Union, I have not the least hesitation, under 
 these circumstances, in swearing allegiance to the constitution of 
 the United States." 
 
 . The oath was administered, my passport handed to me, and we 
 parted good friends. . . .
 
 74 Aaroist Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 After long-continued hard work he writes in his diary, " In order 
 to commence my studies with the same energy with which I have 
 prosecuted them hitherto, I think it will be advisable to take a 
 little recreation." 
 
 On August 6, therefore, he left Paris for Geneva, Lausanne, and 
 Berne. From Berne he rode to Thun; "I enjoy the journey," he 
 says in the diary, " very much indeed, . . , the country is very 
 picturesque; . . . beautiful villages . . . most enchant- 
 ing valleys, and towards the close of the journey we come in view 
 of the snow-covered mountains of the Bernese Oberland." From 
 Thun he " sailed almost the entire length of the lake [to Oberseen 
 and Interlaken]. The water is a beautiful blue, and on each side 
 we are greeted by the view of the incomparably beautiful Swiss 
 cottages." 
 
 On August 12 he set out on foot for Grindelwald, stopping at 
 Lauterbrunnen, and then ascended the Faulhorn, the summit of 
 which he reached at ten P. M., completely exhausted, having walked 
 thirteen hours and covered " thirty-six miles, through valleys and 
 mountains." He rose at four the next morning to wdtness the sun- 
 rise. " The scene is sublime, the snow-covered peaks reflecting the 
 light. From the Faulhorn we have a good view of the whole Bern- 
 ese Oberland, its high mountains, green valleys, and fine lakes." 
 Thence he proceeded to Scheideck and the Eosenlaui glacier, " The 
 glacier is beautiful; the ice is as transparent as the purest crys- 
 tal. . . . There are several natural and artificial caves in 
 which the roaring torrents streaming from the mountains can 
 . . . be seen. , . . The caves are magnificent; the light 
 coming through from above assumes a blue hue; the arch of the 
 caves resembles the blue vault of the heavens. . . Then we wend 
 our way to the Eeichenbach Fall, which is very pretty indeed, or, 
 as a young French demoiselle remarked, *" C'est toute heautef " He 
 proceeded next to the Giessbach, at which he arrived in time for
 
 Student Days in Paris, Prague, and Vienna. 75 
 
 the nightly illumination, " a magnificent spectacle." From Brienz, 
 which is not far distant, he took the diligence for the Lake of the 
 Four Cantons, and ascended the Eigi at night from Weggis, in order 
 again to view the sunrise. " The view is beautiful, even finer than 
 from the Faulhom," Thence he proceeded by way of Lucerne, the 
 Lake of Constance, Augsburg, Chemnitz, and Dresden to Prague, 
 where he arrived on August 19. He describes his journey in a 
 letter dated Prague, August 30, as follows : 
 
 " I cannot find words to express the pleasure I derived from this 
 trip, . . In Switzerland I was again in a country where the 
 sacred principle of freedom reigns supreme. When I gazed at the 
 beautiful snow-covered mountains, the beautiful valleys, the en- 
 chanting lakes, the crystal . . . glaciers, I could not wonder 
 that they were destined by Providence to be inhabited by a free 
 and happy people. In the presence of these majestic . . . 
 works of nature it is explainable that the character of the Swiss 
 people should be so elevated. . . ." 
 
 He continues : " I heard of the dishonorable defeat of the Federal 
 troops at Bull Eun the day before I left Paris. I had intended to 
 leave Paris on the same day, but when I read the news my nervous 
 system received such a shock that I postponed my departure until 
 the following day. With all my devotion to the Union I'd rather 
 see it scattered to the winds than see it fought for in that cowardly 
 manner. When I received the news I felt more like going home and 
 enlisting than anything else." 
 
 In Prague he devoted himself to the diagnosis of diseases of the 
 chest under Dr. Peters, and especially to obstetrics under Professor 
 Seyfert. 
 
 '" The obstetric hospital itself is supplied with abundant material, 
 over three thousand births taking place here annually. . . .
 
 76 Aaron Fkiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 Seyfert is a skilful practitioner, . . . but many of his precepts 
 appear to me both ridiculous and dangerous. Some believe him to 
 be quite a scholar; . . . there is, however, one very important 
 qualification of the professor which I unhesitatingly say he lacks — 
 I mean gentlemanliness. Not only does he treat his patients with 
 the most shameful rudeness, but he does not spare his contempo- 
 raries from the most offensive abuse. . . ." [Diary, Septem- 
 ber 3]. 
 
 " Dr. Peters is a very amiable gentleman, and I find that, while 
 he avoids the GrundlicJiheit of the German teachers, he surpasses 
 most of them in practical teaching. Take a long walk with him 
 after his lecture, and he tells me that I am quite proficient in aus- 
 cultation ; when I tell him that I brought all my knowledge in this 
 particular branch across the waters, he is astonished to find instruc- 
 tion ... so complete in America. . . ." 
 
 " In my leisure hours I read Zschokke's works. I have read nearly 
 all of them." [Diary, September 9]. 
 
 Prague, September 30, 1861. 
 Dear Brother Moses, 
 
 On my arrival here on the twentieth ult. I expected to find a 
 letter in the Post-office; in this, however, I have been disappointed. 
 
 . . . From the accounts that I have been able to gather 
 from the various German journals, I am led to fear that the diffi- 
 culties at present existing are far from solution, and that the war 
 will be more prolonged by far than either of the contending parties 
 had any idea of at first. You will excuse me for disregarding the 
 warning contained in your last letter, not to write anything with 
 regard to politics, inasmuch as you will notice that it is my purpose 
 rather to elicit information from you than to force upon you an ex- 
 pression of my views. I expect to remain here until the sixth or 
 tenth of October, when I shall start for Vienna, where the winter 
 session of the University commences on the fifteenth . . . My
 
 Student Days in Paris, Prague, and Vienna. 77 
 
 short sojourn here has been both pleasantly and profitably spent. 
 I have been engaged in the study of midwifery and of the diseases 
 of the chest, for which the hospitals of Prague offer special advan- 
 tages. . . . 
 
 Prag, September 30, 1861. 
 Liebe Mutter, 
 
 . . . Wie oft lenhen sich meine Gedanken zu Dir. Mit 
 welchem Entzucken sehe icli dem AugenhlicJc entgegen, wann ich 
 dich ivieder umarmen darf. Was fur ein gottUches Vergniigen hast 
 Du mir vor einigen Ahenden hereitet. Du, liebe Mutter, hamst 
 mir im Traume vor, Ich war an Deiner Seite, und von Deiner 
 mutterlichen ZdrtlichTceit wmgehen. Die traurigen Zeiten waren 
 voriiher, and Du warst wieder hei voller Oesundheit. Du gabst 
 mir den besten Bath fiir die ZuTcunft, und indem ich versprach, 
 ihm zu folgen, driicJcte ich einen Ku£S auf Deine Lippen, — so er- 
 wachte ich. Gehe es Gott dass die WirklichJceit diesen schonen 
 Traum nicht nachstehen wird. Ich glaube nicht, dass ich mich 
 in meiner Abwesenheit viel gedndert habe, doch bezweifle ich 
 nicht, dass Du Gelegenheit finden wirst, ein Wortchen Tachlis 
 [niitzlichen Raf] mit mir zu sprechen und freue mich schon jetzt, 
 es zu horen." 
 
 On October 7 he left for Vienna. " Our coupe is crowded. 
 Opposite me there is a gentleman from Carlsbad who wishes to 
 speak English. He has great difficulty. As he seems to prefer for- 
 eign languages, I speak Frencii with him." [Diary]. In Vienna 
 he lost no time in seeking the University to arrange for courses. 
 He took the following: Ophthalmology, Professor Arlt; Topograph- 
 ical Anatomy, Professor Hyrtl; Obstetrics, Professor Braun; Der- 
 matology, Professor Oppolzer. Of these men Arlt left the deepest 
 impression upon my father. The great Viennese ophthalmologist 
 stood second only to Grsefe in his admiration and regard. He con- 
 sidered Arlt the more skilful operator ; Grgef e, the greater genius.
 
 \ 
 
 78 Aakon Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 Vienna, October 23, 1861. 
 Dear Father, 
 
 I left Prague on the 7t]i and arrived here after a twelve hours' 
 ride. . . . Already on the day of my arrival here I engaged a 
 room in the neighborhood of the hospital, and in a few days I was 
 prepared to attend the lectures, which had then just commenced. 
 I am quite comfort-ably fixed here. . . . Vienna is certainly a 
 very fine place, and its animated appearance reminds me strongly 
 of Paris. The people are much more sociable here than in the 
 North of Germany, but I find them considerably less refined. They 
 speak horrible German, very similar to the Bavarian dialect. To 
 my great surprise, I noticed that several of the professors cling to 
 this dialect. The professors here generally present a slovenly ap- 
 pearance, which contrasts strongly with the dignified exterior of the 
 professors in Berlin, Paris, and in our own country. The medical 
 school of Vienna justly bears the reputation of being the first in 
 the world. Its advantages consist not only in the size of its hospital 
 and in the material over which it has command, but in the practical 
 manner in which it imparts its instruction ; in the latter particular 
 it has an advantage over the Berlin and Paris schools. . . . 
 
 Vienna, October 22, 1861. 
 Dear Brother Stern, 
 
 . . . I am convinced that a reconciliation can never again 
 take place now between the two sections of our country, and that 
 sooner or later a separation will take place, after more or less blood- 
 shed; and therefore I look upon the war with deep sorrow. The 
 expediency of the continuance of the war cannot, in my opinion, 
 be based upon the regaining of the lost states, but must rest in 
 holding the doubtful ones, I mean Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri, 
 Western Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Should these 
 states remain in the Union, they will learn, among other things, the 
 great advantage of being an integral part of a confederation which
 
 Student Days in Paris, Prague, and Vienna. 79 
 
 is based upon the great doctrine of indivisibility. A government 
 resting upon this foundation can work out its happiness and pros- 
 perity harmoniously. Very different is it with a confederation 
 whose very organization renders its future integrity doubtful, to 
 say the least. You must not suppose that I entertain any antipathy 
 to the Southern states. I regard their policy as suicidal, and 
 therefore I pity them from the bottom of my heart. . , . 
 
 Vienna, October 23, 1861. 
 Dear Brother Joseph, 
 
 . . . That the Americans are better than the people of other 
 nations rests solely upon conceit. The prosperity with which they 
 were blessed was not owing to their individual superiority, but to 
 accidental circumstances. They ascribed their happiness to their 
 own merits, however, and were thus strengthened in their conceit. 
 The troubles with which they are now overwhelmed may serve as a 
 valuable lesson in the future, and the war may in this manner be 
 really beneficial. There was too much " rottenness in Denmark " 
 to hope that things would go on harmoniously. Heretofore the af- 
 fairs of government were left in the hands of those who recognized 
 in it nothing. . . . but an institution offering an excellent and 
 profitable means for the exercise of rascality. The so-called good 
 people were satisfied to relish the milk and honey of the land in 
 apathy, so that at last it was regarded as a wonderful phenomenon 
 to see an honorable man in office. We in Baltimore had a minia- 
 ture picture from which we could well study what was really meant 
 by universal suffrage in the whole country. As things cannot be 
 perfect in our corrupt world, we must be satisfied with having a 
 few less evils than other countries. If you knew how things were 
 conducted in Austria you would not find our government quite so 
 bad. It is a mistaken notion which prevails in our country that a 
 republic must necessarily be good and a monarchy bad. . . .
 
 80 Aaron Fiiiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 Under date of November 14, 1861, he writes as follows : " I have 
 become a stronger Unionist than ever. ... I have no fear for 
 the ultimate success of the government, if it make proper use of the 
 forces at its command. . . ." 
 
 Vienna, November 17, 1861. 
 Dear Brother Joseph, 
 
 . . . From a professional point of view I derive more pleasure 
 from my sojourn in Vienna than from any other place that I have 
 visited. The advantages which the schools of Vienna offer are im- 
 mense. Its hospital is the largest that I have yet seen, constantly 
 having over two thousand patients, who furnish science with the 
 means of studying all the " thousand ills that flesh is heir to." 
 While I am anxious to learn all that I can in every branch of science, 
 and while I let no opportunity escape me whereby I can qualify my- 
 self for the active duties of my profession, I am devoting myself 
 particularly to the study of the diseases of the eye, which I com- 
 menced under the renowned von Graefe in Berlin, and am now con- 
 tinuing under Professor Arlt of this city. Partly from the fact 
 that this branch has been little cultivated in our coimtry, and partly 
 from its being my favorite study, I should like, if possible, to make 
 it my specialty at some future day. In the meantime I shall not 
 lose sight of the fact that I must commence as a general practitioner, 
 and that it is my duty to render myself qualified for all my duties 
 in that capacity. 
 
 Vienna is certainly a very interesting city. Its inhabitants pre- 
 sent a singularly motley appearance. One finds people here from 
 almost every part of Europe. The conversation which I sometimes 
 hear in the lecture rooms puts me in mind of the building of the 
 tower of Babel. Here one hears German in its various dialects, 
 Hungarian, Bohemian, Slavonian, Polish, Eussian, French, Eng- 
 lish, Italian, Greek, Swedish, Dutch and many other lan- 
 guages. . . .
 
 Student Days in Paris, Prague, and Vienna. 81 
 
 The Viennese are a peculiar sort of people, good natured enough, 
 to be sure, but stupid; and they do not come up by far to the Ger- 
 man standard of refinement. A fact which has particularly struck 
 me is that the distinct line of demarcation existing between the 
 classes of North Germany, which will enable one to determine at a 
 glance whether persons with whom you come in contact belong to 
 the educated or to the benighted classes of society, is entirely want- 
 ing here. The scholar adheres to the Viennese dialect with the 
 same tenacity that the besotted cab-driver does, and the shirt of the 
 former is hardly cleaner than that of the latter. An American 
 friend of mine here maintains that he can distinguish the various 
 nationalities by the degree of cleanliness of their shirts. He con- 
 tends that when a person appears in a clean shirt, he must be either 
 an American or an Englishman, while the other nationalities of 
 Europe satisfy themselves with a more limited indulgence in clean 
 linen; as for the Wiener, he thinks it is the least pressing of all his 
 wants. Though he exaggerates, there is nevertheless much truth 
 in what he says. . . . 
 
 The civility which one observes here is strongly impregnated 
 with servility. The lower classes express their gratitude by kissing 
 the hand, or by simply saying, " Kiiss die Hand." ... It 
 would be very uncivil if he said, "Ich danke." They address one 
 as " Gnddiger Kerr'' " Eure Gnaden," " Bitte unterthdnigst," and 
 the like. [Diary]. 
 
 Vienna, December 5, 1861. 
 Dear Brother Moses, 
 
 . . . Though I cannot find the least justification for the 
 Southern cause, I find it quite natural that the Southerners should 
 display the intense enthusiasm which you describe in fighting the 
 Federal forces. This is not the first time in the world's history that 
 passion has proven stronger than good sense. . . . My opinions 
 on the present troubles have not changed in the least, and I still
 
 82 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 hope for the restoration of the Union. It would occupy too much 
 space if I attempted to give you reasons for my views, and as they 
 would perhaps not prove palatable to you, I can dispense with it 
 the more readily. 
 
 Vienna, December 5, 1861. 
 Dear Brother Stern, 
 
 . . . The [Trent] affair has produced quite a commotion in 
 the circle of my American friends, for you can readily understand 
 that it will affect us individually. In case of war our harbors will 
 probably be blockaded, and those who have not a snug sum on hand 
 will have to starve here, inasmuch as they will not be able to receive 
 remittances from home, or they will have to leave here precipitately 
 if they wish to reach home at all, while others fear that they will 
 be cut off too long . . . from communication with their 
 friends. I do not believe that our government will provoke a war 
 with England; in any event I am not frightened for myself, inas- 
 much as I have plenty of money on hand ; besides, we shall all have 
 time to decide when the American minister at London receives his 
 passport. In case England chooses to satisfy her revenge merely 
 by recognizing the Southern Confederacy, it will not affect us indi- 
 vidually at all. I should not like to be forced to leave before the 
 winter session, which lasts till some time in April, has ended ; but 
 after that time I can be ready at any moment. . . . 
 
 During his stay in the large cities in Europe he often mentions 
 his visits to the opera, which afforded him great pleasure. He was a 
 lover of music, and had a good ear. He was especially fond of 
 Jewish melodies, and, like his father, could sing them well. 
 
 In the spring of 1862 he took lessons in Italian for about two 
 months, in order to prepare himself for a short trip to Italy.' The 
 
 'Thirty-six years later, in a letter dated Milan, July 11, 1898, he 
 writes: "I can read the accounts [of the war] in the Italian papers 
 pretty well. It would probably amuse you to hear me translating the 
 news to mamma."
 
 Student Days in Paris, Prague, and Vienna. 83 
 
 winter semester in Vienna ended in the latter part of April, and he 
 proceeded to Venice, where he spent several days, thence going on to 
 Padua, Verona, Turin, and Milan. Then journeying to England 
 by way of Paris, he arrived in London about May 16. Here he re- 
 mained a month, spending almost all of his time in the hospitals, 
 but finding time to visit the Exposition then in progress. On June 
 18 he sailed for home, landing at New York early in July. He re- 
 turned to Baltimore, and immediately began the practice of the pro- 
 fession for which he had so thoroughly prepared himself.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 Practice and Personality. 
 
 At the time of my father's return to Baltimore, in July, 1862, 
 there were in the city no physicians specially trained in the treat- 
 ment of diseases of the eye. Dr. George Prick, a well-known oph- 
 thalmologist, had left the city about twenty years before, and had 
 found no successors. No special instruction in ophthalmology was 
 given at the University of Maryland at that period, and my father, 
 who had enjoyed the greatest advantages then open to the medical 
 profession to attain proficiency in that subject, naturally thought of 
 becoming an eye specialist. Conditions at that time, and especially 
 the breadth of his interest in medical science, however, prevented 
 him from limiting his sphere of activity. He opened an office at 
 the house of his parents, 111 (now 1111) East Baltimore Street, 
 as a general practitioner, though during the whole of his career he 
 made a specialty of ophthalmology. The continuance of his studies 
 occupied the abundant leisure which he had at that time. He 
 worked chiefly upon the eye, getting practice by operating upon 
 the eyes of animals, especially of rabbits. The following letter gives 
 an idea of his circumstances at this time : 
 
 Baltimore, September 5, 1862. 
 . . . Sometimes I get quite out of patience on account of not 
 having more to do. I was thinking of trying to get a position in 
 one of the military hospitals here; but, on maturer reflection, I 
 have given up the idea, for I should be compelled to neglect the 
 practice that I shall get : besides, the advantages of such a position 
 could be only temporary. . . .
 
 AARON FRIEDENWALD 
 
 iS6s
 
 who h^. 
 
 ajAWnaaami i/ioaaa
 
 Practice and Personality. 85 
 
 As this extract indicates, the war was uppermost in the public 
 mind at that day. An idea of the state of Baltimore during the 
 eventful month of September, 1862, may be gathered from the fol- 
 lowiug excerpts from letters. 
 
 Baltimore, September 5, 1862. 
 ... There is a rumor in town to-day that the rebels have in- 
 vaded Maryland, and there is great excitement here in conse- 
 quence. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, September 8, 1862. 
 . . . It is really humiliating to listen to the exultation of the 
 Southern sympathisers. There has been considerable excitement 
 since the Eebels occupied Frederick. . . . 
 
 He had become more and more attached to the Eepublican party, 
 the local members of which at that time constituted an unpopular 
 minority, especially among my father's associates. 
 
 Baltimore, September 9, 1862. 
 . . . These are miserable times here now. The invader is 
 upon us, and still we hear nothing publidi/ of his approach. The 
 news offices are compelled to keep their bulletin-boards within doors 
 to prevent excitement on the street. When the news came that the 
 rebels had taken possession of Frederick, there was considerable of a 
 fight before the " Clipper " office. You know that the rowdy faction 
 of the Know-nothing party has attached itself to the Union party 
 here, and, instead of arming and meeting the foe as they should, 
 they threaten to wreak their vengeance on the secessionists here. 
 They are, I believe, the most cowardly set on the face of the earth. 
 The papers tell us nothing in regard to the movements made by the 
 government to intercept Jackson's march, but I have learned from 
 a gentleman from Washington that McClellan and Burnside started
 
 86 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 from Washington on Sunday witli over fifty thousand men. I am 
 really getting discouraged at the manner in which the war has been 
 managed, and I am beginning to think it would be more expedient 
 to give up to the Southerners than to slaughter so many thousands 
 uselessly. In spite of the good cause the North is fighting for and 
 the many thousands rushing under arms to support that cause, and 
 all the resources which the Union can command, the South must 
 triumph if ... a little brains is not sent to "Washington and 
 to the heads of the armies very soon. . . . 
 
 Somewhat later a temporary hospital for the wounded soldiers, 
 both Union and Confederate, who passed through Baltimore, was 
 opened on Central Avenue, and my father gave up to it much of 
 his time, visiting the injured day and night. 
 
 On June 14, 1863, he was married to Miss Bamberger, his en- 
 gagement to whom has been mentioned. There was a quiet home 
 wedding at the house of the bride's parents, on North Eutaw Street, 
 near Lexington. After the ceremony, which was performed by the 
 Eeverend Joseph Leucht, husband and wife went immediately to 
 their modest home, then numbered 65 East Fayette Street, between 
 Exeter and East Streets. 
 
 A few months after the wedding my father was placed under 
 arrest on the charge of having run the blockade and aided the 
 South. The arrest was either a mistake or a ruse, as one of his 
 brothers was at that time serving in the Confederate army. My 
 father spent one night in a cell in the " Slaves' Prison," a building 
 at the corner of Eutaw and Camden Streets, used at one time for 
 the confinement of negroes. The next morning he was brought 
 before Colonel Fish, then in command, a soldier reputed to be an 
 unscrupulous scoundrel, who tried to browbeat him into incriminat- 
 ing his brother. 
 
 My father faced him coolly and fearlessly, indignantly refusing 
 to answer any questions concerning his brother's affairs with the
 
 Practice and Personality. 87 
 
 retort, " Do you want me to testify against my brother ?" He ob- 
 tained his discharge the same day through the influence of friends, 
 who proved that he was innocent of the charges against him and 
 was, moreover, a stanch Union man. The trouble and anxiety 
 this incident occasioned the young wife can readily be imagined. 
 
 Shortly after this time my mother was further distressed by sev- 
 eral robberies, which so disturbed her that she became quite ill. As 
 a result, the house on East Fayette Street was given up, and the 
 young couple went to live for a time with my mother's parents, 
 while my father again opened his office at his father's house. He 
 soon set about finding another house, and a few months later pur- 
 chased a home at what was then 126 (now 1208) East Baltimore 
 Street. 
 
 Not long after he writes: 
 
 Baltimore, September 23, 1864. 
 Dear Brothers Isaac and Moses, 
 
 I have the pleasure of informing you that Bertha was delivered 
 of a fine boy on Wednesday morning (September 21). . . . 
 The little fellow will be named after our grandfather (Harry), and 
 I hope he will be spared us to do honor to the name. 
 
 Four other children, all sons, were bom: Julius, on December 
 20, 1866; Bernard Daniel, on September 27, 1870 (died June 3, 
 1893) ; Norman, on November 11, 1873 ; and Edgar Bar, on Novem- 
 ber 20, 1879. 
 
 My father's practice rapidly increased, and he was kept busy 
 day and night. On returning from a visit to a patient one night 
 he came to a mound of earth, and, being very agile, instead of 
 walking round it he leaped over it. Unfortunately, he fell into a 
 deep trench hidden on the other side of the pile, injuring his side 
 badly. He made light of the pain, which lasted some time, and 
 not until several years later was it discovered that he had suffered a 
 fracture of the ribs. 
 7
 
 88 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 His practice continued steadily to improve, Dr. N. E. Smith, 
 Dr. Christopher Johnston, and many other professional friends 
 referring eye cases to him. Finally he determined to move up-town, 
 selling his house and purchasing another at 88 (later 310) North 
 Eutaw Street. He took possession of this house in July, 1868, and 
 it continued to be his home for the remaining thirty-four years of 
 his life. 
 
 About this time a serious outbreak of small-pox occurred in Bal- 
 timore, and a small temporary hospital for Jewish sufferers was 
 fitted up on Dallas Street by a few charitable people. At this hos- 
 pital my father was the only physician in attendance, gratuitously 
 devoting his services for several months to this arduous and disa- 
 greeable work. His stern sense of duty alone kept him at his 
 post. His whole professional life, indeed, was characterized by 
 disregard of danger whenever the welfare of his patients was at 
 stake. On one occasion his friend, Dr. Augustus F. Erich, came 
 to his home specially to remonstrate with him for applying his 
 head to the chest of a patient who was suffering with cholera. 
 " Eemember," said Erich, " that you have a family ! " The warn- 
 ing was needful, for he had already suffered severely from blood- 
 poisoning due to infection of his finger, 
 
 A busy man, he took no vacation whatever for many years. 
 Summer and winter he was at his post, day and night, and never 
 did I hear him complain of overwork or weariness. He would usu- 
 ally remain in his office until ten or half after ten ; he would then 
 drive out to see his patients and, later on, to spend some time at 
 the College of Physicians and Surgeons. He was most conscien- 
 tious in keeping appointments, and was never late at a consultation. 
 
 During the lifetime of his father and mother he never failed to 
 stop daily at the old home, usually about noon, to inquire after 
 their health. His relations with his wife's parents were equally 
 close, and a day rarely passed without his seeing them. He was 
 particularly attached to his mother-in-law. She was a dear, good
 
 HOME, 310 NORTH EUTAW STREET
 
 post. His whole pr /ed by 
 
 di- 
 
 T33flT8 WATU3 HTHOU OtS ,3MOH
 
 ^
 
 !
 
 Practice and Personality. 89 
 
 woman, and he loved her tenderly, while she thought no one was 
 so nearly perfect as her son-in-law. 
 
 He would return home about two for the mid-day meal, after 
 which, if possible, he would take a nap, which rarely lasted longer 
 than a few minutes, and as soon as he was called he would 
 be wide awake. He enjoyed his naps best when there were a num- 
 ber of persons in the room talking, and neither conversation nor 
 the noisy play of the children would disturb him. He would then 
 see patients in his office until about four or half after four, after 
 which he would make another round of professional visits. My 
 mother usually accompanied him on these afternoon drives. She 
 would read while he was attending his patients, and while they 
 were driving about she would tell him what she had read that 
 was of interest. 
 
 On the long summer afternoons when his work was done he would 
 often enjoy a drive with his wife and family in the coimtry or in 
 the park, and nothing could exceed the pleasure he took in these 
 drives. He was extremely fond of wild flowers, enjoying their 
 beauty with the pleasure of a true lover of nature. He never tired 
 of attractive landscapes, no matter how often he had seen them. 
 He would halt his horse on Prospect Hill in Druid Hill Park day 
 after day and year after year, to point out some part of the scene 
 which appealed to him. His delight in nature was a reflection of 
 his deeply religious spirit, which beheld in the "honour and 
 majesty " of this world only the clothing of Him who " stretcheth 
 out the heavens like a curtain." 
 
 The following letter shows his love of nature, which has already 
 appeared in his descriptions of scenes in Switzerland. This letter 
 was addressed to his brother Moses, who had been seriously ill for 
 some time, and was then traveling in Europe for his health. Moses 
 Friedenwald was a great sufferer during the remainder of his life, 
 and many references to his illness occur in later letters. He died on 
 August 13, 1889.
 
 90 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 Baltimore, January 15, 1877. 
 It was a great satisfaction for me to see by letters received from 
 you, that you, dear Moses, are again able to use the pen, and are 
 not altogether at the mercy of your amanuensis. This is not in- 
 tended as any disrespect to you, dear Jane. . . . It is not an 
 unusual phenomenon that a married man is not at all times per- 
 mitted to speak for himself, but it is a,gainst all rules that he 
 should not write for himself if he is able to do so. We have there- 
 fore two reasons to rejoice in receiving tidings from you, dear 
 Moses, in your own handwriting, for in the first place you are in 
 full enjoyment of your prerogative, and, more satisfactory still, 
 you have the physical strength to make use of it. Keep on, dear 
 fellow, to get stronger, , . . Your wonderful feats of pedes- 
 trianism have filled me with the pleasant anticipation of not being 
 60 dreadfully pitied for jaunts that I am forced to make afoot on 
 Saturdays, and open the prospect of being supplied when you re- 
 turn with the very best company on these occasions, I promise 
 you in advance to pick out the softest stone steps that I can find for 
 you to sit on while I visit my patients. To afford our fondness for 
 pleasant walks wider . . . scope, I have already planned that 
 when we . . , meet again in Druid Hill Park as in pleasant 
 days gone by, we shall tie our horses near Swan Lake, allow Jane 
 and Bertha to amuse themselves under the beautiful trees on the 
 hill and . . . stroll through those romantic recesses where 
 only those can be admitted who can afford to walk, and when we 
 have seen everything, and especially what no one else has seen, we 
 will return to the hill and report to the mothers and their children 
 our adventures, which, I hope, will prove so interesting that they 
 will be communicated as pleasant traditions to our great-great- 
 grandchildren, I have a great temptation to dwell upon pleasant 
 recollections of the past connected with Druid Hill Park, and to 
 peep at the beautiful prospects which appear to us in the future.
 
 Practice and Personality. 91 
 
 The cloud is beginning to fade away, and is gradually making way 
 for the vivifying sunshine, and now as you are snugly seated around 
 the fire at Hamburg, and lamenting that the winter ... is 
 especially severe, turn your thoughts to . . . the summers that 
 you will again enjoy with us at our loved Druid Hill Park, and I 
 am sure a warm glow will animate you, that even the winter of 
 Hamburg will not be able to chill. I hope you will be pleased with 
 your trip to Hamburg; the friends that you will meet there will 
 prevent you from feeling that you are strangers. I know how to 
 appreciate German hospitality. It is genuine and not only pleases 
 for the moment that it is lavished upon one, but fills the distant 
 future with fondest recollections. 
 
 The remainder of this letter touches upon a controversy concern- 
 ing a minister against whom the charge of having apostatized be- 
 fore he arrived here had been made. The Jewish community of 
 Baltimore was much wrought up over the matter, taking sides with 
 great feeling. 
 
 . . . Now for a little news. There has been a grand recon- 
 ciliation on the summit of Mt. Sinai. You know that twenty-two 
 members went down as seceders, and the others came near going 
 up entirely. It came to pass that a great deal of thunder was 
 heard, and fire and smoke were spoken of, and men became afraid. 
 The twenty-two felt the enthusiasm of those engaged in a rightful 
 cause, and the thirty-six found that the thunder and lightning and 
 the fire and smoke did not come from Mt. Sinai of old, but from 
 themselves, and they opened their eyes, which had been stricken 
 with blindness, and they beheld in their Eabbi, Dr. Jacob Meyer, 
 a monster even more hideous than others had painted him, and 
 they stretched forth their arms, saying "Brethren, return to our 
 embrace; we knew not what we did." But the twenty-two heark-
 
 92 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 ened not unto them, and the thirty-six, clothed in sackcloth and 
 ashes, again approached those offended brothers, and they spake 
 unto them, saying, " We will undo all we have done, and all amende 
 that you will command us to make we will willingly make. For- 
 give us this one time, and again enter the bond of brotherhood/' 
 The hatchet was buried. 
 
 Last Saturday Dr. delivered a sample sermon in Ger- 
 man, and on Sunday he repeated the dose in English which was 
 published in to-day's American, and which you can read yourself. 
 If you can find out what he means, you understand complicated 
 English better than I do. I think the candidate has a very good 
 chance of becoming the spiritual purveyor of the material wants of 
 
 the Congregation. I write this as I know it will be a great 
 
 relief to you to know the congregation is in safe hands. 
 
 Thank God, that I have not been infected with that dangerous 
 spirit of the age, which questions His existence. He who in His 
 goodness has shielded me from the pernicious influence of the small- 
 pox and cholera and yellow fever and other pestilences, has shielded 
 me from this greater plague. If one is threatened with being pos- 
 sessed by this dreadful form of skepticism, he will easily be cured 
 
 of it if he takes into consideration that the Congregation 
 
 could satisfactorily dispose of the question adversely to the existence 
 of a personal God in about twenty-four hours, when the combined 
 intelligence of the most intelligent congregation in the city required 
 nearly a year to discover whether Dr. Jacob Meyer was Jacob 
 or Jacob's brother. 
 
 Heine, in his more sober moments, said that, when the learned 
 spoke of atheism in language such that, while seated around the 
 table, they were not understood by their attendants, it had some 
 fascination, but when every shoemaker's and tailor's apprentice 
 talked atheism, then atheism was tainted by the smell of Lim- 
 burger cheese and shoemaker's wax, and therefore became dis-
 
 AARON FRIEDENWALD 
 
 About iS/^
 
 n, and v. 
 means, you v kI comp 
 
 aJAWi/13a3IR^ MORAA
 
 ^ ^M ^ 
 
 \^^
 
 Practice and Personality. 93 
 
 gusting. Atheism, materialism, rationalism, and the like, thus be- 
 came the fashion, and fashion is inexorable while it holds its sway. 
 It will go out of fashion, and the same folks who have now laid 
 religion aside will again trade in it largely. There was once upon 
 a time a man in Boston, who went to a different church every Sun- 
 day for many years, until finally he became a constant attendant at 
 one church. A friend who had observed his former migrations ex- 
 pressed his astonisliment, and inquired the cause of this change. 
 He replied, " The Eeverend Mr. Smith has fascinated me very 
 much, for I have now listened to him for years, and have not heard 
 him mention religion or politics once." To avoid a similar repu- 
 tation, having said as much about religion as is allowable in one 
 letter, I will say a word on the political confusion in this com- 
 munity. . . . 
 
 Eeferences to his religious views have been made in the earlier 
 letters, and others will appear in later letters and in his addresses. 
 It will not be out of place, however, at this point to dwell a moment 
 upon this subject. As we have seen, my father was brought up in 
 accordance with the traditions of Orthodox Judaism, and he re- 
 mained a consistent observer of the ceremonial as well as of the 
 spiritual side of his religion. He was a regular attendant at the 
 services of the synagogue, and took a deep interest in the welfare 
 of the congregations with which he was connected. He was one of 
 the founders and an officer of the Shearith Israel congregation, 
 and later joined the Chizuk Emoonah congregation, which his 
 father had been chiefly instrumental in organizing, and in 1892, at 
 the earnest desire of his father, succeeded him as president. He 
 filled this position until his death, and it was during his incum- 
 bency that the congregation removed from the synagogue on Lloyd 
 Street to its present edifice at the corner of McCulloh and Mosher 
 Streets. At a celebration held on October 20, 1901, in honor of
 
 94 Aaeon Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 the twenty-fifth anniversary of the connection of Eeverend Dr. 
 Henry W. Schneeberger with the congregation as its Eabbi, my 
 father delivered an address, in the course of which he said : " Faith 
 has the inherent quality of reproduction. It sinks its roots deep 
 into the human soul; it grows upward and upward; its branches 
 spread; and, with its leaves, which remain ever green and drink 
 in the heaven-born light, [it] forms a canopy which offers protec- 
 tion and safety, and finally [it] bears the fruit, 'n nx n;?Ti/ And 
 thou shalt know the Lord.' " 
 
 My father's interest in Judaism was profound and intelligent. 
 He had a well-stocked library of books on Jewish subjects, of 
 which he made good use. He was especially well-informed on all 
 those Jewish topics which have a medical bearing, and wrote a vig- 
 orous defense of the Jewish method of slaughtering, taking an 
 original point of view in emphasizing its humanitarian influence 
 upon the Jews themselves. This article was published in the " Jew- 
 ish Exponent " of September 20, 1901. He was requested to write 
 for the "Jewish Encyclopedia" the article upon the medical as- 
 pect of circumcision, and delivered at Gratz College, in Philadel- 
 phia, on January 20, 1896, a lecture entitled " Jewish Physicians 
 and the Contributions of the Jews to the Science of Medicine,'* 
 which was printed in the first number of the Publications of the 
 College. He was interested from his earliest years in the study of 
 Hebrew, and attained sufficient command of the " Holy Tongue " 
 to read a Hebrew paper or a chapter in the Bible with ease. A 
 Hebrew book, usually a copy of the Psalms, always lay upon his 
 desk, to be taken up whenever occasion offered. He could compose, 
 and occasionally wrote a letter in Hebrew. On one occasion 
 he received a copy of a Hebrew work, printed in Jerusalem, 
 which was dedicated to him in terms of the most fulsome flattery. 
 Though sincerely interested in the welfare of the Jews of Palestine, 
 and a liberal contributor in their behalf, he deeply resented anything
 
 Practice and Personality. 95 
 
 like limnbug, especially when it wore the cloak of religion, and he 
 returned the book with a Hebrew reply, saying, "I should feel 
 ashamed to aid those who resort to such degrading means as you 
 have done. ... I return the book with the warning to stop 
 this business, otherwise I will find means to let the world know what 
 you have sent out from Zion, and what is the value of the words 
 you speak from Jerusalem." 
 
 In describing his visit to the school in Jaffa maintained by the 
 Russian Choveve Zion, he wrote, in a letter dated May 10, 1898, 
 " I was astonished ... to find how well I could understand 
 [the children], and a little sojourn here would soon enable me to 
 speak Hebrew sufficiently to feel at home with those who speak so 
 much Hebrew here." 
 
 He frequently attended banquets at which he ate nothing, be- 
 cause of his rigid adherence to the Jewish dietary laws. This cir- 
 cumstance did not lessen his enjoyment, however, for he was al- 
 ways in the best of humor on these occasions ; but when he attended 
 Jewish banquets at which the dietary laws were not properly ob- 
 served it distressed him greatly, as the following letter shows. 
 
 Baltimore, November 81, 1899. 
 To THE President and Board of Directors 
 
 OF the Hebrew Benevolent Society, 
 Gentlemen, — A short time before the annual banquet of the He- 
 brew Benevolent Society in 1898 I called the attention of a promi- 
 nent member of your board to the fact that due regard was not 
 [paid] to the Jewish dietary laws in getting up the supper. It was 
 claimed that all arrangements had already been made. To my 
 great mortification I found that the same disregard characterized 
 the banquet of the present year, and I therefore present the matter 
 before your honorable body for your serious consideration. I have 
 been an attendant at these festivals for over forty years, almost un-
 
 96 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 interruptedly, and I hope I am not presuming too mucli in re- 
 questing you to see to it that the Jewish law and those who observe 
 it will on these occasions in the future receive due respect. . . . 
 
 Nothing touched him more deeply than misunderstandings or 
 aspersions of Judaism or the setting of Jewish institutions and 
 particularly of the Jewish Scriptures in an unfavorable light. The 
 following extract is taken from a letter he wrote to Professor H. H. 
 Boyesen, who had delivered in Baltimore a lecture upon Scandina- 
 vian literature, in the course of which he made some remarks my 
 father thought not quite fair to the Old Testament. This letter, 
 though breathing his tolerance of other religions, maintains a vig- 
 orous Jewish attitude. 
 
 . . . Permit me to say that the Old Testament in compari- 
 son with the New does not fall short in the lessons which it 
 teaches. . . . Much of the advancement of civilization claimed 
 for Christianity has been due to other influences and there have 
 been periods when what was called Christianity by its ardent ex- 
 pounders has retarded the world's progress. But Christianity has 
 developed into somethin^g better than it was, and it will continue to 
 improve, and so will other religions. The Ibsens will rise from 
 reading either Testament and set men against each other; while the 
 Bjornsons and the Boyesens, under the same influence, will unite 
 the hearts of men for their mutual elevation. . . . 
 
 A sympathetic reply was received, in which Professor Boyesen 
 disclaimed any intention of reflecting upon the Old Testament. 
 
 His bold and original way of thinking on Jewish subjects is fur- 
 ther illustrated by the following account. 
 
 Baltimore, December 22, 1884. 
 I have just returned from a Shakespearian reading which was 
 given at the Johns Hopkins University. The subject was " Shy-
 
 Practice and Personality. 97 
 
 lock;" and Professor Bell, the reader. He commenced by depre- 
 cating the spirit of hatred of the Jew that prevailed at the time of 
 Shakespeare, and recognized that with all the hideousness with 
 which Shylock was portrayed it could not be denied that great in- 
 justice was done him. 
 
 He read beautifully, and in his interpretation did not shear Shy- 
 lock of the manly spirit that Shakespeare could not refrain from 
 awarding him. And still I must confess it was not an unclouded 
 enjoyment, for every Jew must feel instinctively that, notwithstand- 
 ing the great literary merit the play unquestionably possesses, with 
 its dramatic effects and its portrayal of human passions, the fact 
 still remains that it has immeasurably injured our race, for Shy- 
 lock at his worst has been regarded as representing the true Jew; 
 and even in our enlightened age every Jew attending this play must 
 feel that the smouldering embers of the ancient hatred of us are 
 kindled to some degree at least, if that hatred does not rage so 
 fiercely as it was wont to do. 
 
 If we as Jews could see the same play, with Shylock personating 
 a Mohammedan, we should be better able to appreciate the keen 
 criticism of Heine, who recognizes in him the only character in the 
 play who exhibits any manliness at all. We should realize more 
 fully that Shakespeare thoroughly knew how this manly spirit, 
 spurned and humiliated at every turn in life, with the tradition of 
 persecution in his mind, with the grief of a great domestic be- 
 reavement caused by his enemies rankling in his heart, would at 
 last break loose from every restraint, and give full scope to an im- 
 placable, uncompromising hatred. But when we see Shylock as a 
 Jew we feel that Shakespeare, when he described him, must have 
 been somewhat in the same state of mind as when he travelled to 
 Bohemia by sea. We feel that he did not know the Jew, and we 
 have a right to think so, since we can point to the fact that history 
 has never revealed such a Jew.
 
 98 Aaeon" Fkiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 We may readily forgive him this injustice, as it evidently pro- 
 ceeded from ignorance of the Jewish character, and not from a de- 
 sire to vilify it ; for he did not attempt to conceal the persecutions 
 Shylock had suffered. He shows them exactly as they were, Just as 
 they appear upon almost every page of history, just as we have seen 
 them. 
 
 We could, perhaps, give our Christian friends a better idea of 
 what we mean in this connection, if we had them imagine the play 
 translated into Arabic, with Shylock as a Mohammedan, and played 
 in Constantinople. I hardly think that their applause at Shylock's 
 eventual discomfiture would then be quite as pronounced as it usu- 
 ally is. Not only would they be somewhat fearful of their safety, 
 but they would not rest until they secured the intervention of the 
 foreign powers to have the play interdicted, for they would allege 
 that the villainous Venetians did not represent the Christian 
 spirit. . . . 
 
 While maintaining such positive views upon religions as have 
 been set forth, he was intensely interested in every advance of 
 science, especially of the physical and biological sciences, and 
 encouraged his sons to pursue these studies. He spoke with 
 profound respect of the leaders of modern science, and in particular 
 of Huxley, whose address at the opening of the Johns Hopkins Uni- 
 versity he greatly enjoyed. He deprecated only what he considered 
 the "unfairness of modern thinkers in their opposition to religion. 
 
 He was a sincere lover of art, which he thought had reached its 
 highest development in the sculpture and architecture of the Greeks ; 
 he was a devoted student of science, which he considered the great- 
 est contribution to civilization made by the moderns; and he was a 
 faithful adherent of religion, which he was firmly convinced had 
 attained its noblest expression in the inspired words of the Hebrew 
 prophets. For him there was no conflict between science and re- 
 ligion; he felt sure, as he often said, that, with the progress of
 
 Peactice and Personality. 99 
 
 science and the increase of our knowledge of the laws of nature, the 
 world would recognize nature and its laws as the work of that 
 Deity whose unity, eternity, and omnipotence the prophets of Israel 
 had taught humanity. 
 
 My father led the quiet and uneventful life of a busy physician 
 and found his chief diversion in the pleasures of family life. The 
 trusted friend and counselor of his numerous relatives, he found his 
 closest intimates in the members of his household. The interest he 
 took in the schooling of his children appeared in his daily inquiries 
 as to their progress ; and, as they grew up, disparity in age did not 
 prevent him from making the relation of father and son one of 
 comradeship on a footing of perfect equality. His tender and af- 
 fectionate relations with his wife, his children, and his grandchil- 
 dren were such, indeed, as have made the Jewish home a proverb. 
 He was interested in all the little happenings of the home, and 
 derived enjoyment from incidents which might have annoyed other 
 men, as is seen in the following letter : 
 
 Baltimore, August 17, 1882. 
 Dear Harry, 
 
 . . . Edgar has been very well, but quite mischievous. Yes- 
 terday afternoon, while mamma was asleep, he got out of his cradle, 
 took down the band-box containing mamma's new bonnet, and sub- 
 jected it to quite a post-mortem examination. I was asleep at the 
 time, and was aroused by a terrible shriek; ... it seemed to 
 me I was hearing Shakespeare recited, for I caught the phrase, 
 " That thou com'st in such a questionable shape." I got up and 
 found mamma looking for the pieces, and collecting the plucked 
 grapes that had been strewn in all directions. " But there's a 
 divinity that shapes our ends, rough hew them how we will;" of 
 this I became convinced, for, after spending considerable time in 
 remodeling the debris, the thing finally assumed again the shape 
 of a bonnet. . . .
 
 100 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 In his younger days he was fond of fishing, but later he rarely in- 
 dulged in that sport. He was for many years a heavy smoker, in 
 spite of the fact that his wife had a great aversion to the smell of 
 tobacco, so that he never smoked in her presence. When about 
 thirty years old, he witnessed the severe trial undergone by an ac- 
 quaintance of his who was compelled to give up the use of tobacco. 
 The distressing picture impressed him so deeply that he determined 
 to give up smoking, and he never touched a cigar again. This ex- 
 perience was in striking contrast to that of his father. As a result 
 of his great age, Jonas Friedenwald, towards the close of his life, 
 suffered with failure of vision, for which science affords no relief. 
 My father went to New York to consult with Dr. Knapp, a friend 
 of hiy, concerning the case, and had the well-known specialist ex- 
 amine my grandfather's eyes. Knapp, on learning that the patient 
 was an inveterate smoker, advised him to stop iising tobacco. He 
 did so for two days, at the end of which time, finding that his sight 
 did not improve, he returned to his old habits, and clung to them 
 till his last day. 
 
 As has been mentioned, my father took no vacations, and the 
 first out-of-town trips he took were not occasioned by the desire 
 for rest or recreation, but by his sick brother's call for his medical 
 care. Moses Friedenwald, because of his illness, was often com- 
 pelled to leave the city. He spent several summers at Cape May, 
 and my father frequently had to visit him there. These visits, which 
 were the first interruptions of his regular round of professional 
 work, lasted from a few days to a week. His enjoyment of the 
 pleasures of shore and sea appears in the following extracts from 
 letters written at Cape May. 
 
 Cape May, August 6, '79. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . About twelve o'clock we took our first bath. It is a 
 beautiful sight to behold thousands of men, women, and children
 
 Pkactice and Personality. 101 
 
 playing their pranks in the sand, everybody laughing at everybody 
 else, and each one thinking that he enjoys himself best. The bath 
 is exceedingly refreshing and one is provided with a most furious 
 appetite, which, at Aunt Betzy's table, to which we were cordially 
 invited for dinner, could very readily be appeased. Here one is 
 always engaged. There is a great deal of life, music at the hotels, 
 promenading on the beach, and a hundred other things to gain 
 one's attention, not forgetting the mosquitoes, who paid us a visit 
 after a land breeze. They made themselves at home immediately, 
 and showed as much familiarity as if they had been old acquaint- 
 ances. . . . 
 
 Cape May, July 28, '82. 
 
 Since writing to you yesterday we have spent a very agreeable 
 day. This place is delightful ; it is just at the height of the season, 
 and everything is in holiday attire. Music everywhere, people 
 strolling about joyfully while members of the gallant Fifth Eegi- 
 ment can be seen everywhere, giving the place quite a martial ap- 
 pearance. . . . 
 
 We tried our luck at fishing. The morning was not very favor- 
 able for the sport ; still we caught a respectable lot of very large fish, 
 which, besides the pleasure they afforded us at the time, furnished 
 us with a good supper. 
 
 The night would have been passed in an uninterrupted sleep, had 
 not a serenading party, which filled the air with loud, if not the 
 sweetest song, entertained our neighbors to the right. Negro songs, 
 among which " Way down upon the Suwanee river " played a 
 conspicuous role, composed the program, and I could hardly refrain 
 from chiming in, " Oh, how my soul is growing faint and weary." 
 And, as they finally did grow faint and weary, we again passed into 
 the sweet oblivion of sleep.
 
 103 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 Cape May, July 15, '85. 
 Yesterday morning ... we caught some very fine fish, but 
 I must confess I do not like the sport as much as Uncle Mose does ; 
 to be sitting in the boat for so long a time and waiting for a bite 
 is quite a tiresome piece of busiaess. 
 
 Cape May, July 34, '85. 
 What a delightful morning, cool and refreshing! The flag over 
 the Stockton indicates a sea breeze, and it will not be long before 
 the mosquitoes will beat a hurried retreat. Now, that is something 
 worth talking about, and no one will be happier than dear mamma, 
 except myself on her account. And still, although we have been 
 much annoyed during the last few days by these merciless little 
 pests, we have enjoyed ourselves very much. . . . 
 
 My father's work as a physician was characterized by careful ob- 
 servation and well-balanced judgment, qualities which made his 
 diagnoses and prognoses sound and accurate. His excellent mem- 
 ory for the details of the cases he had once treated was of great help 
 to him in reaching his conclusions. The neatness and exactness 
 which marked his work as a physician appeared especially in his 
 surgical operations upon the eye, in which he was remarkably 
 successful. His skill as a surgeon was shown notably in the opera- 
 tion for cataract. One of the most interesting of these cases which 
 I remember was that of his own father-in-law, for whom he removed 
 a cataract when the patient was eighty-nine years old. My grand- 
 father had always spent much of his time in reading,* and as his 
 hearing was affected by his advanced age, the dimness of sight due 
 
 * In 1889, when I visited Schopfloch, the German village which was 
 his wife's birthplace and his own home for some years, the only infor- 
 mation concerning my grandfather I could gather from the older in- 
 habitants was a tradition that he was so studious that, after he had 
 finished a hard day's work, the light by which he was reading could 
 be seen in his room at all hours of the night.
 
 Practice and Personality. 103 
 
 to a cataract was a great trial. So successful was the operation my 
 father performed that the patient was able to spend almost all of 
 his time during the remaining six years of his life in reading ill- 
 printed Hebrew books in the smallest of type. A still more inter- 
 esting operation occurred in the earlier part of my father's profes- 
 sional career. He operated for the removal of a cataract upon a pa- 
 tient under chloroform anaesthesia. He had finished making the in- 
 cision when the patient ceased to breathe and became pulseless. My 
 father immediately endeavored to resuscitate him by producing ar- 
 tificial respiration, through rhythmic compression of the chest, but 
 finally gave up in despair. He then finished the operation by ex- 
 tracting the cataract, began again the attempt to produce respi- 
 ration, and finally succeeded. The next day the sick man, who 
 recovered his life and his sight, in spite of the fact that he had 
 been reported dead, said, " I never knew the cataract operation was 
 so severe. My chest is sore in every part." 
 
 As the preceding anecdote shows, my father remained cool and 
 self-possessed in the most trying emergencies. Progressive and 
 ever ready to adopt new views and new methods, he was quick to 
 see the truth and the importance of the modern ideas concerning 
 antisepsis, which he followed in theory and in practice, as is illus- 
 trated in the following letter. 
 
 Baltimore, December 11, 1887. 
 I got ... [a prominent gynecologist] to operate at the 
 Hebrew Hospital this morning for lacerated perineum. I had a 
 little talk with him about antisepsis, and he thoU|ght when such 
 surgeons as Keith succeeded so well without antisepsis it went to 
 prove that too much importance had been attached to it. I replied 
 that probably he proceeded so aseptically that he could dispense 
 with the complicated antiseptic methods that others had em- 
 ployed. Dr. , however, used carbolized water for his sponges, 
 
 8
 
 104 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 and thought that he did all in the way of antisepsis that the case 
 required. He was very much pleased with his operation, . . . 
 and asked me to make a digital examination, " Well," said T, " I 
 told you that Baltimore surgeons would have more respect for 
 antiseptic surgery if they knew what it was, and I can now include 
 you among the number who do not know, for being willing to permit 
 me to examine without previously disinfecting my fingers." 
 
 His fresh and original mind was also manifested in the invention 
 of several ingenious instruments. In the earlier days of his practice 
 he invented the eye speculum which bears his name. This instru- 
 ment, which is very similar to that invented quite independently by 
 his good friend, Dr. Eussell Murdoch, has several advantages over 
 any other appliance of the kind. My father also devised a simple 
 and inexpensive instrument for curing club-foot without a surgical 
 operation. He used this apparatus successfully in a number of 
 cases, but never published any account of it. 
 
 He kept abreast of the best current medical literature, especially 
 that dealing with ophthalmology, and gathered a good medical li- 
 brary, which he put to frequent and profitable use. He was de- 
 voted heart and soul to his profession, and nowhere does this devo- 
 tion appear more clearly than in the letters he wrote to me while I 
 was studying in Europe. There was scarcely a letter of the two I 
 received every week which did not contain extensive comments upon 
 my medical experiences and observations, questions concerning the 
 methods of the physicians of the Old World, and notes and queries 
 and criticisms suggested by his own practice. In the selections 
 from the letters which are given in a later chapter these portions 
 have naturally been omitted, but it is certainly necessary to mention 
 the evidence which they furnish of his intense interest in the high 
 vocation to which his life was devoted. 
 
 Though my father was so thoroughly a physician, he never al- 
 lowed his character as a doctor to obscure the fact that he was first
 
 ,J«S'«?-.''-.,!l'- i
 
 lie in nich bea; 
 
 a id very i^n, 
 ..-.. _ ->. ^iiend, Dr. Rai,:-,.v .. ................. ,.<.. .... ,..,...- ....,.......^- .. .■•■ 
 
 any other applianco of the kind. My father also devised a simple 
 2 and inexpensive m- uring club-foot without a surgical 
 
 ixi 
 O 
 
 O 
 
 mt>, \n>' '* 
 
 ,n TO w'l 
 . .. malT TV, •, _ _ __ : jV</r al- 
 
 lowed acter as ; was first
 
 Practice and Personality. 105 
 
 of all a man. In his intercourse with his patients he never forgot 
 that his relation to them was no mere matter of business, but some- 
 thing higher and holier. He received the rich and the poor with 
 the same cordiality, and was as considerate for the penniless as for 
 the wealthy. He was less willing to overlook the meanness and con- 
 ceit of some of those on whom fortune had smiled, than to excuse 
 the errors and weaknesses of those who knew poverty and misfor- 
 tune. Throughout his long career he had many patients among the 
 very poor, whom, in his busiest days, he would never turn aside. One 
 instance of his attitude may serve for a thousand. On one occasion 
 a poor woman came to him to make a partial payment of a bill, and 
 told bim that her child was unwell, but that she had been unwilling 
 to send for the doctor until she had paid her old debt in full. My 
 father remonstrated with her, and the next day she received a 
 letter ' written in German, of which the following is a translation : 
 
 My Dear Mrs. , 
 
 I beg to send you the enclosed receipted bill, in the hope that you 
 will get along better in the future. If you should have need of my 
 services, send for me, and I will always be ready to come whether 
 you are able to pay or not. 
 
 The friendly and confidential relations in which he stood to his 
 patients often caused the latter to seek his advice on various sub- 
 jects. On one occasion he dissuaded a poor woman from availing 
 herself of the services of a certain lawyer of unsavory reputation, 
 
 known as Judge . A short time later Judge met 
 
 him on the street and demanded in a menacing tone, " Doctor, did 
 
 you tell Mrs. not to consult me, but to go to some one else?'* 
 
 No whit daunted by the blustering shyster, my father replied, 
 " Judge, let me tell you a story. A Pennsylvania Dutchman once 
 
 "Recently shown me by the lady in question, who preserves it as a 
 valued keepsake.
 
 106 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 heard that a friend of his had done something at which the Dutch- 
 man became very indignant. He went to his friend and insisted 
 upon an explanation. The friend replied, ^You bring me up to 
 court, and I'll tell you all about it.' Good-bye, Judge." 
 
 The apt and ready repartee which this incident exemplifies was 
 a marked characteristic of my father's. He had an inexhaustible 
 fund of anecdote which, like Lincoln, he never used except to put 
 his position more concretely or to cap a good story told by some- 
 one else. As a young man he had been very serious, but in later 
 life, after he had emerged from the trying environment of 
 his youth, his jovial nature asserted itself, so that my mother re- 
 marked that he was the " oldest young man and the youngest old 
 man " she had ever known. His power of seeing the humorous side 
 of things sometimes led him to indulge in punning, while his ability 
 to appreciate other people's jokes found expression in a hearty and 
 infectious laugh which was characteristic. 
 
 A patient of his once objected to the size of a bill, though he had 
 been carried safely through a long and critical illness. My father 
 replied, " Why, that amount would not have paid for a decent 
 funeral — and yet you are not satisfied !" Once my father woke up 
 laughing, and afterwards related the following dream he had had. 
 He was attending a reception, as it appeared, and was introduced 
 to a great many strangers, among whom was a minister. The lat- 
 ter's name sounded strange, and my father asked that it be re- 
 peated. " The Eeverend Mr. Small-pox." " Why," said my father, 
 " why didn't you have your name vaccinated ?" 
 
 On one occasion he was approached by several ladies, with whom 
 he was unacquainted, for a contribution to aid in enlarging the 
 
 Baptist Church. He replied, with a smile, " Indeed, 
 
 ladies, the Baptist Church has always been large enough 
 
 for me." 
 
 One further instance of my father's power of repartee may be
 
 Practice and Personality. 107 
 
 given. His brother Joseph was called upon to speak at a certain 
 dinner, but declined, saying that, like Moses, he had a brother 
 Aaron, who was the orator of the family. My father rose and re- 
 plied, " It is true that Aaron was always ready to speak for Moses," 
 and then added, quoting the refrain of a song then popular, " but 
 ' Not for Joseph, 
 
 Not if he knows it, 
 
 Not for Joseph ! ' " 
 
 He often recalled good stories of things he had heard or seen in 
 his early years ; his memory, indeed, was really remarkable. Once, 
 when he was well on in his teens, his mother showed him an old 
 dress of hers which had been soiled and put away long before. He 
 immediately recalled the entire incident of the ruining of the dress, 
 though it had occurred while he was still in arms. Together with 
 his exceptional memory he often showed an amusing absentminded- 
 ness, due, of course, to his intense mental concentration upon what- 
 ever he was engaged in. One summer morning he started out 
 alone in his carriage at an early hour, in order to avoid the heat of 
 the day. On returning to the house several hours later he imme- 
 diately called for the driver to take charge of the horse. The driver 
 returned with the news that the horse and carriage were not at the 
 door. The only inference was that they had been stolen, and the 
 police were at once notified of the loss. Late in the afternoon a 
 friend inquired whether he might send the horse home, as the poor 
 animal had been standing all day in front of his house, several 
 blocks away from my father's office. My father had absent-mind- 
 edly walked home.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Work in Medical and Communal Organizations, 
 
 During the early years of my father's practice no medical society 
 existed in Baltimore. The first organization with which he became 
 connected was the Baltimore Medical Association, which he joined 
 in February, 1867, shortly after its organization in 1866. With re- 
 gard to the organization of this society he remarks, in an address 
 in memory of his friend, the late Dr. Andrew Hartman, who died 
 December 15, 1884, that it " was called into being at a time when 
 all fraternization in the profession appeared . . . to be a thing 
 of the past. The enthusiasm of the young men at that time held out 
 the hope that the organization of a good medical society was not 
 an impossibility, and this enthusiasm was greatly encouraged by a 
 few of the older members of the profession, the foremost of whom 
 was Dr. Hartman." 
 
 On March 16, 1871, he became a member of the recently or- 
 ganized East Baltimore Medical Association, which later became the 
 Baltimore Medical and Surgical Association. He also attended the 
 meetings of the Pathological Society, which was founded in 1867. 
 A number of papers, for the most part unpublished, which are now 
 in my possession, were read by him before these societies. (See List 
 of Writings, p. 353). He joined the Medical and Chirurgical 
 Faculty in 1869, helping to resuscitate that ancient and honorable 
 organization. He took a prominent part in its proceedings, his 
 readiness of speech and broad and thorough knowledge of medicine 
 making his remarks interesting. He contributed many papers, a 
 number of the more important of which were published. (See List 
 of Writings,). There was scarcely a year among the thirty
 
 Work in Medical and Communal Organizations. 109 
 
 years of his membership in the faculty in which his name did not 
 appear on one or more committees, and he received in 1889 the 
 honor of election to the Presidency. While holding this office 
 he opened the semi-annual meeting at Hagerstown on November 
 12-13, 1889, the first of the semi-annual gatherings since regularly 
 held in different parts of the state. In his address, among other 
 things, he said, that the meeting had for its purpose the " inaugura- 
 tion of a new era " in the history of the faculty, looking to " the 
 consummation of more intimate relations and a closer bond of fel- 
 lowship between the medical practitioners residing in the various 
 districts of the State." 
 
 At the annual meeting of the faculty, held in Baltimore on April 
 22, 1890, he delivered an address upon the " Modern Hospital," the 
 subject being suggested by the completion of the Johns Hopkins 
 Hospital and of the City Hospital during the preceding year. The 
 address embraced a historical sketch of the development of hos- 
 pitals, and was printed in the transactions of the association. In 
 1898 he helped to organize the Maryland Ophthalmological and 
 Otological Society, and was elected the first president. This body 
 later became a section of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty. 
 He was especially interested in the library of the faculty, and was 
 active in bringing about its removal to a suitable building on North 
 Eutaw Street, in which his portrait is now to be seen. 
 
 He thus became a member of every medical society in Baltimore 
 but one, the Baltimore Academy of Medicine, which he could never 
 be induced to join. This society, which was founded in 1877, and 
 is now defunct, limited its membership to physicians who had been 
 in practice for ten years. When pressed by one of its members to 
 explain his refusal to join, he jestingly replied, " Any jackass can 
 become old, if he only lives long enough." 
 
 He was for many years a member of the American Medical As- 
 sociation, and during the nineties he frequently attended its annual
 
 110 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 meetings, which were held in various parts of the country, concur- 
 rently with those of the Association of American Medical Colleges. 
 Parties were generally formed by a number of Baltimore physicians, 
 and, although my father was one of the older men in these groups, 
 he was always one of the j oiliest, and contributed much toward the 
 enjoyment of the trip. He was also a member of the Ninth Inter- 
 national Medical Congress, held in Washington in September, 1887. 
 
 In 1868, in connection with Drs. Augustus F, Erich, D. W. Cath- 
 ell, John M. Stevenson, Henry A. Inloes, and Eobert J. Baynes, he 
 aided in establishing the " People's Special Dispensary," located 
 at the northeast comer of Exeter and Granby Streets. He was the 
 oculist of this institution, and continued to act as such for about 
 three years, until the dispensary was closed. 
 
 In the fall of 1873, on the occasion of a reorganization, he be- 
 came the first professor of diseases of the eye and ear in the College 
 of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore, which had been estab- 
 lished in 1872. He held the professorship for twenty-nine sessions. 
 Besides filling the chair of ophthalmology, he took a leading part 
 in administering the affairs of the college, being for more than ten 
 years treasurer of the Maryland Maternite, which the faculty had 
 established, and for eighteen years, from 1884 until his death, 
 treasurer of the college itself. The books of the institution, kept 
 for many years in his own handwriting, are models of neatness and 
 accuracy. His capacity for business affairs appeared also in the la- 
 bors he was called upon to perform as executor and trustee of the 
 estates of several of his relatives and friends. In connection with 
 the professorship he was ophthalmic and aural surgeon at the Bal- 
 timore City Hospital and the other hospitals connected with the 
 college. He held a similar position at the Nursery and Child's Hos- 
 pital and at the Hebrew Hospital. Further reference to his connec- 
 tion with the latter institution will be made later. 
 
 As a teacher his work was characterized by a broad and catholic
 
 Work in Medical and Communal Organizations. Ill 
 
 view of the field of medical study, with a total absence of the nar- 
 rowness of many specialists. During his whole career, indeed, al- 
 though he devoted most of his attention to ophthalmology, he never 
 ceased to practice general medicine, keeping many of his earliest 
 patients till the close of his life. He was specially proficient in 
 certain branches, such as internal medicine and obstetrics, and 
 many of his medical writings, including some of his most important 
 papers, deal with the relation of diseases of the eye to diseases of 
 other parts of the body. 
 
 It was his custom every year to introduce his course of lectures 
 with an address in which he gave an outline of the subjects to be 
 discussed, emphasized their importance, and pointed out their con- 
 nection with the other branches of medical study. On several occa- 
 sions he delivered in addition before the faculty and students the 
 customary opening address, introducing the work of the school year, 
 and one of these addresses, which was printed by the members of 
 the class, will be found in a later part of this volume. Of his work 
 as a teacher one of his former pupils. Dr. John Kuhrah, says : " He 
 was always interesting . . . and enthusiastic. As he grew 
 older his interest did not flag, and there was no change in the tone 
 and vigor of his lectures. He was always ready for a joke or a good 
 story to enliven his class, and there existed between teacher and 
 student a very pleasant good fellowship." Many of the witty things 
 he said have perished, but a few examples will give an idea of his 
 himior. A student once created some confusion during a lecture 
 by continually pushing a chair about. My father, handing him a 
 book containing cuts of the eye, said, " When my little grandson 
 comes to see me and makes too much noise, I show him a picture- 
 book and he becomes quiet." The disturbance ceased. My father 
 added, " The picture-book has the same effect in this case as well." 
 One evening during a quiz, a student, prompted by his neighbor, 
 answered a question incorrectly. My father inquired the name of
 
 112 Aaron Feiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 the obliging neighbor and gave the mark the answer merited to 
 him. 
 
 On one occasion, after he had lectured before a rather disorderly- 
 class at the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, the noise made 
 by the students at the medical college annoyed him considerably. 
 Finally he said, " There was once a man of such bad repute that at 
 his funeral it was for a long time impossible to find anyone to say 
 a word in praise of him. Finally a man came forward and said, 
 ' This much can be said for brother Jones : he had a brother who 
 was much worse than he was.' All that I can say in your favor is 
 that your dental brethren are even worse than you are." 
 
 At another time when his class became unruly, he remarked that 
 their conduct reminded him of an incident that had happened to 
 his friend and fellow-instructor, Dr. Gundry, superintendent of the 
 Maryland Hospital for the Insane, at Catonsville. At one of the 
 latter's lectures the students became disorderly. The genial in- 
 structor merely smiled, thus provoking them to still greater up- 
 roariousness. "When the racket had subsided a little, he said, " Go 
 on, boys; it reminds me so much of home." 
 
 In speaking of instruments for everting the eyelids, he remarked 
 that he preferred the fingers, for they were always " on hand." 
 On one occasion a physician, noted more for his skill than for his 
 good looks, remarked that a brother medical man, who had recently 
 died, had taken everything at face value. My father observed, " He 
 must have had a mighty poor opinion of you." 
 
 Nowhere does his wit appear to better advantage than in his re- 
 plies to toasts at the college banquets, at which he was sure to be 
 called upon, whether his name appeared upon the list of speakers 
 or not. Several of these speeches are given in the second part of 
 this book. 
 
 A student once asked him during a clinic what the anterior 
 chamber of the eye was. This matter had been repeatedly ex-
 
 Work in Medical and Communal Organizations. 113 
 
 plained, and my father curtly told the inquirer that he ought by that 
 time to know what the anterior chamber was. At the next meeting 
 of the class my father remarked that his good humor was like the 
 aqueous humor filling the anterior chamber; when it was lost, the 
 supply of it was readily replenished. He then expressed his regret 
 for his abrupt reply 
 
 Such incidents as the one just related made the students feel that 
 they had in him a sincere friend, and many of them, as Dr. Kuhrah 
 remarks, " sought his kindly advice and good counsel." He came 
 into close touch with the students, not only as an instructor, but 
 also for some years, during his early connection with the school, as 
 a private lecturer on operative ophthalmic surgery, and especially 
 during his long service as treasurer of the college; and it is note- 
 worthy that he never had any unpleasantness with a single student. 
 A real attachment bound him to his classes, and some of his best 
 friends were men who had been under his instruction. He fol- 
 lowed the advice recently given by a great physician, that, if a man 
 wishes to keep young, he must have youn,g friends. He gathered 
 around him a number of young men, for the most part students at 
 the college or at the Johns Hopkins University, who frequently 
 visited his house and came into most intimate relations with him. 
 Whenever any of his old pupils who lived out of town came to Bal- 
 timore, they would come to see him and enjoy a good talk together, 
 " The silent influence " which he exerted they regarded as " his 
 most precious gift as a teacher." He taught " more than mere 
 science." " Daily contact with one whose thoughts and deeds " 
 were " of the noblest kind " was " an example and a power for 
 good." Such was the impression he left upon his students. 
 
 He was chairman of the executive committee of the college until 
 the end of his life, and was most active in advancing the interests 
 of the school and in improving its methods and its management. 
 Although he was for many years one of the older members of the
 
 114 Aaron Feiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 faculty, he was most progressive in his attitude towards proposed 
 innovations, and no one was more active than he in bringing about 
 the erection of a new building and the acquisition by the Sisters 
 of Mercy of the land necessary to build the present City Hospital, 
 which is connected with the College of Physicians and Surgeons. 
 
 Even more important than my father's work as a physician, as a 
 teacher, and as an administrator was his activity in bringing about 
 the formation of the Association of American Medical Colleges, 
 which was his greatest service to the medical profession. At that 
 time students were graduated by all the medical schools in Balti- 
 more and by almost all the schools throughout the United States 
 after a two years' ungraded course, there being no matriculation 
 requirements and no orderly sequence in the presentation of the 
 various subjects. 
 
 The need for a more extended and systematic course of study in 
 the medical schools of this city caused, at the su,ggestion of Dr. 
 Eugene P. Cordell, the issue of a call for a meeting of representa- 
 tives of the local colleges. Upon this call, which was dated Decem- 
 ber 17, 1889, my father's name appears as President of the Medical 
 and Chirurgical Faculty. The circular stated that " with a view to 
 joint action on the part of our five medical schools " it was " pro- 
 posed to hold a meeting of representatives of the faculties to discuss 
 the feasibility of introducing reform." The meeting was to be 
 held on January 15, 1890, but the absence of many of the delegates 
 caused it to be adjourned until January 23. At the meeting held 
 on the latter date my father was the sole representative of the Col- 
 lege of Physicians and Surgeons present. It was proposed that the 
 local colleges should unite in adopting a graded course of three 
 years, together with other reforms. My father opposed this action, 
 as he feared students would be deterred from coming to Baltimore 
 when they could get degrees in a shorter space of time elsewhere. 
 " Professor Friedenwald said that he was commissioned by his
 
 Work in Medical and Communal Organizations. 115 
 
 faculty to bring before the meeting a proposition for a national 
 conference for the consideration of the reforms suggested in medical 
 education, and he named Nashville, Tennessee, as the proper place 
 and the next annual convention of the American Medical Associa- 
 tion as the proper occasion for the conference. He added that his 
 faculty did not regard it as feasible or expedient, but, on the con- 
 trary, suicidal, for the Baltimore schools or any one of them to 
 take this action alone." ^ 
 
 This view he had vigorously advanced at the meeting of the 
 faculty of the College of Physicians and Surgeons; he had con- 
 vinced his colleagues of the correctness of his position; and had 
 been delegated by them to pTesent this plan at the meetin^g of the 
 local committee. Here, too, his view prevailed and the plan to ad- 
 vance which the meeting had primarily been called, that of intro- 
 ducing the proposed reforms in Baltimore alone, was frustrated. 
 
 As a result, circulars, signed by my father as chairman and by 
 Dr. Cordell as secretary, were sent out by the Baltimore medical 
 schools, and at the gathering of the American Medical Association 
 "the meeting for reorganization was held in the senate chamber 
 of the Capitol building at Nashville, as announced. May 21, 1890, 
 Prof. Friedenwald presiding at the opening. A permanent organ- 
 ization was effected by the election of the venerable Dr. N. S. Davis 
 as president, and several vice-presidents," ^ my father being chosen 
 first vice-president. 
 
 The effect of the organization of the Association of American 
 Medical Colleges was to raise the standard of instruction in medical 
 schools throughout the United States. This result, for which 
 American physicians had struggled fifty years in vain, was brought 
 about at that particular time by the wise and vigorous action of my 
 father. 
 
 * From " The American Medical College Association," by Eugene F. 
 Cordell, M. D., Maryland Medical Journal, January 11, 1896. 
 ^ Cordell, I. c.
 
 116 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D, 
 
 This summary of my father's professional activities would be in- 
 complete without some reference to his attitude toward his fellow- 
 practitioners. Viewing his profession as a noble calling, he con- 
 demned severely any infraction upon medical ethics on the part of 
 others, and set for himself the highest standards of duty towards 
 his brethren. Throughout his professional life he followed the in- 
 junction of Hillel, " That which is hateful to thee, do thou not 
 unto thy fellow." 
 
 Even before my father's graduation he was interested in the af- 
 fairs of the Jewish community, acting from 1856, the date of the 
 organization of the Hebrew Ladies' Sewing Society (of which his 
 sister-in-law, Mrs. B. Stern, was the first president), until his de- 
 parture for Europe in 1860, as secretary of that body. He was 
 deeply interested in the first efforts to establish the Hebrew Hos- 
 pital in 1859, and in 1868, the year it was opened, he was appointed 
 one of its visiting physicians, becomin,g oculist and aurist in May, 
 1890, when his increased practice no longer allowed him to act as 
 general visiting physician. On this occasion the Hospital and 
 Asylum Association adopted resolutions expressing their apprecia- 
 tion of his past services and their satisfaction that his connection 
 with the institution would not be severed. He was well known to 
 all the inmates of the institution, and especially to the aged who 
 found shelter in the Asylum maintained in connection with it. 
 Many of these old people he had known from his childhood, and 
 they respected and loved him. On one occasion the superintendent 
 of the institution asked him to use his influence to quiet one old 
 lady who could not be induced to stop bemoaning her troubles so 
 loudly that everyone in the building was disturbed. He went up to 
 her room and asked her what she was crying about. She gave hira 
 a long account of her sorrows, which were mostly imaginary. When 
 she had finished he told her she was quite right, that she was so 
 sadly afflicted that she ought to keep on crying, and indeed to
 
 Work in Medical and Communal Organizations. 117 
 
 scream more loudly than before. She did her best to follow this 
 advice. The wailing went on increasing in intensity, and finally the 
 poor old soul gasped out, " Lieher, herziger DoJctor, ich kann nit 
 mehr!" and ceased her clamor. 
 
 My father was always anxious to advance the interests of the 
 Hospital; he suggested many improvements, and strove to induce 
 the directors to take a broad and liberal attitude, and to lessen the 
 difficulties of admission. His interest in the institution appears in 
 two addresses, printed in this volume, which he delivered at the 
 Hospital; the longer of these, which was printed at the desire of 
 the association, was made at the dedication of an addition to the 
 main building. 
 
 I cannot give a better idea of the spirit in which he worked for 
 the cause of charity than by quoting the following letter. 
 
 Baltimore, March 25, 1888. 
 Dear Harry, 
 
 . . . [This evening] I had to attend a meeting at Mr. Fried- 
 mann's house on Lombard Street in the interest of a poor woman 
 who is an inmate of Sprin,g Grove Asylum. It is a most disagree- 
 able, cold night. It is difficult to say whether it is hailing or rain- 
 ing, and the pavements are very sleety. It is a night of all nights 
 which would keep one at home, and still about twelve or fifteen 
 men left their cosy homes to look after the interests of a poor 
 woman who had neither friends nor relatives. " Well, the world 
 is not so bad after all," I thought after I went away, and I rejoiced 
 that the woman would be taken into the Hebrew Hospital, and that 
 there were enough men on the Board who would not be restricted 
 by the narrow limits of printed laws, but who had good sense and 
 good hearts to guide them in their decision. ... 
 
 In 1872 my father helped to found the Hebrew Orphan Asylum, 
 and he became a member of its Board of Directors, retaining this
 
 118 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 position for thirty years. He was closely attached to the Asylum, 
 making it his chief object as a director not only to make the life of 
 the children as natural and homelike as possible/ but to make it a 
 thoroughly Jewish life, such as the children's parents would have 
 wished them to lead. A set of memorial resolutions sent by the 
 directors of the institution to his family emphasizes his attachment 
 to the children cared for by the Asylum. He was for many years 
 chairman of the committee on education, and the last public func- 
 tion he performed was the distribution of prizes at the public exam- 
 ination of the children, shortly before his last departure for Europe. 
 
 He was for many years a member of the Hebrew Benevolent So- 
 ciety, and a regular attendant at its annual gatherings. Though 
 never an officer of the society, he was ready at all times to place at 
 its disposal his services, which were frequently called upon. In 
 December, 1892, he delivered before this body an address, reprinted 
 in this volume, which was regarded as one of the best ever made at 
 the yearly banquets. His voice was raised on more than one occa- 
 sion for more considerate treatment of those who applied for relief. 
 
 My father was brought into close touch with the Hebrew Benevo- 
 lent Society through his connection with the Baron de Hirsch Fund 
 for the relief of Eussian Jewish immigrants. In 1881, at the be- 
 ginning of the immigration from Eussia, he was one of the leaders 
 of those interested in providing for the reception and protection of 
 the newcomers, and gave up much of his time to aid them. From 
 
 ' On one occasion the case of a child who had stolen a piece of bread 
 from the pantry was brought before the Board. Several of the Directors 
 were inclined to accede to the suggestion of the authorities of the 
 asylum that the child be severely punished. My father, however, de- 
 manded that an investigation be made into the amount of the bread 
 the children received, and, as this amount was found to be entirely 
 insufficient, he declared that, if punishment were to be meted out at all, 
 it was the asylum authorities who deserved it; and the children were 
 allowed from that time on to have as much bread at meals as they 
 wished.
 
 Work in Medical and Communal Organizations. 119 
 
 this time on his activities in behalf of the Eussian immigrants 
 never ceased, and it was in recognition of this fact that he was 
 asked to direct the work in Baltimore of the fund established by 
 Baron Maurice de Hirsch. He accepted, and invited Messrs. Moses 
 E. Walter and Elias Eohr to join him in the committee. Mr. S. 
 Baroway, who was appointed agent of the fund in this city, con- 
 ferred every afternoon with my father, who passed upon all the 
 work of the committee. All the voluminous reports sent to New 
 York were written by him, as was all of his extensive correspond- 
 ence in general. The work of the Baltimore committee began on 
 July 1, 1890, and my father continued to act as chairman until 
 April 1, 1901, when, at his request, the work was given over in 
 charge of the Hebrew Benevolent Society. In 1890 the Hirsch 
 committee aided the Isaac Baer Levinsohn Hebrew Literary So- 
 ciety to obtain suitable quarters for a night school for the immi- 
 grants opened by the latter body the year before ; and a committee, 
 of which my father was chairman, supported the school, which did 
 good service in Americanizing the newcomers, for a number of 
 years. My father was chosen a member of the executive committee 
 of the "American Committee for the Amelioration of the Condi- 
 tion of the Eussian Eefugees," an organization formed in New York, 
 on September 23, 1891, by a convention composed of representatives 
 of Jewish organizations in various parts of this country, called by 
 the Trustees of the Baron de Hirsch Fund to consider means of 
 dealing with the problem presented by the great increase in the 
 immigration of Eussian Jews, consequent upon the increased se- 
 verity of the persecutions in Eussia in 1890. In 1892 my father or- 
 ganized a Baltimore branch of this committee, composed of two rep- 
 resentatives of the Hirsch fund, two representatives of the Hebrew 
 Benevolent Society, and two representatives of the " Jewish 
 Alliance,'^ a short-lived organization, formed in February, 1891, and 
 composed mainly of Eussian Jews, the object of which was also to 
 aid the recent immigrants. 
 9
 
 120 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 Diiring his temire of the chairmanship of the two committees 
 my father disbursed over fifty-eight thousand dollars, 4391 cases, 
 aggregating 10,534 persons, being relieved. An idea of the impor- 
 tance of this work may be gathered from the fact that the total 
 number of Jewish immigrants landing at Baltimore during this 
 period was 24,095. 
 
 The character of my father's work as chairman of the Hirsch 
 committee may be seen in the following account, contributed by 
 Mr. Baroway to the Jewish Comment of August 29, 1902, shortly 
 after my father's death. At one time "two shiploads of Jewish 
 immigrants arrived from Hamburg and were about to be deported. 
 Individual bonds of one thousand dollars for each immigrant were 
 demanded that they should not become public charges. Such 
 amounts . . . were impossible to raise, and the offer to pledge 
 the buildings of the Hebrew Hospital and Orphan Asylum was 
 rejected by the Treasury Department. Dr. Friedenwald had a busy 
 time then ; he did not rest, he could not sleep. He knew the return 
 of those people to Eussia at that time meant starvation to many, 
 baptism to some. He neglected his practice and duties to his family 
 to save the unfortunate immigrants, and he succeeded. He found 
 some influential man . . . who went to Washington to lay 
 the case before the government, resulting in the release of the immi- 
 grants. I remember with what joy he greeted me when I brought 
 him the message from the Canton pier, ' Come and get your people.' 
 It was a great victory for him, and had he come that day into pos- 
 session of a fortune he could not have been (happier). The immi- 
 grants did not know the particular person to whom they were in- 
 debted, and the person in question was too modest and unassuming 
 to claim the credit. But when I informed him in later years that 
 some of those people were doing well and were prosperous, he en- 
 joyed the news as none but a noble man like him could enjoy it. 
 
 " During the winter of 1897, when a bill was presented to Con-
 
 Work in Medical and Communal Organizations. 121 
 
 gress, requiring that immigrants who could not read the language 
 of their native country should be excluded from landing in this 
 country, which meant the shutting out of the majority of the Eus- 
 sian immigrants, who, while not illiterate, could not read or write 
 the Eussian language, it was a,gain Dr. Friedenwald who cham- 
 pioned the cause of the immigrants. He sent telegrams to all the 
 Maryland representatives and senators in Congress, and made his 
 friends in other states do the same, which resulted in the modifica- 
 tion of the bill so that new arrivals (would) be required to be able 
 to read any (one) language (including jargon). The bill, how- 
 ever, was subsequently vetoed by the President." 
 
 That my father appreciated the important bearing of the Eus- 
 sian Jewish immigration upon the future of the Jews of America is 
 shown by the following letter, written June 16, 1889, eight years 
 after the beginning of the great migration of Eussian Jews into the 
 United States. 
 
 ". . . The Eussians here have lately opened a large Hebrew 
 school. They are now organizing a large charitable society to en- 
 able them to contribute their share to the general charities already 
 organized. They are becoming an important factor in the com- 
 munity, and it looks as if some of these days they will bear the 
 same relation to the German Jews which the latter bear to the 
 Portuguese Jews. ..." 
 
 My father was a member of the Hebrew Free Burial Society, 
 and indeed he was interested in all the Jewish charitable organiza- 
 tions in the city, as well those maintained by the more recent 
 arrivals as the societies of longer standing. Most of the non-sec- 
 tarian charities, such as the Baltimore Association for the Im- 
 provement of the Condition of the Poor and the German Orphan 
 Asylum, numbered him as a member as well. In June, 1883, he 
 was one of a small group of gentlemen who, in order to give em-
 
 122 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D, 
 
 ployment to vagrants, formed the " Provident Wood-yard Com- 
 mittee of the Baltimore Charity Organization Society." Of this 
 Wood-yard Committee, which later became the Friendly Inn Asso- 
 ciation, Mr. Henry Janes was chairman and my father secretary. 
 
 He took a deep and intelligent interest in politics, being a con- 
 sistent Eepublican from the time of his return from Europe. He 
 never held political oflBce, except as a member of the short-lived 
 "Eeform" School Board nominated by Mayor Hooper. The old 
 School Board appealed to the courts, which set aside the mayor's 
 action. Only once did my father take an active part in a political 
 struggle; on November 3, 1897, he made a speech at one of the 
 closing meetings of the campaign. 
 
 His activities were not limited to the concerns of the Baltimore 
 commimity, but extended to most of the important Jewish organ- 
 izations of national scope. In 1886 he was one of the founders of 
 the Jewish Theological Seminary Association, and was for many 
 years one of its vice-presidents. Together with Dr. Cyrus Adler, 
 he established the Baltimore branch of the association, of which he 
 was president until his death. He was most active in bringing 
 about the incorporation of the Association in 1902 with the Jewish 
 Theological Seminary of America, which resulted in putting the 
 Seminary upon an assured financial and scholastic basis. He took 
 great interest in the Seminary, regularly attending the meetings in 
 New York. His attitude toward the institution appears in his 
 letters. At his decease the Board of Directors of the Seminary 
 adopted a resolution expressing their " sense of loss at the passing 
 away of an upright citizen, a distinguished member of the medical 
 profession, a devout and conscientious Israelite, a promoter of many 
 worthy establishments for the amelioration of human suffering and 
 for the advancement of sound learning, both general and Jewish, 
 and an officer and zealous worker in behalf of this Seminary." In 
 his memorable inaugural address. President Schechter recalled
 
 Work in Medical and Communal Organizations. 123 
 
 his name, among the names of other departed friends of the Semi- 
 nary, as that of " a scholar and a gentleman . , . whose in- 
 terest in the institution only ceased with life itself/' He left the 
 Seminary a bequest, which was increased by my mother, and the 
 Directors accepted the suggestion of the family that this bequest be 
 used to establish the " Aaron Friedenwald Prize in Jewish The- 
 ology," annually given for the best essay upon a subject announced 
 by the President of the Faculty of the Seminary. My father was 
 also a vice-president of the Union of Orthodox Congregations of 
 the United States and Canada. 
 
 In 1888 he helped to establish the Jewish Publication Society 
 of America, being for many years one of its honorary vice-presi- 
 dents; he was also instrumental in forming the Baltimore branch 
 of the Society. A resolution passed by the Society at his death 
 speaks of him as " an earnest advocate of its cause and a stanch 
 adherent of its ideals," and expresses " appreciation of his services, 
 of his lofty personal character, and of his . . . devotion to 
 science and enlightenment." He was one of the founders of the 
 American Jewish Historical Society, regularly attending its annual 
 meetings and taking a great interest in its work. His thorough 
 knowledge of the past of the Jews of Baltimore was on several oc- 
 casions of service to students of the subject. On June 10, 1888, 
 he was a prime mover in organizing in this city a branch of the 
 Alliance Israelite Universelle, and he was in close touch with the 
 philanthropic work of the Alliance, cooperating in all their im- 
 portant activities, such as the relief of the Jewish sufferers from 
 the Bessarabian famine. 
 
 The catholic Jewish sympathies which appear in his connection 
 with all the organizations mentioned are most clearly manifested, 
 perhaps, in his connection "with the Zionist movement. He was for 
 years a member of the Choveve Zion; and his grasp of the signifi- 
 cance of the " Love of Zion " appears in his address on the sub-
 
 134 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 ject, selections from which are given in this volume. His visit to 
 the Holy Land convinced him that Palestine could again become 
 the home of a large part of the Jewish people. The lecture upon 
 the Jewish colonies in Palestine, reprinted in part on page 318 
 of this book, exhibits his enthusiastic appreciation of the value of 
 farm life in the land of Israel in making of the denizens of the 
 Eussian ghettos stalwart and self-respecting men. He was for 
 several years a vice-president of the Federation of American Zion- 
 ists, and he regarded the movement as a force tending to unite and 
 strengthen, to inspire and elevate the Jewish people. He beheld 
 in Zionism a noble ideal.
 
 CHAPTER VIL 
 
 Letters (1887-1893). 
 
 In April, 1887, having completed tlie course of study at the Col- 
 lege of Physicians and Surgeons, and finished a year's work as resi- 
 dent physician at the City Hospital, I went to Europe for further 
 medical study. During my absence I received every week two or 
 three letters, selections from which, except as otherwise indicated, 
 make up the present chapter. 
 
 Baltimore, May 11, '87. 
 Dear Harry, 
 
 By this time you have, no doubt, acquainted yourself with the 
 more prominent features of Berlin, You feel somewhat at home 
 Unter den Linden, still look reverently at the Scliloss, wonder 
 why they do not put some clothes on the statues on the Bruclce, and, 
 with all your patriotism, you will have to concede that the Bran- 
 denhurger Thor is quite an improvement on our entrance to Druid 
 Hill Park. I suppose you have gotten your geography regarding 
 the ChariU, University KliniTc, your restaurant, and your lodg- 
 ings, etc., all right. You have measured the various distances, 
 studied the shortest cuts, and picked out the softest streets to walk 
 on ; and one not initiated might take you for a fellow who had been 
 there some time. ... It will puzzle you a little at first, when 
 you take hold of the University Catalogue, to decide what, and how 
 much to take up. It will all come right, and you will have a fine 
 time; there is nothing like being young, after all. It may take 
 fifty years of your life fully to realize this. . . . 
 
 I wonder how Virchow looks now. Then he was in the prime of
 
 126 Aaeon Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 life, about forty-four years of age, I should Judge, with a perfectly 
 black beard and excellent physique. I wonder whether he still 
 passes so much of his time in the Pathological Institute in the 
 " Charite " grounds/ 
 
 Baltimore, Sunday evening, June 36, 1887. 
 . . . I was very much pleased with your description of the 
 great synagogue in Berlin. It must be a very fine edifice. What 
 interested me most, however, was that Berlin, so noted for its great 
 Eeformers, has not let the idea run riot, but has been exceedingly 
 moderate in the changes made. Eeform in America is pretty much 
 what the wholesale clothing dealers wanted it to be. The Eabbis 
 were too much concerned about their salaries to take any active in- 
 terest in shaping it. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, July 3, 1887. 
 . . . I am sorry that Hildesheimer's preaching does not please 
 you. It is the fault of the man and not of his peculiar position as 
 an orthodox minister. I had the pleasure of hearing Sachs, the 
 Berlin rabbi, in my time, and he was the most eloquent preacher I 
 ever heard. I also heard Hirsch, of Frankfort, and he certainly is a 
 preacher through and through. . . . There is a synagogue in 
 Heidereutergasse, in which Sachs preached, which is still strictly 
 orthodox. I would advise you to look in at that place of worship 
 also. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, July 10, 1887. 
 . . . So 3'ou think that " Pappy L." has made himself ridicu- 
 lous by his attack on Koch's teachings. I have no doubt that you 
 have heard the old Jewish saying that when the good Lord wants a 
 
 ^ Virchow remained the same indefatigable teacher, investigator, and 
 worker in many fields for more than forty years after my father had 
 been his pupil.
 
 Letters. 1^7 
 
 very big fool, he picks out an old man and lets his wife die. I have 
 always felt the force of this old saying, and therefore I was not so 
 much surprised at his doings at the National Medical Conven- 
 tion. . . . 
 
 I am rather surprised to learn from you that Schweigger criti- 
 cized rather severely some of the teachings of Graefe. I am not able 
 to estimate his mental caliber, but for a creature to scoff at his 
 creator shows that the man is incapable of veneration. 
 
 Baltimore, July 24, 1887. 
 . . . Since finishing my letter to you, I have just thought of 
 a little affair of late [date] in which the Hon. James H. has again 
 extensively advertised himself as an ass of no small dimensions. 
 As you may perhaps have seen from the papers, they, that is, the 
 great Democratic party, had a primary election of delegates to a 
 convention to name the candidates for State offices. Now, there is, 
 as you know, a general desire for reform. M. and others have 
 washed their very dirty hands clean, and arrayed themselves against 
 Gorman and Easin, hoping thereby to win the confidence of the re- 
 spectable portion of their party. They made great efforts to gain 
 power in the primaries. Mr. Rasin, as usual, managed his cam- 
 paign very adroitly. He had all the bummers and henchmen and 
 professional repeaters in line, so that men who had any business to 
 attend to became disgusted and to a great extent left the field to the 
 unwashed. The Hon. " Jeems," anxious to avail himself of his pre- 
 rogative as a citizen and a Democrat, went to the polls, and with 
 great alacrity prepared himself to accept the offer of a certain Mr. 
 S. to give him a place at the upper end of the line. An officer pre- 
 vented this " swap " of places, acting according to instructions. 
 " Jeems " became indignant that the citizens of Baltimore had been 
 subjected to this humiliation and insult, became furious, frothed at 
 the mouth, and actually asked for the dismissal of the faithful of-
 
 128 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 ficer. The whole town is laughing at the Mayor, and the Mayor is 
 wondering that the citizens don't feel insulted at the outrage upon 
 the man who represents the citizens of Baltimore, and who has 
 girded his loins for a trip to the gubernatorial seat at Annapo- 
 lis. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, July 31, 1887. 
 
 . . . I am pleased to hear that you find Hirschberg a good 
 teacher and that you are interested in his demonstrations. I was 
 rather struck by your remark some time ago, that you did not want 
 to hear so much talk, but wanted to do some work yourself. I re- 
 called the talk that von Grsefe delighted and edified his hearers with, 
 and I see you also have found out that it makes a little difference 
 who does the talking. 
 
 . . . So you don't find all German students saturated with 
 wisdom. I made that discovery twenty-seven years ago. I remem- 
 ber a conversation with a newly-fledged Doctor of Medicine on the 
 subject of duelling. When he exclaimed, " How can gentlemen set- 
 tle their quarrels ? " I replied that it seemed to me, from all I had 
 heard of the causes of duels in general, that duels were not so much 
 resorted to in order to settle quarrels, as quarrels were resorted to in 
 order to have duels. . . . 
 
 Bedford, Pa., August 2, 1887. 
 Here we are at Bedford, amid its mountains, its green hills, its 
 lovely valleys, its peculiar Pennsylvanians with their sing-song talk, 
 with many who are not Pennsylvanians, among whom we find not a 
 few of our old acquaintances from Baltimore. We arrived here 
 last night, having consumed the whole day in the journey. . . . 
 It was a pleasant journey; . . . the scenery . . . never 
 became wearisome. . . . The moment we left Baltimore we had 
 the beautiful picture of a continuous rolling country before us. The
 
 Letters. 129 
 
 little hills, with the picturesque farms and cottages, were here and 
 there cleft by lovely rushing streams, crossed by numberless fine 
 hedges, gradually growing higher and higher as we approached 
 Pennsylvania territory, till we should have talked very disrespect- 
 fully of them, did we not call them mountains. For the larger part 
 of the way we were following the course of some stream ; from Har- 
 risburg on we seldom lost sight of the Susquehanna, and this stream, 
 though a shallow one, in which we missed the gratifying sight of 
 fleeting sail, gave a pronounced charm to the scenery. There were 
 a great many canals and mill races met with on the way, and often 
 aqueducts of no mean architecture, conduiting one stream over an- 
 other. . . . 
 
 Bedford, August 7, 1887. 
 . . . "We are having quite a holiday here, with nothing at all 
 to do, plenty of time to do it in, and plenty of good people to help 
 you in the doing it. This is a quaint little town, with very good 
 people of very simple ways of life. . . . They all work hard 
 here, and seem to work cheerfully; they are very kind-hearted, and 
 are always extremely polite to everybody. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, September 13, 1887. 
 . . . Your letter, dated September 1, just arrived, and re- 
 called to me a trip that I took to Potsdam myself, one . . . 
 Sunday. The Muschel Saal and the Eaphael Gallery are still vivid 
 pictures in my mind, as also a certain windmill that Frederick the 
 Great wanted to have removed, but the miller asserted his rights 
 under the law, and the great King gave up the idea, and the wind- 
 mill was left untouched as an evidence of the monarch's respect for 
 the rights of others. I remember also the Charlottenhof, with that 
 simple, blue-striped bed-room in which the great Humboldt slept, 
 and the adjoining one, in which his " Cosmos " was written. The
 
 130 Aaeon Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 kindness which Frederick William IV. showed to the great scientist 
 was about the only good thing I heard about him. ... He 
 was still alive, but had lost his mind, and the present Kaiser was 
 reigning in his stead as Prince Eegent. I also remember a beautiful 
 garden, but don't know where to place it. I remember the beautiful 
 polished floors and the felt shoes one had to put on before he trod 
 upon holy ground. Many things were told about Frederick the 
 Great, one of which I remember. "When Napoleon came to Berlin, 
 he wanted to visit the grave of the Prussian King. His wish was 
 carried out, and on reaching the grave he exclaimed, " If you were 
 here, I should not be." . . . 
 
 Baltimore, September 21, 1887. 
 
 . . . I think you are right in the abstract in your criticism of 
 the Hildesheimers' notion of orthodoxy. I agree with you that that 
 sort of religion won't serve the purpose of cementing parties. I 
 fear, indeed, that it often drives away from conservative Judaism 
 people who have a great inclination that way. We must, however, 
 allow a little for the intensity of feeling that has developed in these 
 people from watching the destructive tendencies of what has been 
 called Eeform. Men like Hildesheimer, old Eabbi Bamberger of 
 Wiirzburg, and, I believe, Hirsch, of Frankfort, have, no doubt, 
 been made less yielding by noticing the effect that Reform has had. 
 I believe that the time is approaching when more men like Morals 
 will come to the front, men earnest, sincere, of strong religious feel- 
 ing, who, although strict observers of the law, will not condemn so 
 unmercifully others who may have deviated a little, but will recog- 
 nize them as brothers, with whom they are willing to join in efforts 
 for a common purpose. 
 
 Let me thank you, dear Harry, for that beautiful drawing of 
 Mendelssohn's grave, and for the ivy leaves which you plucked on it. 
 I have shown the drawing to a number of friends, who admired it
 
 Lettees. 131 
 
 very much. Have you made auy inquiries about the descendants 
 of this great man who still remain within the fold ? . . . 
 
 Baltimore, October 37, 1887. 
 . . . I regret to learn from you that the anti-Semitic spirit 
 has taken such a hold upon the people of Berlin. I think that our 
 people will find it very difficult to fight against. . . . There is 
 no legislation that can combat a dislike which a majority has for a 
 minority, and I fear that for a good while, at least, the sentiment 
 will grow stronger. It is a great temptation to many people to con- 
 sider themselves better than other people. In England and America 
 that chivalric spirit which is averse to taking advantage of the weak 
 prevails, and therefore I think we are pretty safe here. In Germany 
 the people are not so used to fair play, and, when they can't find 
 anyone else to vent their spleen upon, they hunt down the Jew. 
 
 The battle has been fought, the victory has been won as usual, in 
 the regular way, and Ferdinand C. Latrobe will again be invested 
 with the mayoralty robes, the same ones which were, all the samee, 
 according to Cowen, stolen for him three times before. The tri- 
 umphant are crowing only for the fair fame of Baltimore, which, 
 they say, has been defamed by the Independent Democrats, and 
 which the great regular Democratic majority, according to their in- 
 terpretation, has again restored. The Independents and the Ee- 
 publicans made a good fight, evidently had plenty of money at their 
 command, and everything looked favorable, but the regulars were 
 not to be thwarted. Gorman and Higgins and Morris Thomas and 
 Freeman Easin want majorities ; they have made it their life study 
 how to secure them; their resources are inexhaustible, their devices 
 mysterious, and they can get all the majorities they need with com- 
 paratively few Democratic votes. The Eepublicans have secured 
 eight councilmen in the First Branch, and three in the Second 
 Branch; but the regulars have a majority and they know how to use
 
 133 Aaeon Feiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 a majority just as well as how to secure one. That after the gal- 
 lant fight which has been made against them, after the terrible ar- 
 raignment to which they have been subjected, they should come out 
 victorious, almost makes me despair of the possibility of their ever 
 being dislodged. . . . 
 
 Baltimoke, November 9, 1887. 
 . . . From the tenor of your remarks on the political prob- 
 abilities you will not be greatly disappointed when I again report an 
 utter defeat of the opposition to the regular Democratic party. 
 . . . The Democrats will not forget what they consider were 
 grievances during and after the war. They don't want to see their 
 ancient enemies in power. They need a strong hold on power to 
 secure a continuation of a Democratic national government, and 
 that is the sum total of their political philosophy. For all this, 
 there is no use in looking gloomily at the future. Eeason and jus- 
 tice will triumph in the end. In a popular form of government the 
 conservative spirit, while it has drawbacks, has the advantage of 
 protecting the government against sudden changes. There is one 
 satisfaction after all, that, if the result of the election will be bad 
 for the state, those who controlled it will suffer along with the rest 
 of us ; and, if the newly-elected legislators realize that some account 
 will have to be taken of sentiment favorable to election reforms, we 
 shall reap some benefit from the campaign. ... 
 
 Baltimore, November 23, 1887. 
 . . . Last night we listened to the first of a series of lectures 
 at the Peabody Institute by Mr. Serviss, of Brooklyn, on the evolu- 
 tion of the planets. It was the best popular scientific lecture that 
 it has ever been my privilege to listen to. Generally lecturers of 
 this kind suffer either from overdosing the audience with unintelli- 
 gible facts, or from the fact that, in the attempt on the part of the 
 lecturer to be exceedingly entertaining, the scientific value of the
 
 Letters. 133 
 
 lecture is entirely lost. This lecturer is extremely happy in teach- 
 ing profound scientific theories, and in keeping his audience in- 
 tensely interested. He explained the nebular theory . . . and 
 finally told the doleful story of the moon, closing with death, and 
 becoming the tomb of a once great creation. And all this beautiful 
 earth, now in its infancy . . . has the same career before it, 
 . . . and some of these days . . . another moon will be 
 added to the constellation, and telescopes will probably be directed 
 at it from the observatories of other planets, and our dismal fate 
 will be commiserated by some great lecturer at some other Peabody 
 Institute! And still we bother about investments and life insur- 
 ance and the reform of the Democratic party! I am afraid the 
 Democratic party will die before it can reform itself. 
 
 Poor Emma Lazarus had to die already ! We received the news 
 of her end on Monday, and yesterday the papers brought an account 
 of her simple funeral at Cypress Hills. Dr. Mendes officiated. Her 
 song has been sung, its tones have died away, but her name will 
 live. ... 
 
 Baltimore, December 18, 1887. 
 . . . I thank you cordially . , . for your congratula- 
 tions upon my approaching birthday. I hope we will have a real 
 old-fashiolned good time when the real celebration arrives. We will 
 think of you at that time and try to imagine that you are with us. 
 Birthdays are very nice things, but the trouble about them is that 
 when they come often a fellow gets old in the meantime. 
 
 I hope that the case of the Crown Prince [Frederick] will con- 
 tinue promising. It is a pity to see such a brave fellow and such a 
 fine specimen of manhood threatened with death. How many hopes 
 have been built upon his reign ! I was sorry to learn of the youn^ 
 prince's intimacy with Stocker, and of his probable sympathy with 
 his hatred of our people. . . .
 
 134 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 Baltimore, December 18, 1887. 
 I was a little angry at X., who was the orator of the evening. 
 . . . His theme was " Charity." He treated the subject well ; 
 he spoke very little about it. . . . Taking his brass into consid- 
 eration, he is a very polished gentleman. 
 
 Baltimore, December 31, 1887. 
 Your letter with an additional congratulation on my birthday, 
 as well as that beautiful " Autobiography " of Arlt's, was placed in 
 my hands quite apropos yesterday morning. Well, we had a very 
 nice time of it on Monday night. I was marched up into the parlor 
 where all the presents were spread out. ... I prize none of 
 them more highly than the one you sent me. The good, plain, sen- 
 sible man whom I loved as a teacher and revered as an ophthalmolo- 
 gist was again brought vividly before me by his own simple, beauti- 
 ful, and true story of himself. It is highly gratifying in this ma- 
 terialistic a,ge, of which we are given to complaining so much, to 
 find that, after all, when we contemplate the life of a man whom 
 the world delights to honor, above all the genius that has been as- 
 cribed to him, above all the learning that he has adorned himself 
 with, above all the experience which he had acquired to give him 
 authority and to make him master, above all the written aad un- 
 written wisdom with which he enriched the world, that above all 
 these stands the man himself. So it is when we study the life and 
 character of Arlt. If ever a statue should be erected to him, the 
 sculptor could not fulfil his task better than by moulding the man 
 himself, plain, unassuming, with his kind, benevolent smile, and, if 
 he chooses to remember his work, let him represent it in figures on 
 the pedestal, above which the man should be placed. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, December 22, 1887. 
 Dear Moses and Jane, 
 
 It's all over ! Of course, I mean my birthday. All the good 
 wishes have been received and appreciated, all the presents have
 
 Letters. 135 
 
 been admired and acknowledged except yours, which I take occasion 
 to return my thanks for now; all the egg-nog has been drunk, all 
 the cakes and fruit and nuts have been digested, and the event has 
 been nicely placed on the shelf with those that have gone before, in 
 the hope that those that will follow will be equally pleasant. But 
 I am only fifty-seven years of age, aaid I have to ask you to knock 
 off the one year which you placed to my account in error. Some 
 foolish young man who bestows a good deal of attention upon the 
 cultivation of his first mustache might be willing to have himself 
 considered a year older than . . . he is. . . . There are 
 other individuals who, at certaijn periods of their lives and under 
 special circumstances, prefer to have a little discount made, but 
 men like you and me ask only that the days which they have in- 
 vested in the repository of time be quoted at par. 
 
 This is a very varied life we lead, at any rate. Some of us live a 
 great deal in a short time; some require a very long time to do a 
 small share of living ; some live too much and therefore cannot live 
 long ; some hardly live at all and reach a high old age. There is no 
 man so poor that he is not envied for something by somebody, some- 
 times by a very rich somebody. How many try hard to make a 
 living and kill themselves when they succeed ! How many can 
 never make a living, and outlive generations ! If life could only be 
 bought, what a big business somebody could do who had the article 
 for sale, even if he established himself in some side street! The 
 older his stock, the more desirable it would become ; and he would 
 never have anything to fear from the fashions and their changes. I 
 believe some of our most prominent men and women who couldn't 
 buy life in fee simple under this arrangement would be willing to 
 pay very heavily for a " lease of ninety-nine years " and to make a 
 compromise to knock off " renewals forever." Some are . . . 
 happy in looking over their balamce sheet, for the . . . days 
 that they have lived for others have made their years plentiful; 
 10
 
 136 Aaron Feiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 then there are those who rob others of their years, and never enrich 
 their own store. What a deal of " swapping " would be done if it 
 only could be . . . ! I believe there are some good folks in 
 Mount Vernon Place who would not shun a market like Slammer's 
 alley to drive a bargain of this kind. I should not like to state the 
 boot that some leaders of an uptown club whose joints begin to 
 creak like a rusty hinge would offer for the elastic limbs of some 
 young jig-dancer. Yes, all sorts of trading of this kind would be 
 extensively carried on, buying, selling, leasing, swapping; I am 
 afraid there would be more of this than of speculation in the great 
 future beyond this life. I think I could point out a fellow or two 
 who would sell an eternity of the future for a six months' promis- 
 sory 'note without grace, which would bring a little animal enjoy- 
 ment during the time it ran. But there are other folks, too, and 
 many of them, thank Grod, who do not live for themselves alone, 
 who can delight in others' joy, who can feel for those who weep, 
 who place the highest value upon those acts in life which have 
 helped others, and are most ashamed of those which have benefited 
 themselves alome. It is this that makes men human, and this is the 
 earthly echo of the Divine words, " Let us make man in our own 
 image." Who will say, then, that life is not worth living, when 
 there is so much good to be done, so many joys to be shared, so 
 many hopes to which the humblest can aspire? There is a justice 
 in events after all. In this cold, cheerless weather the rascals are 
 forced to stay in Canada, and the good fellows ride in their soft- 
 gliding launches on the beautiful rivers of Florida.'' 
 
 And when we look back with some regret for much of our youth- 
 ful vigor, ever-ready appetite, invulnerability of stomach, and physi- 
 cal endurance which now lie buried in the past, we are afforded as 
 an indemnity the consolation that now we can look up higher than 
 to those who ruled us then, and that many heartaches, disap- 
 
 '^ Whither his brother had gone because of his ill-health.
 
 Letters. 137 
 
 pointments, and humiliations to which we were subjected then, 
 have also been interred. We can rejoice that our manhood has been 
 preserved to us, that there rests no blemish upon our names; we 
 have each a wife whom we love, and whom we have been able up 
 to this time to take care of, and who has had the strength to take 
 care of us also, we have children in whose future our hopes are 
 centered, and, above all, we love God and acknowledge His au- 
 thority. Your brother, Aaron. 
 
 Baltimore, December 28, 1887. 
 My dear Harry, 
 
 . . . I learned today . . . that , who has been 
 
 elected as the successor of old at the temple in Philadelphia 
 
 delivered an extraordinary lecture on Christmas Day, Sunday, 
 which fell on the same day as " Asarah be-Tebeth " this year. It 
 seems he made the coincidence the theme of his discourse, and the 
 lecture was published in a Philadelphia daily. I have not seen the 
 paper as yet, but should judge, from expressions which Dr. Szold 
 used in reference thereto, that he must have said some outrageous 
 things. These new-fashioned Eabbis are strange caterers ; they give 
 the Jews I'ln [swine] and the Christians taify. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, December 31, 1887. 
 This puts the finishing touch to the year 1887. How quickly 
 these years follow upon one another ! ... It will not be long 
 before we enter upon a new century, and then we will not hear so 
 much of the enlightened nineteenth century, which so many fools 
 take such great delight in talking about. . . . There is nothing 
 new here except the New Year. It is the season to exchange greet- 
 ings, to send and receive bills. Some pay them, while many pay no 
 attention to them, unless they must. . . .
 
 138 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 Baltimore, January 1, 1888. 
 . . , Quite recently I attended a family . . . consisting 
 of a husband and wife and seven children, who had been driven 
 away from Bavaria because the husband was a Eussian, although 
 he had lived there for many years, had married a German girl, and 
 was pursuing the business of a baker, which . . . afforded a 
 living for him and his family. And still some of our enlightened 
 coreligionists delight in talking about the age of persecution being 
 past! They even erased everything from the prayer book that in- 
 dicated the slightest displeasure with the general order of things. 
 Why should we bewail our lot, when we are free, living in a free 
 country, etc., etc.? That was, however, before the time when their 
 race was taken into account when they made their applications for 
 rooms in summer hotels. Let us hope for a better day to come, for 
 that day when all peoples will feel more kindly towards each other, 
 and for that day when we Jews will be as intensely Jewish in our 
 prosperity as those were who preserved our religion and our race in 
 dire adversity. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, January 10, 1888. 
 
 Your letter . . . was very welcome, and we all enjoyed its 
 contents. Contemplating a Christian holiday in a Jewish family 
 makes rather a sad impression on one who goes through such a 
 scene for the first time. 
 
 . . . Yes, these AufgeJcldrte claim to have made wonderful 
 progress, simply because they don't do what their parents or kins- 
 men did. I think we are not so badly off in this country after all. 
 There is more of a common bond between us. We feel more satis- 
 fied with each other, and, thanks to the generous American spirit 
 that prevails, we are not forced either to give up or to conceal our 
 religion to gain the respect of those with whom we have intercourse. 
 It is this which has made the English Jew, and I firmly believe that
 
 Letters. 139 
 
 an American Jew will be developed here very similar to him. Of 
 course, it will take a little time. The Rishuth of the German 
 is inveterate, and, contrary to what we expected, has not abated one 
 jot with the enlightenment of the nineteenth century. If any 
 change has been noticed, it is that this feeling has been intensified. 
 The old Jew, who had to buffet with the world, expected hard 
 knocks, and was prepared for them when they came. He had him- 
 self and his religion to preserve, and he toiled faithfully and suf- 
 fered bravely to do it. While his body was bent humbly before his 
 enemies, his spirit remained erect, and when he was again within 
 the sanctuary of his family circle, his manhood rose up within him, 
 and he looked with contempt upon his persecutors. Moses Mendels- 
 sohn thought that, as the Jews became cultured, the German Chris- 
 tian would relent. He made a great mistake in thinking so well of 
 the Teuton. I am sure I have no grudge against him on that ac- 
 count. Who would not have erred in this regard, having met a 
 Lessing ? That reminds me of what I once heard. Heine, I think, 
 said, (hardly anyone else could tell truths like this one), in answer 
 to what is so often claimed so proudly for Germany, the invention 
 of the printing press : " Well, if one German did invent it, there are 
 many millions of Germans who did not." It seems as if Providence 
 specially created one Lessing in order to show by the example of one 
 decent German how very mean the rest are. I can't help looking at 
 the history of the Mendelssohn family as a drama constantly being 
 reproduced on the Berlin stage where it was originally enacted. A 
 poor boy, without even a language, finds his way into the Athens of 
 Germany. Physically dwarfed, intellectually and spiritually a 
 giant, he makes way for himself in paths no Jewish foot had been 
 permitted to tread before. At first spurned, like every other Jew, 
 even by the lowest of men, he was finally sought and valued as a 
 friend in the learned circles of that time. Commended for his wis- 
 dom and learning and nobility of character by all who knew him,
 
 140 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 he valued most in himself the fact that he was a Jew. What a hor- 
 rible spectacle in this drama, to see children renouncing the religion 
 of such a father ! Some even changed their names, so that in pre- 
 senting the credential admitting them into refined society, it might 
 not be discovered that he who first made way for them was a Jew, 
 even though he bore the illustrious name of Mendelssohn. The play 
 has been going on ever since. How many fathers have been for- 
 gotten, how many names have been changed since then ! All for a 
 mess of pottage ! Thank God, all the people in the world are not 
 Germans, and all the Jews do not live in Berlin. It is very difficult 
 to do what Mendelssohn did, and up to this time not one Jew has 
 done it, but very many common Jews have been able to do what his 
 children did. ... 
 
 Baltimore, March 25, 1888. 
 This surely has been an eventful time in Berlin. . . . The 
 old king, who had such a long and eventful reign, to whom it was 
 accorded to unite dismembered Germany, has been called away. 
 . . . It is a beautiful piece of history. Queen Louise, mortified 
 and insulted by Napoleon, conjuring her little son Wilhelm to 
 avenge her honor and the wrongs of Prussia. How great that little 
 Wilhelm became and how nobly did he fulfil his task ! Verily the 
 commandment was fulfilled, "Honor thy father and thy mother; 
 that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God 
 giveth thee." It is a great pity that Frederick III, who took so 
 prominent a part in all the events which made the present empire, 
 and who, though so close to his father, was never far from the peo- 
 ple, should have death staring him in the face when power is 
 placed in his hands. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, April 8, 1888. 
 . . . We drove through Druid Hill Park this afternoon, and 
 had a most delightful time. It was a little cool, but a very fine
 
 Letters. 141 
 
 afternoon nevertheless. The trees, at least some of them, are put- 
 ting on their green coats, and the grass is springing up ever3rwhere. 
 We feel very proud of our park, firstly because it is beautiful, and 
 secondly because it is ours. They are going to illuminate it with 
 electric lights, and next summer, when the driving around the lake 
 becomes most delightful, we shall not be driven home by the dark- 
 ness. This is something very pleasant to think of, but when we 
 connect it with the city taxes of $1,90 on the hundred, when they 
 were but $1.60 last year, the prospect for next year is not very 
 bright for the tax-payers, bright as the electric light may be. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, May 9, 1888. 
 
 . . . You are all wrong about SchoUen and Heine. Heine 
 wrote of SchaUt, schone Gotterspeise, and meant what we call 8cha- 
 let. ... I remember the thick bean soup to which they give 
 this peculiar name of SclioUen in Berlin. By the by, I heard the 
 derivation of Schalet when I was in Berlin. You are aware that in 
 olden times they had all sorts of devices for keeping the dinner 
 warm. One was to place the pots, after they had been taken from 
 the stove on Fridays, between feather beds, and keep them there till 
 the time arrived for serving the meal on Saturday. Many French 
 words were used among German Jews in olden times, so that Scliw- 
 let was derived from chaud lit!' . . . 
 
 Baltimore, May 20, 1888. 
 
 . . . The Belt, or at least a part of it, will be added to the 
 city [of Baltimore]. We are determined to have a large city, even 
 if we are forced to annex the whole of the Eastern Shore. . . . 
 
 - 'Other derivations are suggested in the Jewish Encyclopedia, Vol. 
 IV., p. 255.
 
 143 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 Baltimore, Jime 17, 1888. 
 
 . . . Your congratulatory letter to our Silver Wedding formed 
 one of the principal episodes of the day. We kept the matter very 
 secret, so that no one outside of the immediate family knew any- 
 thing about it. The children surprised us early in the morning 
 with a beautiful pitcher, which we admire and appreciate very 
 much. Your letter touched us deeply, and of course we felt your 
 absence on the occasion very keenly. We look back on these 
 twenty-five years with great gratitude for the many blessings that 
 have been bestowed upon us. We have lived for each other. We 
 thank God for His mercy. . . . 
 
 Germany is a great country, but it is not the soil for political 
 freedom, neither is it the land to develop character in the Jew. The 
 prejudice of the Teuton against the Semite seems uncontrollable, 
 and the backbone of the Jew in modern times has not shown suffi- 
 cient strength to bear up against it. It seems when the German Jew 
 gives up the cattle business and learns to speak German correctly, he 
 longs to divest himself of his religion, his history, and his traditions, 
 and willingly throws them into the bargain when he sells his old 
 clothes. 
 
 We have been reading a good deal in an excellent book on Heine 
 by Strodtmann where this is painfully proven. Heine complains 
 bitterly of the rishuth which he had to witness in a small place 
 called Limburg, where he lived a short time. He says, among 
 other things, that he has a dog, and the Christian dogs maltreat 
 him because he belongs to a Jew. . . . 
 
 And the good Kaiser [Frederick III], who spurned this fiend 
 [of anti-Semitism] had to die! Every German Jew has a double 
 reason to mourn. As a German, he must mourn that the best . . . 
 of the Germans Has been called away, and, as a Jew, he must mourn 
 that the strong hand of protection which has been held over him 
 has been thrust aside. . . .
 
 Letters. 143 
 
 Baltimore, July 11, 1888. 
 . . . I think specimens of [ungentlemanly professors such] 
 as you describe ... are not rare in enlightened Germany. I 
 may be mistaken, but it seems to me to be a country very favorable 
 to the production of such . . . men. I have particularly no- 
 ticed the proclivity of German professional men to abuse one an- 
 other. It is not so difficult to turn out a scholar from a university, 
 but there is something else required to produce a gentleman. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, August 22, 1888. 
 When this reaches you a new season will be very near or, per- 
 haps, ushered in. It is the time of all others that loving ones yearn 
 to be together. That happiness is again denied us. We shall think 
 of you more than usually on that occasion, and we feel assured that 
 your thoughts will be directed to us. Yes, a whole year has told its 
 tale ! Thank God, we have been preserved to each other, and have 
 much to be thankful for. Trusting in Him, we can look hopefully 
 to the future. God bless you, dear boy, and grant you a " Happy 
 New Year !" May you always have the courage and the strength to 
 pursue the work that you have marked out for yourself, the courage 
 and the strength to remain steadfast in principle and loyal to duty. 
 May you always be able to work cheerfully and successfully. May 
 you never lack encouragement in contemplating the future nor ex- 
 perience in reviewing the past. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, September 30, 1888. 
 This has been an eventful day. The ceremony of laying the 
 comer-stone of the new hospital took place at 3.30 P. M. A very 
 large assembly marked the occasion. The Catholic hierarchy was 
 present in full force and full uniform and conducted the exercises. 
 All the Catholic Knights, Irish and German, Polish and Bohemian, 
 with green, red, and white plumes and . . . shining helmets
 
 144 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 marched valiantly in line with floating banners and stirring music. 
 Calvert Street presented one compact mass of human beings. The 
 roof of the hospital was crowded with those who were anxious to 
 see the wonder, and . . . could not be accommodated . . . 
 below. The little Sisters with their saintly garb and innocent faces 
 stood at their windows and overlooked things generally. The Cardi- 
 nal, in his vestments of white silk, richly embroidered, Monsignor 
 McColgan, in his purple robes, and then the priests of the third de- 
 gree and numerous Brothers, who did not look half so fascinating 
 as their Sisters who were peeping from the windows above, gave the 
 required dignity to the occasion. The Mayor was also there in full 
 life size, except when he took his hat off. The Mayor made an ad- 
 dress; it was good, and it was short, and was especially well re- 
 ceived by those (and these were in the great majority), who did not 
 know how much he had done in his official capacity to prevent the 
 very thing for which he had so many praises to-day. . . . Then 
 the clergy did some chanting, which sounded very well, and this 
 was followed by a short but very appropriate address by the Cardi- 
 nal. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, October 27, 1888. 
 
 . . . As the presidential election is approachiag nearer and 
 nearer the feeling awakened by it becomes more and more intense. 
 All sorts of speeches are made ; all sorts of lies are told ; all sorts of 
 jokes are cracked. Of the latter I will forward a specimen. An 
 Irishman was accosted by his employer, who said to him, " Patrick, 
 you must vote for Harrison this time, otherwise your wages will be 
 lowered." 
 
 " Did you say my wages will be lowered if Cleveland be elected ? " 
 
 " Yes, Patrick," was the reply. 
 
 " You'd vote for him yourself, you know well you would, 
 
 if his election would lower my wages !" . . .
 
 Letters. 145 
 
 Baltimore, Nov. 4, 1888. 
 
 . . . Everything is quiet here except politics, and that is at 
 fever heat. . . . What is most enjoyable in the turmoil is that 
 now and then we hear of a ,good rejoinder. . . . One such was 
 published this morning. Blaine was making a speech, and some 
 Democrat wanted to disconcert him, and tried to do so by saying, 
 just as the speaker was warming up a little, " Oh, Jim Blaine, you 
 go to !" 
 
 Blaine replied, " This is the first time in my life that I have ever 
 been invited to Democratic headquarters !" . . . 
 
 Baltimore, Nov. 10, 1888. 
 . . . Since you have been away, a new election law has been 
 enacted, despite the most strenuous efforts of the ring to prevent its 
 passing the last legislature. We have glass ballot-boxes and a new 
 registration every year. Thousands and thousands of dead men 
 have thus been disfranchised. . . . Politics in Baltimore have 
 assumed a new interest. The fight hereafter will be between the 
 living; we shall not be haunted by the dead. The living that we 
 shall have to fi,ght may tax our best efforts, but it will be a consola- 
 tion that the dead will be left at rest. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, Nov. 14, 1888. 
 . . . I have been accorded the honor of being elected a mem- 
 ber of the Liberal Club, and last night I attended the first meeting, 
 . . . The exercises consist of informal discussions of all sorts 
 of subjects. Last night the principal topic was whether it would be 
 well to adopt an educational test as a qualification for the franchise 
 in the South. Mr, , a lawyer, a Democrat, and free- 
 trader, fought against the proposition, and made it appear almost 
 as if education were a great disadvantage. I listened to him very 
 attentively, and weighed carefully what he said about people who
 
 146 Aakon Fkiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 were entirely illiterate, often showing very good judgment, and 
 about college graduates often making fools of themselves, or using 
 their education to fool others. I told a story I once heard Gundry 
 relate. In olden times a respectable English farmer was reproached 
 by a kind neighbor for not sending his son to school. 
 
 "What, have my son taught to write and to read?" he indig- 
 nantly replied. " I have learned a lesson in that regard since 
 
 ■ — " (mentioning somebody's name) " committed a forgery. I 
 
 will not have my son taught to practice forgery !" . . . 
 
 We adjourned — and went to a restaurant. One rule adopted by 
 the Club, with which I was immediately made acquainted, was that 
 everybody paid his own reckoning. I suppose that is the reason it 
 is called the Liberal Club. ... 
 
 Baltimore, November 24, 1888. 
 
 . . . Last Thursday night Julius and I, . . . attended 
 the jollification at the " Young Men's Kepublican Club." . . . 
 One old fellow about six feet two inches tall and weiighing about 
 two hundred and fifty pounds, who had just been elected sheriff of 
 Howard county, the stronghold and home of Arthur P. Gorman, 
 was one of the people who were present and rejoiced with us. He 
 told us some very funny points he had made during the campaign. 
 He said that, although he was not a college-bred man, he was not 
 afraid to speak on the tariff issue. He said that the story was so 
 plain that anybody who could tell the truth could tell it. Of course, 
 college-bred men could talk free trade, but when they got through 
 nobody could understand them. To illustrate his position, he told 
 this story. A German was empaneled as a juror. He tried to beg 
 off. 
 
 " Mr. Judge," said he," I cannot shpeak English." 
 
 " That is not necessary, for you have nothing to say. Can you 
 understand ?" 
 
 " Yes," said the German.
 
 Letters. 147 
 
 The trial proceeded; the German listened attentively all through 
 the taking of evidence ; but, when the attorney began to plead, after 
 listening to him for a while, he suddenly cried out, " Shtop a little — 
 Mr. Judge, I can't understand that man ; you must let me off." 
 
 " Oh, no ! I can't understand him either, and it don't make a bit 
 of difference I" said the Judge. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, December 17, 1888. 
 
 . . . Everything must look very lively now in Berlin. If the 
 
 Jews take as much interest (in Christmas) as the s do, what 
 
 interest must the Christians take! This is something I cannot 
 
 readily forgive the s for. The old people must have had a 
 
 premonition of what these things led to when they condemned 
 . . . every new custom with their almighty " D^un npn." What 
 a lack of character is displayed in this wanton exchange of old 
 and time-honored customs, handed down from generation to gene- 
 ration, for the customs of others, of others who have been our perse- 
 cutors in the past, and are resuscitating their ancient enmity in the 
 present. The word AufgeTclart seems to justify all this. Such 
 AufJcldrung will apparently justify anything. Such reckless dis- 
 regard of the loyalty that one owes his own people is worse than 
 outright apostasy. What a want of backbone ! Oh, what a wholesale 
 barter of a birthright for a mess of pottage ! ' Aufhldrung ! ' How 
 your name has been prostituted ! Does it not seem a just retribution 
 that anti-Semitism was destined to be born in the very cradle of 
 AufkVdrung and to receive its baptism there also ? The weapons of 
 the anti-Semites were not directed so much against the steadfast Jew 
 who clung to his religion, to his traditions, and to his national ties, 
 as against the AufgekVdrter. 
 
 . . . You allude to the educational test for the franchise and 
 ask my opinion. I think that a man who demands the right to vote 
 ought to have enough intelligence to exercise it safely. One could
 
 148 Aakon Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 hardly claim that a man who could neither read nor write had suJBB- 
 cient intelligence to vote. On the other hand, it would be somewhat 
 dangerous to pass a law in accordance with this idea. There are 
 many who are intelligent who, if they had the power, would never 
 give those who were without an education a chance for one. Educa- 
 tion costs the state something, and that something those who can 
 well afford to educate their children themselves would like to strike 
 off the tax in so far as its benefits accrue to others. I can imagine a 
 condition of society in which a privileged class would combine to 
 prevent a large part of the community from being educated by the 
 state. When the masses vote, whether they can read or not, they will 
 see to it that an educational system is provided for them. In due 
 time, almost everybodjr's children will be sent to school, and com- 
 pulsory attendance will be established. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, December 22, 1888. 
 . . . A Eussian was brought to the Hebrew Hospital, suffer- 
 ing from a gunshot wound. The ball could not be traced. No ran- 
 dom probing was indulged in. A friend was very much concerned 
 about the ball not being taken out. I explained the situation as 
 well as I could. He still shook his head, and I finished by saying, 
 " Es schadet nicMs; ein Jude hann eine Eugd * vertragen." . . . 
 
 Baltimore, January 27, 1889. 
 
 Poor Patrick Mc has gone on his last spree. He took 
 
 pneumonia, and died last Friday. Peace to his ashes ! He was a 
 tempest-tossed individual. I shall miss him and his odd brogue. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, February 24, 1889. 
 
 Dr. was in town to-day, and held forth at the Temple. 
 
 This formed the topic of some conversation. A good deal was said 
 
 * A favorite Jewish dish.
 
 Letters. 149 
 
 as to what constituted a good preacher. A story was told of a young 
 Catholic priest who, although noted for his learning, made a signal 
 failure of preaching in the early part of his career. On one occa- 
 sion, however, he did remarkably well, and, on being questioned as 
 to how this caine about, he said that he first preached his sermon 
 in the fields to the cabbage heads, and it went well, and he then got 
 in his pulpit and imagined his hearers to be cabbage heads, and it 
 went well again. 
 
 I inferred if there were not so many cabbage heads in 's 
 
 audience, he would not be so much admired. 
 
 Baltimore, March 3, 1889. 
 
 . . . The National League of Eepublican Clubs convened 
 in Baltimore during the past week. ... I did not have time 
 to attend any of their meetings, but as regards the banquet I 
 was more fortunate. I was one of the invited guests and a member 
 of the entertainment committee. . . . Mayor Latrobe was 
 present and made a speech of welcome. . . . Mr. Goodloe, of 
 Kentucky, made a fine speech, and in winding up paid his respects 
 to the Mayor. . . . He said that he was very much pleased to 
 have met the Mayor of Baltimore. It was very creditable to him 
 that his hospitable nature rose superior to his party predilections. 
 . . . He said he could not express what he felt regarding the 
 Mayor better than by telling a story. 
 
 " Two friends, the one a Eepublican, the other a Democrat, went 
 into a saloon, where they found a man dead drunk, bespattered with 
 mud, . . . lying in a corner of the room. Said the Democrat, 
 * I'll bet you five dollars that fellow is a Eepublican.' 
 
 " 'It is a go,' replied the Eepublican. 
 
 " The fellow was aroused and they said, ' We have got a bet about 
 you. Are you a Democrat, or a Eepublican ? ' 
 
 " ' Well,' said the fellow, after rubbing his eyes, ' I have the repu-
 
 150 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 tation of being the biggest liar in the country, I have even been ac- 
 cused of stealing, and you see I like whiskey. I have every symp- 
 tom of being a Democrat, but I am a Eepublican/ Now, the Mayor 
 has every symptom of being a Eepublican, but he is a Demo- 
 crat." . . . 
 
 Baltimore, May 5, 1889. 
 . . . This afternoon . . . mamma, Julius, and I took a 
 little drive in the park. ... It was the first time we have 
 seen the dogwood in bloom this year. We enjoyed the " out" very 
 much. The park looks lovely, and, from the very large number of 
 people we saw there, it is certain that a good many others think as 
 we do. The only thing we had to object to was that the Eutaw 
 Street road leading to and from the park was not sprinkled and the 
 dust was in evidence in uncomfortable quantities. We have a strin- 
 gent Sunday law here still : no beer in the city, and no water on the 
 roads. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, June 16, 1889. 
 
 Dr. and Mrs paid us a visit this evening, and they just 
 
 left. The Doctor is very good company. He told me that A [his 
 
 daughter] had remarked to [her sister] H that hitherto she 
 
 could not altogether believe the account that the Bible gave of the 
 
 Deluge, but since the Johnstown flood she could believe it. H 
 
 told her father to talk to her on the subject. He did not reveal that 
 
 H had said anything to him. At the table he referred to the 
 
 Johnstown calamity, and said that when he first read the account of 
 it in the papers he could not credit it, but he was reminded of the 
 Flood in the Bible, and then he believed that the account was true. 
 A looked very astonished, but said nothing. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, June 26, 1889. 
 In your last letter you speak of the Anti-Semitic convention that 
 met at Bochum [Westphalia] . It is very painful to see these move-
 
 Letters. 151 
 
 ments going on, and I agree with you that it bodes ill for our co- 
 religionists in Germany. In a country where the people have their 
 rights and are anxious to maintain them this could not happen. 
 When a man becomes a voter, I mean a voter in the sense that we 
 use the term in this country, he becomes a factor in the state whose 
 rights cannot be encroached upon. In the first place, parties learn 
 too well the importance of not giving ofllense to any special class of 
 citizens, and, in the second place, people who have studied a demo- 
 cratic government practically, realize that the precedent of any 
 class being proscribed endangers the rights of others. The Germans 
 have not studied freedom in this practical way, indeed they have 
 not studied it at all. They have prated about it, but they have never 
 approached the subject seriously. They feel uncomfortable under 
 the present regime, and, as they can't right matters, they find some 
 consolation in oppressing the Jews. They bear more complacently 
 the kicks to which they are all constantly subjected because they are 
 permitted to kick others. But this cannot last forever, I agree with 
 you that it will be made very unpleasant for our people, but this 
 will be only for a time. Popular government will eventually assert 
 itself in all civilized countries, and where this prevails it will be 
 impossible for any part of the people to have their rights curtailed. 
 The trials through which our brethren will have to go will have a 
 salutary influence also. It will open their eyes to their past un- 
 worthiness. It will make them realize that they have been too 
 willing in the past to barter their birthright for a mess of pottage. 
 Desertion and conversion have lost their ancient horrors when [the 
 deserters are] bribed with a little reward. How willing were many 
 of the cultured or the so-called cultured to despise their brethren, so 
 that they might escape being recognized as akin to them. There 
 has never been a German Rothschild who, although sent year after 
 year to Parliament, refused to take his seat rather than prove a 
 renegade. And finally his manliness had to be recognized, but that 
 11
 
 153 Aakon Feiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 happened in England, and there are Englishmen there, Englishmen 
 who know the value of liberty and can understand those who are 
 striving for liberty. The Germans have never secured anything for 
 themselves, and they cannot be generous enough to yield to others 
 anything that they can withhold from them. What can you expect 
 from a nation that has coined such a word as Schadenfreude 9 . . . 
 
 Baltimore, August 14, 1889. 
 Yesterday the intelligence was flashed to us that Uncle Moses 
 died at one o'clock. His sufferings were so great during the past 
 week that we hoped that they would soon be at an end. And still it 
 was a shock to me when the news came. Poor fellow, he had a hard 
 lot of it these fifteen years, and yet he was so grateful for the little 
 respite that occasionally was granted him. He was a good man in 
 the true sense of the word. . . . He was a good brother to me 
 from the beginning to the end. This I shall never forget. He un- 
 derstood me when no one else in the family did. I shall cherish his 
 memory. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, November 20, 1889. 
 . . . You are mistaken when you say that Baltimore is the 
 worst governed city in the Union. Something similar to what we 
 complain of exists to a greater or less extent in every large city in 
 the United States. People are beginning to realize the injury it is 
 doing, and they are bestirring themselves to remedy the evil, and it 
 will not be so very long before their endeavors will be rewarded. 
 Election laws are beginning to be improved everywhere, and this 
 will eventually prove the downfall of bossism. I have great hopes 
 that there will be a great improvement in politics in this country. 
 I see such a very decided improvement over the condition of affairs 
 when I was a young man that I am not so very much discouraged 
 by the continuance of the evils we complain of today. The world 
 is going ahead. . . .
 
 Letters. 153 
 
 Baltimore, December 22, 1889. 
 First of all let me thank you for your beautiful letter congratu- 
 lating me on my birthday, together with the photographs of the 
 Alt-Neu Schule which you sent me as a birthday present. I appre- 
 ciated them very much, for they pleasantly recall to me my memories 
 of Prague. It is no little satisfaction, when the years are being 
 piled on one's back, and especially at the time when one begins to 
 feel their increasing weight, to be surrounded by those whose love 
 he has, and who show their willingness and readiness to make the 
 load a little less burdensome if they can. Your affectionate words 
 made a deep impression upon me, and, although you were not with 
 us when the presents were spread out and the congratulations of the 
 family extended in turn, and the egg-nog drunk, and the cakes 
 eaten, and the nuts cracked, it seemed that you were not so far off. 
 This birthday had one thing in particular to add to its good cheer, 
 and that was that it pointed to the time, . . . not very far off, 
 . . . which will bring you back to us again, and we can all be 
 together. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, December 25, 1889. 
 . . . Last Monday night the new City Hospital was inaugu- 
 rated. His Eminence the Cardinal was the most prominent figure 
 of the occasion. The exercises were . . . quite imposing. 
 The first address was made by the Cardinal, who spoke well, and 
 his speech was well received. Among other things ... he em- 
 phasized the statement that hospitals were the outcome of Chris- 
 tianity. He stated that before the Christian era hospitals did not 
 exist, that the Greeks and Eomans knew nothing about them, and 
 that the word could not be found anywhere until it was coined by 
 the Christians who built them. . . . The last speaker was Dr. 
 ^xundry, who represented the faculty. By some strange coincidence, 
 he and the Cardinal both regarded it as important that the origin
 
 154 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D, 
 
 of hospitals should be touched upon. Gundry's touch, however, 
 gave forth quite a different sound. He traced the origin of hospitals 
 a little further back than did the Cardinal, and he found them 
 spoken of among the Greeks and Eomans and other ancient nations, 
 centuries before the coming of Christ. Gundry's contradiction must 
 have startled the Cardinal somewhat and his friends also, but no 
 offense could be taken, for so it was written in his speech, and he 
 could not have been aware at the time of writing what cardinal 
 error he would have to correct. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, January 22, 1890. 
 So you are now in Paris, with all that is great and beautiful and 
 interesting in that great city before you, and all the charming recol- 
 lections of your Italian trip behind you. I shall never forget the 
 impression that Paris made on me when I arrived there, one night 
 in 1861. The city appeared to me to be ablaze. Paris was in its 
 glory then. It was the metropolis of a great Empire, and seemed 
 proud of its Emperor. Napoleon III, then supposed great, was the 
 master of France, and France willingly submitted to his dominion, 
 for through him France had become the mistress of Europe. I re- 
 member well a cartoon in a humorous paper which aptly represented 
 the feelings of Europe toward the French Emperor at that time. 
 Napoleon III was made to appear as a schoolboy, viewing a map 
 that was spread before him, over which he had capsized the ink- 
 bottle, with the result of causing a good many boundary lines to 
 disappear, and chuckling, with his hands in his pockets and his legs 
 in ... a strut, at the trick he had perpetrated. I did not ad- 
 mire the Emperor much, nor did the French people make a very 
 favorable impression upon me. I hope they have improved with the 
 changes that have since taken place. They seemed to me frivolous, 
 unreliable, and manifesting a strange aversion to telling the truth. 
 . . . " Glory " was the watchword of the army, and carried its
 
 AARON FRIEDENWALD 
 
 i8or
 
 however, 
 hospitals 
 
 . with all that is great and beautiful and 
 
 interesting in that great city before you, and all the charming recol- 
 
 vf your Italian trip behind you. I shall never forget the 
 
 T .,,,.^-..,) ti,,-v,..-> ,,, .^ ^,;.t1,j- 
 
 npire, fi 
 
 at that time. 
 
 iig a map 
 
 • the ink- 
 
 .' lines to 
 
 s legs 
 
 trick he had pe ot ad- 
 
 1 me. ^''l hope t^ 
 
 ^... . .-.. -i.ken place. T 
 
 ^, and manifesting a strange : 
 
 ory " was the watchw ed its
 
 Letters. 155 
 
 infection through the whole nation. It was looked upon as some- 
 thing above everything else, no matter how it was attained or how 
 short a time it could be held. A would-be savant would be satisfied 
 to startle the world with a statement for the sake of the glory it 
 would give him for twenty-four hours, even if he knew he would 
 be branded as the biggest liar in existence afterwards. I believe 
 that the very unexpected chastisement which they received from the 
 Germans must have had a very salutary influence. It showed that 
 what they had taken for granted, viz., that they were the greatest 
 and the most powerful nation in the world, was a fallacy. ... I 
 believe that, besides ridding the nation of an unprincipal usurper 
 and restoring the republic, their defeat has been a good thing for 
 the French in many other respects. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, February 2, 1890. 
 . . . I have not the time to follow up politics as closely as I 
 formerly did. I am ashamed to say that there are many things go- 
 ing on in politics that I am entirely ignorant about. I am, there- 
 fore, forced to resort to a simple method by which I can judge how 
 things are going. When the Democrats are crestfallen, and howl 
 about injustice being done them, and seem much concerned about 
 the safety of the Constitution, I am inclined to think that the coun- 
 try is pretty safe. 
 
 The following letter was written to Mrs. Jane Friedenwald, 
 widow of his brother Moses. 
 
 Baltimore, September 10, 1893. 
 Dear Jane^ 
 
 The Old Year is paying its farewell calls, and we are getting 
 ready properly to receive our unknown guest, the New Year. This 
 new guest will be with us in weal and woe for the next twelve 
 months. What a preacher would say on this subject! What foolish 
 things many preachers do say in this regard and still have to be
 
 156 Aaron" Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 listened to ! I am no preacher, and therefore I am not required to 
 say anything. I am very glad of it. I am sure you are, too. There 
 is one thing, however, which I am permitted to say, and I will say 
 it with all my heart. I hope that you will find the new guest a 
 pleasant and agreeable one, that he will annoy you at no time, that 
 you will never wish that he had never come, nor that his stay were 
 soon over; that, when he also will finally take his leave, you will be 
 in the mood to say that you would be content to have all of those 
 who may succeed him be just as he was. Now, if you know how to 
 wish yourself anything better, just make out the account, and I will 
 cheerfully sign it " Approved." God bless you all.
 
 CHAPTEE YIII. 
 
 Trip to Europe (1895). 
 
 In 1895 my father, accompanied by my mother, made a long- 
 contemplated trip to Europe, spending three months in visiting 
 England, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and 
 France. He had not gone abroad since 1860, and, on being asked 
 if he went to Europe often, he replied, " Yes, every thirty-five 
 years." The following letters are selected from the extensive cor- 
 respondence with his children which he kept up while abroad. 
 
 London, June 11, 1895. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 Yesterday morning we "did" the Tower of London. When we 
 approached the place of which we had heard so much we expected 
 that it would speak for itself, and it did. The old grey walls and 
 sturdy towers make a powerful impression upon one. . . . The 
 *' beef -eaters " in their uniform, the same as was worn in the time 
 of King Henry viij (8th) (a fellow can't well rid himself of the 
 habits of his trade) gave character to the scene. . . . 
 
 London has changed very much since last I saw it. Some of the 
 streets have been widened, and fine buildings of rare architectural 
 effect now occupy the place of ancient rookeries. Many new public 
 buildings have been erected, and nowhere have I seen such fine ar- 
 chitecture 
 
 The hall of the court is magnificent. The Judges and barristers 
 in their wigs and gowns looked queer, but extremely interesting, 
 and it was a grand sight to see the common people coming before 
 the Court of Appeals and laying their cases before it in person.
 
 158 Aaeon Friedenwald, M. D, 
 
 The Master of the Rolls, who, by the way, is the successor of the 
 late Sir George Jessel, listened patiently and good-naturedly to all 
 who came before him. A lady complained that she went to see 
 Eothschild, but . . . could get no hearing from him, and that 
 she wanted the will of Lord Beaconsfield probated anew, as he had 
 made her his sole heir. The good lady evidently was laboring under 
 some mental derangement. It was remarkable how patiently the 
 Judge listened to the poor lady, how respectfully he asked her to 
 tell her story, how amiably he put the questions, and how evidently 
 pained he was when he said, " We can do nothing for you." 
 
 I will have to draw a long breath before I can say anything about 
 Westminster Abbey. It exceeds anything I could have conceived. 
 I will wait until the morning, until I write more. 
 
 London, June 12, 1895. 
 Well, I have had a whole day to take that breath, and I am not 
 prepared to give a description [of the impression] that the Abbey 
 made upon me. It is a grand building, and the monuments of the 
 distinguished persons who have been buried or commemorated 
 here . . . must awaken an intense interest in even the dullest. 
 
 OsTEND, June 18, 1895. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 On the whole, London has made a very deep impression upon 
 me, and the high opinion which I had hitherto held of England and 
 the Englishman has been fully confirmed. I like the Englishman 
 as a Jew, and I like him as an Englishman. There is such a sturdi- 
 ness of character, a self-consciousness that distinguishes him that 
 cannot fail to command respect. England is very old, but the na- 
 tion does not show decay. Even without a big army and with big 
 armies all around her, I feel that England has nothing 
 to fear. ...
 
 Trip to Europe. 159 
 
 Mayence, June 33, 1895. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 Yesterday was appropriated to the Ehine. It was a glorious day, 
 and, although we were going from 9.45 A. M., when we left Co- 
 logne, till 9.30 P. M., when we reached Mayence, the day was not 
 too long. The beautiful scenery that met our eyes on all sides, the 
 majestic mountains that seemed to stand as guards of the silvery 
 stream, the many castles and ruins that told their stories of olden 
 times, and the curious legends that were read to us from the guide 
 books and the equally curious comments that were made upon them, 
 furnished us with a program not only sufficiently full to provide for 
 a day's enjoyment, but making an impression which will last a 
 lifetime. It is not to be wondered at that the Ehine is so dear to 
 the German heart, and that the German nation has been willing to 
 give so much of its blood for its possession. 
 
 We took the train to Bonn, which is a short ride, because we were 
 told that the scenery up to that city offered nothing of special in- 
 terest. "We had most excellent company, from whom we did not 
 part during an entire day. Mr. B., general passenger agent of the 
 Fremont, Elkhorn, and Missouri Valley and Sioux City and Pacific 
 R. R. of Omaha, and his wife, and an Irish Catholic priest, about 
 thirty years old, formed our party, and we had a very fine time to- 
 gether. The B.'s were typical Americans, intelligent, refined, and 
 sociable. The priest was a " character," and he liked fun, knew 
 how to take a joke, and told, his stories in his rich brogue, which 
 lent an especial charm to them. Later in the day a discussion on 
 
 religious topics arose between Mrs. B and the priest, which 
 
 was very interesting. They subjected the Father to a very rigid 
 cross-examination, of course in a very courteous manner, and the 
 priest from his standpoint answered without the slightest reserve, 
 and no one who heard him speak in his simple manner and saw his 
 good-natured face could doubt his sincerity. The priest is on his
 
 160 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 three-weeks vacation, spending some of the forty pounds which, 
 together with his maintenance, form his salary, and seemed as 
 happy as a boy on his first picnic. ... 
 
 Mayence, June 25, 1895. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 ... Yesterday . . . afternoon . . we saw the 
 
 two synagogues, the one the Eeformed, the other the Orthodox. 
 They are well-built structures, but there is nothing striking about 
 them. . . . The Eeform movement has not gone to the lengths 
 which characterize it in America. The Orthodox seem very intol- 
 erant, provoked to a great extent, probably, by the irreligious con- 
 duct of the Reformers, who, while they are comparatively moderate 
 in the changes which they have introduced into the service, have 
 fully come up to our American Reformers in their unobservant 
 conduct, and are probably lacking in the generous interest in Jew- 
 ish institutions which our Reformers have retained. . . . 
 
 Wiesbaden, June 27, 1895. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . [On our] trip to Worms we visited the synagogue and 
 were deeply impressed. It must be nearly a thousand years old. 
 It is built so that the women were provided for in an annex in the 
 shape of the letter L. At the side of the synagogue is the " Rashi 
 Kapelle." There are some fine pillars in the synagogue, the 
 ceiling is rather high, and the old, finely-shaped lamps hang as 
 they have hung these many centuries. There are two lamps con- 
 stantly burning ... in memory of two men who, on the 
 charge being made that the Jews poisoned the well, became mar- 
 tyrs, saying that they were the iguilty ones. There are some who 
 still fast on the day commemorating the event, and Kaddish * 
 is said for the martyrs. On the Almemar [reading-desk] are 
 
 ' The prayer recited in memory of the dead.
 
 Trip to Europe. 161 
 
 several prayer-books written on parchment many, many centuries 
 ago, in one of which the prayers have been greatly curtailed be- 
 cause, it is said, the congregation feared an assault at any moment, 
 and it was considered wise not to remain in the synagogue any 
 longer than was absolutely necessary. One of these prayer-books 
 is in Eashi's Beth ha-Midrash; it is very finely illuminated, simi- 
 larly to those seen in the British Museum and so generally admired. 
 But just think of an organ having been placed in the synagogue 
 made famous by reason of age and of having been the sphere of ac- 
 tivity of one of the greatest scholars, if not the greatest scholar, 
 ever yet arisen in Israel! What would the world say 
 if the house in which Shakespeare was born should be desecrated 
 in a similar way? . . • 
 
 Geneva, Ereh [Eve of] 4th July, 1895. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 Here we are in a most beautiful city, where everything looks 
 bright, music and song fill the air, the beautiful lake lies proudly 
 at our feet, the beautiful blue waters of the Khone dash headlong 
 on their course, and the graceful swans float proudly here and there 
 and seem to say, " What would Geneva be without us ?" 
 
 The country between Basle and Neufchatel is one con- 
 tinuous . . . magnificent landscape. Towering mountains 
 meet the eye on either side, and a beautiful little river follows us 
 almost all the way. Sometimes the river disappears for a short 
 time, and then suddenly announces itself again, as if to play a 
 game of hide and seek. Wild flowers of the most variegated colors 
 abound, and one never . . . gets tired of the grand panorama 
 which nature offers. We have been quite lucky in always meeting 
 good company, who seem to enjoy the great pleasure which we old 
 people, as they think we are, get out of this big excursion of 
 ours. 
 
 . . . Some time before reaching Neufchatel we were met by
 
 163 Aaeon Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 the lake bearing that name. It was a beautiful surprise. It was 
 an enchanting sight. Such a fine play of colors as this lake presents 
 has a most brilliant effect. We, that is, mamma and I, differed a 
 little about the exact color, mamma calling it blue, while I inclined 
 to name it green. It won't do for co-voyageurs to quarrel, and so 
 we compromised on either bluish green or greenish blue. . . . 
 
 The site upon which Neufchatel is built has not been especially 
 levelled. As we drove along the streets we had buildings looking 
 down upon us as from the high hills, and away down in the valley 
 the tiled roofs and high chimneys looked as if they modestly con- 
 cealed what was below them. . . . 
 
 Interlaken, July 5, 1895. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 Wherever people speak French they require an extra amount of 
 outdoors to live in. This we found to be the case in Brussels, again 
 in Geneva, and I have the same recollection of Paris. There are 
 many cafes here, all having ample provision for guests who prefer 
 eating and drinking in the open air. I noticed that here not only 
 is a part of the sidewalk occupied in this way, as in Brussels and 
 Paris, but sometimes the whole of the sidewalk is occupied, so that 
 those who wish to pass are perfectly satisfied to walk in the 
 street. . . . 
 
 Berne is a queer old town, and seems very true to its traditions. 
 I found in the same old Bdrengrube the same old bears, that is to 
 say, bears that looked much like those which were sought for by 
 sightseers thirty-five years ago. Bears look very much alike any- 
 way, and I did not go to the trouble to find out whether they were 
 of the old or of a new generation. . . . 
 
 Zurich, July 10, 1895. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . When we arose last Sunday morning [at Interlaken] we 
 received a most friendly greeting from the Jungfrau, robed in the
 
 Trip to Europe. 163 
 
 purest white, and presenting a picture of grandeur and purity that 
 will long be remembered by us. It was not without regret that we 
 had to turn our backs upon this grand place. We took the boat on 
 the lake of Brienz, and sailed smoothly over its beautiful blue 
 waters, passing a number of small towns forming favored resorts. 
 On either side we had the most sublime mountain views, and, look- 
 ing back, the snow-capped mountains continued smiling upon us. 
 These trips upon the Swiss lakes remind one very much of the 
 pleasant traveling on the Ehine, the scenery here being even 
 grander. . . . We reached our destination, at Giessbach, about 
 ten o'clock. Here we saw the falls before leaving the boat. We 
 walked up to the hotel, from whose veranda we got a full view of 
 the Giessbach leaping from a great eminence, alighting lower, and 
 then making another grand plunge, and so making three or four 
 great leaps before reaching the bottom and finally diving into the 
 lake of Brienz. . . . 
 
 Berlin, August 6, 1895. 
 Dear Chii,dren, 
 
 . . . I visited Grasfe's [his teacher's] monument and was 
 deeply affected. The statue is lifelike; I imagined I could hear 
 him talk. . , . 
 
 The Hague, August 16, 1895. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . In [Amsterdam] . . . the Portuguese and German 
 congregations, as in every place else, form separate organizations. 
 The original Portuguese settlers were very rich, and for a long 
 time remained the wealthy part of the Jews of Holland. The Ger- 
 man Jews now not only outnumber them, but are also much 
 wealthier. The PortU|guese lost their fortunes, but not their pride, 
 although they are now perfectly willing to intermarry with the 
 Germans.
 
 164 Aaeon Feiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 The condition ... of Judaism in Holland is nnique. 
 Whatever private opinions may exist, there is a general acquiescence 
 in the idea that the Judaism of Holland must not suffer from the 
 inroads that have proved so destructive everywhere else. The Sab- 
 bath is universally kept, and the dietary laws are everywhere ad- 
 hered to 
 
 Pakis, August 30, 1895. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . In The Hague ... on Friday evening I went to 
 the German synagogue, a very fine . . . building, about fifty 
 years old, where I found a very large congregation in attendance. 
 . . . I again attended the synagogue on Saturday morning, I 
 heard a very good Chazzan. There were two peculiarities which I 
 noticed, namely the two hymns Shir Jia-Yichud and Shir ha-Kabod, 
 which are sung with us before Yigdal, were said just before the 
 Torah was taken out, and another still more surprising peculiarity 
 of the service is that the Kohanim "duchan," which they do with 
 us only on Yom-toh. The attendance was so large that it was 
 difficult to get a seat. The Dutch Jews are very conservative, per- 
 haps more so than any of our people anywhere else in Europe. 
 There is much Hebrew studied, and one meets with many who are 
 Lanidanim [learned] . 
 
 . . . On Monday morning, ... we took a carriage for 
 the Eiffel Tower, and went up to the second landing and spent quite 
 a time there inspecting the city through our opera glasses and a 
 telescope that was in position on the platform. It was a grand 
 sight. I recognized many points from my previous recollection of 
 them. In driving out we passed through a very fine part of the 
 town, and had the interesting buildings pointed out to us. Near 
 the Eiffel Tower there floats over the Seine a balloon called the 
 ballon captif, as it was captured during the Franco-Prussian 
 war. Well, we saw more than its equivalent in Berlin. . . .
 
 AARON FRIEDENWALD
 
 scence 
 
 bat.. ^ 
 hered t^ 
 
 good C ^'o peculiarities which I 
 
 jIv the T ha-Kabod, 
 
 aJAWH303m^ HOflAA
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 Oriental Trip (1898). 
 
 A visit to the Holy Land, which had been the dream of my 
 father's life, as it is the ideal of every pious Jew, was made by 
 my parents in the summer of 1898. They proceeded by way of 
 Gibraltar and Naples to Egypt and thence to Palestine, where 
 they spent a month. Their route homewards passed through 
 Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, England, and Scotland. Ex- 
 tracts from the letters written from abroad by my father to his 
 children follow; a picture completer and in greater detail of his 
 impressions of the land of Israel, however, is given by the two 
 addresses which he delivered after his return, selections from which 
 are reprinted in a later portion of this book. 
 
 S. S. AUer, April 20, 1898. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . The Eeverend Dr. Collyer^ invited me yesterday to sit 
 beside him and we had a very interesting conversation on the subject 
 of Zionism. He seemed much interested in what I had to say to him 
 supplementary to my paper ["Lovers of Zion"], and asked me 
 to send him anything I might publish as a result of my visit to 
 Palestine. He is a Unitarian. . . . 
 
 S. S. AlUr, Friday, April 22, 1898. 
 . . . The ship swarms with priests, Irish, American, Polish, • 
 and German. They are a jolly set. . . . Old men are con- 
 spicuous here with young wives. They seem to me to have a feeling 
 that they have made fools of themselves, and to want to go where 
 
 * The Reverend Robert Collyer, pastor of the Church of the Messiah, 
 New York.
 
 166 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 they won't be so nmch observed. There are, strange to say, a few 
 Americans here, sedate, dignified, American. Plenty of Germans 
 who seem to enjoy themselves and trouble no one else. Italians in 
 the cabin who seem to be affluent and return for a while to their na- 
 tive heath, while the steerage is composed entirely of Italians of 
 the poorer class — among whom there are sixty-four who have been 
 sent home by the immigration officers. 
 
 Yesterday they tried to make us see something of the Azores, but 
 few could make themselves believe that they did see what was 
 pointed out. Last night we were told that we should come very 
 near the Azores this morning, and so I got up before five and was 
 immediately followed by mamma, and we were fully repaid. Cer- 
 tainly it was a most picturesque scene. We had passed a number 
 of the group durin^g the night. The one which we beheld in all its 
 glory was San Miguel. It rises abruptly out of the sea, presenting 
 a bright green color, with undulating mountains. The city, which 
 we saw, looked like a fairy spot. Every inch of ground seems to be 
 in the highest state of cultivation. The panorama lasted fully two 
 hours, which was a most enjoyable break in the general monotony 
 of the voyage. . . . 
 
 Gibraltar, April 25, 1898. 
 We have done the town, and are now off for the ship. It was 
 glorious. England is great, even out of England. . . . 
 
 S. S. Aller, April 26, 1898. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . Our neighbor, the Armenian, who, every now and then, 
 after sauntering away for a while, comes back aglow to dispose of 
 a new story that he has heard, has nearly exhausted his resources. 
 Many of his stories were old. . . . One, however, was new to 
 me, and is worthy of preservation for a reasonable time. Here it is.
 
 Oriental Trip. 167 
 
 A sign put up on a certain road was described by a German to an 
 Englishman. It bore a notice that to the right was the road to a 
 certain town, and, further, that those who could not read might in- 
 quire at the blacksmith's opposite. The man who told the story 
 expected, naturally, to get a laugh out of the Englishman's stolid 
 features. What a disappointment ! The Englishman's face showed 
 simply bewilderment. He could not see where the laugh came 
 in. . . . Next morning the Englishman approached the story 
 teller with glowing countenance, saying, " I see it now, it is a good 
 joke. How the man would be fooled if the blacksmith were not at 
 home!" . . . 
 
 On Sunday, April 24 . . . there were services conducted 
 by the Eeverend Dr. Collyer. He has the reputation of being a great 
 preacher. I was, therefore, anxious to hear him, and I heard per- 
 haps the best sermon I have ever listened to. He is a master of 
 his art, and what gave special merit to his wonderful effort was 
 that he had the delicacy to realize the situation, and in the selec- 
 tion and treatment of his subject he gave what was acceptable to 
 all, and what would have been suitable in any pulpit. He read a 
 portion from Job as one part of the service, and then selected his 
 text from the great poem, " Why is light given to a man whose 
 way is hid." He portrayed the conditions of life, which are so 
 full of inexplicable problems. He told a most beautiful story of 
 his own experience, when he was a boy nine years of age, sixty-five 
 years before, when he worked alongside of a poor woman, frail in 
 body and suffering from disease, working thirteen hours a day to 
 support herself and child, and praising GTod constantly for his great 
 beneficence to her. This woman, he said, had been an inspiration 
 to him through his whole life. I saw him next morning and 
 thanked him for his beautiful sermon. I told him that I had dis- 
 covered why he had become such a great preacher. 
 
 " Tell me what you have to say," he replied. 
 12
 
 168 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 " You worked in a mill when you were young," 
 
 "What has that to do with it?" he said. 
 
 ' This," I said. " You spun your yarn before you became a 
 preacher; others spin their yarns after they have become preach- 
 ers." He enjoyed the joke. , . . 
 
 . . . This has been a gala day. We landed at Gibraltar, 
 drove through the town, and were permitted to inspect the greater 
 part of the fortifications. Gibraltar, even from a distance, has an 
 inspiring effect. A mountain of stone projects from the sea. . . . 
 After what nature has done, one wonders no less at what man has 
 accomplished. The winding galleries through this massive rock 
 are a wonderful piece of engineering. It was an odd scene that we 
 beheld in the streets. Donkeys, carrying immense loads up hills 
 that are too steep for loaded carts to be drawn up, carry large re- 
 torts of water, milk, and so on. We saw Moors in their native cos- 
 tumes strolling through the streets. There are many shops, show- 
 ing gaudy articles for sale. Moorish honey is offered for sale on 
 all sides as a specially attractive thing. We passed a market place 
 which the driver told us was the " Jew Market." I learned, on 
 inquiry, that there are seven thousand Jews in Gibraltar, with two 
 synagogues. There is a public garden here, with a profusion of the 
 most beautiful flowers and tropical plants. The drivers say in very 
 bad English that they are Englishmen, and seem proud of the con- 
 ditions that obtain here. Are they sincere? 
 
 Last Sunday the captain signaled as we were passing the coast 
 of Portugal, and there came the answer, " No war." Gibraltar told 
 us a different, though very meager story. . . . We know 
 
 . . . that war has been declared. . . . There is consider- 
 able enthusiasm on board. Last evening, during dinner, the band 
 struck up the " Star-spangled Banner." The Eeverend Dr. Collyer 
 rose, clapped his hands, and began to sing, and simultaneously there 
 was a general uprising and a united chorus.
 
 Oriental Trip. 169 
 
 Three priests sit opposite me at the table. The first is an 
 Austrian German, fat, full of fun, knows all about beef steaks, 
 good wine, where the best restaurants are to be found in New York, 
 never misses a meal, and never makes the mistake of entering into 
 a serious conversation. His ignorance on general matters is ap- 
 palling. . . . His next-door neighbor is an Italian Austrian, 
 who has been in America since 1864. He is jolly, has an enormous 
 appetite, does not hesitate to proclaim himself an authority as to 
 what things are the best (that is, to eat), does not talk on serious 
 matters, although this is not because he is stupid, as is his neighbor. 
 He is like many other priests on board, who are dumb as oysters, 
 except when they speak of oysters and the weather. The third looks 
 . . . very knowing, . . . never says anything, seems not to 
 hear anything, except when some one does say something sensible, — 
 which rarely happens, — when he gives a very significant nod of 
 approval. He has, like the rest of them, an immense capacity for 
 storing away . . . meats of all kinds, vegetables cooked and 
 raw, and wine as if it were water, no, I mean as if it were wine, 
 good wine. . . . 
 
 I have enlarged my menu. I get, besides fruit, as on the last voy- 
 age, baked potatoes, baked apples, and a cup of coffee. It is a feast 
 for a king; that is, when a king is at sea and is of the Davidian 
 dynasty. . . . 
 
 Naples, April 28, 1898. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 We have just come to the hotel from the day's work, and we are 
 both seated to continue the report of our doings up to this time. 
 . . . It was a scene which I shall long remember, the scene 
 which the early morning brought. . . . Such a noise as sound- 
 ed'in our ears from all sides I have never heard. . . . When 
 I got on deck I found innumerable . . . boats surrounding the
 
 170 Aaron Fkiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 steamer. There were a great many barges with coal which hun- 
 dreds of men and boys were filling baskets with and dumping into 
 the ship. They made an immense, and certainly a useless amount 
 of noise in doing it. Boats came with families of mothers, sons, 
 and daughters, playing various instruments and singing, and hold- 
 ing their hats to catch the money that was dropped for them from 
 our ship. Sisters of Charity came in their boat, and seemed per- 
 fectly familiar with the saying, " The early bird catches the worm." 
 Boats were there, to complete . . . this curious flotilla, bring- 
 ing men and women who had things for sale. Then there were 
 boats with solicitors for hotels. . . . Cook's men came among 
 the earliest in their pretty little boat. When the tender took us 
 off the ship to land us at Naples, a lot of satellites fastened them- 
 selves upon it, giving a sort of concert and then passing the hat 
 around among us. But this confusion had a fairly speedy end, 
 and ... in due time we were confronted by the custom 
 house. The officials gave us no trouble whatever. They took our 
 word that we had no cigars, and marked our baggage as passed with- 
 out opening any of it. The most trouble we had was from a great 
 number of men who were anxious to be of use to us, but we finally 
 extricated ourselves and got a cab. One fellow squatted on the 
 floor of the cab, with his feet dangling outside. We had to be a 
 trifle discourteous to limit and finally to get rid of this undesirable 
 sociability. We soon started for Cook's office, where we met a num- 
 ber of our co-voyageurs. . . . 
 
 We took a trip under their guidance to Vesuvius. It was a glori- 
 ous trip, but quite different from what we had imagined it would 
 be. We had heard so much of Cook's Eailroad to the summit of 
 this great volcano that we thought after a very short drive we should 
 be placed upon the train and we should be up in a jiffy. It was 
 at least an hour's drive to the ascent, and it was a drive of fully 
 two hours more up the mountain before we reached the station.
 
 Oriental Trip. 171 
 
 Here we were hauled in good shape with five or six others up a very 
 steep incline. Amon,g the company there was a very droll . . . 
 Englishman with whom I had a good deal of fun. He was amusing 
 the rest with an account of how a cable on a similar car had broken 
 and how the car had shot down, and how easily it could happen to 
 us. He seemed somewhat disappointed that no one was frightened. 
 When we had gone as far as this hoisting machine could bring us, 
 we had to go further on foot. Here we were again met by a band 
 of men with willing hearts and helping hands, and they became 
 very angry when we declined to avail ourselves of their services. 
 . . . I did not find the ascent very difficult, and did not puff 
 at all when I reached the crater. It was a glorious sight to behold 
 when we arrived. . - The crater is six hundred meters in cir- 
 cumference. It is lined with a most beautiful and varied coloring 
 from the deposits of sulphur in varied chemical states. There is a 
 sound constantly given forth attesting the fact that here the pot is 
 kept boiling all the time. The steam and smoke that issue from 
 the bottom were wafted downwards by the wind, and the effect was 
 not unlike that of a great cataract. 
 
 Cairo, May 10, 1898. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . The voyage over the Mediterranean Sea from Naples to 
 Port Said was a most delightful one. . . . When we arrived at 
 Port Said about nine o'clock last Sunday, we had our first introduc- 
 tion to Oriental scenes. . . . We took a stroll through the 
 town, which is a comparatively new thing, conjured into existence 
 by the Suez Canal. . . . Most of the Arabs we saw here were 
 quite dark, and at home, if they wore Western costume, we should 
 have very little hesitation in calling them negroes. . . . Is- 
 mailia was reached in due time at six o'clock, and at seven o'clock 
 [we took] the train for Cairo. The train kept close to the canal
 
 172 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 from Port Said to Ismailia, and for a good way after we passed 
 Ismailia, how much further I do not know, as darkness came on, 
 and we had to content ourselves with looking at each other. As 
 long as we could see, there was nothing but a vast desert that passed 
 before us, sand, sand, and nothing but sand. Before we reached 
 Cairo, however, we saw enough to show us that we were passing 
 through cultivated and, as we have since learned, very fertile fields. 
 We reached Cairo at 10.30 P. M., . . . and we were soon com- 
 fortably quartered at the Hotel Khedivial, a very fine hostelry. 
 
 On Monday morning we took a guide, who showed us the Citadel 
 and the mosque of Mohammed Ali. "We reached the Citadel, passed 
 through the gate, and had the magnificent mosque before us. Up, 
 up we went, turning and turning until we were a long way up. 
 . . . The mosque is a most imposing edifice, and is constructed 
 throughout of fine Egyptian alabaster. It is an immense building, 
 and, although adorned with an immense dome, as well as several 
 smaller ones, there is not a single pillar in the interior, showing 
 that it is a fine piece of architectural engineering. There were a 
 number of white-bearded Mussulmans squatting on the floor, re- 
 citing the Koran aloud and, as we were told, by heart, with a Nig- 
 gun [melody] in which I could readily have joined, ... al- 
 most identical with some of our chants on holidays. In close prox- 
 imity to the Mosque there is Joseph's well; we were led down to it. 
 . . . No water appears at the bottom. We were told, however, 
 that there was a turn from which the well went down much deeper, 
 where there was a great deal of water. I did not know why it was 
 called Joseph's well. I suggested to the guide that it was the well 
 in which Joseph was thrown by his brethren, and he gave his wise 
 approval. But, on reflection, I remembered that Jacob dwelt at that 
 time in Canaan, and Joseph's well must have been in that territory. 
 I found later on that the well received its name from another 
 Joseph. . . ,
 
 Oriental Trip. 173 
 
 The fields are very rich. The wheat ... is thrashed by a 
 most primitive method. It is strewn over the field, and a horse at- 
 tached to something very much in the shape of a heavy sled is 
 driven over it. The method of drawing water is also a very ancient 
 one. A very large wheel having a number of receptacles in the 
 fihape of large jugs dips down into the water and is made to revolve 
 by horses going round and round, which are attached to it by a 
 simple mechanical contrivance. As the wheel revolves, the Jugs 
 bring up the water and empty it where it is wanted. 
 
 This mornin,g we took a trip to the Pyramids, starting at six 
 o'clock. It was a fine trip. We crossed the Nile, seeing it for a 
 considerable time as we drove along its banks. On the day before a 
 party of Englishmen had been there and had been treated shock- 
 ingly by the Arabs. Those who ascended had to make several bar- 
 gains. They were not permitted to go further or to return until 
 they . . . met the exactions of the Arabs, and they were thor- 
 oughly fleeced. Those who entered to see the tombs amid darkness, 
 except for the light of a candle, were surrounded by the villains, 
 and the money was fairly taken away from them. The policeman 
 seemed to be unable to enforce fair play. We have learned that 
 these Arabs allow themselves to be beaten by the policeman, and af- 
 terwards there is a division of spoils. ... So we decided to 
 take revenge. We drove up to the Pyramids, walked all around 
 them, walked up to the Sphynx, saw her from all sides, also the 
 temple of the Sphynx and a tomb in the vicinity, excavated by some 
 Englishman, and did not spend a piaster. ... It was very hot, 
 certainly more than ninety degrees, and we were fairly at the mercy 
 of the sun. . . . 
 
 S. S. Orinoque, May 12, 1898. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . After returning from the Pyramids, we were conducted 
 by our guide to the Museum. This contains a very large . . .
 
 174 Aaeon Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 collection of Egyptian antiquities, the most valuable in existence. 
 I could not begin to enumerate all the remarkable things we saw 
 there. But one thing we did see that is too important not to be 
 mentioned. That proud king, who ruled over Israel with such an 
 iron hand and defied Moses when he brought the divine message, 
 has not escaped the archaeological resurrectionist. I saw him face 
 to face, all his glory gone, submitting without a murmur to the 
 scrutiny of all, the high and the low, — of the latter of whom there 
 are not a few here. . . . 
 
 Jerusalem, May 33, 1898. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . There is ... a very good school in this colony 
 [Pethach Tikwah], modeled on the one in Jaffa, with one slight 
 difference. In the Jaffa school, although it is under the control of 
 the Russian Choveve Zion, the Sephardic pronunciation [of He- 
 brew] has been adopted. Here the Ashkenazic pronunciation has 
 still been adhered to, but from the general tendency, as I have 
 noticed it, I should judge that the Sephardic pronunciation will 
 eventually prevail throughout Palestine. The purpose of this move- 
 ment is to make the Jewish population in Palestine as unified as 
 possible; besides, the adoption of the Sephardic pronunciation does 
 away with the variations among those who are known as Ashke- 
 nazim, whose differences are illustrated by the wide diversity be- 
 tween the pronunciation characteristic of South Germany, for 
 example, and that made use of by the Jews of Poland. 
 
 Jericho, May 24, 1898. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . One thing of great importance to note is the evident, 
 contentment of the colonists [in Palestine]. They have to work 
 hard, and as yet have not succeeded by far in accomplishing what.
 
 Oriental Trip. 175 
 
 they set out to do, but they love Palestine, they love their work, 
 they are full of pride at having surmounted . . . great diffi- 
 culties, they are full of courage, and look hopefully forward to the 
 future. . . . They are capable of the hardest physical work; 
 of this their land gives incontrovertible evidence. They mount and 
 ride the horse with agility equal to that of the native Arab. They 
 are not wanting in physical courage, either. When the colonies 
 were first started, the Arabs attempted to intimidate the newcom- 
 ers, but they soon learned of their mistake. Many got a good thrash- 
 ing, and they profited by the lesson. One [colonist] who was on 
 horseback, was attacked by an Arab. He descended, thrashed him 
 thoroughly, bound him hand and foot, and brought him on horse- 
 back to Haifa for trial. Now the colonists have no difficulties of 
 this sort. 
 
 Jaffa, May 39, 1898. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . I was pleased with our visit to Jerusalem, notwithstand- 
 ing the predictions that we should be dreadfully disappointed. It 
 is a city of the most varied interest. The past is presented to one 
 at every turn, and the present is not less interesting. There are 
 as fine Jews here as can be met with anywhere. There is as much 
 disinterested effort to benefit the lowly as at any other place. Those 
 that have been painted in the blackest colors are better than the 
 circumstances surrounding them would warrant [one in expecting] . 
 And such a medley as is met with here ! Sephardic Jews are not 
 all of one class; there are the Spanish-Portuguese, the Turkish, 
 the Italian, the Moroccan, the Yemenite, the Kurdish, and the 
 Bokhariot Jews. The German Jewish community is composed of 
 real Germans, of Eussians from all the Eussias, Polish, Eoumanian, 
 American, and other unclassified Jews. There are those who live 
 in comparative luxury; many starve quite a little; and not a few
 
 176 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 live pretty well on nothing, their needs being so primitive and so 
 few. ... I have not seen anything in all my travels to inter- 
 est me as much as my trip to Jerusalem. ... 
 
 ZiCHRON Jacob, May 31, 1898. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . I shall never forget the days that I spent [in Jerusa- 
 lem] .... Our first trip was to the Wailing Wall. We passed 
 through the Jaffa gate ... up steep inclines, through narrow 
 streets, crowded with Jews of all kinds, Arabs, Bedouins, Euro- 
 peans, donkeys, camels, and so on. Finally, we reached the place. 
 Here we found a big crowd, largely composed of women, crowded 
 up to the walls, kissing the stones, and weeping as if the destruction 
 of the temple had happened but yesterday. There were a number 
 of old men there also. The space is, I should judge, about thirty 
 feet wide and one hundred and fifty feet long. All went well until 
 I began to distribute the money I had brought with me for that 
 purpose. The mob crowded around us, and it seemed that the same 
 hands always managed to get to the foreground. . . . We had 
 almost to use force to extricate ourselves from the crowd. The 
 conduct of the crowd was annoying, but it was on the whole very 
 interesting. The scene of some of them at prayer was very touch- 
 ing. 
 
 From the Wailing Wall we were conducted to the two great 
 synagogues, the one of the Chasidim, the other of the Ashkenazim. 
 Both are very imposing structures, and would produce a still better 
 effect if they were not crowded upon by the very narrow streets. 
 They both have very large domes and in this respect ,greatly re- 
 semble the mosques. 
 
 We next visited the Bikkur Cholim Hospital. . . . Here I 
 saw Eabbi Salant, who had an operation for cataract performed 
 upon him. He was sitting up ; his bandage had been removed, and
 
 Oriental Trip. 177 
 
 he said that he could see. He received me very kindly. He is a 
 Eabbi of the old type. He has a very kindly bearing, and everyone 
 shows him great respect. 
 
 Our next stopping place was the Talmud Torah. . . . The 
 rooms are all crowded with children, from the youngest up to those 
 sixteen or seventeen years of age, besides the Yeshihah, composed 
 of young married men. Such a Babel you cannot imagine. They 
 have their books before them, and all shout away in tones indicating 
 the especial intention of being impressive, with occasional inter- 
 ruptions by the teacher. It is rather an odd scene to behold before 
 you, boys of nine and ten years with a big folio of the Talmud be- 
 fore them, giving their views on the subject-matter. The teachers, 
 as well as the scholars, have a sort of starved look about them. 
 While one must wonder how so much can be forced into the heads 
 of these boys, one must regret the absolute absence of method. 
 . . . The Sephardim have a school of pretty much the same 
 sort, I was told, but I did not find time to visit it. . . . 
 
 In the afternoon we visited the tombs of the Kings, a most re- 
 markable place. The tombs are composed of large caves leading 
 one into the other, some very extensive, situated only a short dis- 
 tance outside of the walls of Jerusalem. Some of these caves are 
 for one and some for two tombs. At the entrances of the various 
 caves there are little niches in the walls for placing lamps, and 
 above and below, at the side of each entrance, there are depressions 
 in which the stone doors swung. 
 
 We next visited the Lamel school, which is in charge of Mr. Eph- 
 raim Cohen. Mr. Cohen is an able scholar, and a very fine fellow. 
 A native of Jerusalem, after getting a thorough Hebrew training 
 here, he spent some years ... in London (Jews' College), 
 and in Germany. He knows many languages well, and knows how 
 to conduct a school. This school was founded by the daughters of 
 Edler von Lamel, who lived in Vienna. There was not enough
 
 178 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 money left, however, for the full and continued support of the in- 
 stitution, and therefore a committee was formed in Frankfort on 
 the Main, which looks after it, and also supports an orphan asy- 
 lum, . . . The school is in a very modern building on the out- 
 skirts of the city, and Hebrew, English, German, and French are 
 taught by a corps of efficient teachers, after the most approved, mod- 
 ern methods. This school is under a Cherem [ban]. That is to 
 say, it was put under the Cherem by the dominant Eabbis when 
 it was begun, and the present ones say they are forced to respect 
 that action. They don't object now, so they say, to children study- 
 ing anything but Hebrew, but they do object to this school, which is 
 under a ban. Very few Ashkenazic children are to be found in the 
 school on this account; the children are predominantly Sephardim. 
 The Sephardim, as it appears, are much more liberal than the Ash- 
 kehazim. The Ashkenazic Eabbis have immense power. When 
 anyone rebels against their authority, his Chaluklcah is with- 
 held. The Sephardim occupy a different position. The ChalulckaJi 
 is not so big an affair with them ; that is to say, the sum of money 
 sent to Jerusalem is comparatively insignificant beside the amount 
 received by the Ashkenazim, and it is said that the rank and file are 
 very little concerned about it, as the Eabbis get nearly all of it. 
 There is, therefore, much more poverty among the Sephardim; 
 . . . but their needs are not so great as those of the Ashkenazim, 
 as they have adopted the very simple mode of life of the Arabs. 
 They have lost their pride and are extremely humble. 
 
 On Friday, May 20, our first visit was to the Keneseth, the 
 part of the suburbs upon which houses for the poor have been built 
 by various bequests. We were shown two one-story stone houses 
 having one large room and a kitchen adjacent as those erected with 
 Grandfather's legacy. Tablets are placed in the rooms of each 
 house, stating the name and date of death of the donor. The fami-
 
 Oriental Trip. 179 
 
 lies seem very happy because of the privilege granted them. I have 
 copies of these tablets and also photographs of the homes. 
 
 We drove next to the base of the Mount of Olives, a most beautiful 
 mountain, separated from Jerusalem by the valley of Jehoshaphat. 
 A large part of the base of the mountain is the Jewish place of 
 burial. The graves are of very early date, and the place is still used 
 as a cemetery. We rode up on donkeys ; it was our first experience 
 on them. The ride was not difficult and the trip was very inter- 
 esting ; from the summit one obtains a very good view of the city of 
 Jerusalem. The Eussians have secured possession of the summit 
 and have built a church there. Next to it is a very high tower which 
 I ascended. There are many olive trees all the way up the moun- 
 tain and all along the route leading to it. 
 
 Damascus, June 4, 1898. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 I left off in my last letter with our return from the Mount of 
 Olives. From the summit of this mountain and especially from 
 the top of the tower (which is reached by over two hundred steps), 
 I had a very good view of Jerusalem and its surroundings. It is 
 an imposing scene. There the city stands on Moriah and Zion, 
 surrounded by its beautiful wall, encircled by beautiful valleys on 
 all sides. No other city makes such an impression upon one. All 
 nations turn to her as having an especial interest. What a history, 
 that of which she has been the inspiration and the witness ! How 
 much blood has been spilt in her defence, how many tears have 
 been shed and are now being shed at her ultimate humilia- 
 tion! . . . 
 
 On inquiry, I found that the large synagogues in Jerusalem are 
 not well attended on account of the many small synagogues and, 
 besides, because the services offer no especial attraction. There are 
 no good Chazzanim here. There is a small synagogue attached to
 
 180 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 the hotel, and I found this very convenient, inasmuch as the serv- 
 ices begin at 6.30 A. M. Mr. Kaminitz, the proprietor of the hotel, 
 read the prayers very acceptably. ... 
 
 There is one gentleman at the hotel whom I must not forget to 
 mention, a Mr. Dunn, an Englishman, and a fine man through and 
 through. He is a Christian, and is in the service of Mrs. Finn, an 
 Englishwoman, the widow of a former consul at Jerusalem, who 
 for fifty years has given a number of poor Jews employment by 
 the expenditure of a very large fortune. At one time she nearly 
 impoverished herself in this benevolent work. It has been alleged 
 that she is inspired by missionary purposes, but no one can state any- 
 thing definite as to that, and those connected with the work have 
 always denied this. . . . 
 
 In the afternoon I went, in company with Mr. Cohen, to hear a 
 Mr. Yellin deliver a lecture in Hebrew on Hebrew poetry. He had 
 a very large and very appreciative audience. Mr. Yellin is a Jeru- 
 salemite, who received all his education here, and is a great scholar 
 in Hebrew, Arabic, and other subjects, being so considered by Dr. 
 Schechter. He is one of the teachers in Mr. Cohen's school. 
 
 There are here quite a respectable number of intellectual Jews in 
 the modem sense of that term. The library is a fine building with 
 fourteen thousand volumes, and is much needed here. . . . 
 
 Sunday, May 22, . . . was the day assigned for Hebron. 
 We started early in the morning and reached this ancient city after 
 a very dusty ride of five hours. There were many . . . trees in 
 the country through which we passed and many vineyards, with the 
 largest bunches of grapes I have ever seen. The city is very old and 
 looks it. The streets are very narrow and these narrow streets lead 
 one into the other through what are called streets here, though they 
 are no more than three-foot alleys. Some of the streets are cov- 
 ered, with a small place left open here and there for illumination. 
 Here the shops are to be found; they are very small rooms, not
 
 Oriental Trip. 181 
 
 larger than six by eight feet in size ; . . . many are devoted to 
 trades, being the workshop and the salesroom at the same time. It 
 is a motley scene. . . . Through these small streets there is 
 a constant stream of pedestrians, donkeys, and camels, some heavily 
 laden, some free from burdens. It is rather curious how these 
 people here have utilized the . . . camel to carry loads from 
 place to place. No one would know how to go about it with us. 
 They can put almost as much, if not as much furniture on a camel's 
 back as we can put in an ordinary furniture wagon. You would 
 be astonished to see such an animal conveying a large number of 
 building-stones from place to place. They seem not to know the 
 need of wagons; and, indeed, some of the roads through which 
 these animals pass are impassable for wagons, and, as for the small 
 streets here and in Jerusalem, a wagon could not enter them. The 
 object for which Hebron is especially interesting to sight-seers is 
 the graves of the Patriarchs. They are contained in the mosque 
 which has been built over the site, but they are strictly guarded 
 from the approach of either Jew or Christian. There is a large 
 stone stair leading up to the mosque, but none but Mohammedans 
 are permitted to ascend higher than the seventh step. . . . 
 Here, in the side of the wall, is a square hole, about eight inches 
 square, through which ordinary mortals are permitted to look and 
 see nothing. On ascending an incline leading to another side of 
 the mosque one can look down and see separate structures which 
 are said to be the several burial places. They are small buildings 
 with domes. . . . 
 
 This is a place presenting the intensest forms of both intellectual 
 and material poverty. The offers of the Allmnce Israelite have been 
 persistently refused. The people here look upon all modern meth- 
 ods as dangerous innovations. The representative paid me a visit, 
 and I gave no advice, for I found that nothing is taken but cash. 
 Of course, I gave a donation. The Hospital, quite a good build-
 
 183 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 ing, already finished six years ago, stands empty. It is much needed 
 here, both for the people of the city and for the benefit of poor in- 
 valids who come here from Jerusalem and other places, for this is 
 considered a most salubrious climate. There is much diplomacy 
 in vogue here. You can get no definite information as to why the 
 hospital has not been opened. The Doctor intimates plainly that 
 there is something wrong, but, when he is asked about it, his tongue 
 and larynx seem suddenly to become paralyzed, and this is accom- 
 panied by a reflex, convulsive movement which draws both shoul- 
 ders up. When I found that they could not say why not, knowing 
 that money had been collected during these six years, I suggested 
 as an explanation that the money intended for the sick had been 
 appropriated by the well. They pretended to be greatly shocked, 
 but the recovery was too rapid for the shock to have been real. I 
 told them that, when I came back, I should have to say that the 
 hospital in Hebron for which agents have been collecting money is 
 a simple pretence. We were shown a place which, it is stated, is 
 the grave of the prophet Jonah. We could not stay long in Hebron, 
 . . . and, after seeing all that was of interest, we started to re- 
 turn to Jerusalem. 
 
 Among other things on the road, we were shown the Grotto of 
 Zechariah, to which the prophet is said often to have retired. When 
 he returned to the people, he preached his inspiring sermons. If 
 only some of the modern Eabbis would have such grottos to prepare 
 their sermons in, and would remain in them, if they did no better 
 than they generally do ! I would volunteer as one of the ravens to 
 bring them sustenance. 
 
 The next object of interest that we came up to was the pools of 
 Solomon, three in number. They are large, square reservoirs of 
 pure water. They formerly furnished a liberal water supply to 
 Jerusalem, carried through earthen pipes which are still to be seen. 
 In addition to these pipes there are the ruins of the ancient aqua-
 
 Oriental Trip. 183 
 
 duct. All this could be restored for a relatively small sum of money, 
 and yet Jerusalem is left suffering for water. . . . 
 
 Nearer to Jerusalem we came up to the tomb of Eachel. There 
 is an appropriate building erected over the grave, and it is one of 
 the few monuments in the possession of the Jews. We waited some 
 time for the shammash [beadle], and in the meantime I said 
 the Minchah [afternoon] prayer. . . . 
 
 We started out on the morning of May 23 to inspect the Alliance 
 schools. They are entirely satisfactory, both as to the buildings 
 occupied and as to the instruction given. Here again we notice 
 the influence of the bans. The Ashkenazim furnish but a very 
 meager contingent of scholars. We saw the male and female de- 
 partments. . . . There is quite a medley of nationalities in 
 these schools, Sephardim, a few Ashkenazim from Jerusalem, chil- 
 dren from various towns in Palestine, from Aleppo, from Persia, 
 from Bokhara, and a few Yemenites. In the girls' schools there 
 are quite a number of Ashkenazic scholars. The Jerusalem com- 
 munity makes no provision for the education of girls, evidently on 
 the ground that they need no education, and also because the influ- 
 ence of the modern methods of education would be less harmful to 
 the girls than to the boys. . . . 
 
 We next visited the MosJiab Zekenim, the " Old Men's Home." 
 There is no " Old Women's Home." ' There are plenty of old 
 women, nevertheless, but women seem not to have the same claim 
 upon either education or charity that men have. There are about 
 fifty inmates, all old men, who seem contented and pass away their 
 time bending over the Talmud and saying prayers. It is a good 
 institution, and needs and ought to receive adequate support. . . . 
 
 In the afternoon Mr. Cohen took me to see the Ghacham Baslii, 
 the Chief Eabbi, a most venerable man, very dignified in his bear- 
 ing; and at the same time kind and courteous. He had coffee served 
 
 ' At present there is an " Old Women's Home." 
 13
 
 184 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 by his liveried attendants. He asked me for nothing, and promised 
 to call upon me at the hotel. I stayed till it was announced that 
 it was time for Minchah, . . . and I accompanied the Rabbi 
 to the synagogue in his house. . . . 
 
 We next went to the quarries of Solomon, which are entered 
 through a comparatively small opening in the rock. On, on we 
 went, each holding a lighted candle, from chamber to chamber, 
 until we were tired out. One must be very careful not to lose his 
 way, and for this reason from time to time a candle is placed some- 
 where on the rock. ... From here the stone was procured 
 for building Solomon's Temple. 
 
 Returning from the quarries we went to Jeremiah's Grotto, which 
 is entered through an opening in the rock, nearly opposite to the 
 quarries. It is in the hands of the Moslems. It is quite a large 
 chamber which, at a push, in this climate, would provide a com- 
 fortable home for anybody. 
 
 Early in the morning of May 24, that is, at five o'clock, we were 
 off for Jericho, a five hours' drive. It was very hot when we got on 
 the road. We passed through a picturesque, though barren country, 
 with mountains all the way. We were accompanied by an armed 
 Bedouin on horseback, besides our guide. This is considered neces- 
 sary for safety here. We arrived at about eleven A. M. at the Jor- 
 dan Hotel in Jericho, . . . and had lunch served in the open 
 air, for it was intensely hot. After resting several hours, we drove 
 to the Dead Sea, a drive of about an hour and a half. It was hotter. 
 It was a grand scene, however, and we were not inclined to leave it 
 so soon. I took a bath in the sea. It was a curious sensation. I 
 could not sink deep enough to swim comfortably. The saltness is 
 so intense that my face smarted for a considerable time after I got 
 out. We returned to Jericho and put up for the night, but such a 
 night! It was too hot to cover up and there were mosquitoes by 
 the millions. The " hot time in old town " would give a man a 
 chill alongside of this experience. I bear the marks of the fight still.
 
 Oriental Trip. 185 
 
 We started for Jerusalem on Wednesday morning at five o'clock, 
 and reached Jerusalem safe, under the circumstances. On the way 
 to Jericho we were shown Elijah's Grotto, and also a number of 
 caves, now inhabited by a company of hermits who never leave their 
 haimts, but have their food brought to them. This is the land of 
 fanatics, and every religion furnishes its quota. They have a pe- 
 culiar way of measuring one's love for his religion, and that is by 
 the degree of hatred with which the respective individual hates 
 everybody who does not hate in partnership with him. 
 
 On Friday ... we went to the Tomb of David, which is 
 within the walls of the city, and in the hands of the Mohammedans. 
 The structure erected is quite appropriate. I saw an old lady recit- 
 ing a portion of the Psalms. What could be a more fitting tribute 
 to that great man! . . . 
 
 On Saturday . . . there came a party of Egyptian Sephar- 
 dim, who come every year, as we were told, to be " Oleh la-Eegel," 
 that is, to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, in imitation of the three 
 pilgrimages annually of olden times. By the by, this is a custom 
 which is largely followed by the colonists, and from all indications 
 it will . . . assume considerable proportions before many 
 years. These Egyptians, like ourselves, are embraced in the cate- 
 gory of Jews "" chuz la-arez," that is, those whose homes are outside 
 of the Holy Land. Therefore their service was that of the second 
 day of Yom-tob. They had their own Chazzan and their own 
 8efer Torah, which is incased in wood, and stands upright when it 
 is being read. 
 
 After service I took a long walk . . . and visited the homes 
 of a settlement of Yemenites in one part of the city. . . . 
 These poor people came from Yemen, or Teman, as it is also called, 
 t5 escape the terrible persecutions they were subjected to thirteen 
 years ago . . . They were not permitted to land at Jaffa.
 
 186 Aaeon Priedenwald, M. D. 
 
 They were sent from place to place, suffering from hunger, and, 
 what was worse, they had to meet the animosity of the Jerusalem- 
 ites, who used all their influence to keep them out of the Holy Land. 
 They finally reached Jerusalem, settled upon the vacant places, and 
 begged when they could not get any work. They are still very poor, 
 but they have houses to live in, and, as their mode of life is very 
 simple, they need very little, and perhaps get on better than other 
 poor people. Some have saved sufficient money out of their meager 
 earnings to buy homes for themselves. ... A very rich Yem- 
 enite who lives in Aden built them a building of great size, in 
 which a large number of families find shelter. Another group 
 gathered old boxes, tin, and other stuff and erected houses of a sort, 
 and when they have enough to eat they are very contented. They 
 have built up a kind of suburban city, and paved the streets them- 
 selves with cobblestones. They have no floors ; the bare earth serves 
 them very well. For five or six months in the year there is no rain 
 at all, and so they can manage. I saw their Sabbath dinner; it 
 was very meager indeed. But they are frugal, and their deeply re- 
 ligious nature makes them very grateful for what they have. They 
 are good workers ; there is no work too hard for them. I have seen 
 them at work cutting stones, carrying on their back heavy stones of 
 a weight that would make our hod-carriers at home stand aghast. 
 Some of them find employment in the colonies, and their work is 
 so satisfactory that there is some talk of establishing a new colony 
 for them. 
 
 What is especially of interest concerning them is that, although 
 separated as they have been for many centuries from the rest of the 
 Jewish people they have fully preserved their Jewish character 
 in every respect. They all speak Hebrew, have many Talmudic 
 scholars, and are extremely devout in their religious practices. I 
 saw one of their prayer-books, and it differs very little from our 
 own. They have the characteristic Jewish features; they are, how-
 
 Oriental Trip. 187 
 
 ever, somewhat dark. It is very peculiar and ethnologically of great 
 interest that they all wear " peoth " [ear-locks]. On Yom-toh they 
 had their entire head shaved, but the " peoth " were not touched. 
 The " peoth/' therefore, seem to be a very old institution, and they 
 are now by no means to be regarded as introduced by the Polish 
 Jews. 
 
 I visited a number of their houses. They have no furniture. 
 (They are not the only people in the East who have no needs of this 
 kind.) The floor gives them a resting place when they sit, and a 
 simple pallet a good bed at night. I found them engaged in teach- 
 ing Hebrew to a number of little children whose parents were Per- 
 sian Jews, of whom there are quite a number here. The teacher sat 
 upon the floor, and the little children sat on the floor likewise, in a 
 semicircle. Much more efiicient instruction was imparted here, I 
 feel sure, than in many places where things look much more suitable 
 for the purpose. In one house to which I went I found a very hand- 
 some man about sixty-five years of age who had just finished his 
 Sabbath dinner, which was contained in a single dish, from which 
 the whole family had partaken. He offered us some Kummel and 
 some watermelon seeds, which had been roasted and salted, after 
 the fashion prevailing among us in preparing almonds. This set- 
 tlement, from the way it was constructed, has been called the " Box 
 Colony." 
 
 I have had a number of delegations visiting me. Chief Eabbi 
 Salant, of the Ashkenazim, being a patient in the hospital, sent me 
 by two Shammashim, a few days ago, a large decanter of wine 
 and a very large cake, with his compliments, and later on he sent 
 his whole committee, of which his son is a member. His son looks 
 almost as old as he does. We had quite a talk about the ChaluTckdh, 
 in which they listened very respectfully to my suggestions. . . . 
 
 A large party from the hotel went to see a model of the Temple 
 made by one Dr. Schick. He came to Jerusalem many years ago 
 as a carpenter, developed into an architect of note, and finally wrote
 
 188 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 a book on the construction of the Temple, which won for him the 
 degree of Doctor from a German university. To do the work he 
 studied Hebrew, studied the Bible and Talmud carefully in associa- 
 tion with scholars, and finally constructed the model, which repre- 
 sents both the first and second Temples. It is certainly a master- 
 piece. He has also a model of the Tabernacle. Dr. Schick has re- 
 tired from active work, but his son-in-law thoroughly explained the 
 model to us. It certainly was a treat, and the model will always 
 remain vividly in my memory. 
 
 Beyeout, June 9, 1898. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . I left off in my last letter with bidding adieu to Jeru- 
 salem. I felt as if I had parted with a dear old friend whom I 
 should never see again. There are so many memories clustering 
 about her walls, there are so many conditions in the present 
 that call for the deepest study, and which one who knows 
 them would like to watch the development of from time to 
 time. There is a certain new life which has awakened in the 
 old city. The colonies , . . have already had an influence on 
 thought and conditions, and the aspiration has awakened, at least 
 among the younger generation, to enter practical life. 
 
 We left Jerusalem at about eight o'clock A. M. for Jaffa. . . . 
 There was quite a gathering at the depot to see us off. Ephraim 
 Cohen, Mr. Yellin, L. Griinhut and his daughters, and the two 
 Bergmans, with their four " peoth" were all there. We met a Mr. 
 Varon, an official at Eishon le-Zion, who is an intense Zionist, and 
 with whom I talked about the colonies, of the struggles through 
 which they had gone, of what had been learned in regard to the cul- 
 tivation of the land, and other . . . things, so that the journey 
 was not a monotonous one. ... I find that my impressions 
 about the Herzl movement have been correct. . . . The colo-
 
 Oriental Trip. 189 
 
 nists, and all those outside of them here who wish for their pros- 
 perity, see no good in Herzlism. In the first place, they look upon 
 it as a great parade without any practical results. Moreover, since 
 the Herzl demonstration the Turkish government has redoubled 
 its vigilance, and it is now impossible for a Eussian Jew to enter 
 Palestine. It is regarded as an idle dream to build up a Jewish 
 state in the artificial manner which Herzlism has proposed in its 
 program. What people here want, and hope to see in time, perhaps 
 a very long time, is the development of a large Jewish community 
 right here, of natural growth. No state could successfully be built 
 up with a large number of Jews coming together helter-skelter. 
 Moses' experience with his people in the wilderness is fraught with 
 great practical suggestions for the future of the Jews in Palestine. 
 The only thing that is really good about Herzl's Zionism is that 
 it has brought him and others like him back to the fold, and has 
 given a decided setback to those who were fond of dreaming of as- 
 similation. . . . 
 
 The Arabs are good workmen. They shape stone into all forms, 
 polish marble, and lay stone floors very beautifully. There is much 
 use made here in the East of a very smooth red tile to lay floors 
 with. It is very cool and clean, and looks well. The Arabs all 
 make good servants, and they do all the work about the house. One 
 never sees female servants in the hotels. The Arabs are a hard set to 
 deal with, and one never deals with them without feeling that one 
 has been cheated. They quarrel with each other all the time, or do 
 something that has that appearance. On riding up the Mount of 
 Olives our donkeys were in charge of two little boys, not over eight 
 or nine years of age. . . . They cried out something which 
 they often repeated, and, on inquiry as to what it meant, I was told 
 that the boys were cursing the father of the donkeys, and learned 
 that it was a common habit among the Arabs, when one was dis- 
 pleased with man or beast, to curse his father. . . .
 
 190 Aaeon Friedenwald, M. D, 
 
 Constantinople, June 16, 1898. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . I heard a few dogs bark this morning, and wonder what 
 has been up. All those we saw, on passing through the streets, 
 were asleep. I have heard on board the ship that these dogs have 
 their special districts which they jealously guard. Our very com- 
 municative German chambermaid confirms this statement. When- 
 ever an indiscreet one oversteps his boundary, he will be met by an 
 army of observation, which will be strong enough to enforce the 
 boundary laws of dogdom. A still more curious principle which 
 the canines of Constantinople enforce is that when a stranger, that 
 is, a dog from some other city, is brought to the city, he is accorded 
 the freedom of the town, and no other dog would be mean enough 
 to be guilty of a breach of courtesy towards him. The dog here be- 
 longs to the district in which he is born, and in the Moslem portion 
 of the city they are kindly cared for. Every dog has his day, it is 
 said. The dog in Egypt has had his. There are no dogs in Cairo 
 now, although formerly the race held as proud a position there as it 
 can now justly boast of here. But the English Lion came, and 
 wherever the English Lion wags his tail, the tail of the dog approxi- 
 mates humbly to other parts of his body, which betokens neither 
 courage nor hopefulness. The dog of Contantinople has his day 
 still, and he is to be envied for his evident consciousness of security 
 from all harm. . . . 
 
 Our guide was promptly on hand at eight A. M. to-day, and 
 we started on round and alighted at the Museum. The sarcophagi 
 
 . . . are a most interesting collection, and some present a 
 coloring that is unique. . . . One formed the last resting place 
 of one Abnit, King of Babylon thirteen centuries B. C, and is re- 
 markable, clearly exhibiting Egyptian art. The inscription furn- 
 ishes the explanation for this. The King states that he bought this 
 sarcophagus, conjures all to leave him at rest, and gives the sol-
 
 Oriental Trip. 191 
 
 emn assurance that there are no jewels within. He apparently told 
 the truth, for no jewels were found when the sarcophagus was 
 opened. Time makes a great deal of difference as to many things. 
 What is here termed archaeology, when consummated somewhat 
 earlier is termed grave robbery. Another very fine sarcophagus is 
 that of Elene (Helenaj), the mother of Constantine. It is a master- 
 piece of art, representing the lady in eighteen different attitudes, 
 each symbolizing a different emotion. . . . 
 
 After leaving the Museum we were guided to the Mosque of St. 
 Sophia, one of the greatest church edifices and one of the greatest 
 trophies that the Turks have to show for the wars with the Chris- 
 tians. It is a most remarkable building, and makes an impression 
 quite different from that produced by the Gothic churches on the 
 continent of Europe. The latter have something somber about 
 them, while the former makes a cheerful impression immediately as 
 one enters. It is an immense building, and gives the most flattering 
 testimony to the skill of the ancient architect. I shall not begin to 
 describe this wonderful mosque, but will only say that a glimpse 
 of it alone would be sufficient to attract one to Constantinople, We 
 heard the same chants which sounded so pleasantly in my ears in 
 the Mosque of Mohammed Ali in Cairo, and convinced me that some 
 of the melodies of the Mohammedans and of the Jews have a com- 
 mon origin. ... 
 
 Friday, June 18th, was a great day. It is always a great day in 
 Constantinople, not because it is the Moslem Sabbath, but because 
 it is the occasion of the Sultan's going to his mosque, which is at- 
 tended by very imposing military ceremonies. We had to go to the 
 American Legation, where we procured a letter granting us the 
 privilege of entering a part of the Palace from which we could ob- 
 serve the whole show. We came in time and had a good seat before 
 an advantageously placed window. Soon after we arrived, about 
 eleven o'clock, the military came marching from all directions. The
 
 193 Aakon Feiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 bands of music followed one another in quick succession, and things 
 looked very lively on the Palace grounds. . . . Finally the 
 time for the passing of the Sultan came. Everything subsided into 
 perfect stillness. Then there followed a procession of the digni- 
 taries ; this embraced some of the most venerable looking men I ever 
 beheld. Everything was quiet. Then came carriage after carriage 
 bearing the female members of His Majesty's household. The cur- 
 tains shielded the occupants from the public gaze. Finally the Sul- 
 tan's carriage came. He was attended by a single adjutant. He 
 is rather a fine-looking man, but looks dejected and careworn. As 
 the carriage approached the mosque, the priest on the minaret per- 
 formed his part. He had a fine voice and he lent additional in- 
 terest to the occasion. The carriages bearing the twenty-three wives 
 stopped short of the mosque. The horses were detached, and the 
 ladies remained in the carriages. After the Sultan entered, there 
 was some fine singing to be heard in the interior of the mosque. 
 The ceremony in the mosque lasted about three-quarters of an hour. 
 There was a general marching off of the military, during which the 
 Sultan returned to the Palace, driving the horses himself. It was a 
 magnificent affair. While we were looking at the various parades, 
 coffee was served, and was very agreeable to us. . . . 
 
 Constantinople has preserved so many of its old buildings that 
 it presents a more ancient appearance than any other city we have 
 seen, with the exception of Hebron. . . . We passed through 
 the Jewish quarter, then through the Turkish quarter, and finally 
 through the Greek quarter. I could not distinguish the Jew from 
 the Turk. ... 
 
 Constantinople, June 21, 1898. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . It is now 11.30 A. M., and we are to be called for by 
 Cook and Sons for embarkation in the Austrian Lloyd that is to
 
 Oriental Trip. 193 
 
 carry us to Athens, and so I have a little time left to continue my 
 story about our Constantinople experience. We had been so busy, 
 and really worked so hard that rdcy [the Sabbath] with its rest- 
 fulness was welcomed with special delight. I went to a Sephardic 
 ScJml in the evening and in the morning and, as usual, was called 
 up, and had the honor of opening the Aron ha-Kodesh. This honor 
 is extended in a peculiar way, which I noticed also in Naples. . . . 
 First I had to draw the curtain, then I unlocked the door, and then 
 withdrew a second curtain ; in closing the same order was followed, 
 and finally I had to bring the key to the Gahhai, the chief official. 
 The services were very decorous, but the Chazzan was not much. 
 I have not heard a good Chazzan since I left home. . . . 
 
 One immediately recognizes a Turkish house here. The windows 
 are latticed so that no one can see what is inside. The Turks ap- 
 parently get along well with their many wives. The Jews and 
 Turks get along very well with each other. The Turk, on the other 
 hand, has no friendship for the Christian. The Turk is always pre- 
 pared to protect the Jew against the Christian, and the Christian 
 who injures a Jew has to answer strictly for it. . . . The Turk 
 seems to be a good-natured creature, and, we are told, gives no 
 offense unless provoked; every one here says that the Armenian 
 massacre was brought on by the Armenians themselves. A stranger, 
 however, cannot judge in these matters. . . . 
 
 Athens, June 23, 1898. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . We received the mail sent us from Jerusalem. . . . 
 We were delighted with the letters, having heard nothing from 
 home for such a long time The description of the march of the 
 Massachusetts Sixth was truly touching. Mamma read it to me 
 and had to stop. I took up the letter, but it was too much for me
 
 194 Aaron Priedenwald, M. D. 
 
 also. Thank God that Baltimore has been given the opportunity to 
 show that she recognizes her shame, in regard to the outrage perpe- 
 trated upon the poor fellows of that regiment in 1861 ! 
 
 EOME, June 28, 1898. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . Athens has a very modern appearance, and no one, 
 looking at the fine, broad streets and cheerful houses would infer 
 that it was an old city. What there is of Athens ... is a 
 new city. The old city has disappeared, and the ancient monuments 
 and ruins are the only witnesses of the existence of the Athens of 
 history. . . . 
 
 EoME, July 1, 1898. 
 
 My dear LITTLE JULIA, 
 
 Here we are in Rome, a great city very far off. There are many 
 things to be seen here, and there are many stories told us of things 
 that have happened here many hundreds and even thousands of 
 years ago. We are kept busy seeing these things and hearing these 
 stories from morning till night, but not so busy as not to remember 
 that your [fifth] birthday is approaching. I send you my heartfelt 
 coujgratulations across the big ocean. ... I hope that you will 
 grow up to be a fine woman, whom everybody will love as I love you 
 now. . . . God bless you. 
 
 Your Grandfather. 
 
 Florence, July 4, 1898. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . We are just now awaiting a report of the engagement at 
 Santiago. The papers report that the Americans have suffered 
 great losses. I hope that we shall soon hear that Santiago has been 
 taken. I met a gentleman from Philadelphia at the hotel who
 
 Oriental Trip. 195 
 
 looked very gloomy, but I feel very hopeful. There is no sympathy 
 for us on this side of the Atlantic except in England. We talk to 
 none but Englishmen and Americans about the war. . . . 
 
 Florence, July 5, 1898. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . I do not know how to begin my story about Home. It is 
 a great city because it was such a great city, and because it has pre- 
 served so many monuments which brin^g us face to face with the 
 past. It is only in studying what the past really was that we can be- 
 come reconciled with the shortcomings of the present. The motives 
 that govern men may not be better now than they were in the past, 
 when men delighted in the practice of what can only be termed bar- 
 barism, but things have been so shaped in our civilization that the 
 power of a single person or the power in the hands of a few cannot 
 be so strong as to commit such wrongs and avoid responsibility. In 
 other words, the world at large is not so defenceless as it was, and 
 the progress of civilization seems to mean the development of 
 methods and means by which every individual shall know what jus- 
 tice is and how he can best secure and maintain his rights. . . . 
 Progress seems slow, when we contemplate individual evils of to- 
 day, yet when we look at the monuments of the past and listen to 
 their testimony, we have every reason to be hopeful for the fu- 
 ture. . . . 
 
 What a monument is the Sistine Chapel to the genius of Mi- 
 chelangelo ! Such frescoes ! ! I enjoyed very much the scene in 
 which he consigned to Inferno a cardinal who was objectionable to 
 him, with his own picture, now indistinct, grinning at him. It is 
 said that the Cardinal found things too hot for him, and appealed 
 to the Pope to have the fresco altered ; the Pope replied, " If Mi- 
 chelangelo has put you in Purgatory, I would cheerfully release 
 you; but, as you are in Hell, non possumus!"
 
 196 Aaeon Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 From here we wended our way to the Vatican, and brought up in 
 the rooms containing Eaphael's great paintings. What a pity that 
 his genius does not live now in some one who could exercise his 
 skill on subjects that would be more suitable! One is dosed ad 
 nauseam with the many holy pictures one has to look at here. Of 
 course, it is well enough to say that these are great works of art, 
 and one need only look at them in that light. Yes, they are great 
 works of art, and they have been held up so long before the eyes of 
 the flock that their effect has been incomparably greater than that of 
 the staves which Jacob shaped and placed in the troughs. These 
 pictures have had a more powerful influence in molding the beliefs 
 of men than creeds and sermons and absolutions and what not. I 
 am persuaded that their total destruction would be a blessing. I 
 should not object to having them buried for a few centuries, and 
 then discovered and exhibited as a relic of the art of the past, simi- 
 larly to the artistic creations of the ancient Greeks. The evil, how- 
 ever, will in all probability have to disappear in a slower way, and 
 the world will have to wait. It is well for all the world to have pa- 
 tience until the good time shall come when the truth will prevail, 
 and this refined idolatry will have ceased, and religion will profess 
 less and do more for the good of man. But for us, who have waited 
 so long, to whom progress seems so terribly slow, whose expectations 
 have been disappointed so often by misleading signs, for whom the 
 greatest century in the world's history is to have so humiliating an 
 ending, wird die Saclie doch ein hischen langweilig. But a better 
 day will come. It is certain to come. When, the Lord knows. . . . 
 
 Venice, July 8, 1898. 
 Dear Julia, 
 
 . . . This is a great city built on the sea. The streets are 
 mostly paved with water and when you want to take a long walk 
 you must go in a boat. There are some little streets on land and 
 many pretty old buildings. Your Grandfather.
 
 Okiental Trip. 197 
 
 Cadenabbia, Lake Como, July 13, 1898. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . We also went to the great cemetery [in Milan], which 
 is very fine, abounding in works of art, and possessing a crematory, 
 which was explained to us in detail. It is made use of considerably, 
 which means a good deal when we know that Italy is a Catholic 
 country and that cremation is interdicted by the church. A curious 
 fashion prevailing here is the placing of a photograph in porcelain 
 of the deceased on most of the tombstones. . . . 
 
 In Eome we also visited the Jewish catacombs. They are very 
 interesting, although they have been but partially explored. It is 
 remarkable that they bear either Greek or Latin inscriptions. A 
 few Hebrew inscriptions have been found, but they have been re- 
 moved to some museum. I think that the probable explanation is 
 that they had forgotten their language, as has been the case in a 
 number of persecutions, and also [that] a condition of too great 
 liberty led to religious indifference, a condition which unfortunately 
 prevails to an alarming extent in Italy to-day. . . . 
 
 In the afternoon we " did " the Coliseum and the Forum. It 
 was a great sight. It was no ordinary impression that we received 
 in standing amid the scenes of such great historical events. The 
 scene is overwhelming in its effect. How much history does it not 
 remind us of ! Volumes have been written about it, volumes will 
 continue to be written about it, and to the end of time the newest 
 things, the newest thoughts will in some manner be brought into 
 relation with the things and thoughts and life which have made 
 these relics famous. . . . 
 
 We next saw the Temple of Minerva, an ancient establishment 
 where idolatry was carried on on a grand scale; it has been con- 
 verted into the present St. Laurence's, where idolatry is carried on 
 on a very great scale also. More frescoes, more Madonnas, more 
 monuments to the dead. . . .
 
 198 Aaeon Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 Stkesa, Lake Maggiore, July 14, 1898. 
 . . . Among all the artists [whose works we saw in Eome] 
 Michelangelo, in my opinion, stands preeminent, and I cannot ex- 
 press myself better as to the impression his works made upon me 
 than by repeating what I said after seeing his many masterpieces 
 and his portrait, painted by one of his greatest pupils : " He looks 
 as if he had made himself." . . . 
 
 Lucerne, July 18, 1898. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . We have seen Thorwaldsen's lion again, and sat before 
 it a good long time, and it appears the greater, the longer one looks 
 at it. . . . Yesterday we took the trip to the Pilatus Kulm 
 and looked down upon the great mountains and the lake below. 
 We saw the most various and beautiful wild flowers, the stately 
 pines and cedars all the way up, and from the summit we had a 
 grand view of the Alps, their peaks and crags and chasms and 
 smiling valleys. . . . The mountains show their snow-caps 
 proudly, as if saying, " We all belong to one great family." . . . 
 
 When I saw the young folks with their alpenstocks yodeling as 
 they ascended this great mountain afoot, I thought of the time 
 that my feet tripped up joyfully in the same way, and I felt grate- 
 ful for what I enjoyed thirty-seven years ago, and I feel equally 
 grateful that we can enjoy together what a bounteous nature has 
 so lavishly provided. I feel thankful for the vigor of my youth 
 which I so love to remember, and for our advancing years, which 
 others may notice, but which we feel so little. 
 
 It is remarkable how unfriendly all Europe, with the exception 
 of England, is to America. It is amusing to hear that it is not 
 right for any government to interfere in the internal affairs of any 
 other country. I asked one gentleman what he had to say about 
 the powers sending their navies to Crete, not so very long ago.
 
 Oriental Trip. 199 
 
 " That was an international question," he replied. I wanted to 
 know why we could not do a little of the international business 
 ourselves. ... 
 
 Baden-Baden, July 28, 1898. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 Baden-Baden seems to have been chosen by nature as its holiday 
 place. Such grand forests ! Such lovely mountains and hills and 
 charming valleys, and smiling cottages and palatial villas. The 
 Gardener has chosen to place his chef d'ceuvre here. Wherever one 
 goes one hears the sweet music of some rushing brook, and wher- 
 ever one stops there is a friendly inn to bid him welcome. 
 
 . . . Our people have two congregations here, the one recog- 
 nized by the government, which is reformed, and the Eeligions- 
 gesellschaft, which is orthodox. . . . There is a good deal of 
 bad feeling existing between the members of the two organizations. 
 One would suppose, with the common hatred which assails them 
 from without, that they would have learned by this time to become 
 more peaceable among themselves. The opinion which I formed 
 when I was in Germany last, that on the whole, bad as things are 
 with us, they are immeasurably better than they are in Germany, 
 has been strengthened. There are a few very stanch Jews in most 
 places; the majority, however, are indifferent, and in great part 
 anxious to divest themselves of anything that would make them 
 known as Jews. Conversions to Christianity and intermarriages 
 have largely increased. Anti-Semitism is much complained of. 
 The German Jews have a bad time of it. When they live quietly 
 they are accused of grasping all they can and keeping it ; and, when 
 they " put on style " and spend their money freely, they are pointed 
 out as the parasites who have appropriated the wealth of the coun- 
 try: Will this ever get better, or is the German heart incapable of 
 that elevation which will approve of fair play for all men ? There 
 14
 
 300 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 is not much generosity among the Germans, anyway. They don't 
 like it a bit that America has succeeded so well in its war against 
 Spain. They complain that America had no right to interfere in 
 the internal affairs of a neighboring country, and that America is 
 rich enough and large enough and ought to be satisfied. I told 
 some of them that we did not propose to learn how to be satisfied 
 from Germany. . . . 
 
 Cologne, August 2, 1898. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . The news of Bismarck's death was announced [last Sun- 
 day]. . . . He was not a friend of our people; the Anti-Semi- 
 tism which has disgraced Germany these many years was conjured 
 up by him; and therefore there will be no mourning in Israel for 
 him. From the standpoint of a German ... he was certainly 
 a great man. But there is a great difference in great men. What 
 a contrast between him and Gladstone ! The one wanted to attain 
 a great object, and it mattered little as to the choice of means to 
 reach it; the other never disobeyed the dictates of his conscience in 
 the work he did. . . . 
 
 S. S. Chevalier, August 16, 1898. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . The journey took us over a beautiful part of Scotland, 
 richly cultivated, and showing the golden color of the ripened wheat- 
 fields to greater advantage than I had ever seen it. The very dark 
 green fields which surrounded them formed frames that added much 
 to the beautiful picture. . . . There are parts which are quite 
 ruggedly picturesque, where the farmer does not ply his trade and 
 the heather imparts a soft reddish purple to the landscape. We 
 traveled with a very nice, plain Scotch lady, who was very patriotic 
 and pointed out the interesting points on the way and became quite 
 enthusiastic in her descriptions. . . .
 
 Oriental Trip. 201 
 
 London, August 25, 1898. 
 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . On Monday we . . . rode through hitherto unex- 
 plored regions [of London] on top of omnibuses. One can hardly 
 tire of this in this great and highly interesting city. The city is 
 much changed and the improvements are marvelous. The new 
 streets that have been opened and the many fine buildings that have 
 been erected upon them have been done altogether under the direc- 
 tion of the County Council. The individual has had to yield to the 
 corporation, and the result has been advantageous. It looks a little 
 strange to us Americans that men cannot build as they please and 
 that individual liberty has had to yield somewhat to the general 
 will in the construction of buildings. I find that it is just as neces- 
 sary that the individual should be directed by some general authority 
 in the construction of buildings as by the general law. When every 
 man can have his own way, the individual becomes prominent to 
 the disadvantage of the general public, and just such results ap- 
 pear as are so painfully illustrated by the Stafford Hotel [in Balti- 
 more] defacing a whole neighborhood and injuring the value of 
 neighboring property. Here all the new streets show the effect of 
 some general design ; our streets, especially in business districts, dis- 
 play the ill effect of unrestricted competition in building. . . . 
 
 This morning, ... at the invitation of Dayyan Spiers, I 
 [went] to the Beth-Din. The Beth-Din convenes every Monday 
 and Thursday morning at eleven o'clock to settle difficulties between 
 Jews who are willing to submit their disputes to the adjudication 
 of the Jewish Law. I stayed from eleven to half-past twelve o'clock, 
 and was extremely interested. The parties recognize the decisions 
 as just and they have their differences settled promptly and without 
 cost. ... I have a note of the cases which were brought up, 
 and may refer to them when I come back. , . . The Shochetim 
 [slaughterers] are also to some extent under the control of the Beth-
 
 202 Aaron Feiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 Din. One candidate presented his knife, which was found to be in 
 good condition. He was asked to step out and the Dayyan took out 
 his penknife and made a small nick, which the candidate promptly 
 found when it was returned [to him] ....
 
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 DR. AND MRS. AARON FRIEDENWALD 
 1899
 
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 CHAPTEE X. 
 
 Letters (1899-1901). 
 
 In the spring of 1899, while in Germany, I received a number 
 of letters, from which the following passages have been taken: 
 
 Baltimore, May 4, 1899. 
 
 Dear Harry, 
 
 ... I forgot to mention that, at the first evening meeting of 
 the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty at McCoy Hall, President 
 Gilman introduced me to Dr. George Adam Smith, who lectured a 
 few years ago on the " Psalms " at the Hopkins, and who is the 
 author of the "Historical Geography of Palestine." He talked 
 with me about my trip. I sent him the Exponent with my lecture 
 on the colonies, and he wrote me a letter saying how much it inter- 
 ested him, which I prize very highly. . . . 
 
 Baltimore, May 11, 1899. 
 
 Dear Harry, 
 
 . . Last night mamma and I went to Ford's to see a play 
 produced by a German company from New York. The piece, a 
 drama, called " Das Erie/' was fine, and the acting superb. It was 
 acting so close to nature that one felt that he was witnessing an 
 actual event. There was only a very small Publicum present. The 
 German influence has decidedly diminished in Baltimore during the 
 last thirty years. There are very few left of those who were in the 
 prime of life twenty or thirty years ago ; those who were younger 
 have become thoroughly Americanized, and . . . very few have 
 immigrated since. . . .
 
 204 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 Baltimore, May 31, 1899. 
 Dear Harry, 
 
 The world is advancing. Bobenhausen, I learn from your letter, 
 much to my surprise, is on the line of the railroad. And you have 
 been in Altenbuseck ! I remember my grateful feelings towards my 
 father, when I visited the old home in 1860, for not letting me be 
 born and brought up as one of its citizens. . . . 
 
 In July and August, 1900, my parents made a trip through the 
 Western part of the United States. The following extracts are taken 
 from letters written by my father while on this journey. 
 
 Denver, July 13, 1900. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 Anybody who does not think this is a big country had better 
 measure it. There is no wonder . . . that some men are anx- 
 ious to become . . . President of so great a country, but some 
 go about it in a very foolish way We brought enough dust with us 
 from Chicago to be molded into a country almost as big as some 
 which have a standing army. Beyond Chicago the country is flat, 
 but neither stale nor unprofitable. We learned some things about 
 the hardships undergone by the early settlers which are quite inter- 
 esting. It seems to me that, besides other things, McKinley votes 
 are growing out here. Ifs a big subject, and I have but little 
 paper. ... 
 
 Pike's Peak, July 17, 1900. 
 Here we are at the summit of Pike's Peak. We could not resist 
 the temptation. Except for being a little light-headed, we are well 
 and enjoy this grand prospect. Such scenes as we have passed are 
 indescribable. " Lord, how manifold are thy works ! In wisdom 
 hast thou made them all." We thank Him for permitting us to be- 
 hold this great sight.
 
 Letters (1899-1901). 205 
 
 Colorado Springs, July 17, 1900. 
 Deae Children, 
 
 ... We arrived at Colorado Springs at 11.55 this morning. 
 The man who was to take us and our baggage to the hotel, learning 
 that we wanted to take the train for Pike's Peak at 1.30 P. M., 
 proposed to take us to Manitou and through the Garden of the 
 Gods and leave us at the station in time for Pike's Peak. We 
 let him . . . send our baggage to the hotel and jumped into 
 his carriage, and off we were. Such a drive ! It was magnificent. 
 The town of Manitou is a garden spot, the houses apparently 
 hanging on the side of the mountains and receiving the full benefit 
 of the mountain streams in a beautiful water course that rushes 
 over many rocks and sings a continuous sweet song. But . . . 
 the Garden of the Gods! What a grand surprise! No plants 
 that wither, no flowers that fade, no trees that are uprooted by the 
 storms, as many of the latter as we have seen hereabouts, but a 
 grand park of stone, planted, as it were, to commemorate the 
 glory of its great Artificer ! Here you see what at a little distance 
 looks like a Gothic cathedral, statues of all sorts of beings, here a 
 porcupine, there an ant-eater, further on many, many mushrooms 
 that do not grow in a night and wither in a day, and, to vary the 
 picture, many vases with . . . flowers and shrubbery of stone 
 overhanging their sides. Not even the great gate at the entrance 
 has been forgotten. No such scene, probably, is to be found any- 
 where else in the world. . . . 
 
 We got to the station in time for the Pike's Peak train, and up 
 and up we went. And what a panorama passed before us on our 
 journey! Such rocks, with such forms! . . . Masonry that is 
 sublime and gigantic, and next to which the grand buildings of our 
 great cities are but pygmies ! Towers, citadels, fortresses, palaces, 
 all greeted us in turn as up we went, and such beautiful wild-flowers 
 and so many waterfalls and streams that bounded from rock to
 
 206 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 rock, made up of many uniting and then parting again and slipping 
 away in all directions between the rocks, apparently lost to each 
 other, and again leaping over each other, like one grand game of 
 hide and seek ! And then the beautiful pines that grew luxuriantly 
 under the protection of the mountain slopes ! . . . Where this 
 shelter was wanting, those that were stripped of foliage and limbs, 
 and only showed short remains of what had been prolific boughs, 
 looking like the great spinal column of some . . . huge being, 
 with the remnant of its ribs ! And, as we neared the summit more 
 and more, we had below us all the other mountains, . . . bow- 
 ing in submission . . . to the highest of all. We spent forty- 
 five minutes on the summit, where the government has its signal 
 station. Well, I suppose you think we were very light-headed to 
 undertake such a venture. We felt a little light-headed when we 
 were up there. Everybody has a little of this sensation. It has a 
 very peculiar, stuffy effect upon the hearing, . . . but we were 
 all right as soon as the train began its descent. . . . 
 
 Salt Lake City, July 27, 1900. 
 Dear Harry, 
 
 Here we are in the " New Zion," with Tabernacle and Temple, the 
 Dead Sea not far off, and prophets too. I shall have much to write 
 later on. . . . 
 
 Grayling Inn, 
 South Fork of Madison Eiver, Mont. 
 
 July 25, 1900. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . I must say a word about Salt Lake City. It is a reve- 
 lation. On approaching the Mormon settlement we had an illustra- 
 tion of what was called a wilderness before they came. They have 
 accomplished wonders. Through thrift and especially through a
 
 Letters (1899-1901). 207 
 
 wise system of irrigation they have established forests of poplars 
 and other trees and made a most charming place of it. Salt Lake 
 City is really beautiful, and the great Temple, Tabernacle, Assem- 
 bly Hall, and Tithing Court gives it a characteristic interest. The 
 streets are all one hundred and fifty feet wide, and trees are every- 
 where, shading the sidewalks. There are many things to be said 
 about Salt Lake City and the Mormons; I shall only say this: in 
 talking with a number of influential Gentiles I find that it is the 
 general opinion of that class that the development of the state and 
 of the city would have been much greater had the Mormons never 
 settled there. The management of the city has for a number of years 
 been under the control of the Gentiles, and much of its recent pro- 
 gress is attributed thereto. The Mormons are not progressive. The 
 Gentiles have been attracted by the mining interests, which are very 
 great, and if the Mormons had not been here there would have been 
 a still greater settlement. It is a remarkable coincidence that both 
 in South Africa and in Utah it was the discovery of the mines that 
 brought to these countries the people who stayed the hands of those 
 who wanted to make a country for themselves, no matter how much 
 it would stand in the way of progress. . . . 
 
 Yellowstone National Park, July 36, 1900. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 It is now 7.30 P. M.; we have finished our supper, and I have 
 been sitting a little while before the big fire in the lobby of the hotel. 
 When I looked into the fire, I thought of Ik Marvel's " Reveries of 
 a Bachelor," and all sorts of fancies rose before me. I forgot the 
 dust and the stinging of the sun in the afternoon, but I could still 
 hear the gurgling of the hundred cooking-pots below ground; the 
 beautiful, dazzling colors of the pools are still delighting my eyes, 
 and I see the steam rising here and there in tall columns as a sign 
 of what is going on below, and then the eruptions of the geysers dis-
 
 208 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 tract my attention from all other things, and I realize that we are 
 where nature is exhibiting her greatest wonders. How can I give 
 an account of all this? 
 
 This morning, at about 8.30 o'clock, we started for the Midway 
 and the Upper Basin. What we had hitherto seen was in the Lower 
 Basin. The weather was fine and cool, ... a good rain set- 
 tled the road for us, and we cheerfully began our ride. In the Mid- 
 way there are a number of geysers which become active at irregular 
 intervals; and, although we saw none in eruption here, we had a 
 good opportunity to inspect the formation that characterized them. 
 The pools, the " Emerald," " Prismatic," and " Turquoise," are 
 such gems that the jeweler is put to shame. Here he could get in- 
 spiration for colors and forms, but he could never reproduce them. 
 Such spectra, rich and sparkling, can certainly be seen nowhere else. 
 The " Emerald " Pool, for instance, has a central pool on the sur- 
 face of which all colors are seen, green in the center, surrounded 
 by a band of yellow, trimmed with a broad border of Pompeian red 
 with an edging of delicate grayish-white. The " Prismatic " pool 
 has the most dazzling spectra; the water is clear and one sees deep 
 into the cauldron, and from the sides of the walls beautiful colors 
 are reflected. From all the pools there run in all directions little 
 streams that have a bed of red always trimmed with a lighter, 
 fringe-like border. But here I shall stop trying to do what cannot 
 be done, . . . 
 
 There are two sorts of geysers ; those that rise from the center of 
 a pool and throw up hot water in great bulk but to no great height, 
 and those that issue through a peculiar formation which does not 
 allow such broad columns of fluid to escape, but the . . . jet 
 is very high, rising from one hundred and fifty to two hundred feet. 
 One of these, the " Bee-hive," is situated on an eminence, a white, 
 hard, marble-like mass, on which there is something very much like 
 a bee-hive. In this there is a smooth, cylindrical opening. We saw
 
 Letters (1899-1901). 209 
 
 a number of these of various forms, and then reached a lunching 
 station of rather rustic, but very attractive character. We had some 
 time before lunch and we strolled over to " Old Faithful," a geyser 
 which has an eruption regularly about every hour. During the time 
 we spent in coming and going we saw three eruptions. It was a 
 grand spectacle. Hundreds of kodaks are turned on it every day. 
 There are many pictures to be purchased, but the kodakist wants 
 to take his own, and always hopes to have a better one than anybody 
 else. We saw a number of other eruptions. I have read many elabo- 
 rate descriptions of all these scenes, but they all fall so much short 
 of the truth that I hesitate to give my own impression. Certain it 
 is that this trip has been a wonderful experience, and enjoyment is 
 not the word that can express what we have felt. One day . . . 
 in the park is far more than an equivalent for the great journey, its 
 hardship, and the pecuniary outlay. Here nature seems to revel in 
 one great kaleidoscope. . . . 
 
 Yellov^stone National Paek, July 28, 1900. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 Here we are at ... at Yellowstone Lake, having arrived at 
 6.15 P. M. yesterday. . . . We moved about very little, for at 
 an altitude of over seven thousand feet very few can undertake 
 physical exercise without its causing shortness of breath. . . . 
 What a wonderful place this park is ! It is a great cabinet in which 
 nature exhibits her most precious gems : mountains and rivers ; lakes 
 and gusliing streams; geysers showing the remarkable formations 
 through which they pour out columns of boiling water; . . . 
 the basins with their openings, from which issue significant sub- 
 terranean murmurs; endless forests, with their ancient trees reach- 
 ing straight up one hundred, one hundred and fifty, and even two 
 hundred feet; pools with grotesque shapes and glittering, . . . 
 ever-changing colors which make one fancy that all the rainbows
 
 210 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 of past times have been dissolved in them; little rivulets that have 
 painted the tracts over which they course in effects that would serve 
 as fine models for wall decorations ; and such flowers, such beautiful 
 wild-flowers in profusion, in the shade, in the brightest sunlight, in 
 the woods, fringing the roads and streams, here, there, and every- 
 where ! . . . 
 
 Yesterday morning ... we passed through part of the Up- 
 per Basin, . . . and " Old Faithful " gave us one of its most 
 beautiful performances. It had been perfectly at rest before we 
 
 arrived, but it was expected soon to go to work. Mr. T and 
 
 I walked right up to it and looked down its throat, when we heard a 
 gurgling sound. We withdrew our heads quite promptly, and up 
 came a puff and off we ran, for a Jet of boiling water one hundred 
 and fifty feet high was sent forth. It was a glorious sight, and our 
 company enjoyed both the eruption and our run, . . . 
 
 Yellowstone National Park, 
 Grand Canyon Hotel, July 29, 1900. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . Well, I must give in. I contended that nothing could 
 surpass what we had already seen, but . . . this is the grandest 
 of all. The Grand Canyon is the grandest of all nature's pictures. 
 It runs fully two and a half miles. Its walls incline upward and 
 outward for fifteen hundred feet and more, at an angle of about 
 sixty degrees, and in its apparently narrow bed the Yellowstone 
 River flows. I say apparently . . . narrow, for, judging from 
 the infinitesimal appearance of two men half-way down, a very big 
 river would have plenty of elbow-room in it. The colors reflected 
 from these walls are marvelous both in their individual tints and 
 in their blendings, yellow, red, brown, green, delicate pale blue, and 
 shades that I cannot enumerate. But more than this, what grand 
 carvings these great walls present ! The " Castle Euins," for ex-
 
 Letters (1899-1901). 211 
 
 ample, are like an enormous castle partly defaced by time. From 
 " Inspiration Point " we got a good look at this great exhibition of 
 coloring and of rocks decorated by that great Hand whose work is 
 inimitable. We stood awestruck. . . . And here and there 
 stood separate pillar-shaped rocks of grotesque form, upon which 
 eagles had made their nests, and upon which one proud possessor 
 had already alighted. It seemed that here was the . . . throne 
 of the great American eagle. . . . 
 
 In 1901 my parents visited the Pan-American Exposition in Buf- 
 falo, which my father regarded as " a great success. The architec- 
 tural effect," he wrote, " is grand, and the electrical illumination is 
 wonderful." From the exposition the journey extended to Toronto, 
 Quebec, and Montreal, and thence by way of Lake Champlain and 
 Lake George to Tannersville, in the Catskills, at which a short stay 
 was made. The following letter was written to his granddaughter, 
 who was then in Europe. 
 
 Montreal, August 10, 1901. 
 Deae Julia, 
 
 I wonder where you are and what you are doing. If there were 
 a telephone between you and me, I would ring you up, and I wonder 
 how you would say " Hello !" in German. I suppose you have seen 
 wonderful things, seen many kinds of people, and made some nice 
 little German girl friends. Do they have the same games that little 
 girls have here ? Do you or they study more for school ? Have they 
 all grandfathers that love them as much as I do you ? If you answer 
 all these questions fully, you will have quite a letter to write to me. 
 Good-bye. God bless you. Affectionately, 
 
 Grandpa.
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Last Days (1902). 
 
 My father generally enjoyed fairly good health, although he suf- 
 fered at intervals, from the days of his early manhood, in spite of 
 the greatest moderation in eating and drinking, from gastro-intesti- 
 nal disturbances. In 1880 he had an attack so severe that he was 
 confined to his bed for nearly two months. At one time during this 
 illness his life was almost despaired of. In 1901 certain symptoms, 
 at first very slight, made their appearance, indicating functional 
 gastro-intestinal disturbances. These symptoms became annoying, 
 and in the spring of 1902 he was persuaded to go to Europe in the 
 hope of recovering his health. Although he suffered considerably 
 before his departure, his illness did not interfere in any way with 
 the varied activities in which he was engaged. He continued to see 
 his patients till the day he left Baltimore. He finished his course of 
 lectures at the college. On May 18, 1902, he took part in the exer- 
 cises at the annual examination of the children of the Hebrew 
 Orphan Asylum. The next day. May 19, he left Baltimore, accom- 
 panied by my mother, and on May 20 they sailed from IS'ew York 
 on the Eaiser WiUiehn der Grosse. At the advice of a medical 
 friend he went to Herrenalb in the Black Forest, remaining there 
 until July 2. While at Herrenalb he felt decidedly better at inter- 
 vals, and at Ejssingen, which was his next stopping-place, his 
 health seemed markedly to improve. The following letters are 
 taken from his correspondence while On this trip. 
 
 Fraxkfoet, June 3, 1902. 
 Deae Children, 
 
 . . . Frankfort is a most charming city, and the Franl-furter 
 Hof has made us feel very much at home. I like almost every-
 
 ^ 
 
 
 AARON FRIEDENWALD 
 
 1903
 
 -.al 
 
 annoying, 
 
 ue 
 
 •rk 
 
 QJAWnaaaifl^ horaa 
 
 ■fp}-
 
 Last Days 213 
 
 thing here except the way they speak German. In pronouncing 
 their words they are very economical with their consonants, leaving 
 them out of the question as much as possible as, for example, " Ich 
 wed's lesorje'," and then they squeeze their vowels so that all the 
 juice runs out. The women, as a rule, walk as gracefully as they 
 talk, and nevertheless they have a sort of self-satisfied assurance 
 that is enviable. 
 
 Herrenalb, June 9, 1902. 
 Dear Children, 
 
 . . . Well, the Boer War is over. I am sorry for the loss and 
 suffering of these brave fellows. I am glad, however, that the war 
 is over, and that England will continue in power in South Africa, 
 and that the whole territory between Egypt and Cape Colony will 
 form a domain over which the English flag will prevail. I feel sure 
 that this will redound to the advantage of civilization and will ul- 
 timately make Africa a country where many thousands of Eur<3- 
 peans will establish themselves. 
 
 Herrenalb, June 17, 1902. 
 Dear Julla, 
 
 I was very much pleased with the beautiful letter you wrote us. 
 Grandma and I have just returned from a long walk and brought 
 home with us a fine bouquet of wild flowers, which we collected in 
 going along the road. The fields all around form a magnificent car- 
 pet of wild flowers of all colors. Daisies, large and small, butter- 
 cups, bluebells, forget-me-nots, and many other flowers, whose 
 names we have not yet learned, abound ever3'where. I was never 
 in a place where there were so many charming brooks, whose rush- 
 ing, soothing voices never cease, and which plunge down the rocks 
 and splash into the air, as if they always had a holiday. 
 
 Oh, how sleepy you would be later in the day, if you had to gD
 
 214 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 to school as early as the children here are compelled to do ! But 
 they are happy, and go along in long rows with knapsacks on their 
 backs, both girls and boys, and seem proud of them. They greet 
 everyone as they pass along in the most friendly manner. Neither 
 the boys nor the girls wear hats, and therefore the wind can play 
 them no tricks by trying to blow them off. The millinery stores 
 here do not complain of this, for, so far as I know, there are none 
 here. . . . 
 
 Hekrenalb, June 18, 1902. 
 Dear Harry, 
 
 . . . To-day it has been raining all day long, and it is cold 
 at the same time, so that we have passed our time pleasantly in a 
 warmed room. Guests are now arriving, and things are beginning 
 to look more lively. . . . 
 
 Mamma was just reading something in the Badische Presse, 
 dated the nineteenth, a day ahead. I suppose they think their news 
 is new enough for to-morrow. A funny country this, in some 
 ways! ... 
 
 WiLDBAD, June 22, 1902. 
 Dear Julia and Jonas, 
 
 We are here after a delightful drive through the Black Forest. 
 
 There is nothing wild here but the beasts in the menagerie, and 
 so far as the Bad is concerned, we haven't discovered it. . . . 
 
 Kissingen, July 20, 1902. 
 Dear Harry, 
 
 . . . One has very little time here, except for doing nothing. 
 We get up at six, and it is generally seven before our day's duty be- 
 gins. We go to the Brurmen, get the water, warm it, drink it 
 slowly, and then go to the doctor. Then we return to the Brunnen,
 
 MRS. AARON FRIEDENWALD 
 1903
 
 l>u\':^\:iA. 
 
 aJAWnaaam^ horaa .shm 
 
 v,oox
 
 Last Days 215 
 
 drink some more water, take a little more time to do it, walk a little 
 while doing it, listen to the music, and watch the passing throng 
 of young and old, well-dressed, ill-dressed, shapely, grotesque, 
 comely, and uncombed individuals, doing pretty much the same 
 thing. We hear nearly all languages . . . and see a very in- 
 teresting kaleidoscopic picture. . . . 
 
 Bad Kissingen, July 22, 1902. 
 Dear Harry, 
 
 . . . One cannot fail to notice the difference between the 
 manners . . . here and what we are used to at home. The 
 bowing and doflSng of hats is promptly and conscientiously carried 
 out in a sort of conventional spirit. Everything in the way of po- 
 liteness is too much stereotyped. . . . Courtesies which flow 
 from consideration for the comfort of others are not so spontaneous 
 as they are at home. The difference seems to me to be this. Here 
 people have but limited personal rights, or they suppose so, so that 
 what they consider a right they hold on to with a grasp of grim 
 death. A gathering on a pavement, instead of giving way, will 
 make other persons go all the way around them to pass by. On the 
 benches they claim all the room they possibly can, and look surly 
 at those who try to find a place for themselves also. When they 
 want to get through a crowd they simply push each other aside 
 without a word of apology, and many other thin,gs of this sort may 
 be seen. In America everybody feels that he has all the rights he 
 needs, and this feeling makes him liberal, as he has sufficient and to 
 spare, so that he delights in bestowing some upon others. I think 
 this is the characteristic difference between German and American 
 politeness. Politeness in the one case is in accordance with fixed 
 rules ; in the other it is governed by the spontaneous promptings of 
 the occasion. Again, politeness here is measured out in greater or 
 smaller quantities according to gradations in society, while with 
 15
 
 216 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 us a gentleman is never apprehensive lest he be too polite to one 
 who might be considered as occupying a lower station in life. 
 
 KissiNGEN, July 27, 1902. 
 Dear Harry, 
 
 . . . Last Friday I went to synagogue where, as usual, I 
 found a large attendance. Professor Jules Oppert, of the Institute 
 of France, was pointed out to me, and I had a little talk with him. 
 He is a very old gentleman, apparently very nervous, and seems very 
 devout while at service, . . . 
 
 KissiNGEN, July 30, 1902. 
 Dear Harry, 
 
 . . . It will please you to have me tell you that I am doing 
 very well. 
 
 This morning we saw some friends from Frankfort off. . . . 
 We became much attached to them. We seem to be fortunate in 
 meeting people wherever we stop, to whom we become attached, and 
 this is a great pleasure to us indeed. We are to go to Badenweiller 
 when I am to get more "well." We shall stop at Wiirzburg and 
 Heidelberg. 
 
 Heidelberg, August 2, 1902. 
 Dear Harry, 
 
 . . . Prof. F. examined me very carefully and after he got 
 through told me that I had a tumor of the pylorus and that he 
 would recommend an operation. ... I told him that I preferred 
 to have it done at home. . . . We shall leave Hamburg on the 
 Furst Bismarck on Aug. 7. We have to face the matter and put 
 our trust in God. ... 
 
 I regret to have to make so serious a communication, but we must 
 all bear up bravely.
 
 Last Days 217 
 
 The manner in which he received the announcement that he was 
 suffering from a malignant disease (cancer of the stomach), after 
 he had been led to believe that his complete recovery was a matter 
 of a short time, was characterized by coolness and courage. A 
 friend wrote " Beiuundernswerth is der Mut dieses Marines, der der 
 Gefahr ruhig entgegensieht, alles iiherlegt, und seinen Frieden mit 
 der Erde maclit." 
 
 He had a " most pleasant voyage," during which he felt " remark- 
 ably well." At the " captain's dinner," on the evening before the 
 vessel landed, he was called upon to make a speech. This speech, 
 I was afterwards told, was very bright and enjoyable. 
 
 He returned to Baltimore on Sunday, August 17, 1902, and on 
 being informed of the recent death of his friend, the Reverend Dr. 
 Benjamin Szold, wrote the following, his last important letter. 
 
 Baltimore, August 17, 1902. 
 Mrs. S. Szold and Family, 
 
 Dear Friends. — I have just returned home. I was greatly shocked 
 to learn that my good old friend, Eev. Dr. B. Szold, had passed 
 away. I crave the privilege of mingling my grief and tears with 
 yours. I revered him as the scholar and teacher in Israel ; I thor- 
 oughly appreciated the influence of his kind, genial, generous na- 
 ture; I loved him because I felt that my heart was bound to his. 
 Accept my heartfelt condolence. May the example which he has 
 been to us all be your consolation and strengthen you to bear your 
 grief. Mrs. Friedenwald desires to join me in these sentiments. 
 Sincerely yours, A. Friedenv^ald. 
 
 Preparations for an operation were made. At this time my 
 father, although he saw only his near relatives and went out only 
 for a few short walks, was always in good spirits, and never showed 
 the slightest depression. He set all his worldly affairs in order, and
 
 218 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 on Wednesday, August 20, he underwent the operation. The diag- 
 nosis that had been made was confirmed, but it was found that the 
 disease had made much greater progress than had been anticipated, 
 so that the removal of the growth was impossible. The operation 
 was followed by intense suffering. My father bore it all uncom- 
 plainingly, appreciative of every attention on the part of his 
 nurses, and bravely fighting the battle for life. " You know how 
 cowardly most of us physicians are when we face the great crisis,'' 
 I wrote shortly afterwards to a brother medical man. " He knew 
 the nature of his disease but too well, but he did not murmur, he 
 was cheerful to the last, and with profound faith in the great 
 |Dn*n pNJ «3n, the ' faithful and merciful Healer,' he left his case 
 in His hands, ready and willing to abide by His decision." The end 
 came on August 26, 1902 (Ab 23, 5662) at 1.35 A. M. His mind 
 was perfectly clear until the last; he called for certain remedies 
 only a few minutes before he died. His wife and all of his children 
 were at his bedside at the end. 
 
 In accordance with my father's wishes, the services at his funeral 
 were those of the simple Jewish ritual, no sermon or address being 
 delivered. He was buried on Wednesday, August 27, in the ceme- 
 tery of the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, in which his grand- 
 father, his parents, and many of his relatives lie interred. Memorial 
 services were held at the synagogue of the Chizuk Emoonah Con- 
 gregation, of which he was president, on Sunday, ISTovember 9, 1902. 
 Addresses were delivered by Reverend Dr. H. P. Mendes, Rabbi of 
 the Shearith Israel Congregation, of New York, Reverend Dr. H. 
 W. Schneeberger, Rabbi of the Chizuk Emoonah Congregation, Dr. 
 Cyrus Adler, president of the Jewish Theological Seminary, of New 
 York, and Professor Solomon da Silva Solis Cohen, of Jefferson 
 Medical College, Philadelphia. At a memorial meeting of the fac- 
 ulty, alumni, and students of the College of Physicians and Sur- 
 geons, held on December 2, 1902, addresses were delivered by Dr.
 
 AARON FRIEDENWALD 
 
 1902
 
 ajAwnaaam^ hoaaa 
 
 e diag- 
 hat the 
 
 iS case 
 
 rhe end 
 
 tt;< Tiiind 
 
 - Ues 
 
 ac- 
 
 '.red by Dr.
 
 Last Days 219 
 
 William Simon, Professor of Chemistry, and Dr. John Ruhrah, 
 Clinical Professor of Pediatrics. At the twenty-ninth annual re- 
 union of the Liberal Club, December 31, 1902, a commemorative 
 address was delivered by Mr. Louis Edward Levy, of Philadelphia. 
 The addresses delivered on these several occasions I collected and 
 had printed privately in the year 1903. 
 
 My father's grave is marked by a simple stone, on which is en- 
 graved the following inscription: 
 
 13 [73 ng 
 
 njipHa ">i3:j»3iya pDj^u? pKjn KS)"jn 
 nVgni nnir r^janvh vn nc^ -itj;m 
 
 pih i!J|7i' w^a Jiay y inr "hii 
 
 DB. AABON FBIESENWAID 
 
 Bom December 20, 1836 
 
 Died August 26, 1902 
 
 t t « I >
 
 ADDRESSES
 
 INTEODUCTOEY ADDEESS DELIVEEED BEFOEE THE 
 CLASS OF THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SUE- 
 GEONS OF BALTIMOEE CITY, SEPTEMBEE U, 1881. 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 You are confronted by a long course of medical lectures, which 
 will exact of you the most earnest attention and long-continued 
 labor. With all the enthusiasm, so characteristic of youth, which 
 has accompanied you thus far, and which it is to be hoped will 
 cheer you on to the full attainment of your object, you will prob- 
 ably experience some solicitude in taking a survey of the field of 
 labor over which you will have to pass. In mustering your strength 
 to see whether it is adequate for the task before you, you may 
 be filled with misgivings; in testing once more the motives which 
 have impelled you to a work which will impose from the start the 
 most earnest labor and entail in the future the gravest responsi- 
 bilities you will perhaps be subjected to anxious emotions. Many 
 among you are here for the first time, and you stand upon strange 
 ground. 
 
 We meet you at the threshold of the new sphere in which you 
 are to move, and it is my pleasant privilege to extend to you, on 
 the part of the Faculty, a most cordial welcome, and to assure you 
 of the kind sympathy and warm encouragement of those who will 
 be your guides. 
 
 If you have fortified yourselves with earnestness of purpose, the 
 difficulties which you will encounter, and which at first may assume 
 threatening forms, will all be successfully overcome. The progress 
 which the proper diligence and application will soon enable you 
 to make will render your further labor less and less irksome. It
 
 222 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 will teach you to appreciate the relations which the different de- 
 partments of the science into which you will be introduced bear 
 to each other; and instead of regarding them as quite separate 
 studies from which you will have to apprehend cumulative 
 difficulties, as it may appear to you at the outset, you will soon dis- 
 cover that an acquaintance with one will greatly facilitate the com- 
 prehension of the others. Do not be discouraged if you do not 
 advance at the beginning of your work as rapidly as you would 
 wish. Your earlier obstacles surmounted, those that will follow 
 will not be so formidable. 
 
 Your studies will embrace the laws of life, with its endless revela- 
 tions. From the beginning of man's existence, through his devel- 
 opment and growth to his senility and decay, his physical nature 
 will be opened to your investigation. The wonderful parts of 
 which he is composed will be made to tell their interesting stories 
 of duties thoroughly fulfilled. They will show you how, though 
 providing well for themselves, they are always mindful of the 
 welfare of others : at one time listening for anxious messages from 
 afar and promptly sending relief and sustenance ; at another, watch- 
 ful of approaching danger and sending forth the thrill of warning; 
 here receiving requisitions from distant laboratories for fresh 
 material; and there hurrying currents loaded with effete and 
 noxious matter to willing colaborers that eject it from the system, 
 so that the purity of the organism be not defiled; here revivifying 
 the vital fluid after its return from its voyage through the entire 
 body and receiving its account of waste provided for, of warmth 
 imparted, of wonderful products elaborated, and wafting away 
 in one breath, far into space, the debris of destruction which it has 
 brought back in testimony of its useful pilgrimage; there becoming 
 the receptacle of the purified stream, propelling it through its 
 countless tributaries, and throbbing anxiously that all parts, near 
 and far, large and infinitesimal, may receive their due share of
 
 Addresses. 233 
 
 new life. Part after part will be made to reveal its interesting 
 history of useful work performed; and, while all will modestly 
 acknowledge their dependence upon others, there will be none so 
 modest but that it will claim to have accomplished something that 
 could have been accomplished only by itself. And as you will 
 learn more and more of the individual character of each part, mar- 
 velling at the regularity and precision with which the more im- 
 portant ones perform their life-sustaining functions, and gleaning 
 what you can from the more subordinate ones which seem more 
 anxious to preserve their secrets, but which will furnish unmis- 
 takable evidence that they too cannot be spared, you will be forced 
 to realize that, great as they are, wonderful as they are, they are 
 but parts of one grand, harmonious whole. 
 
 But you will not be permitted to stop here. Having progressed 
 thus far, you will be taught that your eyes can be aided to see what 
 otherwise would remain among the unseen, and the existence of 
 which could hardly be suspected. Countless small bodies will reveal 
 their presence to you in every spot, claiming to be the integral 
 elements of every part that they inhabit; and simple as they are, 
 and minute as they are, they present such strong individual features 
 that wherever found their nativity cannot be mistaken. They form 
 pavements of the most curious and highly ornamental designs, they 
 constitute the channels in their innumerable ramifications, and 
 they build up the solid walls. They are the springs which unite 
 their energy to form the motive power; they are the skilful work- 
 men in the laboratories from which issue such inimitable products; 
 and they are the vessels sailing along the streams, safely carrying 
 their treasures to distant harbors. They form the intricate web 
 which binds the parts together in their entirety and in their ele- 
 mentary structure. They weave those strong bands upon which 
 the mighty levers expend their strength. They constitute the essen- 
 tial elements in those silvery cords which emanate from the great
 
 224 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D, 
 
 central depot of intelligence, spreading their threads in all direc- 
 tions, stopping at many way-stations, proceeding on their Journey 
 to remote regions where their traces are lost, carrying to and fro 
 with inconceivable rapidity the messages of life. 
 
 In studying these enchanting phenomena in their endless varia- 
 tions, pausing at times wonder-stricken at the revelations that you 
 encounter, marvelling at the simple methods by which Nature 
 accomplishes her great ends, you will become possessed with an 
 irresistible desire to continue your explorations farther and farther, 
 until you reach those regions that have not yet been thoroughly ex- 
 plored. And when you have learned that Nature does not impart 
 all her secrets gratuitously, you will be imbued with a noble aspir- 
 ation to become one of the favored class whose rare merits have 
 entitled them to the honor of having contributed something new 
 to science. 
 
 But, gentlemen, you will not be permitted to look only upon the 
 bright side of the picture. From your studies of the human organ- 
 ism as it presents itself in health, you will pass to those investiga- 
 tions which are to make you familiar with the changes wrought 
 by that fell spirit, disease. How changed the picture ! How varied 
 the scenes! Everywhere the enemy lurks; assuming a thousand 
 different shapes, making its invasions by every avenue, penetrating 
 every recess of the human organism; seizing the infant violently at 
 its very entrance into the world, and throttling it in its first gasp for 
 life; planting its seed often into the new being long before its 
 birth, causing it to germinate there, and to develop into those 
 moral, mental, and physical infirmities which are to be recognized 
 as the lasting inheritance bequeathed by a previous victim. How 
 cruel the monster, besieging infancy, crushing vigorous manhood, 
 and inexorable to old age ! How varied its warfare ! How numer- 
 ous its weapons ! Sometimes it entails the most serious con- 
 sequences by the slightest violence; and again it is driven to deal
 
 Addresses. 225 
 
 its heaviest blows before the victim succumbs. Here, by just tap- 
 ping a little stream, a slight inundation follows, and at once the 
 features become distorted, language is rendered unintelligible, and 
 the limbs dangle helpless on the trunk. How the suffering parts 
 yearn to tell each other of their sorrow ! but the line of communi- 
 cation is cut off, and there are no messages sent, none received. 
 There it just touches a little valve bathed in the vital fluid, and the 
 whole tide is changed. The motive power increases its energy, and 
 there is the most anxious throbbing that no catastrophe should 
 happen. But still the streams flow sluggishly, the parts fail to 
 receive their adequate supply of nourishment, and the whole organ- 
 ism suffers. 
 
 We will look upon another scene. The demon blows a pestilential 
 breath, and see, the body quivers and shrinks as if touched by an 
 Arctic's chilling blast. Look at the ashy pallor, " Is it not the 
 look of death ? " you ask. No, it is but the wind that fans the fire. 
 See, warmth returns, and all is soon aglow. The furnaces are 
 forced to intensify their heat, and a general conflagration threatens 
 to consume the body. How turbulent the streams become ! With 
 what velocity the currents run their course ! The tumult and the 
 whirl confuse the thoughts, and the mind wanders. The parts 
 still send their signals, but they are no longer understood. One 
 misleads the other, and many mishaps occur. The compact is 
 broken, for each works for itself alone, or not at all; and anarchy 
 reigns supreme. . . . The panorama moves on. Behold the next 
 victim! There he lies, helpless and so changed as to be rendered 
 an object of disgust. He has been tossed upon many a rough sea, 
 and at last is shipwrecked, and deserted by all his friends, save 
 one, his physician. How came he to his grief? It is a sad story, 
 and painful to relate. The enemy crept upon him stealthily, in 
 the- full enjoyment of life. No fierce onslaught was made. The 
 victim continued his revels, for he knew not that he had been in-
 
 236 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 jured. No! I will not recount all the sorrows through which he 
 passed. Behold him, and enough will strike your eye to enlist 
 your warmest sympathy. His flesh has melted into large sores, 
 as if touched by the red-hot iron. Through his face the ghastly 
 bones protrude, his vision is lost, and there is just enough reason 
 left for him to know his woe. We'll let the curtain fall. 
 
 Painful as the contemplation of disease may be to you, it is not 
 without its compensating features. You will delight to learn that 
 the vital forces do not surrender themselves without making a 
 brave resistance. They enter upon the mobt desperate struggles to 
 drive out the invader. They bear long sieges well, and though 
 near exhaustion, having drawn their last rations, they often succeed 
 in triumphing over the enemy. It is not an uncommon experience 
 that desperate diseases which place the patient in the greatest pos- 
 sible jeopardy are cured by nature's efforts alone. This is a great 
 blessing, for which doctors should be extremely grateful, because it 
 is to this that they owe much of their reputation. Indeed, it may 
 not only be said that very sick patients get well without remedies, 
 but also that they get well in spite of them. It is a fortunate 
 circumstance that the doctor can submit his prescriptions to so 
 reliable a proof-reader, who inserts what he finds wanting, and 
 renders innocuous what should not have been added. 
 
 In humbly acknowledging how much the cure of disease is due 
 to nature's efforts, the doctor does himself no discredit ; for, if he 
 assumes the proper position, he claims only to lend a helping hand, 
 and he feels himself sufficiently justified in the willingness with 
 which the extended hand is grasped. 
 
 But it is not only in saving life that nature's efforts play so 
 notable a part, but also in repairing damages done to organs, and 
 compensating for those damages that cannot be fully repaired. In 
 regard to the former, it may be said that it is the only patchwork 
 which is as good as new ; and the latter is full of suggestions from
 
 Addresses. 227 
 
 which every civil engineer may draw useful lessons. In many cases 
 of disease, this power of self-defence can be largely relied upon to 
 bring the case to a favorable termination, and the physician has 
 little else to do than to guard the patient against accidents and 
 complications, and to combat them when they do occur; in other 
 words, to see that nature's efforts have fair play in the combat with 
 what is essentially the disease. 
 
 While it is well fully to value the valor and prowess of the vital 
 forces in coping unaided with certain diseases, it would be an 
 unfortunate policy for the profession to pursue, should we remain 
 an army of observation in regard to others to which they offer but 
 very little opposition, but which have a decided respect for certain 
 ammunition at our command. 
 
 Diseases make themselves known to us in a language which we 
 call symptoms. Every disease has a language of its own ; but while 
 some differ very much, there are others that are exceedingly similar. 
 But this is not the only difficulty which confronts us in interpreting 
 the languages of disease correctly. I have already hinted at com- 
 plications; these too have their languages, so that we are often 
 placed in the predicament of listening to two different languages 
 spoken at the same time. You have no doubt experienced how 
 difficult it is to give the proper attention to two or more persons 
 speaking simultaneously, and you have no doubt discovered also 
 that it is not always the one speaking the loudest who is entitled 
 to the privilege of being heard exclusively. Sometimes a symptom 
 will apparently present such urgency as entirely to conceal others 
 that are of a much more important character. This may be a 
 source of very serious mistakes. . . . 
 
 But there are still more difficulties of this nature to be con- 
 sidered. Languages are spoken in many dialects. It is so with 
 thejanguage of disease. A symptom of the same disease is often 
 quite differently pronounced in different cases, a circumstance which
 
 238 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 leads not seldom to serious disagreements in the consultation-room. 
 It is probably to a great extent owing to this that the public has 
 discovered that doctors differ. 
 
 Allow me to mention one more peculiarity in this regard. The 
 voice of every individual has in it something that is characteristic. 
 We often succeed in recognizing a person solely by the voice, when 
 in other respects he has changed so much that he might pass for 
 somebody else. Now, in the language of disease this peculiarity of 
 voice will also be noticed, and it is owing to this that there are 
 no two cases of the same disease exactly alike. This illustrates how 
 important it will be for you to cultivate well your powers of 
 observation. 
 
 After becoming acquainted with the human organism in its nor- 
 mal condition, and witnessing the changes which it undergoes dur- 
 ing disease, and learning to discriminate accurately between the evi- 
 dences of diseases, you will desire to know all about the means by 
 which they can be controlled. 
 
 When you cast your eyes over the long list of remedies which are 
 employed in the treatment of diseases, and read, in the descriptions 
 of their curative properties, of all the good that can be accomplished 
 by them, you will wonder how it is that there is still so much 
 sickness uncontrolled, and that there are so many cases of premature 
 death to be deplored. 
 
 The remedies to which you will be introduced will be highly 
 recommended for one purpose or another, and sometimes for a 
 number of purposes; and, while you will witness their good effects 
 with great delight, in many, many cases you will be disappointed 
 to find that they will not be responded to so promptly, or so com- 
 pletely, or what is worse, that they will be followed by conditions 
 quite contrary to those desired. To expect a remedy to act inva- 
 variably in the same way would be quite unreasonable. It would 
 be extremely ungrateful to quarrel with an old friend who has
 
 Addresses. 229 
 
 assisted us materially hundreds of times, simply because his last 
 efforts were not attended by the same degree of success. Avoid the 
 counsel, therefore, of those who try to bring discredit upon the 
 materia medica by simply referring to what is left undone, ignoring 
 the great blessings they bestow upon millions of suffering mankind. 
 Do not become ungrateful to your old friend; and when he asks 
 you for a letter of recommendation to others, be not afraid of 
 saying too much in his favor; for, if he serve others as well as he 
 has served you, not a word will be erased, and he will be sent 
 further on his journey with no less flattering credentials. 
 
 Gentlemen, you are to be congratulated upon beginning the study 
 of the science of medicine in its healthiest period of development. 
 The roads have been opened in every part of its domain, and there 
 is a freedom of movement and a freedom of thought that has never 
 before existed to the same degree. 
 
 There was a period, and it held sway long, in which a system es- 
 tablished by some leading spirit in the profession governed the prac- 
 tice of medicine. This system controlled the thoughts of medical 
 men, until another leading mind arose and supplanted it by a new 
 system. At certain periods there were several systems, each with 
 its trusty followers, contending bitterly for the supremacy. This 
 may with propriety be designated as the aristocratic age of medicine. 
 This age accorded either to a single individual or to a privileged 
 class the prerogative to do the thinking for those whom they con- 
 sidered the plebeians of the profession. They reared their struc- 
 tures and gave them fine proportions, but they could not stand 
 the test of time. They began to build in the wrong way. They 
 first put up their theoretical framework, and then endeavored to 
 close the walls by facts as their building material. But facts are 
 stubborn things; they will not fit in every place in which they are 
 put, neither will they permit themselves to be hewn into any re- 
 quired shape; so these builders were compelled to make use of a 
 16
 
 230 Aaeon Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 very liberal application of the plaster of false reasoning to give 
 their walls the appearance of solidity. These walls readily yielded, 
 and required propping on all sides, and it was comparatively easy 
 work for the founder of a new system to exhibit the weakness of 
 previously existing structures. The profession, discovering from 
 time to time that it had been held in bondage to false doctrines, 
 threw off the yoke, but failed to establish its liberty, for in de- 
 posing one master it swore allegiance to another. 
 
 But the storm finally came; the monarchs were dethroned, and 
 their edifices crumbled to the ground. Every hand was lifted 
 against something, nothing was regarded as holy, and destruction 
 became the order of the day. This was the nihilistic period. It 
 raged fiercely, but was short-lived. Nothing could grow at such 
 a time, for the eye delighted to look upon the waste, and ruins 
 became the prominent objects in the landscape. 
 
 A brighter day has dawned, and its genial warmth has imparted 
 new life. The rubbish has been cleared away, the solid building 
 material has been reclaimed, and the fallacious theories have been 
 placed as headstones upon the graves of their founders. Every- 
 where the call for fresh material is heard, and everywhere it is 
 earnestly responded to. But more and more building material is 
 required, and we are charged, and you will be charged, to be 
 assiduous in the search for it. The work which has been accom- 
 plished thus far is great, and the rejoicing in its contemplation is 
 great, for it is the work of the many, of the many who have delved 
 unremittingly in every department, who have sought truth for 
 truth's sake, and who have placed the foundation of the new edifice 
 upon solid ground, and not upon the sand. This is the age of 
 honest work, and the work is cheerfully done, for the laborer dreads 
 not the ban, and owes allegiance but to truth. This is the age of 
 freedom, the mind is disenthralled; and where the mind is free, 
 the hands are active.
 
 Addresses. 231 
 
 The development of the science in recent times is to be regarded 
 as of an especially healthy character, for a steady growth is to be 
 observed in everj^ distinct part thereof; while in time past all the 
 talent in the profession was often drawn to the cultivation of cer- 
 tain parts, and others were allowed to wither. A body that does 
 not enjoy an equable growth will necessarily become deformed. 
 
 I say again, gentlemen, that you are to be congratulated upon 
 entering the study of medicine at this time, when in your first steps 
 you can place your feet upon solid ground, and when in your 
 further journey you are encouraged by the bright picture reflected 
 in the future. You need not fear the volcano nor dread the hur- 
 ricanes, for what has been gained is imperishable. Errors are 
 made now, and will be made in the future as they have been made 
 in the past, but no new material will be accepted as a building-stone 
 that has not been thoroughly tested. The structure which is now 
 rearing is not like the Grecian temple, whose charms rest in its 
 finished beauty, and which admits of neither change nor ornamen- 
 tation, for either would destroy its character; but more like the 
 Gothic structure, which is never so complete but that it will admit 
 of additions and improvements, which neither mar its beauty nor 
 encroach upon its usefulness. 
 
 In choosing the profession of medicine you not only enter the 
 service of science, but you devote yourselves to the cause of hu- 
 manity. It demands both the cultivation of the intellect and the 
 highest refinement of the soul. There is no reward which you 
 should value higher than the satisfaction of knowing that you have 
 relieved human suffering, that you have averted death. Be bold 
 when duty calls you to perform an heroic act, but not so cold that 
 you can witness human misery without feeling pity. An unfeeling 
 man is not only unworthy of becoming a physician, but he will 
 never find a real satisfaction in the pursuit of the profession. Pe- 
 cuniary reward will not compensate him for the sacrifice of per-
 
 232 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 sonal comfort which the practice of medicine requires to so great 
 an extent, and in assuming the virtues which its sacred ministra- 
 tions demand he will constantly be reminded of his unworthiness. 
 
 The true physician loves his profession, for he sees in it the 
 consummation of the highest aims of science. He is forced to 
 witness many a sad scene, and suffer many a dreaded catastrophe, 
 but he finds strength in the verdict of that high tribunal within 
 him which tells him that he has done his duty well. And when 
 the storms are over and the clouds have disappeared and the bright 
 sunshine of gladness again animates the hearts that were heavy 
 with despair, he can enter in and partake of the joys of others 
 made happy, as is the privilege only of the sympathetic and the 
 pure. 
 
 Gentlemen, you have entered upon a holy mission; God speed 
 you in your undertaking.
 
 ADDEESS AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW CITY HOS- 
 PITAL, JANUARY 1, 1890. 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 You have been invited to join us this evening in commemorating 
 an event which, while it marks a new era in the history of the 
 College of Physicians and Surgeons, is, we imagine, not without 
 interest to the general medical profession. Indeed, inasmuch as 
 hospitals occupy a most prominent place among those institutions 
 which contribute to make a city great, the acquisition of this new 
 hospital, constructed as it is upon the most approved plans of 
 modem sanitation, located as it is in the very heart of the city, 
 where a hospital is most urgently needed, and adding as it does so 
 conspicuously to the architectural achievements of Baltimore, must 
 awaken a Just pride in every one who feels an interest in the fame 
 of our fair city. 
 
 The College of Physicians and Surgeons, in assuming the medi- 
 cal charge of this institution, which will be devoted henceforth to 
 the cure of disease and the alleviation of suffering where disease 
 is beyond cure, feels that now, in responding to the appeals of suffer- 
 ing humanity, it will be in a better position than ever to meet 
 the demands of the modern advancement of our science. 
 
 And, although we cannot overestimate the blessings of a well- 
 equipped hospital to the sick, the suffering, and the maimed, when 
 it is devoted to the purposes of medical instruction, as this institu- 
 tion will largely be, its benefits will not be limited to those who 
 have been cared for within its walls, but will extend far beyond its 
 confines, beyond the limits of the city, beyond the boundaries of 
 the State. Such a hospital may properly be considered as a labora-
 
 334 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 tory of clinical medicine and surgery where the manifestations of 
 disease and the effects of remedies are to be subjected to the most 
 approved methods of scientific investigation. Here the teacher gets 
 his best experience, here the student receives his most useful lessons. 
 
 Eejoicing as we naturally must in contemplating the greatly im- 
 proved clinical facilities which this Hospital confers upon the Col- 
 lege, we are not at all ashamed to refer on this occasion to what 
 the school has accomplished in this respect in the past. 
 
 Beginning its career in 1872 with no other capital but a faculty, 
 a faculty which was determined to succeed and which soon showed 
 that it was qualified for and deserving of success, the college was 
 as early as 1874 enabled, through the liberality of the State of 
 Maryland, to establish the Matemite Hospital. That hospital not 
 only introduced a new benevolence into our city, but furnished the 
 first opportunity for clinical instruction in midwifery in Baltimore. 
 In the latter respect it may properly be claimed that it was a 
 pioneer, if not the pioneer, in this country. The Matemite has 
 been in active operation ever since, and, when we regard the pur- 
 poses it was intended to fulfil, it is still the leading institution of 
 its kind. The acquisition from the Washington University, in 1878, 
 of the City Hospital, which henceforth will be spoken of as the 
 old City Hospital, opened a new future for the college. From that 
 time on it has rested upon a solid foundation. We had now a gen- 
 eral hospital, offering abundance of material for clinical instruc- 
 tion; besides which we had secured the alliance of the good Sisters 
 of Mercy for that part of the work which few could do so well, and 
 none could do better. 
 
 The building was not a pretentious one. It had been built for 
 a city school, was eventually regarded as unsuited for that purpose, 
 and was finally abandoned. Truly we may exclaim with the 
 Psalmist, "The stone which the builders refused is become the 
 head stone of the corner ! " Yea ! it has been the cornerstoiie upon
 
 Addresses. 235 
 
 which the college has safely rested these many years, and, although 
 it is now supplanted by the grand hospital in which we meet to- 
 night, we shall ever hold its past record in grateful remembrance. 
 It has done good work in the past. Thousands have received a 
 friendly welcome within its walls, and, although it was unsuited 
 in many respects for the purposes of a hospital, it has furnished 
 the opportunity of exemplifying how much good can be done even 
 under unfavorable circumstances. In one respect at least, however, 
 it has shown a preeminent suitableness. It has always been nearest 
 to most of those unfortunate ones who need speedy help. Placed 
 in the heart of the city, where the greatest commercial and industrial 
 activity prevails and casualties are most common, it was enabled 
 to extend aid without too much delay. Its claims in this respect 
 have been generally acknowledged. Among the many advantages 
 this new City Hospital will offer, is the advantage of the location it 
 has inherited from its predecessor, and this inheritance will prove 
 no mean one, for this alone will insure its maintenance for all future 
 time. What the old building lacked in the comforts which are now 
 demanded "of a hospital was largely compensated for by the suc- 
 cessful management and humane influence of the Sisters of Mercy, 
 and by the assiduous and skillful attention of its medical staff. 
 We never overlooked its deficiencies and we directed our best ener- 
 gies to correct them at an early date. There was a great deal to 
 encourage us to resume our work in this direction, although we 
 had repeatedly met with failure. The need of more room urgently 
 demanded that the hospital should be enlarged in some way. Our 
 faithful allies, the good sisters, cheered us and inspired us with 
 new hopes when the prospects seemed unpromising, but what 
 encouraged us most was an unswerving faith that the City Spring 
 lot had been providentially reserved for the noble object it now 
 fulfils. It had become perfectly useless for the purposes for which 
 it was originally given to the city. That class of respectable citizens
 
 236 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 who had sought the shade of its beautiful trees and refreshment 
 from its limpid stream in days gone by had long disappeared. The 
 vagrant and the tramp had established their dominion there. The 
 water from the spring had become impure and was condemned. 
 The fountain that remained, playing as it did from the city water 
 supply, was a sham, and was in this respect in perfect harmony 
 with the character which the entire place had assumed. The place 
 had altogether lost its former cheerfulness. Even the old keeper, 
 though willing to hold his position, seemed dissatisfied with his lot. 
 Under these circumstances we hoped that the city would be willing 
 to donate it to the use of a great charity. Several City Councils 
 approved of the bills that were presented, but the project was re- 
 peatedly defeated before the mayor by an opposition which, un- 
 fortunately, came from a direction that justified the suspicion that 
 it was not inspired by the best motives. But I shall say nothing 
 further of this. This magnificent hospital now stands upon that 
 long coveted lot, and " Charity,'^ 'tis said, " covereth a multitude of 
 sins." 
 
 By an agreement entered into between the Sisters of Mercy and 
 the College of Physicians and Surgeons the Hospital secures in 
 perpetuity the gratuitous services of the faculty as its medical staff, 
 while the College is granted in perpetuity the privilege of clinical 
 instruction which it enjoyed in the old hospital. The advantages 
 which the College gains by the opening of this new Hospital are not 
 limited to the Hospital itself. We shall henceforth find more room 
 in the old building for the purposes of the College proper, and we 
 design in the near future to remodel the old building so that we 
 shall be amply supplied with physiological, chemical, and pathologi- 
 cal laboratories under one roof, together with a proper museum and 
 all other requisites demanded of a first-class medical college. 
 
 At the beginning of my remarks I ventured to say that the 
 opening of this hospital was not without interest to the general
 
 Addresses. 237 
 
 medical profession. The work done in hospitals contributes largely 
 to the general advancement of our science, and no medical man 
 with the proper spirit can remain indifferent to their influence. 
 Practitioners of medicine who desire to visit our clinics will meet 
 with a cordial welcome. 
 
 Much as may be said in favor of the advantages which flow from 
 this hospital to the College, and great as may be the interest of 
 the medical profession in its successful operation, the consideration 
 which gives it its paramount importance is the good which it is 
 destined to accomplish for those seeking relief from disease. By 
 day and by night its portals will ever be open to those who may 
 be in need of its benefits. A faithful physician will always be 
 found at his post of duty ready to extend medical aid, and a kind 
 Sister will never be absent when her tender care may be needed. 
 The disease which brings the applicant to the hospital is the only 
 recommendation which he will require for his admission. Neither 
 religious distinctions nor race prejudice will ever find consideration 
 here. 
 
 The city of Baltimore may justly congratulate itself upon the 
 acquisition of a hospital of this character, and it owes a deep debt 
 of gratitude to our good Sisters of Mercy. The erection of a 
 building of such magnificent proportions as this hospital presents, 
 without any means except those hoped for from the charitably 
 disposed, seemed almost an impossibility. They dared to attempt 
 what seemed impossible, and they have been successful. 
 
 It was faith that inspired our good sisters to choose a life of 
 absolute duty and sacrifice, it was faith that enabled them, when 
 necessary, to brave the dangers of the battlefield and the ravages 
 of pestilence, and it was faith in a generosity of this community 
 which encouraged them to undertake this stupendous work. 
 
 Although they have the legal title to this property, the Hospital 
 is a free offering to Baltimore, a sacred trust of which they are
 
 238 Aaeon Fkiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 but the faithful custodians. They look for no reward for them- 
 selves, but it is eminently proper that this great work of theirs be 
 fitly appreciated, and that tangible encouragement be freely ex- 
 tended to them in the future whenever needed.
 
 ADDEESS DELIVERED AT THE CELEBEATIO^iT OF THE 
 SEVENTIETH BIETHDAY OF PEOFESSOE VIECHOW, 
 HELD m THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVEESITY, 
 OCTOBEE 13, 1891. 
 
 Ladies and Gentlemen : 
 
 Thirty years ago it was my good fortune to be a pupil of the 
 great man whom we desire to honor on this occasion. He was 
 then in the prime of life, and had a record which made him the 
 most prominent figure among the eminent men of the medical 
 faculty of the University of Berlin. Most of his associates of that 
 period have long since passed away, and all have attained great 
 distinction, but Virchow still remains the acknowledged master. 
 Time has shown neither faltering in his work nor waning in his 
 power. In contemplating the vast activity which he has displayed 
 in the various fields upon which he has brought his giant intellect 
 to bear, and in computing the aggregate of what he has accom- 
 plished, we arrive at a result of which the medical profession is 
 justly proud and for which the whole world must be grateful. It 
 is not his work alone, however, nor the discoveries that he has made 
 that challenges our admiration, but it is that stamp of nobility 
 which characterizes his remarkable career throughout, from its 
 brilliant beginning in Berlin, during the time when his genius 
 shone resplendently in Wiirzburg, and all through that long and all- 
 important period since his triumphal return to the Prussian capital. 
 Great as he stands as a scientist, towering far above all who have 
 worked in the same territory, preeminence must be awarded him 
 for his broad interests and brilliant achievements in other domains. 
 Wherever we enter upon the study of his work, and wherever our 
 thoughts may wander in estimating its full significance, we in-
 
 240 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 evitably reach a point whence we must return to the man himself. 
 He has not moulded with lifeless clay, for in his work there breathes 
 a living soul. He has built well, for what he has built has stood 
 the test of time, and he has built so that others could build thereon. 
 Besides the merit of his own gigantic work, we cannot fail to take 
 into account, in estimating the benefit he has been to science, the 
 good work done by others through his inspiration. Pathology, 
 through his touch, received a regeneration, and what it has become 
 since he entered its field is largly due to his contributions and his 
 influence. If he had done nothing else, tiiis alone would entitle 
 him to be placed side by side with the greatest men of any time. 
 But his genius required a wider scope. In anthropology he has 
 become an acknowledged authority, and he seems to be as fully at 
 home in the one as in the other great branch of science. All the 
 expenditure of energy which these labors demanded did not overtax 
 our hero. He had sufficient force in reserve to enable him to 
 acquire great distinction in quite a different field. The speeches 
 which he made to the workingmen of Berlin in '48 were not the 
 emanations of a wild young brain. They indicated the deep con- 
 victions that governed the man in his start in life, and which re- 
 mained an inseparable part of him when he reached high position 
 and his genius had been universally acknowledged. His keen eye, 
 which saw disease in the human body as it seldom was seen before, 
 did not fail to detect what was morbid in the body politic. The 
 clearness with which he was able to demonstrate his classical autop- 
 sies, the brilliancy of his general lectures, the instructive lessons 
 that followed those microscopes as they moved along the little 
 railway before his class, have their analogy in the demonstrative, 
 brilliant, and instructive character which marks his activity in 
 legislative bodies. He has been no inconsiderable factor in that 
 movement which has made Berlin the model municipality. In all 
 the great questions which have occupied the German Parliament his
 
 Addresses. 241 
 
 voice was heard and had to be listened to. True as he has always 
 been to the interests of the medical profession, devoted as he has 
 remained through life to science in general, he has ever been equally 
 loyal to his convictions. A man like Virchow must at times neces- 
 sarily be aggressive. To establish a fact often involves a combat 
 with those who advocate an error, and in showing up wrong the 
 wrong-doer cannot always be spared. He never failed in the moral 
 courage demanded by his duty. In the earliest part of his career 
 as a pathologist he protested against making pathology the " Rum- 
 pelhammer " of medicine, and there was no authority so great that 
 he would leave it unchallenged in the statement of an error. This 
 moral courage stood by him in '48, and characterized him when he 
 had to meet in intellectual combat the " man of blood and iron." 
 
 The medical profession rejoices in claiming such a member; 
 Germany can point with pride to such a son; the world must feel 
 blessed in such a citizen.
 
 MEMOIR OF DR. GEORGE H. ROHE, READ AT THE 
 SPRING MEETING OF THE MARYLAND PUBLIC 
 HEALTH ASSOCIATION, MAY 23, 1901. 
 
 Ladies and Gentlemen : 
 
 The Maryland Public Health Association, in devoting a part of 
 its annual meeting to the presentation of a work of art to the 
 Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland, as a tribute to the 
 memory of Dr. George H. Rohe, furnishes a fitting opportunity 
 for the review of the life of one who, in a remarkable way, rose 
 to eminence in the medical profession; and for the analysis of 
 those qualities of head and heart which endeared him to a host 
 of friends and won for him the esteem of the community. 
 
 The value of a man cannot be fully estimated by what he has 
 made himself unless one considers out of what he has made him- 
 self. It is not at all rare to find that those who have won dis- 
 tinction have risen from obscurity and that their success in life 
 has followed a severe struggle against odds. The combination of 
 native talents and energy, under the influence of an honorable 
 ambition, is a mighty power which is sure to secure recognition. 
 We often find, however, that those who have developed in this 
 way powers by which they have secured prominence for themselves 
 often reveal a lack of harmony in their intellectual and social 
 qualities. In considering the character of Dr. Rohe, those who 
 knew him well will at once concede that his was a symmetrical 
 growth; that the moral, social, and intellectual elements in his 
 organization were equally vigorous. . . . 
 
 Having known him as a lad and observed him preparing himself 
 for and entering the medical profession, and having been intimately 
 associated with him for many years as a colleague in the faculty
 
 Addresses. 243 
 
 of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and having enjoyed liis 
 warm friendship uninterruptedly throughout this period till the 
 time of his death, it is difficult for me to confine myself, in what 
 I shall have to say of him, to the subject that has been assigned 
 to me on this occasion — his " merits as a teacher." There are 
 those among his many pupils upon whom this duty would more 
 properly devolve. Testimony from such source would have the 
 advantage of coming at first hand, and would give more effective 
 expression to the thoroughness with which he did his work, the 
 facility with which he made clear to others what he knew so well 
 himself, and the congenial relation which existed between him and 
 his pupils, and it would also elicit the acknowledgment of the 
 gratitude due him from them, than which no worthier tribute could 
 be offered on this occasion. 
 
 As it is, I shall consider myself their spokesman, and will try, 
 as well as I can, to tell their story, as they often communicated it 
 to me when speaking of him as their teacher. It was recognized 
 as one of the most conspicuous features of his lectures that they 
 bore the evidence of . . . careful and painstaking preparation. This 
 showed that he was thoroughly in earnest, that he worked cheerfully 
 himself and deemed his pupils worthy of his best efforts. The 
 effect of such work in awakening interest is obvious. His earnest- 
 ness never assumed that rigidity of character which is liable to 
 reflect a sombre coloring. He could be everything but sombre. 
 The kindness of the smile with which he stepped into the lecture 
 hall, the unfailing houtonniere offering its salutation, his happy 
 faculty of illustration, and his keen sense of humor combined to 
 lend a cheerfulness to his lectures which made them both interest- 
 ing and attractive. It cannot be claimed that he was a gifted 
 speaker, but he was always at his ease when he spoke, was definite 
 and clear in his statements, and put his hearers at their ease. His 
 irrepressible fondness for fun enabled him to relish the pranks
 
 244 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 for which the medical student is so notorious, and what in this 
 respect would have been an annoyance to others did not disturb 
 him in the least. In his intercourse with the students, his cordial 
 nature drew them close to him, rendered him approachable and 
 responsive ; and ... his bearing was ever characterized by a grace- 
 ful and becoming dignity. He taught a number of branches at 
 various times, . . . shifting rather rapidly from one chair to an- 
 other, and he seemed equally at home in all of them. 
 
 In pursuing the study of his qualities as a teacher, I need not 
 draw further from the testimony of his pupils, but can safely rely 
 upon what I know of them myself. His adaptability to new 
 situations was most remarkable. His transfer from Dermatology 
 and Hygiene to Obstetrics, and, a little later, to Therapeutics and 
 Mental Diseases, was seemingly effected without the slightest incon- 
 venience to himself, and his skill in dealing with these varied sub- 
 jects was generally regarded as equal in them all. While it must 
 be conceded that he had an extraordinary facility in acquiring 
 new knowledge rapidly, which was especially exemplified in what 
 he accomplished in the treatment of the insane, there can be no 
 doubt that his versatile achievements must be attributed in greater 
 measure to the extensive fund of knowledge which he had carefully 
 stored up and upon which he could freely draw at all times. We 
 are warranted m assuming this by the character and variety of his 
 contributions to medical science. His close professional friends 
 had such a regard for the completeness of his knowledge of many 
 subjects in medicine that they often indulged in the pleasantry of 
 inquiriug of him what was his most recent specialty. He enjoyed 
 such pleasantries exceedingly. Soon after his appointment as 
 Superintendent of Spring Grove Asylum, he was asked when he 
 expected to publish his work on mental diseases. That work did 
 not appear, but a work of a more lasting character stands to his 
 credit at Springfield. This work of his will, no doubt, go through
 
 Addresses. 245 
 
 many more editions than can be expected for any modem medical 
 volume. 
 
 There is another side from which Eohe's achievements must be 
 considered here. He was a man of broad culture, had a wide 
 acquaintance with general science and the most varied literature, 
 and he acquired a style in his contributions which at once sug- 
 gested that he must have had the advantages of a thorough academic 
 training. 
 
 Furthermore, there must be remembered on this occasion his 
 refined tastes, his charm of manner, and the graceful freedom of 
 his movements, which characterized him as a man of the world, 
 and strongly suggested that he must have been reared in luxury 
 and under the tenderest care. . . . Probably what conduced most 
 powerfully to make him the successful teacher in medicine that 
 he became was his very early experience as a teacher, in which he 
 continued for many, many years. It was surely a labor of love, 
 for through this long period he was the sole and devoted teacher 
 of himself. As a lad of twelve years, I found him in the office of 
 my friend, the late Dr. Augustus F. Erich, performing the func- 
 tions of an office boy. He continued this work during the winter 
 months, year after year, while during the summer he helped his 
 widowed mother to work a small truck farm, located a few miles 
 from this city. At the early age of twelve years he left school 
 and received no instruction, save what he gave himself, until he 
 entered the University of Maryland Medical School, in 1870. Dr. 
 Erich early made prediction that the boy would make something 
 creditable of himself, for he noticed his thirst for knowledge, and 
 often found him late at night poring over his books. The doctor 
 kindly allowed him the use of his library, and directed him, to 
 some degree, in the selection of reading matter, which, no doubt, 
 contributed greatly to his early progress. When we consider the 
 rugged road over which he had to pass to reach his goal, and the 
 little aid he received in the hard work he had undertaken, we 
 17
 
 346 Aaeon Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 cannot but marvel at the success he attained. He was one of those 
 who recognize early in life that they have certain endowments which 
 must not be allowed to go to waste; and, although the circumstances 
 did not seem propitious, he felt the moral obligation to work, to 
 work incessantly, in order to prove himself worthy of the trust 
 reposed in him. It was this consciousness which stood him in 
 good stead in his rather varied career. He had so often found 
 his capabilities to meet severe tests that he felt he could confidently 
 rely upon them. 
 
 There are those who put too low an estimate on what they are 
 capable of doing, and fail in life because they start out and pursue 
 their way so timidly that their opportunities are snatched from 
 them when within their very grasp. There are others whose con- 
 ceit so magnifies their powers that they are moved by temerity to 
 undertake anything. They stumble at every step, wander reck- 
 lessly, lose themselves and come to grief in a thousand ways. But 
 there are also those who have that vision which enables them to 
 see themselves exactly as they are. They have tested themselves 
 and found the degree of strain they can safely bear; they have 
 measured their talents and know how far they will reach; they 
 have gauged their capacity and Imow what they can take in. These 
 usually reap the full advantage of their powers; go through life 
 safely, steadily advancing, and ultimately reaching their destina- 
 tion. 
 
 Of the latter class Dr. Eohe was an eminent example. He knew 
 the strength of every fibre within him. He felt that the ground 
 upon which he stood was firm ; and, when he placed all his energies 
 in a new venture, he was sure that he had invested safely. Fears 
 did not haunt, nor obstacles deter him. He assumed new positions 
 as if they were but everyday affairs; and, the newer they were to 
 him, the greater was the credit that he gained in filling them. Such 
 was Eohe, the teacher ; such was Eohe, the man : the teacher because 
 he was such a man; the man because he was such a teacher.
 
 EESPONSE TO THE TOAST, " OUE CANDIDATES FOE 
 GEADUATION, MAY THEY ALL PASS A SUCCESSFUL 
 EXAMINATION," AT A BANQUET GIVEN BY THE 
 FACULTY OF THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND 
 SURGEONS, JANUAEY 1, 1880. 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 I feel that I can cheerfully respond to the sentiment just an- 
 nounced, for, judging from the pleasant countenances of the gen- 
 tlemen who form the subject of the toast, we need feel no great 
 solicitude with regard to the manner in which they will acquit 
 themselves in the approaching struggle. During the past week 
 business men all over the country have been engaged in preparing 
 accurate accounts of assets and liabilities, so that in comparing 
 them they might be able to judge of their prospects in the year 
 1880 ; and, as the one or the other has preponderated, work will be 
 resumed either under the encouragement of anticipated success, 
 or under the paralyzing influence of impending failure. 
 
 I presume that during the recent vacation you have been some- 
 what similarly engaged, for the year 1880 will be a very eventful 
 one to you. You have no doubt carefully examined into the char- 
 acter of your assets, composed of the knowledge you have acquired, 
 and of your liabilities, consisting of the knowledge you will be ex- 
 pected to give evidence of; and, though you may not be permitted 
 to exult over any very great excess of your assets, you are no doubt 
 able to obtain such a satisfactory report from your balance sheet 
 that it will enable you to resume your labor with clear heads and 
 light hearts. You may be somewhat horrified by the long list of
 
 348 Aaron Triedenwald, M. D. 
 
 items for which you will have to answer in the various accounts, 
 but the more ambitious among you have probably been convinced 
 already, during the terrible ordeal of quizzing to which you have 
 been subjected for the past three months, that in the bright lexicon 
 of youth there is no such word as fail; and to those among you 
 who are somewhat less sanguine, I would whisper by way of en- 
 couragement thaA their creditors are not Shylocks, but clever fel- 
 lows who will extend an honorable release for a little less than one 
 hundred cents on the dollar. 
 
 There is Anatomy for example, usually pictured as a cold, 
 austere, uncompromising individual; you will find him a warm- 
 hearted, responsive creditor, who will gladly accept your returns 
 of old bones, debris of viscera, the old trunks of some [blood] 
 vessels, provided that you know the point from which they sail and 
 the harbor which they reach, and that you deliver them in a pre- 
 sentable shape; and let me tell you confidentially that that can be 
 accomplished by encasing them in a plaster of Paris jacket.'' 
 
 Physiology will parade a long list of questions concerning res- 
 piration, circulation, digestion, assimilation, nutrition, reproduc- 
 tion, and so on; but he is so ashamed of the fact that there are 
 so many questions in his department which he cannot answer that 
 he will call it square if you will simply tell how to cure whooping 
 cough, or in the event that you have not made this discovery, 
 acquaint him with the prophylaxis of scarlatina; every old woman 
 can tell you that/ 
 
 Surgery will disappoint you most. He will confront you with 
 grim visage, with glittering steel, and will savor of blood, and 
 though you have known him not to give five minutes grace when 
 
 ^ The Professor of Anatomy also held the chair of Orthopedic Surgery. 
 == Physiology and Diseases of Children were taught by the same 
 professor.
 
 Addresses. 349 
 
 an obligation was due him at nine o'clock in the morning,* he is 
 not what he appears to be; he purposes to heal and not to wound, 
 and when he sometimes premeditates crueltj'^ it does not hurt any- 
 body, for he collapses under the idea himself. 
 
 The venerable form that will appear to you in the department of 
 nervous diseases and clinical medicine has so long been engaged 
 in the discussion of historical, political, religious, and even scientific 
 subjects, in which he occasionally takes one side and then the other, 
 and often both, that he might forgive you if you answer his ques- 
 tions correctly, but he would decidedly prefer for you to prove to 
 him that he was wrong. The style of argument that you are to 
 employ to accomplish this end, will, as you know, be taught gratis 
 every Sunday afternoon in the Society for Free Discussions. 
 
 Gynecology will lead you in dark and tortuous recesses where 
 dreadful crimes are often perpetrated, by surgeons of course, in 
 regard to which you will have to give evidence, and if you fail to 
 describe accurately the dreadful scenes ... it may be a satis- 
 faction for you to know that the mistakes which you may make in 
 this department will be just as difficult to detect as those made by 
 very great gynecologists. 
 
 One thing of importance, gentlemen; it will not do to be too 
 modest, and to show you a good example in this respect I will speak 
 now of myself, before mentioning any more of my colleagues. I 
 shall not expect you to know more than I taught you ; in this regard 
 I may be more liberal than some gentlemen whom I have not men- 
 tioned. 
 
 Thus far I have indicated to you how to secure a majority of 
 votes, and this is all that is required. I should be extremely 
 obliged to you after you have passed the ordeal, if you furnish me 
 
 ' His lecture hour.
 
 250 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 with some points in reference to the faculty which I have not men- 
 tioned, so that I can make some useful revelations to the class that 
 is to succeed you. 
 
 In conclusion, permit me to wish you a happy New Year and to 
 indulge the hope of soon grasping your hands to congratulate you 
 on the most creditable results of your examinations.
 
 EESPONSE TO THE TOAST OF "THE FACULTY/' AT 
 THE BANQUET OF THE ALUMNI OF THE COLLEGE 
 OF PHYSICIANS AND SUEGEONS, MAKCH 1, 1883. 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 I deem it a great compliment, after talking so much to you 
 during the past winter and often feeling that I had overtaxed your 
 patience, that you signify willingness to have me speak again on 
 this occasion. I must confess that I am not reluctant to speak to 
 you now, for I am anxious to embrace this opportunity to congratu- 
 late you upon the attainment of the honor which bestows upon you 
 fellowship in an honored profession, and to wish you uninter- 
 rupted success in the new career which you now begin. 
 
 The struggle has ended, and many an intense anxiety has sub- 
 sided, many an annoying fear has been dispelled, and, amid the 
 sweet strains of music and floral tributes from loving hands, and 
 the hearty plaudits ... of friends, you have been invested with the 
 badge which admits you to membership in a noble fraternity. The 
 faculty which has bestowed upon you this badge feels great pride 
 that it has been enabled to reinforce the profession with such solid 
 material, not because there has been any very apparent scarcity of 
 physicians, but because you who now enter the old ranks as new 
 men give so much promise of also becoming true men in your 
 fidelity to our ancient creed, embracing devotion to service and 
 duty to humanity. 
 
 It is one of the greatest enjoyments of this faculty to meet its 
 graduates around the festive board at this season, to witness their 
 Joy, and to enter into the spirit of their fresh enthusiasm. But a 
 few days ago and there were but few among you that would not
 
 252 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 have readily answered as clinical objects to demonstrate pro- 
 nounced anaemia; your emaciated forms appeared to invoke a fresh 
 supply of nourishment, and told the mournful tale of inexpressible 
 waste; and your unstrung nervous system and your bleared eyes 
 bore unmistakable testimony to your close companionship with the 
 midnight lamp. But the sudden transfusion which this faculty 
 has practised upon you has returned the bloom to your cheeks, has 
 filled up the hollow places, has extended buoyancy to your nerves, 
 and made your eyes sparkle with delight. What a transformation ! 
 And as you carried off so proudly the significant roll of sheepskin, 
 you carried with you the consciousness that you had done your duty 
 well, and no doubt most of you feel that you are masters of the 
 situation. This is a pleasant illusion, and I would not for the 
 world be so cruel as to disturb it on this occasion. Your diploma 
 is very much like the letter of credit with which the traveller pro- 
 vides himself before sailing on his journey ; he first makes a deposit 
 with some banking firm, for which he receives the certificate 
 which insures the freedom of his future movements. You have 
 also made a deposit before starting upon your journey; you have 
 deposited the evidence that you have that mental fund which will 
 entitle you to the proper recognition from the profession wherever 
 you will go, and gain for you in the community in which you will 
 live that respect to which the skulking itinerant quack can never 
 aspire. 
 
 The letter of credit that we issue differs from that coming from 
 a banking house in one very important particular, in that the 
 former is simply signed by the collective name of the firm, while 
 we sign our individual names. Well, this is not amiss, for in study- 
 ing the individual signatures you may learn very important les- 
 sons. There is O.'s signature, very little, straight up and down; 
 even his O's have an appearance of straightness that one oould 
 hardly suppose a round thing could be made to assume, which he
 
 Addresses. 253 
 
 no doubt intends should remind you of the rectitude of character 
 which is so indispensable to the true physician, and warn you of 
 those crooked things to which there are so many temptations. 
 
 Next follows the name of Lynch ; what an amount of positiveness 
 appears in that signature ! Obstinacy, I hear some one whisper, 
 but that's a villainous mistake; I will refute the calumny; every- 
 one can read in that signature that, no matter what G. and the 
 whole world may say, it is as safe to give a teaspoonful of 
 Veratrum Viride as it is to administer a restorative cordial, and 
 further that he will allow no man and no book to dictate to him 
 the dose of quinine which is requisite to constitute the abortive 
 treatment of typhoid fever. I think I could improve the relation 
 of the first letter of his name with the rest, but I shall not say 
 anything about it, for a man that will not move an "inch" can 
 hardly be expected to move an " ell." 
 
 L. signs next; what symmetry of letters, emblematical of the 
 completeness of his character; and, though all know his fixedness 
 of purpose, we find one letter leaning a little one way, and another 
 inclining in another direction, which means that the true gentle- 
 man, of whom he is the type, will always bend a little whenever 
 friendship makes the demand or courtesy whispers its delicate 
 appeal. 
 
 The next name is a perfect photograph of E: it is as broad as 
 it is long; it looks a little blunt, but you know he knows of no 
 equivocation or circumlocution; what he says he wants to be 
 understood, and what he writes he wants to be thoroughly legible. 
 So it seems that he always signs his name with the sharp point of a 
 sponge tent, though I don't want to be understood as saying that 
 it is only with the sponge tent that he has made his mark. 
 
 B.'s signature would serve a good purpose on the first line of any 
 copy-book; it is a perfect piece of penmanship. Whenever he 
 signs his name he seems to be under the inspiration flowing from
 
 254 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 the contemplation of some perfect piece of Grecian statuary; he 
 worships at the shrine of beauty; he cannot bear the least asym- 
 metry, and that is what makes him such a good orthopedic surgeon ; 
 he hints to you in that signature to allow no deformity to develop, 
 . . . and to slap on the plaster jacket wherever you successfully 
 can. 
 
 C. cleverly reminds you of all the anastomosis which it will be 
 necessary for you to know in your future surgical practice. How 
 deftly are those letters entwined ! The initial of his middle name 
 will remind you somewhat of a Bridge of Sighs, typifying his ex- 
 amination, a painful eternity, for it is without beginning, without 
 end. 
 
 A. makes a dash here, a dash there, and so his signature is 
 evolved; and, though he dashes fearlessly in every direction, he 
 never misses his mark. He reminds you not to keep your minds in 
 one direction; to live in medicine but not to bury yourselves in it; 
 to cultivate your mind with useful knowledge from every source. 
 
 G.'s signature tells a whole history of experiences of strange 
 hallucinations, of fearful storms on the sea of life, but there issues 
 from it the triumphant exclamation, Kichard is himself again ! 
 
 S.'s signature represents the condition of incomplete crystal- 
 lization; he can write a great deal better than he would have it 
 appear, but he wishes to hint to you that, though you have all 
 passed brilliant examinations in his branch, there is still a 
 good deal of chemistry for you to learn. His signature must have 
 been seen by the boy of whom it was told that he was caught doing 
 something wrong, but was accorded the privilege of choosing his 
 punishment; he wanted it to be like Italian penmanship, the up- 
 strokes heavy, the down-strokes light. S.'s up-strokes have the 
 lightness of hydrogen gas, his down-strokes the powerful effect of 
 nitric acid. 
 
 Neither of myself nor of my si^ature shall I speak on this oc-
 
 Addresses. 255 
 
 casion, not that I am so modest that I fear that nothing remarkable 
 could be found in either, but because I am the only fellow with 
 whom I have had an intimate acquaintance, whom I have not yet 
 found out. Indifferent as I may be to know the opinion of some, 
 I confess, gentlemen, that I shall always feel proud to have your 
 good opinion, and to live in your kind remembrance.
 
 RESPONSE TO A TOAST AT THE ANNUAL BANQUET OF 
 THE ALUMNI OF THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS 
 AND SURGEONS, MARCH 3, 1884. 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 The Alumni of the College of Physicians and Surgeons receive 
 to-day one hundred and twenty-seven new recruits. These are 
 strangers to those of you who may be looked upon as . . . vet- 
 erans. It is well that you should become better acquainted with 
 one another, and it is perhaps not out of place that one of the 
 faculty who knows both parties should tell the one who the other 
 is. I will probably not be charged with violating the rules of 
 propriety when I give age the precedence, and so I shall address 
 myself to the older ones first. The one hundred and twenty-seven 
 to whom we ask you to-day to extend the hand of fellowship have 
 given every evidence in the examinations which they have just fin- 
 ished that they are made of the proper stuff. They have exhibited 
 such earnestness of purpose and such unwavering diligence during 
 the whole course of their work that we are warranted in the pre- 
 diction that they will continue to reflect credit upon their Alma 
 Mater in the future. That they are " honorable men," and that 
 they have " well-equipped themselves for the duties of the profes- 
 sion " in which they shall soon enroll themselves as members, the 
 diploma which will be bestowed upon them to-morrow will serve as 
 an ample credential. But this is perhaps not all that you want 
 to know about them, satisfactory as this information must be. 
 You would like, no doubt, also to know what else they have learned, 
 or rather what they have not forgotten, and let me say here that 
 the traditions that you have bequeathed to them have been pre-
 
 Addresses. 257 
 
 served with sacred care. The same scenes were exhibited between 
 the acts as in days of yore. The same music resounded in the halls 
 between the lectures as in those days when you were the chor- 
 isters, sung, perhaps, with a little more fervor, and with a stray 
 peanut, now and then, indicating a higher " pitch." If you could 
 have stood with us in the circle and gazed upon the scene in the 
 very first row, you would have been convinced that others could 
 suffer a leg being out of place as well as you did in times gone 
 by. The only accidents which were not so readily repaired 
 and were a little more serious in their character, were quite a 
 number of fractures of legs, of course I mean the legs of chairs. 
 As with you, this violent spirit was indulged in only by nobody, 
 and only in this way was it discovered that there were nobodies in 
 the class. We have continued to notice about the same propor- 
 tion who would apparently go to sleep regularly during the lectures, 
 and, as before, we were forced by the examinations which they 
 passed to the conclusion that they must have slept with one ear 
 open. To maintain full aflBliation with former classes they have 
 apparently been highly delighted with many a bad joke, and as 
 mercilessly turned a deaf ear to many a good one. About the 
 same number have told me in confidence about a certain joke of a 
 certain professor (the only one he has), that they heard it once be- 
 fore, probably to attract my attention to their memory. I hope I 
 am not perpetrating a breach of confidence when I tell you that 
 the various members of the faculty would willingly forgive every 
 member of the class if he forgot the jokes which he heard in the 
 previous session. 
 
 And now a word to those that are initiated as new members on 
 this occasion. In telling the older alumni how much you have 
 been like them I have simultaneously told you how much they were 
 like you during their college career. I have to add what they have 
 been since. They have illustrated by their success in the profes-
 
 258 Aaeon Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 sion that when good seed is planted in proper soil wholesome fruit 
 will plenteously follow. There are many among them of whom we 
 are proud; there are none among them of whom we need be 
 ashamed. They have all, no doubt, made mistakes, and profited 
 by them. You will, no doubt, make some mistakes; and, if you 
 could compare them with the mistakes that they have made, you 
 would immediately detect the blood relationship by the great like- 
 ness which they bear to each other. There is one mistake I warn 
 you all not to make, and that is to remain single. We have one 
 bachelor in the faculty expressly for the purpose of serving as a 
 warning example. . . .
 
 ADDEESS DELIVEKED AT THE ANNUAL BANQUET OF 
 THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF THE COLLEGE OF 
 PHYSICIANS AND SUEGEONS, MAECH 12, 1885. 
 
 Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Alumni Association: 
 It is very pleasant indeed, after the hard work which the session 
 just ended has entailed upon us, and the earnest times which 
 marked its termination, to meet together and to rejoice together 
 in the continued prosperity of your Alma Mater. It is pleasant to 
 behold the veterans and the new recruits joining hands in the in- 
 terest of the institution to which they owe their professional lives. 
 It is to be hoped that the old soldiers who have been in the fight 
 have glad tidings to bring to the young companions to whom they 
 are now extending for the first time the hand of fellowship, and 
 that their example of affection and constancy and devotion to duty 
 may be felt and be appreciated, and inspire those who are putting 
 on the armor and preparing for the battle for the first time. This 
 is not the time to give advice nor to preach sermons, for you are 
 all, no doubt, brimful of good resolutions to remain good men, to 
 become reputable physicians, and always to remember kindly your 
 Alma Mater. I have no doubt that you have all provided your- 
 selves with the picture of the faculty, to be doubly sure that your 
 affections will not be estranged from them in your journey through 
 life. It is a very good idea. It is a great pity that the picture is 
 not nearly so good. I have the group hanging in my office ; I must 
 confess the only thing which I admire about it is the good com- 
 pany in which I find myself. Professor 0., who is a great art critic, 
 looke'd at it the other day when he honored me with a visit, and 
 wanted to know whether it was a rogues' gallery. I pointed to the
 
 260 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 tallest figure, which looked more like him than anybody that I 
 know, and said, " This is the biggest one " ; I alluded, of course, 
 to the size. After all, photographs don't serve the purpose ex- 
 actly. Even if you were provided with the very best and you 
 came back after some years, you might not even recognize those 
 whom they represented. I think we can learn something from the 
 Chinese and Japanese. You are, no doubt, all aware that they 
 have an entirely different notion of art from ours. We attempt 
 to paint the thing as it is or was; they place upon the canvas some- 
 thing that suggests the thing, person, or idea which they wish to 
 show. They have objects which, placed in the proper way, repre- 
 sent joy, or grief, or battle, or victory, and so forth ; a crow, a cock 
 perched upon a drum, and a dragon, are examples of these objects. 
 I propose to prepare a picture of this kind for you, with your per- 
 mission; and I find it no very great task, for the surgeon's arma- 
 mentarium contains all that is needed. 
 
 Who could ever forget Professor 0. with the aspirating needle 
 before him? A long, thin thing, through which large accumula- 
 tions can be evacuated with great facility, through comparatively 
 small openings. 
 
 Professor L., the ecraseur, — who will not immediately recognize 
 the likeness ? With the ecraseur we can secure a firm hold on things, 
 but when we keep on screwing, as Dr. L. keeps on increasing the 
 dose of his remedies, the thing drops off. 
 
 Dr. L.^ will be represented by the single blade of the obstetric 
 forceps; there is a great deal of metal in it, and it is highly pol- 
 ished ; how complete would it be with the other blade ! 
 
 In the sponge tent we find a perfect fac-simile of Professor E. ; 
 you can compress it as you will, and, pushed in the smallest crev- 
 ices, in the most obscure recesses, it will make room for itself and 
 
 ^ A bachelor.
 
 'v that I 
 ' course. 
 
 examples of these objects. 
 
 > 
 
 m 
 
 -li have an t ' art fro uipt 
 
 o 
 
 CO 
 
 o 
 
 LU 
 O 
 3Q 
 
 oi cock 
 
 Q 
 > 
 
 CO 
 
 S 
 > 
 
 o 
 
 CO 
 
 < 
 
 I 
 
 J3 
 
 icreasing the 
 
 e tent v, 
 
 4 obbcure rt;<;»i*bes, it. i>eli' and
 
 o
 
 Addresses, 261 
 
 come to life, and finally you will hardly find a place roomy enough 
 for it. 
 
 Professor B. will be represented in the group which I draw for 
 you by the mallet and chisel, instruments which, in the hands of 
 the sculptor, preserve the type of symmetry in the human body, 
 and which will always serve as a reference to Professor B.'s ortho- 
 paedic skill ; and, although he is neither a sculptor nor a mason, you 
 have recently had evidence how well he can cut out a stone and cut 
 for stone. 
 
 Professor C. gives me the least trouble; he is a sort of natural 
 negative; all you have to do is to print the picture. I have done 
 so, and what do you think I obtained? A saw. The saw is an 
 instrument which goes backward and forward, backward and for- 
 ward, upward and downward, upward and downward, and if you 
 don't watch it closely you won't know where it is, but it gets 
 through with its work well and in due time. I don't like to tell 
 tales out of school, but if you promise not to tell anyone else I will 
 confide a secret to you. In Faculty meetings it is often extremely 
 important to have his counsel and his vote, and we often have to 
 send out exploring expeditions after him, which sometimes find 
 him in the wards of the Hospital, or in the Museum, at times in 
 the dispensary, and again back in the kitchen, all this at the same 
 meeting. 
 
 Professor A. is a double-edged catlin ; it requires very little push- 
 ing to bring it forward, and on whatever side it is used it makes 
 way for itself. 
 
 The well-soaked sponge will always remind you of Professor G. ; 
 press where you will, you will always find there is something in it. 
 
 I shall leave an empty space in which you will have to look for 
 
 Professor S.; there is nothing there; as there is nothing in the 
 
 arn^amentarium to stand in his stead, for there is nobody who can 
 
 teach medical students as much chemistry as he can. 
 18
 
 362 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 Professor R, I shall represent by the trephine, the brush, and 
 the lever ; in all his literary work he goes below the surface, but he 
 doesn't do it by boring ; he brushes away the debris, and with the 
 lever brings hidden things to view, so that all can see them. I am 
 sorry that I had to retain the brush, which is inseparable from 
 the group, for it has much too much hair on it to look anything 
 like R. 
 
 There is one in the faculty I have almost forgotten; I should 
 be extremely sorry if you ever will. I think he can be best pictured 
 by the surgical needle, a small insignificant thing, hardly to be 
 noticed among the other more pretentious instruments . . . 
 No doubt all of you still remember that when you were not v€ry 
 careful in approaching the eye you were very apt to be stuck. 
 
 Accept this picture with my kindest regards; take it with you, 
 hang it in your offices, and look at it occasionally ; and I feel sure 
 when you come back to us in after years, if we are here at all, you 
 will find us less altered than the photographs would indicate.
 
 EESPONSE TO THE TOAST, " THE FINAL EXAMINA- 
 TION; EXAMINE ME ON THE PAETICULAES OF 
 MY KNOWLEDGE," AT THE ANNUAL BANQUET OF 
 THE ALUMNI OF THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS 
 AND SUKGEONS, MAECH 15, 1887/ 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 The toast just announced proposes two very broad subjects for 
 what must necessarily be one very short speech, " The final ex- 
 amination," and " Examine me on the particulars of my knowl- 
 edge." I am sure, gentlemen, that you who have just passed the 
 ordeal will agree with me that, even with most judicious economy 
 of words, the final examination is a subject so suggestive as fully 
 to occupy the time that this occasion would well allow, even if 
 treated in a most general way. Therefore the task imposed upon 
 me, to add anything that refers to particulars, particularly to the 
 particulars of my knowledge, would require of me a skill in verbal 
 financiering which I certainly cannot claim to possess. 
 
 The final examination is an epidemic which appears regularly 
 once a year, about the same season, lasting about the same time, 
 and assailing young men of a certain class. It is always antici- 
 pated with an anxiety out of all proportion to its comparatively 
 low rate of mortality. The attack to which the unfortunate in- 
 dividual is subjected is preceded by a distinct premonitory stage, 
 lasting usually a few weeks, marked by insomnia, emaciation, 
 anaemia, and impairment of mental vigor. In this condition the 
 sufferer usually appeals to his physician, the quiz-master, for re- 
 lief. He advises him to partake liberally of mental food, and 
 
 ^ At that date oral examinations were still in vogue, the student 
 meeting a different instructor each day.
 
 264 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 prescribes for him a bounteous supply of well-prepared text-books, 
 to which he adds an endless number of instructions to secure their 
 thorough digestion. But, lo, the appetite will not respond. He 
 next tempts him with little dainties of well-seasoned compends 
 which may be relished for a short time, but generally soon become 
 nauseating, and then superinduce ineffectual deglutition. The 
 poor patient at this juncture is much dismayed, but his doctor has 
 not exhausted his resources; he brings forth the stomach tube, 
 thrusts it through his rebellious esophagus, and pours in his con- 
 centrated broth until he can pour in no more. Now the patient 
 cries out imploringly, " Hold up, for I am sure to burst," but the 
 doctor smiles complacently, and replies, " Fear not, for you are well 
 crammed." Now the febrile attack is ushered in; it is of the 
 quotidian type, repeats itself daily with great regularity, varying 
 in its intensity somewhat on different days, having a cold, a hot, 
 and a sweating stage. From this time on the doctor sinks into 
 oblivion, and a professor steps into the foreground, each day 
 another. They treat the patient as if he had swallowed something 
 belonging to them which they wanted to get out of him again 
 at all hazards. They press him hard on all sides, they pump him 
 most unmercifully, and they call the process an examination. 
 Except for the legal significance of the term, it might better be 
 styled a cross-examination which, with its multiplicity of demur- 
 rers and rebuttals, is deserving of the title of an " Inquisition." 
 These inquisitors get out of many of their victims all they seek; 
 more is the wonder, when we consider how awkwardly they 
 go about it. Out of many they obtain but a fair quantity, 
 and here it must be said to their credit that they are always wil- 
 ling to accept a reasonable compromise. In isolated cases they 
 find nothing, even after the most persistent search. This phe- 
 nomenon has been variously explained, some claiming there was 
 nothing to find, while others believe that the indiscriminate ham-
 
 Addresses. 265 
 
 mering that was done has sometimes accidently closed up the bung 
 hole. Woe to him who will some day have to answer for the 
 many answers that have thus been suppressed ! 
 
 I have not consulted the toast-master as to whom he means in 
 the annex to the toast, "Examine me on the particulars of my 
 knowledge ; " certainly not the recent graduate, for he would in- 
 dignantly reject the honor in the language of Falstaff, " No more 
 examinations for me, I have my belly full of them." I take it for 
 granted that he must mean the individual members of the faculty 
 who have been kept so busy during the session dispensing their 
 general knowledge that they could not find time to reveal their 
 particular knowledge. 
 
 I will, therefore, take the liberty to ask Professor 0. in behalf 
 of the toast-master, for the benefit of the recent graduate, how to 
 steer safely between conflicting influences of obstetrics and gyne- 
 colog}', the former teaching as it does to let the uterus have its 
 own way and its own time to get rid of things, and the latter seem- 
 ingly holding out at all times the temptation to get out of it all 
 one can. 
 
 I would ask Professor L., who has discovered the real kinship of 
 the white and red corpuscles, which, according to him, stand to 
 each other as progenitor and offspring,^ whether the recently dis- 
 covered placque, which we all must acknowledge is a blood rela- 
 tion, is to be regarded as a grandparent or a grandchild. 
 
 I would ask Professor L. to forget for a moment his weakness 
 for full and late suppers and to designate what would be a minimum 
 of cheap nourishment that would answer the purpose of an ab- 
 dominal support, — of course I don't mean an abdomen of the di- 
 mensions of his own. It might be useful to the young practitioner 
 in his early experience, in enabling him to avoid the unpleasant- 
 ness of too frequently recurring fast-days. 
 
 ' A pet theory of his.
 
 266 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 Of Professor B. I would ask, for the benefit of the poor stu- 
 dent who is led into the dangerous currents of anatomy, in which 
 he cannot find his way, in which he has either stranded, been 
 totally shipwrecked, or formed a sort of embolus, whether there is 
 no more pleasant way out of the difficulty than to be extricated 
 readily and easily,' or easily and readily, after first being crushed 
 into fragments, however, by a species of lithotrity. 
 
 Professor C. is noted for demanding very prompt answers in 
 anything relating to emergencies. No student will fail when he 
 asks "What would you do, if . . . ," to reply, before he has 
 finished the sentence, " Stop the hemorrhage, sir." I now ask 
 him if a man is blown up in the air, whether it is justifiable to 
 wait till he comes down, or whether he would suggest something 
 to do in the meantime. 
 
 Of Professor A. I would ask, for the benefit of some of my col- 
 leagues, the recipe for the soothing syrup which he administers 
 to the students in his examinations, which enables them to main- 
 tain such perfect composure amid scenes made horrible by insen- 
 sibility, hyperaesthesia, spasms, convulsions, incoordination, paraly- 
 sis, collapse, and coma. 
 
 Of Professor G., to whom I am sure we are greatly indebted for 
 the information regarding many remarkable things and concerning 
 men of all times with which he so successfully illustrates his in- 
 structions, I would ask, if he has anything remarkable to relate 
 about anybody this evening, to restrict himself, — I don't like to 
 ask impossibilities, and therefore I won't say to some person pres- 
 ent, but, in deference to our national pride, I would ask him not 
 to carry us to some foreign clime, for we are beginning to think 
 that this is a big country too, at least too large to be entirely 
 ignored. 
 
 * A characteristic mannerism of the professor in question.
 
 Addresses. 267 
 
 I do not want to slight Professor S., but I have an aversion to a 
 chemical cauldron; it always savors of sulphuretted hydrogen, 
 which, as it is, we have to succumb to frequently enough from 
 other sources ; but if he has any secrets to communicate I willingly 
 extend to him carte blanche. 
 
 My last question is to Professor K. He has a good head on him ; 
 it is as replete within as it is barren without. I cannot look upon 
 its summit without being reminded of the goal of the Arctic ex- 
 plorer, the open sea at the North pole. I would ask him why he 
 don't get married. You may be surprised that I did not ask him 
 a question of a more scientific character; my reason is that there 
 is no question so simple but that he can give it scientific significance. 
 
 In conclusion, gentlemen of the graduating class, permit me to 
 assure you of my good wishes, and to express the hope that in those 
 self-examinations to which you will all have to subject yourselves, 
 you will be able to answer unhesitatingly, " I have led a pure life 
 and I have remained an honest man," and that a diploma bearing 
 these words will secure the proper endorsement after the grand 
 final examination which will take place in a better world.
 
 EESPONSE TO THE TOAST OF " THE SPECIALIST " AT 
 THE ANNUAL BANQUET OF THE ALUMNI OF THE 
 COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS, MARCH 
 15, 1888. 
 
 The specialist, although he has settled among us for some time, 
 is still looked upon as a newcomer ; and the talk about him, as to 
 what he is and what he pretends to be, still continues. He cer- 
 tainly has added a new army corps to our professional forces. 
 How came he so rapidly from the rear to the van? Has he mer- 
 ited the advancement which he has attained? Has he fulfilled the 
 promises with which he has been so lavish? These questions are 
 all answered very satisfactorily if the answer is left to himself. 
 I should not always like to answer for him. He considers him- 
 self a species of a higher development, destined to survive, and 
 looks pityingly upon the general practitioner as a subject for the 
 study of the paleontologist of the future. He is a creature of one 
 specialty but many peculiarities, of which I would mention the 
 peculiarity of his mental organization. 
 
 In the storehouse of his knowledge there is but one pigeon-hole 
 occupied. In some instances this has always been so, the house 
 simply being too large for the owner from the beginning; in other 
 cases the empty apartments had at one time been occupied, but the 
 tenants were evicted because they did not pay any rent. He has 
 proved himself a very prolific being, however, and has brought up 
 a remarkably large family. This is specially remarkable when we 
 take into consideration the short time that he has been in the 
 business, and when we allow for those of his offspring that were 
 still-born, and for the miscarriages that happened in his family.
 
 • "■ Addresses. 269 
 
 Tlie ophthalmologist is his first-born and he is proud of his 
 birthright, although he has exhibited a great fondness for his mess 
 of pottage too. If there is anything bad to say about him I shall 
 not do it, for he deserves much sympathy for the struggles that 
 he had to go through in the beginning. He had at first to lead a 
 romantic life, doing his work by the wayside as best he could, 
 nowhere finding a sufficiently firm footing to place himself perma- 
 nently. The disadvantage under which he labored was that he 
 had no scope, but a better day at last dawned for him and an 
 angel in the form of Helmholtz, the great German physiologist and 
 physicist, appeared to him and placed one in his hand. Since then 
 he has been enabled to reveal a whole new world, and now every- 
 body is willing to do him homage. 
 
 The next one added to the family was the laryngologist. He was 
 a lucky fellow from the start. He was, so to say, born holding a 
 silver spoon in somebody else's mouth. He did not have to grope 
 his way long in the dark; he received inspiration from his elder 
 brother to discover that light which permitted him to explore re- 
 gions which had never been beheld before. All honor is due him, 
 for he has given speech to the dumb, and breath to expiring life. 
 
 The gynecologist was born all at once; there were no throes of 
 labor to go through with, and, to show consistency, he did not even 
 wait for the christening, but made a name for himself. He is 
 entitled to our full respect, for, besides all the good that he has 
 done for suffering woman, and all the good that he has done for 
 himself — and that has not always been little — he has the credit for 
 opening the way for the possibilities of the abdominal surgery of 
 our day. It is to be regretted that there are some specimens of 
 this species who disgrace the family name. They are to be likened 
 to the bacteria which are known by the stains which they bear. 
 Lei us hope that they are not as numerous as is sometimes whis- 
 pered.
 
 270 Aaeon" Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 The neurologist next deserves conspicuous honor. What a task 
 he has undertaken ! What an intricate instrument has he not at- 
 tempted to master, a harp with a thousand strings ! How learn- 
 edly he speaks, when we ask what the disease is, and where the 
 disease is ; and how silent he is, unfortunately, when we ask where 
 the remedy is ! He is entitled to lasting gratitude, however, for, 
 besides the great discoveries which are the guides for himself, he 
 has furnished a map for cerebral surgery, the acquisition of which 
 domain ranks deservedly as one of the greatest achievements of our 
 time. Let us hope that he may soon receive a new revelation for 
 the improvement of his therapeutics, so that he will either be en- 
 abled to throw aside altogether those electrical playthings with which 
 he has been so much employed or be permitted to make more prac- 
 tical use of them. In the meantime we owe him many thanks, for 
 he has been a splendid summer and winter resort to send our hys- 
 terical women to when we had to rid ourselves of them for a while. 
 
 And now a word in regard to the genito-urinary surgeon. I do 
 not know what to admire most in him, the skill with which he 
 gets things out of the bladder, or the readiness vidth which he 
 thrusts things into the bladder. After witnessing him passing a 
 sound of the size of a crow-bar through the urethra, I am now 
 prepared to see him extract a stone through the same channel by 
 means of the obstetric forceps. He has had a hard lot assigned to 
 him, that of a "hewer of stone" and a "drawer of water." Let 
 us therefore forgive him for the innocent blood he has often shed 
 in cutting strictures that never existed. 
 
 I shall not apologize to the rectal surgeon for having deferred 
 my respects to him to this period of my remarks; for he is rather 
 used to being brought in at the end of things. He is the 
 youngest in the family and, under the circumstances, bright, cheer- 
 ful, and happy. He has not been without his mishaps. He was 
 born a mistake. He had made up his mind to be born a gynecolo-
 
 Addresses. 271 
 
 gist, but the field was occupied; and in looking around for an 
 opening he found one in the immediate neighborhood. And now- 
 let me take my leave of this happy family. 
 
 Before doing this, however, permit me to say to the young gradu- 
 ate here present who may desire to become a specialist, to be a 
 physician first, and to remain a physician throughout his career 
 in addition to being a specialist, in clinging to the mission which 
 is the basis of our profession. Gather new knowledge wherever 
 you can, but never abandon oifr ancient creed. Avoid the company 
 of those specialists who avow a professional agnosticism, and preach 
 an ethical culture of their own.
 
 RESPONSE TO THE TOAST OF " THE CAP AND GOWN " 
 AT THE ANNUAL BANQUET OF THE ALUMNI OF 
 THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SUEGEONS, 
 1891. 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 It is a bad thing for a man to be too good natured. I don't 
 claim to be the first one to have made this discovery, but I never 
 realized so thoroughly the truth of this aphorism till I had given 
 my assent to respond to the toast you have just heard. " The Cap 
 and Gown ! " " What in the world can a man say on such a 
 subject that is sensible ? " is the question that confronts me and 
 fills me with horror; and I should be reasonably consoled could I 
 assure myself that I might say something that was decently non- 
 sensical. The only cheering thought that I can find is that, on 
 an occasion like this, one is not expected to be in a frame of mind 
 in which he can be held strictly accountable for what he says. To 
 obtain a little inspiration I presented myself before a mirror after 
 having crawled into the inside of the attire in question. My 
 fears were instantly confirmed ; there was not much in it. 
 
 I do not know who introduced the fashion originally; I am 
 inclined to think that it was the product of a gradual evolution. 
 Probably the Cap and the Gown had quite different origins. It 
 is quite likely that, when bald heads were not quite as fash- 
 ionable as now, some old college professor who decided to protect 
 and perhaps conceal the inconvenient nakedness on the summit of 
 his anatomy, originated the natural skull cap, and imposed the 
 style upon a long line of successors; finally one arose who tried 
 to do something remarkable by standing before the world in an 
 attitude a little different from that in which college professors
 
 ; . i| .f;[rujy,Trr-ir-TT>-rr.iirT'T'irriTi'Trfl'?T"'"' r'^t^Z^l 
 
 AARON FRIEDENWALD 
 
 iSoi
 
 «;OWN" 
 
 and I' 
 
 Che Cap 
 
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 )nt8 me and 
 
 11 .,,„l.l T 
 
 
 am 
 
 
 on. 
 
 
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 ajAwn3a3mi mofiaa 
 
 the 
 
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 i lied 
 
 
 1 in an 
 
 which ^ 
 
 1 ofessors
 
 Addresses. 273 
 
 were wont to appear, and he thought he could make a great sen- 
 sation by standing on his head, to facilitate which he resorted to 
 the patent mortar-board attachment. 
 
 The next great discovery . . . was made, no doubt, when 
 some other college professor found that the cap could be worn 
 without standing on one's head. Things have been going on pretty 
 well since that time, except on certain occasions when it became 
 exceedingly difficult to decide whether a professor was standing 
 on his head or on his feet. So much for the probable early his- 
 tory of the cap. 
 
 But whence came the gown ? There is not the slightest difficulty 
 in explaining that. It is fair to infer that in ancient times 
 there were just as absent-minded professors as there are to-day, 
 and it was a most natural accident that one of them should have 
 seized upon a Mother Hubbard hung upon a professor^s hook and 
 put it on instead of an overcoat. The gracefulness of the combina- 
 tion of the Cap and the Gown was at once recognized. The Cap 
 and Gown became from that time on in many places essential to the 
 dignity of every professor and of every young doctor, and this 
 ancient habiliment has finally been rehabilitated here. It is a new 
 thing with us, but it won't take long for us to get used to it, and 
 we shall soon ask ourselves how we got on so long without it. But 
 we must guard against accident, and therefore I would warn our 
 worthy Dean, Professor 0., not to stand himself in some corner 
 for a little rest; for, as it is quite natural that he should be very 
 tired when he wears the uniform, he might fall asleep, and some 
 fellow who had not seen such a thing before might come along, and, 
 if it rained outside, might take him for an umbrella, and seize him 
 by what he would regard as the handle and try to hoist him. I 
 hope my friend 0. will not take offense at being compared to an 
 umbrella, for I really intend to pay him a well deserved compli- 
 ment. The comparison is not suggested by the fact that he is of
 
 274 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 tall and slender form and can be made to spread himself when it 
 becomes necessary, but by the fact that he has thrown every other 
 dean that I have ever known completely into the shade. 
 
 I was much pleased to see how becoming the Cap and Gown 
 were to my esteemed friend, Professor L. ;^ it gave him (as I 
 thought) quite a saintly appearance, and I would advise him to 
 wear it before the class when next he will relate his annual story 
 of the famous young lady who passed an iceberg, and I am sure the 
 story will be regarded as a miracle and not as a joke. If he will 
 take my advice I will promise him to be present on the occasion. 
 The dress suits him admirably; it does not conceal a good point 
 about him, not even his embonpoint; in fact it just suits his gen- 
 eral get-up, for I know of no one who is so quick about getting 
 out of some things. 
 
 The Cap and Gown are no less becoming to Professor B. ; they 
 give him a veritably high-priestly appearance; I do not want to 
 underrate his merits as to surgical knowledge and surgical skill, 
 but I really believe he has missed his calling; I am led to believe 
 this by the deep impression which he makes upon the class by 
 his annual sermon at the close of his lectures, and by the sacerdotal 
 blessing which he extends on that occasion. I felt deeply affected 
 myself when I met the weeping multitude coming down stairs, 
 and had to console the poor fellows and tell them not to take the 
 parting so hard. 
 
 The Cap and Gown were first proposed in our faculty by Professor 
 E. Gentlemen, hand this down to posterity, it is a recognition 
 which is eminently due him. He fought hard and against odds, 
 but he finally triumphed. I do not know whether the idea was 
 suggested to him by any of his sanitary studies; he never told 
 us anything about that. He suggested any number of wherefores, 
 but it was the wherewith which was the formidable objection he had 
 
 * Professor of the Principles and Practice of Medicine.
 
 Addresses. 275 
 
 to overcome. E. looks well in almost anything. He is the last 
 man in the world whom I would begrudge the gown, but I must 
 confess it was not a little disappointment to me this morning when 
 the top of his head was completely concealed from view. That 
 head has been an inspiration to me on many an occasion- You 
 gentlemen may not see anything on the top of that head, but I 
 have always been so fortunate as to find something there to hold 
 on to. It has served me to good purpose in ajffording a place for 
 copious imaginary memoranda. 
 
 Having begun to divulge secrets, I might as well leave the 
 whole cat out of the bag; I mean no disrespect, for I shall now 
 have to say a word about Professor P. You all know that he 
 was manufactured at the University of Pennsylvania; and you 
 will agree with me that the job was well done. We all had a 
 very high opinion of the University of Pennsylvania, even before 
 the notable sample of its products just mentioned came among 
 us, and we were quite willing to follow the example of the University 
 of Pennsylvania in any way by which the methods of our college 
 might be improved. We felt that Professor P. had some revelation 
 to make; but, although we extended every possible encouragement 
 to him to unbosom himself, he remained taciturn for quite a while. 
 We inquired about the laboratories, about the lectures, about the 
 building, about the three years' course, about preliminary require- 
 ments; and all these inquiries were met by a silent but negative 
 shake of his ponderous head. But there came an occasion at last 
 when he seemed prepared for a grand announcement ; we assembled 
 around him, he drew himself up in a most earnest attitude, and 
 breathed the words : "Cap and Gown ! "
 
 EESPONSE TO A TOAST AT THE ANNUAL BANQUET OF 
 THE ALUMNI OF THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS 
 AND SUKGEONS, APEIL 19, 1893. 
 
 Mr. Toastmaster: 
 
 So you want to have a snap-shot at me this time! Well, help 
 yourself, but be prepared for the worst. On this occasion, where 
 everything is so exceedingly pleasant and such good cheer prevails, 
 where so many good fellows who were never expected to be equal 
 to the task have made such very fine speeches, and where keen wit 
 has spouted forth from what was looked upon as barren rock for 
 such phenomena, the rock not being smitten by the staff, but wit 
 issuing forth as a living stream at your command; when sparkling 
 humor has spent its brightest pearls with a lavish hand, and 
 deepest sentiment has floated gracefully on the current of thought, 
 and new jokes have been born without disaster to either mother 
 or child, and have been held up to us in newest editions, and 
 stories have been told in such a charming style that, though much 
 of them was old, there was more of them that was new, and when 
 imagination has soared in such celestial flights from minds whose 
 reasoning has been wont to dwell in frigid zones, and when poetry 
 has seized the reins of speech and lyric strains have flowed from 
 lips that but yesterday spoke of dry bones and bleeding piles, 
 club feet and pylosalpinx, gangrene and gallstones, melancholia 
 and castor oil, — on such an occasion, Mr. Toastmaster, I am 
 willing to be resigned to my fate. 
 
 Mr. Toastmaster, we owe you a great debt of gratitude for 
 the very rich feast you have prepared for us. What the Carrollton 
 has offered has been as good as its well-deserved reputation
 
 Addresses. 277 
 
 has justified us in expecting, but, in comparison with the intellectual 
 menu that you have spread before us, it is as a barbecue to Del- 
 monico's, and I feel greatly inclined to pour my blessings, in behalf 
 of this good company, upon your reverend head, but when I gaze 
 upon that slippery convexity, as I have a great dread for accidents, 
 I am afraid to run the risk of pouring anything on it. I well 
 remember the time when it looked like an ordinary head, and 
 when first that noble forehead began swiftly to claim its just 
 dimensions ; but soon that Kubicon, the coronal suture, was passed, 
 and the devastation has gradually marched onward in the sagittal 
 line, now and then, making a malicious centrifugal sweep until 
 nothing has been left to sweep away, and the occipital protuberance 
 stands out in bold relief as the distant milestone that has been 
 left behind. But after all there has been no great damage done; 
 indeed, it would have been a pity to have such a head concealed by 
 even the most beautiful growth. We can now see what a fitting 
 superstructure it is to all that it surmounts. It reminds one 
 of a magnificent dome of some grand cathedral. 
 
 But there is other architectural material here that we must 
 not overlook. There is 0., standing among us as the tower- 
 ing spire that is eagerly looked for in the distance, that has 
 stood the test of time, and defies the storms that have beat against 
 it ; that stands now where it was placed in the beginning ; that casts 
 no shadows, but reflects sunshine on all sides and leans toward 
 none. He is a jolly good fellow ; he is a man equal to any task, but 
 a hero in emergencies; in the perplexities which beset him at this 
 season he often mislays his papers, but never loses his temper. 
 
 I like to please all parties, and there may be those who would 
 like to see two domes upon the same structure. My friend 
 L. would be available in such an emergency, but then he would 
 havS to be placed horizontally, belly upward, and I am too good a 
 friend to suffer that he should be on his back. Besides he serves 
 19
 
 278 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 a much more useful purpose; as long as he can stand safely and 
 happily alone, he is the strong fortress which firmly props up all 
 the rest. 
 
 The building would not be complete without our friend B. 
 He is a man of deep emotions. How touching are his words when 
 he bids you farewell, how deeply he sighs for the griefs that may 
 threaten you! How anxious he is that all may go well with 
 you! The rest of us may feel as deeply as he, but we cannot 
 show it nearly so well. We could not afford to do without him on 
 that account. He is our canaliculus [tear-duct], but I am not 
 speaking anatomically, but architecturally; let us therefore place 
 him as the rainspout through which we shall pour all our tears. 
 
 Next there is Professor S., whose perennial smile would lead 
 me to doubt that there is any acid in nature, certainly in his 
 nature. He shall be represented as the open door which speaks 
 a friendly welcome to all, that does not creak upon its hinges, 
 and, if it be a sliding door, it certainly must be one that never 
 flies off the track. 
 
 And now we'll want a weather-cock; C. is at hand to fill the 
 bill, not that he turns with the wind, but because he always looks 
 in the right direction. He never looks behind when there's danger 
 in front, nor does he look in front when the enemy is in the rear. 
 I might have termed him the weather-vane, but I did not want 
 to suggest the query whether he was vain or not, or whether there 
 was anything in his looks that entitled him to be vain. He was 
 not made for show, but for service; and, like many other home- 
 made things, will be sure to wear well. 
 
 And there is Professor P.; he is made up of the straightest 
 timber, and will do well for the balustrade. It is a good thing 
 to hold on to; it leads the way to safety and tells when you go 
 the wrong way. Not one of those balustrades that can be straddled.
 
 Addresses. 279 
 
 or sat upon, or jumped over; I say this in friendly warning to 
 those not fully initiated. 
 
 We have been on the roof; now let's go to the cellar and inspect 
 the catacombs, the repository of the trophies of death. Here is 
 the great art gallery in which disease has hung its paintings, 
 and deformity has placed its statues. You will feel a little un- 
 comfortable here; the air is damp and chilly. But look again; 
 by some legerdemain the building has been reversed and you 
 are suddenly in the top story, and the friendly countenance of my 
 friend K. greets you. You know he don't mind having things 
 upside down occasionally. Ko wonder that he is always so serious ; 
 he deals only with the dead. But perhaps he is not so serious 
 after all; you know he is a trifle selfish, so he secures a silent 
 audience that he may have all the fun to himself. 
 
 Last, but not least, we turn to the last addition of the structure. 
 Professor N. ; ^ he will do well for the belfry, from which the tale 
 is "told" of many a strong pull. 
 
 And now, gentlemen of the graduating class, one word to you 
 in conclusion. I want to present you each with a souvenir, of 
 course in miniature, representing a dome, a spire, a fortress, a 
 rainspout, a weather-cock, a balustrade, a catacomb, and a belfry; 
 when you look upon them, remember kindly those whom I have 
 made them represent on this occasion, as kindly as I am sure they 
 will always remember you. 
 
 ^Recently elected Professor of Obstetrics.
 
 EESPONSE TO THE TOAST OF "THE COLLEGE" AT 
 THE ANNUAL BANQUET OF THE ALUMNI OP THE 
 COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SUKGEONS, APRIL 
 15, 1897. 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 I have a friend, whom I shall speak of on this occasion as 
 " the judge," who is quite a scholar, and whose judgment is highly 
 valued. He was requested to hear the inaugural sermon of a 
 new preacher who had been selected by a congregation after a 
 number of trial sermons by less fortunate aspirants. The judge 
 came. THe congregation was elated, but the judge's countenance 
 maintained a stoical expression. After the services the dignitaries 
 approached him for his verdict, when he said, " You have selected 
 the wrong man." "Whom should we have chosen?" said they 
 in their consternation. "Any other man," was his prompt reply. 
 This would have been my answer to the committee, but the mes- 
 sage reached me at the eleventh hour, and the committee was 
 sly enough to be nowhere sufiBciently near for my answer to reach 
 them, and so I am here to-night to do the bidding of the committee, 
 unwillingly, as best I can, 
 
 I am sure that you have looked forward to Dr. 0. as that 
 " any other man " to respond to the toast, and I must do the com- 
 mittee the justice, notwithstanding all the just grudge I bear them, 
 to state that they knew who would be the man, the proper man, for 
 the occasion. But Dr. 0. has a head entirely his own, and he 
 just will or will not as pleases him. He can slip through readily 
 where others are caught, and so he has extricated himself from, 
 and precipitated me into a difficulty. If every man were blessed 
 as he, when in a tight place, you would never have been admonished
 
 Addresses. 281 
 
 that it is as impossible for a man to pass through the eye of a 
 needle as it is for a camel to enter the kingdom of heaven. 
 
 I know fuU well that it is quite unusual and equally unexpected 
 on occasions of this kind to pay the slightest regard to the subject 
 upon which one is called to speak. But I do want to say a word 
 or two about the college, and therefore, I ask your pardon for what 
 ordinarily would be accounted a digression. The college has long 
 since reached vigorous adult life. Many years have passed since 
 0. put on its last diaper. He was a faithful nurse, as many 
 a sleepless night attested. He used to place it on the scale 
 every day or two to see how it was getting along. But the scale 
 had soon to be abandoned. The swaddling clothes were thrown 
 aside long before the usual time. Every thing soon got too small 
 for it, and at very short intervals it demanded more room for 
 itself. It did not begin its movements by crawling, but took a 
 bold step from the beginning. That first step was a remarkable 
 one, for before it rose the Maternite, as if by enchantment; a new 
 departure in which it had no guide, but in which it has been a 
 leader to its elders. Its next great triumph was the acquisition 
 at a single stroke of all that the Washington University had come 
 into possession of in half a century. Before many more years 
 had passed the City Spring lot, which had so long been conspicuous 
 for its barrenness, was made fruitful, and the new City Hospital 
 bunt upon it, and then the new well-equipped college building 
 superseded what had been both college and hospital. This does 
 not include all, but my story would prove too long. More significant 
 than all these acquisitions, however, is the recognition of the 
 influence it has wielded in bringing about the improved methods 
 and advanced standards of modern medical education. 
 
 The college has now reached a stage in its development which 
 will* enable it to celebrate achievements in the future even 
 more brilliant than in the past. It was no small satisfaction to
 
 88^ Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 the older members of the faculty in years gone by when we were 
 made more fully conscious of the meritorious career of the college 
 by that notable silence which formed the sepulchre of the sneers 
 and slander which had assailed it in its early youth. Let us hope 
 that when the time comes when those who are young in the faculty 
 now shall speak as I do to-night, to sons of fathers who have 
 been my pupils, that they will be able to exult in being connected 
 with a college which will be true to its past, an honor to them- 
 selves, and a pride to the profession.
 
 EESPONSE TO THE TOAST OF " MUSIC " AT A BANQUET 
 OF THE BALTIMOEE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, 
 1873 (?). 
 
 Mr. President : 
 
 We have all been taught that honest confession is good for the 
 soul; and, not wishing to deprive that important element of my 
 organism of the salutary influences described by this maxim, I 
 confess here without the slightest hesitation that I do not know 
 anything at all about music, notwithstanding which, however, I 
 am not deterred from responding to the toast just announced, 
 and I feel encouraged to hope that I may acquit myself not dis- 
 creditably, for it is not of rare occurrence that physicians speak 
 best on subjects which they do not understand. 
 
 Music has been extolled in poetry and prose from time im- 
 memorial for the benefits which it bestows upon mankind. Every 
 one says that it refines our tastes, elevates our thoughts, inspires 
 us with the beautiful and sublime, in a word, that it is the lan- 
 guage of the soul. I have no special reason to find fault with 
 this generally received opinion, and, if I had, I would not, for 
 I have a superstition that it is not safe on the commencement of 
 the new year to steer against the current of public opinion. But 
 there are other considerations which should induce me to pay 
 homage willingly at the shrine of music. Who is there so callous 
 that has not felt its wondrous charms? On joyous occasions it 
 gladdens the heart, and makes pleasure pure ; in sorrow it breathes 
 soothing consolation. From our earliest infancy we require its 
 happy influences; and you, as medical men, can bear testimony 
 that the maternal lullaby is more potent than the syrup of the
 
 284 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 most venerated Mrs. Winslow. I remember but one occasion in 
 my life when music proved a source of annoyance to me. It was 
 on the occasion of a professional visit of an unimportant character, 
 after which I intended to hurry to the relief of a suffering 
 patient. The fond mother insisted that I should have an oppor- 
 tunity to admire the wonderful talent of her promising offspring. 
 I protested a professional engagement, she insisted on the wonderful 
 talent, and I was compelled to yield. I would not confess this 
 much to any one else, but you, as physicians, realize how important 
 it is for a physician to be polite under all circumstances. A piece 
 was played on the piano, but the groans of my poor patient sounded 
 in my ears and I could not hear the music. To conceal my agita- 
 tion I fixed my eye intently upon the instrument and in my dis- 
 traction it took the form of an animal. ... I placed it in the 
 family of quadrupeds. It had a large body, a very large mouth 
 which it opened by raising its upper jaw and displayed two rows 
 of teeth, the upper one showing the destructive effect of time, the 
 lower one in a perfect state of preservation. It had four legs and 
 a long trunk which, when tread upon, caused the animal to make a 
 great deal of noise. I was not astonished at this. 
 
 Having alluded to a musical instrument, I take occasion to 
 defend the wind instruments from the charge of producing inguinal 
 hernia, brought against them by our profession. I have reason to 
 know that physicians are singularly exempt from this infirmity, 
 and I know a very large number of them blow their trumpets very 
 persistently. 
 
 But I am to speak on music, not on musical instruments. Music 
 speaks best for itself. . . .
 
 EEPLY TO THE TOAST OP "THE BABIES" AT THE 
 ANNUAL BANQUET OF THE BALTIMOEE MEDICAL 
 AND SUKGICAL SOCIETY, JANUAKY 28, 1886. 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 I don't like to find fault with the committee that selected me 
 to respond to the toast of " The Babies," but it seems to me the 
 cause would be served better if a much younger man would have 
 had this duty assigned to him. I say this on the principle that 
 governed that big boy who could not tell how old he was when 
 he was asked, and, after he was put to shame by a very little fellow 
 who replied promptly, " I am three years old," when the same 
 question was propounded to him, extricated himself from the 
 difficulty by saying, " Oh, it is no wonder that kid should remember 
 his age ; it hasn't been so long since he was born ! " Now, there 
 are a number in this company whose recollections of babyhood 
 should still be very vivid, for it hasn't been so very long since they 
 were babies. I will, however, not enter any further plea in regard 
 to the comparative disadvantage at which I find myself, because 
 after all everybody ought to know something about babies, for we 
 were all babies once. Once, did I say? Well, I desire to qualify 
 this statement slightly, for some of us have been babies occasionally 
 since we were born, and not a few have remained babies ever since. 
 I shall not permit my remarks, however, to take this wide range, 
 but shall confine myself to babies in infancy. I feel assured of 
 your good wishes that this " confinement " shall be safe and speedy 
 and result in no harm to either the baby or myself. I assume 
 the duty imposed upon me very cheerfully, the more so because 
 I think it is high time that a kind word should be spoken for the 
 babies by one who has always been their friend.
 
 286 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 There can be no kind of doubt that babies have lost much of 
 their ancient popularity. Mothers and fathers cannot be found novr- 
 a-days who would feel . . . happy in the idea of being the parents 
 of a dozen children; I say in the idea, for the reality so seldom 
 presents itself that it hardly deserves to be taken into account. It 
 seems only through special favor, or perhaps through an unavoid- 
 able accident, that a baby is permitted to be born at all. " Why 
 is this thus ? " I exclaim, in the language of Artemus Ward. 
 Well, it is replied, they are too much trouble anyhow; they keep 
 us awake at night; they require too often the expensive luxury of 
 an extra wet nurse ; they bring too much measles, whooping cough, 
 scarlet fever, and diphtheria into the family; during the day they 
 constantly keep us busy in keeping them out of mischief, and at 
 night they interrupt the dreams of both parents and grandparents 
 with frightful stories of colic and earache. In the winter they 
 arouse us from our slumber with the shrill bugle notes of the 
 croup; and go and ask the poor washerwoman what the summer 
 complaint brings. But we must not listen to these charges any 
 longer; enough is enough, and in this instance far too much, 
 I will therefore plead on this occasion for the life of the baby. I 
 am indebted for this forcible expression to a very distinguished 
 townsman,^ who, in the public entertainments which he gave during 
 the past winter, proved himself a much greater humorist than the 
 very great one whom I quoted a few moments since. Yes, I will 
 plead for the life of the baby, and, although I lack the eloquence 
 of the gentlemen from whom I borrow the language, I have this 
 advantage, that I am pleading for the life of a respectable baby, 
 who knows who its parents are, and is surrounded by decent rela- 
 tions. It may make no difference to that gentleman whether any 
 babies are born or not for the next fifty years, yet the baby for 
 
 ^ Bernard Carter, author of a well-known " Plea for the Life of the 
 Democratic Party."
 
 Addresses. 287 
 
 whose life he plead so feelingly can always show up a very large 
 family connection without any natural additions. But we, gentle- 
 men, we recognize in our babies the men and women of the future, 
 and we have not yet learned the art of perpetuating society without 
 them. And I plead first for the life of the baby before it is born, 
 for after it once manages to be born it is generally able to dictate 
 terms and to become master of the situation. I protest against the 
 many drawbacks by which it is hampered in gaining citizenship 
 in this great country, and I denounce the assassination by which 
 it is so often confronted. Only give the baby a chance, I would 
 plead. Let it only be born, and then it will plead most successfully 
 for itself. 
 
 What a blessing it is to the family! When it is once bom, I 
 mean. How gloomy is the home without it! What an Egyptian 
 darkness would prevail, even with Edison's incandescent lamp, with- 
 out its cheering light. What is there so brilliant as its bright 
 little eyes, what is there so charming as its beautiful features, what 
 is there so lovely as its cherub-like form; what a pity it is that 
 its loveliness does not last a little longer ! I have lived long enough 
 to verify the experience of our grandmothers, that the most beau- 
 tiful baby is often ashamed to sit for its picture when it has 
 reached manhood or womanhood. I don't like to be personal, but 
 in looking around me I notice a number in this company who 
 from present appearances must have been very beautiful babies 
 indeed. We should indeed be grateful for the great happiness which 
 the baby bestows, and should willingly forgive all of its little naugh- 
 tinesses, for it must be confessed that it is not always fairly treated ; 
 and we should not think hard of it when it tries once in a while to 
 avenge itself. . . . Why should it be punished for a little dis- 
 respect to its parents, when it soon finds out that a great part of 
 its business in this world is to give evidence of and bear responsi- 
 bility for their iniquities, and finds out further that it is so big
 
 288 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 a job that it is forced to delegate a part of the work to its suc- 
 cessors in the third and fourth generation. Why should it not 
 break a costly mantle-piece ornament once in a while, as a satisfac- 
 tion for the injustice done by the mother whose extravagance has 
 brought her husband into insolvency, and who answers his re- 
 proaches by accusing him of having too many children. 
 
 Talk as you will about them, I shall always be their friend. They 
 are the only innocent constituent of society; I love them for their 
 innocence, I admire them for their loveliness. Charge them with 
 what you may, I shall ever be ready to plead their cause, and to 
 prove that they are innocent ; at least as innocent as I am of having 
 said anything to-night that is going to do them any good.
 
 
 j^aiC ^nc£^^^c^ ^?pa2^^ ^^^uA. /^^ ^ /i^
 
 /jeJ^^X- ^2^^^^^ ^c^ft^ ^^c^-c^ ^f^6iy:^!.<^^^i^^^^.
 
 RESPONSE TO THE TOAST, "JOLLITY, THE KING 
 OF MEDICINES," AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF 
 THE LIBERAL CLUB, JANUARY 1, 1889. 
 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 In your calling upon me to praise jollity, the king of medicines, 
 I not only feel complimented myself, but accept it as a high tribute 
 to the honorable profession of which I am an humble member, 
 that you so fully recognize that medical men, while loyal to their 
 pharmacopoeia, are not its vassals, and that they neither send all 
 their prescriptions to the apothecary nor expect always to be paid 
 for all the good advice which they give. Yes, jollity is the king 
 of medicines, and it is further to be said in its favor that, unlike 
 a great many other good medicines, we need not wait till we are 
 ill to partake of its benefits. Of one thing I feel sure, that not 
 one of you here present will dispute with me when I say that it 
 should never be taken in homeopathic doses. It should not only 
 be exhibited in liberal quantities, but frequently repeated, so that 
 its exhilarating influence does not wear off during long intervals 
 between its administration. It should never be given in cold water, 
 for this chills the soul of it; but with sparkling wine it is apt 
 to maintain happy companionship. It is a sure cure for many 
 ills ; it can be resorted to before and after and during meals. It 
 is a stimulant of the highest order, sweeping away the cobwebs 
 from a torpid brain, and opening up all the avenues for unob- 
 structed procession of the better emotions. It gives force to good 
 humor, tone to merriment, and motion to happy thoughts. It 
 restores the weary and resuscitates many whom hard work has ex- 
 hausted. It is also a good purgative, for it effectually removes
 
 290 Aaron Priedenwald, M. D. 
 
 from the system that heavy, indigestible, unassimilible matter that 
 lies so heavy upon our emotions and so often gives rise to unpleas- 
 ant eructations at inopportune times. It frees us from all this, and 
 always without the least griping. It is a charming antacid, and 
 it is a blessing to the stomach when one's humor has turned sour 
 in it; there is no use for soda nor ammonia nor potassa where it 
 holds sway. 
 
 It is not a hypnotic; it affords rest without sleep; it rouses the 
 lethargic; it awakes the dreamer; it has never been accused of 
 inducing snoring, and often achieves its greatest triumphs when 
 it does not go to bed before morning. It is not a narcotic, for it 
 never stupifies — be it said to its credit that stupidity has no such 
 worthy origin. It acts occasionally as an emetic, but only in 
 those with whom it does not agree, with the fellow who can't laugh 
 without pain, nor smile without groaning. There are none such 
 here, and in this regard it need not further be considered. 
 
 To sum up its praise in a few words, we must have recourse to 
 the great master who says, " Frame your minds to mirth and 
 merriment, which bars a thousand harms and lengthens life." 
 
 But Shakespeare was a general practitioner and he lived before 
 the days of specialties; and it may be allowed me to indicate its 
 use in special cases. 
 
 I would prescribe it liberally to that liberal member of this Lib- 
 eral Club, D, B., as a stimulant, for so arduous a worker in so 
 many fields as he is will need a stimulant occasionally. Look at his 
 work, championing the cause of Henry George, studying the Bible 
 through and through to find what is not in it, unravelling the 
 mysteries of spiritualism, drafting election laws, remodeling the 
 electoral college, preaching Democracy, and going way off to collect 
 ideas on the tariff question — I say going way off, for to me as a 
 Republican they seem far-fetched. But this is not all. The city 
 was too small for his active spirit. He went off to the country.
 
 Addresses. 291 
 
 and what he did there is contained in the history of the Belt 
 Annexation, and in the remarkable activity of the dairy business. 
 Now, this is fatiguing work, and jollity is the stimulant he needs ; 
 let us enjoy it with him ; may it bar from him a thousand harms 
 and lengthen his days, although it may occasionally shorten his 
 nights. 
 
 For Professor F. I should prescribe jollity for constant use, 
 with an extra dose on election night as a purgative, to remove from 
 his system those irritating, curdled political speculations which 
 made him so gloomy on that occasion, and caused the figures that 
 he saw to assume such fantastic shapes. Everything looked " very 
 bad, very bad, very bad," but I was jolly, and everything 
 looked very, very, very good. But he is jolly now and may he ever 
 remain so, and may mirth and merriment bar from him a thousand 
 harms and lengthen, and broaden, and deepen, and widen, and 
 heighten his days, so that he shall not fall short in any of their 
 dimensions. 
 
 To our friend L. L. I would give it as an alterative, for he 
 sadly needs an alterative now. In the pharmacopoeia mercury 
 stands prominent as an alterative, but he has taken to it unad- 
 visedly,' and what an unfortunate alteration has it not made ! Oh, 
 how he has wandered off from the camp, but not so far that he 
 cannot come back; and in coming back he will leave the gloomy 
 "soreheads," and return to the jolly multitude. May mirth and 
 merriment bar the chagrin of a thousand ill-appreciated editorials 
 and lengthen his life to his full satisfaction for adequate repent- 
 ance. 
 
 To our friend C. I would dispense jollity at all times, but a 
 double dose when his humor turns a little acid, as it is apt to do 
 when testimony proves treacherous, witnesses become unreliable, 
 
 ^Mr. L. had recently connected himself with a newspaper called the 
 " Mercury."
 
 293 Aaron Feiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 judges too stupid to grant his demurrers or acknowledge his pre- 
 cedents; a little extra jollity in these cases would relieve the heart- 
 bum and afford greater relief than coming to the Liberal Club 
 and venting his spleen on us by delivering a learned dissertation 
 on the evils of education. May he ever be the jolliest of the jolly, 
 and mirth and merriment shield him from a thousand ills and 
 lengthen his days; may he never lose his temper, and always 
 win his cases. 
 
 To our friend S. I would prescribe jollity, particularly in bad 
 weather, when he has plenty of time to partake of it, as the simple 
 absence of customers is no joke in itself; but I would not limit 
 him to its use only then, but he should take it whenever he feels 
 like it, and especially when he doesn't feel like it, so that he can 
 laugh and grow fat. May mirth and merriment be as plentiful 
 with him as pegs and shoe strings, and may they bar him from 
 a thousand ills and lengthen his days in busy search and multiply 
 his years so that he may reach an honored and ripe old age. 
 
 There are several members present whose most notable ill is the 
 bald head. I'll have to prescribe jollity for them on general 
 principles, for, although ready at any time to say a good deal in 
 its favor, I cannot claim that it is a hair restorer. May mirth 
 and merriment be their lot, and lots of it, and may its invigorating 
 influence not only bar from them a thousand ills, but gain for 
 them a year for every hair they have lost. 
 
 To S. D., our young friend, I would prescribe jollity to fulfil the 
 purpose of absorbent cotton to dry up his tears while sighing for 
 the " Crestfallen Eosebud " and the " Broken-hearted Violinist," * 
 but I would give another dose as an invigorating cordial to fill 
 him 'With bolder thoughts, so that when his muse calls again he 
 will be found prepared to sing a new song, a song to the Chief 
 Musician, a song of the chivalric exploits of Cupid's heroes. May 
 
 * Titles of his literary productions.
 
 Addresses. 293 
 
 he ever be plentifully supplied with mirth and merriment to bar 
 him from a thousand ills and may his life be lengthened, so that 
 he may witness his grandson becoming a grandfather, and, when 
 finally he will have to " hang up his fiddle and his bow," he may 
 go where all the good lawyers go. I hope he will meet our friend 
 C. there. 
 
 Jollity is a great panacea; it will be found abujidantly if only 
 looked for in the right place. It is very cheap, but we all prefer 
 not to enjoy it without " Preiss." May he never suffer a scarcity 
 of mirth and merriment, which will bar him from a thousand 
 harms and lengthen his life. May his life be as vigorous in old age 
 as his beard has been in young life. 
 
 Now you have, gentlemen, a medical opinion describing the 
 beneficient qualities of jollity; partake of it when you can, while 
 you can, if you can. Always have it at home; take some of it 
 with you on your way; look for it when abroad. Have plenty of 
 it to give away, and never refuse to accept it from a friendly hand. 
 It is one of the things I would have come in free of duty, and I 
 would make it the duty of every one to contribute to its free 
 circulation. 
 
 We shall not deny our friend D. a dose. He needs and deserves 
 it too, as well as any other man. For him I shall prescribe it as 
 a sedative, to subdue his hallucinations about workmen's revolts 
 and the evils of "scabs." He is the very type of a printer; the 
 harder he is pressed the better impression he makes. May he 
 reach his centennial, and his mirth be perennial. 
 
 Jollity : It chirps its words in song, breathes life into the dance, 
 gives voice to laughter. 
 
 It paints pictures in smiles, moulds its forms in grace, rings its 
 chimes in the night. 
 
 It is the plaything of the child, the sunshine of life's noonday, and 
 the halo to old age. 
 20
 
 TOAST ON " MATEIMONY." 
 
 This occasion suggests matrimony as the most prominent subject 
 for discussion, and a man of my experience could ill afford to ac- 
 knowledge that he had not formulated some ideas in regard to it. 
 And in whatever direction he might be lacking in knowledge de- 
 rived from his own experience, he could readily supply his deficiency 
 from the extensive bibliography on the subject, reaching from that 
 remote age when it was written that it was not good for man to 
 be alone, through the many centuries where it reigns supreme over 
 the soul of all poetry, down to modem times, when our neighbor 
 of Utah regards a wife as so great a blessing. 
 
 Matrimony may be defined as a state of the Union having peculiar 
 naturalization laws. There is no definite time set at which papers 
 may be taken out. Some succeed in the very bud of womanhood 
 and in that early manhood when the first mustache begins to 
 blossom in having conferred upon them the dignity of citizenship, 
 while others are placed upon a long probation before being per- 
 mitted to enter this blessed state. There are some who fare still 
 worse. They are often deluded into hoping that it is not yet too 
 late, and the verdict comes at last declaring them ineligible and 
 consigning them to the endless misery of single blessedness. 
 
 In this state of matrimony there are other peculiar laws in force. 
 In the partnership of married life, no matter how much capital 
 the husband may bring into the concern, or whether the fortune 
 be constituted solely by the wife's dowry, he is always expected 
 to be the silent partner; or, in other words, when the husband is 
 rich, he has nothing at all to say; when he is poor, still less. He 
 is compensated for this to no slight extent, however, because in
 
 Addresses. 295 
 
 whatever parts he may be assured of having defects, he can always 
 boast of having a better half. 
 
 In this state of matrimony there is a remarkable form of juris- 
 prudence; most quarrels are settled by compromise and concession, 
 although secession is not altogether impossible. The right of ex- 
 patriation from this state is not conceded, but it is occasionally 
 resorted to as a dernier ressort. Among the prominent cases which 
 present themselves for adjudication in this state are those of illegal 
 attachments. The penal code is also characteristic; one of the 
 most severe punishments, probably inflicted in order to follow out 
 the law, " For the wicked there shall be no rest," is to force poor 
 husbands with wearied limbs and sleepy eyes to keep themselves 
 awake with the sweet lullaby; but there is no way to evade it by 
 proving an alibi. ...
 
 ADDEESS ON THE OCCASION OF THE DEDICATION OF 
 A NEWLY-ACQUIRED PLOT OF GROUND, DELIV- 
 ERED AT THE SIMCHATH TORAH FESTIVAL OF 
 THE HEBREW HOSPITAL AND ASYLUM ASSOCIA- 
 TION OF BALTIMORE CITY, OCTOBER 16, 1881. 
 
 Ladies and Gentlemen : 
 
 This day of rejoicing has been fittingly selected for the celebra- 
 tion of an important event in the history of our cherished institu- 
 tion. You all remember the misgivings that hovered phantom-like 
 around the ceremonies attending the laying of the corner-stone, 
 but you also had the satisfaction of witnessing the walls rise safely, 
 though slowly, upon the solid foundation laid by the hands of 
 earnest men. You also remember that there came a time when 
 even the stout hearts that entered so heroically upon the noble 
 work began to falter, for the building, far from . . . com- 
 pleted, stared them in the face; . . . the treasury had been 
 drained of its last penny, and all means of replenishing it seemed 
 to have been exhausted ; the anxious inquiries of impatient creditors 
 made themselves painfully audible; and a pessimistic imagina- 
 tion already pictured the red flag flaunting over the unfin- 
 ished edifice. Still they were not permitted to despair. The strug- 
 gle was renewed with fresh vigor, and all fears that the project 
 would have to be abandoned were effectually dispelled, for a band 
 of noble women became the standard-bearers in the contest, and suc- 
 cess was assured. 
 
 You assembled here on the day of dedication, and you beheld 
 with pride the completed structure in its fine proportions and with 
 its satisfactory appointments. ... I call to mind the language
 
 Addresses. 297 
 
 of one of the speakers, who made the very stones express their 
 humiliation at bearing their share of the general debt which hung 
 as a . . . cloud over the building. That cloud has passed 
 away as if it were but an evanescent shadow; and, though the 
 stones have not become silent, they speak quite a different language. 
 They bear the ineffaceable record of human misery relieved, of 
 triumphant conquests of disease, of tender care bestowed upon the 
 stranger, the friendless, and the unfortunate. . . . 
 
 And there the institution stands with its noble record, a pride 
 to all who have contributed to its support, giving the most flatter- 
 ing testimony to the humane spirit which has existed in our 
 midst, . . . and predicting for itself continued prosperity, re- 
 lying confidently upon the affection of those who have proved them- 
 selves so faithful and so generous to its interests in the past. And 
 there it has stood, a beacon-light to the unfortunate ones traveling 
 through the dark night of despair with pain and poverty as their 
 only companions, rekindling new hopes and showing where there 
 were still warm hearts pulsating sympathetically for them, when 
 the whole world seemed cold and dreary. How many an unfortu- 
 nate has entered its portals, either racked by pain or emaciated by 
 the pitiless siege of disease and hunger, or frenzied by the relent- 
 less heat of a burning fever, or crippled by severe accident, or ren- 
 dered blind in the assaults to which old age falls a victim, or suf- 
 fering from some other ill of the thousand that flesh is heir to ! 
 And you know how tenderly they have been received and how ten- 
 derly they have been cared for. The old and the young, the citi- 
 zen and the stranger, the Jew, the Christian, and the unbeliever 
 have all . . . found a safe refuge here, without being required 
 to present any credential for admission other than that which mis- 
 fortune . . . supplies. And you have seen them again when 
 they were freed from pain, when their fevers were extinguished, 
 when the use of their limbs was restored to them, when the dark
 
 298 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 curtain was drawn from before their eyes, when they were helped 
 in so many ways to regain their health, and when they reached that 
 blessed state in which they were again able to help themselves. 
 . . . You . . . witnessed their joy and you . . . heard 
 the expressions of their gratitude, and you realized how insignifi- 
 cant after all were the large sums of money that were devoted to 
 the organization and support of the institution, when compared 
 to the incalculable amount of good which it has been enabled to 
 accomplish. How scanty was the seed! How rich has been the 
 harvest! But the seed was planted by willing hands, and germi- 
 nated under the oare of loving hearts, and the rain came in " his 
 due season, the first rain and the latter rain," and Heaven smiled 
 upon the growth. 
 
 Let us rejoice on this day of rejoicing, and let us be grateful 
 that our feeble efforts have been favored by a kind Provi- 
 dence. Let us rejoice that we have not been unmindful of that 
 voice within us which first urged us to the undertaking, . . . 
 which has encouraged us amid vicissitudes and disappointments, 
 and which to-day whispers to us its approving words. Let us re- 
 joice that, besides providing bounteously for the sick, we have also 
 been able to provide ... a comfortable home for the infirm 
 aged, for the aged who have lost the loved partners who shared with 
 them long the trials of life, who have seen consigned to the grave 
 the children upon whom they hoped to lean when bent by years, 
 and who in their decrepitude would otherwise now be friendless, 
 homeless wanderers, begging for alms. How we loved to look 
 upon their venerable forms and to observe the dignity which their 
 presence lent to the institution! I have met here those who are 
 prominent in my recollections of childhood, whom I saw as actors 
 in the busy scenes of life. I knew how cruelly fate had dealt with 
 them, and it was no small joy to me in my maturity to see them
 
 Addresses. 299 
 
 so well provided for when they were old and helpless. . . . You 
 have all had similar experiences. . . . 
 
 And, while we rejoice in looking over the inventory of all which 
 this institution has done for suffering humanity, let us not for- 
 get to take cognizance of the still greater amount of good which 
 it has lavished upon us individually, and upon this community col- 
 lectively. It has furnished an altar upon which we can offer our 
 united sacrifices; it has fostered that noble spirit which constantly 
 reminds us that we are members of a great brotherhood which ex- 
 tends the holiest privileges in the duties which it exacts. It has 
 been one of the elements in exerting upon our sensibilities that re- 
 fining influence which permits us to exult in another's weal and 
 to feel the pangs of another's woe. ... It has bound us to- 
 gether more strongly in all that is good, and has contributed its 
 share to render more despicable all that is base and ignoble. It 
 has brushed away many of the cobwebs of materialism which en- 
 shroud the mind, and has let in the light of elevated thought. It 
 has dealt the heaviest blows against intolerance, the demon that 
 would fain make distinctions in the rights of men, . . . that 
 always questions the sincerity of others, and that would have all 
 thoughts ground out in the mill of a single mind. It has taught 
 the valuable lesson that we act our most important part as men 
 when we extend . . . each other a helping hand. It has freed 
 poverty from that shame which is so often unjustly attached to it, 
 and it has shown that, while it is highly honorable to give, it 
 should be no humiliation for the sufferer to accept. . . . 
 
 Let us renew our vows of fidelity to this institution ; let us stand 
 by each other in the support of all other good institutions; let us 
 preserve the harmony which has hitherto prevailed among us; and 
 Heaven will continue to shower its blessings upon our community.
 
 ADDEESS DELIVERED AT THE SIMCHATH TOEAH FES- 
 TIVAL OF THE HEBEEW HOSPITAL AND ASYLUM 
 ASSOCIATION, 1890. 
 
 Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: 
 
 We meet again at this festive season to join hands anew and 
 to unite our hearts anew ia the interests of an institution which 
 has been a credit to, and a just pride of the Jewish community of 
 this city these twenty-two years. We have come together again 
 to rejoice with each other in the noble work it has done in the 
 past, and to offer it good cheer and renewed encouragement for its 
 future career. It is an inspiring consciousness to be co-laborers 
 in the common cause which this institution represents, and to feel 
 entitled to some share in the blessings it has bestowed. Gratify- 
 ing as its past history must be to every one who may have con- 
 tributed at any time to its welfare, it is especially so to those of us 
 who have known it in its earliest infancy, have watched its growth 
 during its youthful years, and now behold it, and continue to be 
 identified with it, in its full and vigorous development. We knew 
 the infant when the clothes with which it was supplied were much 
 too large for it; we saw the time when they became too small, 
 and its movements were hampered, and a seam had to be opened 
 here, and a piece had to be added there. We remember its early 
 struggles, and therefore we can fully appreciate the solid founda- 
 tion upon which it now stands. This has been accomplished by the 
 concentrated efforts of good men, by the unremitting labor of bet- 
 ter women, by the tender care of willing hands, by the bounteous 
 offerings of generous hearts, by the safe guidance of wise counsel, 
 by the salutary influence of an undisturbed harmony, but, above
 
 Addresses. 301 
 
 all, by the blessings of a kind Providence. We have reason to be 
 proud, we have more reason to be grateful that we possess this 
 hospital. It has become one of the prominent landmarks, mark- 
 ing the corners of our fields to which those in need may come and 
 find sustenance. It bears the record of how the stranger has met 
 friends, how the homeless have received shelter, how the desponding 
 have found hope, how the weak have been given strength, how the 
 Buffering have been relieved. Yea, a landmark it has become, a 
 landmark not forbidding trespass, but extending welcome, a land- 
 mark not indicating what should be kept separate, but marking 
 the spot where dividing lines come together. When, in life's fierce 
 struggles, through the spirit of selfishness, from which none of us, 
 perhaps, is entirely free, we are led too far away from the paths 
 we have marked out for ourselves, landmarks such as this are po- 
 tent influences to lead us back again to a safe starting point, and 
 are strong safeguards to prevent our becoming lost to the duties 
 we owe to our fellow man. . . . 
 
 When we take a look backward and review the time from the 
 organization of this hospital to the present hour, we find it a 
 period of great difference, and, indeed, I may be permitted to add, 
 a period of considerable indifference among us, difference and in- 
 difference which, if not counteracted, would have had the tendency 
 of driving us farther and farther away from each other. But, 
 thank God, the counteracting power has not been wanting. The 
 humane institutions which have been reared in our midst, of which 
 the one in whose cause we are assembled to-day is a prominent rep- 
 resentative, have had a solidifying influence, and to them it is 
 largely due that we have been rescued from a destructive disinte- 
 gration. The hand that has been kindly opened to the needy has 
 gradually acquired a tenderness which has enabled it to give a 
 more friendly grasp, and differences have been forced to give up 
 much of their previous bitterness. In the turmoil of the differ-
 
 302 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 ences which have largely engaged our minds we fortunately did not 
 fail to recognize in what we are alike, and in what our hearts re- 
 mained bound together ; and there grew out of it a common benevo- 
 lence which has welcomed the stranger, protected the widow, and 
 cared for the poor; which has given this institution to the aged 
 infirm, and to the indigent sick; which has provided a friendly 
 home for the unfortunate orphan, and has not forgotten its duties 
 to the dead. And, as time rolls on, and we take into account the 
 good work we have been enabled to accomplish by this union of 
 hearts, we recognize more and more that we are much more alike 
 than we were wont to believe ; we begin to see that our differences 
 are losing their sharp outlines, and we feel an irresistible yearn- 
 ing to come closer and closer to each other. And when we assemble 
 around these landmarks, which a true benevolence has so firmly 
 placed, we are reminded anew that we are the ancient standard- 
 bearers of a pure religion which first proclaimed the duties of man 
 towards man, and that we must continue to bear the message to 
 all mankind : " Thou shall open thy hand wide unto thy brother, 
 to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land." "If a stranger so- 
 journeth with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him; but the 
 stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one bom 
 among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself." " Thou shalt not 
 remove thy neighbor's landmark." What a summary of duty and 
 toleration ! Let us continually strive to prove ourselves worthy of 
 this dignity by our words and by our works, by our admonition 
 and by our example. Let us not lose faith that these principles 
 will ultimately prevail, nor be utterly dismayed when confronted 
 by the refined venom of German Anti-Semitism, or by Eussia's 
 barbarous tyranny. Nations have come and nations have passed 
 away, but the laws of God remain and will eventually conquer the 
 heart of man. 
 
 There is no better way of showing our gratitude for the blessings
 
 Addresses. 303 
 
 we enjoy than by remembering those who are less favorably situ- 
 ated. There is no prayer that we can hope to be more worthy of 
 securing for us further protection than the one that comes from 
 the heart which is in true sympathy with the stricken brother. In 
 liberally supporting an institution like this hospital we testify that 
 we have not proved entirely faithless to the old law. Here we 
 recognize the sufferer as our brother whether he was " bom among 
 you " or whether he reaches us by long travels through far distant 
 lands; whether he speaks to us in our own language, or appeals to 
 us in a foreign tongue. We understand his claims and are ready 
 to do him justice, be he one of us or reared in another faith. Here 
 we find the widest field to practice the truest humanity, that which 
 recognizes the brother, the man, through the rags that misfortune 
 has clothed him in, that which duly appreciates the patience, the 
 courage, the heroism with which suffering is often borne, that which 
 is forgiving towards the shortcomings and weaknesses of poor 
 human nature, that which does not set itself up as a rigid judge to 
 decide whether one suffering is fully deserving of help, but will 
 willingly help whenever it can, — that humanity which, under all 
 circumstances, is guided solely by the command, " Thou shalt open 
 thy hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, to thy needy." 
 
 There are those who exact a very high standard of human ex- 
 cellence of him who needs help. They carefully compute how 
 much of his distress was brought on by himself. They would like 
 to know how much evil he has done in the past, and are ready to 
 predict how much he will sin in the future. They hesitate to ex- 
 tend a helping hand, lest by such help they may be encouraging 
 unworthiness. They demand that the morals of others should be 
 rated at least at par, and would not consider it anything remark- 
 able if they were even above par, while they allow themselves quite 
 a liberal discount. The sentiment which called this institution 
 into being is of a higher order. It directs us to be sure that we do
 
 304 Aakok Feiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 our duty fully in alleviating human suffering. It enjoins upon 
 us to help, and not to judge. It commands us to give liberally 
 and to forgive willingly. It teaches the valuable lesson that we 
 are members of the common human family, to which we are all 
 indebted in a thousand ways for what we are and for what we 
 enjoy and for what we possess, and that there is no plea upon 
 which we can claim exemption from contributing something to the 
 welfare of others, something to the common good. The brightest 
 talents, no matter how much they may commonly be admired, are 
 prostituted, if not directed in some measure to promote the happi- 
 ness of others. High stations lose their greatest dignity if a large 
 share of their concern is not bestowed upon the lowly and the un- 
 fortunate. Wealth becomes valueless, and power is never held by 
 a good title, unless they shed comfort in the homes of the poor 
 and upon the needy and distressed wherever they may be found. 
 
 We are nothing by ourselves, but, however humble, we can all be- 
 come important links in the chain that should hold the human 
 family together in a bond which excludes no one, but embraces all 
 mankind in one brotherhood. We can hold to each other best by 
 working together in doing good. It is this working together in 
 doing good in everything which relates to the elevation of man that 
 marks the highest form of civilization. It is this working together 
 which finds no task too difficult, no field too great. It is not lim- 
 ited in space, nor restricted in time. The power required for the 
 accomplishment of great results can be supplied by the aggregate 
 contributions of many willing hands, and those furnished by the 
 weakest are never insignificant. In its program is embraced every- 
 thing that can extend human happiness, everything that can refine 
 the human heart, everything that can enrich the human intellect. 
 It builds hospitals, establishes asylums, promotes schools of learn- 
 ing, provides libraries, encourages art. The whole earth is its 
 workshop, and the clang of its labor reverberates over the mountains
 
 Addresses. 305 
 
 and across the sea; its echoes evoke a harmony which binds the 
 continents together. It never ceases, for one generation impresses 
 the next into its service, and it is the most precious legacy which 
 the past has bequeathed to us. And this work will continue, and 
 will be reenforced when it is wanting, until finally everywhere 
 " thy brother, thy poor, and thy needy " will find thy hand wide 
 open unto them, and the stranger will not be vexed. 
 
 The progress which marks our day has, by the abolition of time 
 and space, brought peoples closer together in their intercourse with 
 each other. Landmarks are no longer so far apart. Nations are 
 more and more becoming neighbors. They will all find their way 
 best when they are guided by their own landmarks. We live among 
 all the nations and we still have to bear the message, " Thou shalt 
 not remove thy neighbor's landmark." Nations are like individuals 
 in this, that they may reach the same destination although they 
 choose a very different starting point. By making an unfavorable 
 start they may follow circuitous paths, and long delays may occur, 
 but their landmarks must be respected, lest they go altogether 
 astray. It should be our concern that we ever preserve our land- 
 marks. How we place them, where we place them, and how we 
 maintain them will indicate to the world whether we have proven 
 ourselves worthy of the trust committed to our charge. Israel has 
 been the stranger that has been vexed in many lands these many 
 centuries. Let us hope that the time will soon dawn when he will 
 everywhere be recognized as a brother; and, as he is the best wit- 
 ness to tell how the world stands in its relation to truth, justice, 
 and toleration, so is he to testify for or against himself concerning 
 his conduct as the custodian of God's holy law. Condemning the 
 sin of others does not suffice to establish our own virtue. Some- 
 thing more tangible is required to entitle us to credit. We shall 
 be asked, " Where are your landmarks ? " The story of the poor 
 and the needy will be heard, and will be believed. The stranger's
 
 306 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 evidence cannot be ruled out. Let us hope that the judgment will 
 be rendered in our favor. Let us further hope that those who have 
 been our accusers will become our friends, and that, as time rolls 
 on, there will be more and more who are brothers, and fewer who 
 are strangers. Let us be grateful that our lot has been cast in a 
 blessed land where the cultivation of these sentiments has found a 
 fertile soil, a land in which one is rated according to what he is, 
 and not according to who he is, a land in which one is held re- 
 sponsible only for what he does, not for what he believes. 
 
 May this blessed land, among all the nations of the earth, be- 
 come the landmark by which human rights shall firmly be estab- 
 lished forever.
 
 ADDEESS AT THE PUEIM BANQUET HELD BY THE 
 HEBKEW LADIES' OEPHANS' AID SOCIETY, FEB- 
 EUAEY 27, 1885. 
 
 Ladies and Gentlemen : 
 
 It is my distinguished privilege this evening to speak to you for 
 the ladies of the Orphans' Aid Society in behalf of an object which 
 is dear to their hearts and which is equally dear to you, — the He- 
 brew Orphan Asylum of Baltimore. Speaking for the ladies, as 
 I do, I may have committed a great error in not consulting them 
 first regarding the points upon which my remarks should touch, for 
 they know well how to touch the deepest sympathies and how to 
 evoke the most generous responses; and in neglecting to do this, 
 it was not, I must confess, from any consideration that in pursuing 
 that course I would touch your sympathies either too deeply or 
 cause you to respond too generously. I was actuated rather by the 
 conviction that you not only knew what the ladies wanted you to 
 do here, besides spending a very pleasant evening among your 
 friends and among the friends of a cherished institution, but that 
 you were ready and willing to act as you have done on previous 
 . . . occasions, in that liberal spirit which betokens at once your 
 continued devotion to the institution in whose interest you have 
 assembled, and your warm appreciation of the noble, indefatigable, 
 and self-sacrificing spirit which the ladies have again exhibited in 
 making this festivity a success. 
 
 If I should yield to the temptation of portraying to you the 
 beneficent work which our Orphan Asylum has accomplished, how 
 it first manifested its existence, how it overcame obstacles which 
 seemed almost unsurmountable, even passing through the ordeal of
 
 308 Aaron Feiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 fire, and finally assumed proportions which no one had dreamed of, 
 you would interrupt me and say, " Stop now, you are introducing 
 to us an old and a very intimate acquaintance." Yes, our Orphan 
 Asylum is the product of the general benevolent spirit which has 
 always existed in our community, to the advancement of whose 
 interests every generous hand has contributed a share, and in whose 
 continued prosperity every benevolent heart has felt a deep inter- 
 est. To which of you is it a stranger ? You know who were pres- 
 ent at its birth, who stood around its cradle anxiously watching 
 and invoking the blessings of Heaven that no evil should befall 
 it. You know who guarded its early steps and lovingly provided 
 fresh air and sunshine and wholesome nourishment, and finally 
 rejoiced, as only loving hearts can rejoice, when it attained that 
 vigorous youth, denoting future health and strength and life. They 
 were your fathers, your mothers, your brothers, your sisters, your 
 friends, yourselves. 
 
 And although our Orphan Asylum has now reached such a growth 
 that it no longer requires your solicitude, but has become the pride 
 of the Israelites of Baltimore and a credit to the city, it still needs 
 your love, it still needs your helping hand ; and the ladies who 
 know the needs of the institution have invited you around this 
 festive board to acquaint you with this fact. They have chosen a 
 very opportune time, not only in consideration of the depleted con- 
 dition of the treasury at this season of the year, but in commemo- 
 rating a great national event at this season we are reminded of a 
 very early and exceedingly well-conducted Orphan Asylum, prob- 
 ably the first in the history of our people. It is true it was a very 
 small affair, but not of mean significance, for Mordecai was its 
 superintendent, and the successful manner in which it was con- 
 ducted is fully established by the careful training which Esther, 
 our heroine, received under its hospitable roof and by the many em- 
 bellishments of character with which she entered the world. She
 
 Addresses. 309 
 
 received the education of a simple Jewish maiden, but this qualified 
 her to become the queen of a great empire. Her example has had 
 an influence upon every true Jewish maiden ever since, and has be- 
 stowed upon them such charms that, if there were not so deplorable 
 a scarcity of kings, they all would become queens. 
 
 The ladies of the Orphans' Aid Society have not only cultivated 
 and developed those graces which in Esther shone so bright in the 
 Persian court, but they have adopted her methods of accomplish- 
 ing great results; for, when the Mordecais of the Orphan Asylum 
 send them doleful reports of an empty treasury, they prepare a 
 great feast and gladden your hearts, and deliverance is sure to 
 follow. 
 
 You all know, no doubt, that at one time in Jewish history the 
 Jews were forbidden to read the weekly portion of the law in the 
 Sabbath service and, to prevent its influence from being lost, a 
 chapter was selected from the prophets which presented some strong 
 analogy. Though none of you are prevented from so doing, I fear 
 there may be some who will not be present at the public reading of 
 the book of Esther in the synagogues; to them, this festival will 
 serve as the Haftarah, because, in giving your full sympathy to our 
 orphans, the image of Esther will rise before you, for she came 
 from this class, and, with her image before you, the great drama 
 in which she assumed so prominent a role cannot be forgotten by 
 you. And, when you will again visit the Orphan Asylum, you will 
 see in each little girl a future beautiful Esther, chaste, loving, 
 lovable, a true Jewish maiden, clinging to her faith and clinging to 
 her people; and in every little boy a future Mordecai, pious, brave, 
 unbending, and yet so tender that in reviewing the character of 
 Mordecai the great, he will admire most in him the fact that he 
 adopted the little Esther as his child. 
 
 21
 
 "CHAEITY," AN ADDEESS DELIVERED AT THE AN- 
 NUAL BANQUET OP THE HEBEEW BENEVOLENT 
 SOCIETY, DECEMBEE 1, 1892. 
 
 Mr. President : 
 
 It is an inspiring scene which is presented by this large assembly, 
 brought together in response to the annual call of this time-hon- 
 ored society. It is at all times gratifying to meet friends, to meet 
 so many friends with happy faces beaming with good cheer, extend- 
 ing the friendly hand, and speaking the kindly word; it is especi- 
 ally gratifying to be among those who have renewed on this occa- 
 sion their pledge of loyalty to a cause which, while primarily aim- 
 ing at the amelioration of the condition of the poor and unfortu- 
 nate, is no less to be recognized for the elevating influence it 
 exerts upon its promoters as well; a cause which not only lends 
 hope, encouragement, and support to the needy, but offers wealth 
 the only means of investing itself with dignity, a cause which unites 
 all mankind in one grand brotherhood. 
 
 We have met on this occasion in the interests of an institution 
 which represents organized charity. Organized charity signifies 
 charity supported by means contributed by the many and dis- 
 tributed by methods thought out and administered by the few. The 
 object of such organization is obvious. It is to give charity its 
 greatest efficiency, to offer it the widest scope, and to guard it 
 against imposition. It means more. Every enlightened commu- 
 nity recognizes its collective duty to provide for the alleviation of 
 misery inflicted by the vicissitudes of life for which the individual 
 sufferer cannot provide, unaided. It means that by such organi- 
 zations the community as a body assumes the care of its suffering
 
 Addresses. 311 
 
 members, regarding them as an integral part of itself, for, as the 
 living organism cannot escape more or less injury from the sufEer- 
 ing of its parts, neither can society remain insensible to the suffer- 
 ing of any of its members without deteriorating in its moral tone. 
 In all organisms in nature, when an individual organ is stricken, 
 the other unaffected organs combine to bring relief to the suffering 
 one, by each contributing as much as it is able, illustrating fully 
 what is meant by " Isli Ke-Mattenath Yado," " each according to 
 his ability." So long as the individual parts of an organism busy 
 themselves with the work of repair of a suffering member, the dis- 
 ease may safely be regarded as one of local character; whereas, 
 whenever a suffering member in such an organism seems to be 
 abandoned to its fate, the disease may be designated as one more 
 or less due to constitutional vitiation, and consequently the well- 
 being of the whole organism may be regarded as imperiled. "We 
 observe the analogue of this in society. "Whenever want overtakes 
 an individual or dire poverty invades a family, or even many fami- 
 lies, the misfortune may be looked upon as mitigated when hun- 
 dreds of unseen hands are ready to bring relief, or better still, as 
 the Hebrew Benevolent Society has illustrated these many years, 
 when these unseen hands have already placed in reserve the means 
 to meet the emergency. The fulness and the promptness and the 
 tenderness with which this relief is administered supply the meas- 
 ure by which the moral development of society can accurately be 
 gauged. On the other hand, if society could remain unconcerned 
 about the poor and needy, such a society would soon be threatened 
 with a degree of moral degradation which it would be forced, for 
 the sake of its own safety, to provide against. 
 
 From this discussion of the duty which society owes to its poor 
 
 and needy it becomes apparent that it is a duty which it owes to 
 
 ^itself. Every one whose means exceed his needs is therefore in 
 
 duty bound, in honor bound, to contribute his share to organized
 
 313 Aaeon" Feiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 charity. There is no one so situated that he does not owe much 
 to society. There are few so fortunate that, even if so inclined, 
 they could wholly liquidate that debt. There are still fewer whose 
 achievements have been so great as to entitle them to a settlement 
 in full for all that society has done for them, showing a balance in 
 their favor. Ordinary mortals can hardly aspire to do more at 
 their very best than offer a decent acknowledgment of favors re- 
 ceived, and make a partial payment on account. 
 
 Organized charity does not preclude individual charity. There 
 is plenty of room and there is sufficient demand for both. No 
 man, however, can justify himself in withdrawing his support from 
 the public work by the private charity he may choose to give. 
 Upon such men bear the forcible words of the great teacher Hillel, 
 " Separate not thyself from the congregation." Society could not 
 afford to risk its welfare by relying upon the spontaneous but dis- 
 concerted efforts of its individual members in caring for the poor. 
 This method, besides having the disadvantage of inefficiency, has 
 against it the formidable objection that the poor man, instead of 
 presenting himself as a beneficiary with just claims, is driven to the 
 degradation of beggary and forced to rely upon the pity which 
 the story of his suffering may excite. The poor man is " a man 
 for a' that." He has a manhood to preserve which he has a right 
 in all cases to hope will survive his poverty. He should not be 
 left to grope his way, nor forced to expose his condition in the 
 market place. He should readily meet those who will take his 
 hand and help him to find the road which will lead him to a brighter 
 day. The pain of poverty is in itself hard enough to bear; he 
 should be spared its humiliation. The bread that is given him 
 should not be poisoned by bitter words. His faults should not 
 weigh too heavily against him, for he has already paid the penalty 
 by his poverty. His accuser should remember in the testimony he 
 gives that he himself is not perfect in the eyes of God, and that he
 
 Addresses. 313 
 
 may have a large account for M^hich he will some day have to plead 
 for forgiveness. There is no code according to which it could 
 be ruled that the poor man must be better than others, and, if his 
 poverty has made him worse, he has a double claim upon our 
 sympathy. 
 
 These are sentiments which form the basis upon which this 
 society has been reared, and out of which its methods have been 
 developed. The Hebrew Benevolent Society, indeed, may be looked 
 upon as a great corporation. The poor own the preferred shares, 
 and we hold the common stock, upon which we are willing to pay 
 our annual assessment. We come together once a year to hear the 
 report read, and to contribute the means by which the dividends 
 on the preferred shares are to be declared. When the emergency 
 has arisen, we have been known to meet more than once a year. 
 This society differs from a corporation in general in that there 
 can be no doubt that it does possess a soul; and, possessing a soul, 
 and a very noble soul, it differs still more from corporations in 
 general in that it has adopted the rule that, the harder the times, 
 the bigger should be the dividend. The preferred shares are fre- 
 quently transferred on the books of the society, and, a fact to as- 
 tonish the ordinary financier, these books show that occasionally 
 the preferred shares have been relinquished by their holders and 
 the common stock accepted in their stead. Unfortunately, the 
 books also show that at times transfers have taken a sadder turn, 
 for some who long held the common stock were at last forced to 
 exchange it for preferred shares. So intense has been the pride 
 of many in the good name of this corporation that they made ample 
 provision that, after their death, the assessment upon the amount 
 representing their share of common stock should continue to be 
 paid. 
 
 It is not uncommon that common stock is subjected to a process 
 which is called watering. Ours has not escaped the general
 
 314 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 fate. The water used, however, was not that which would cause 
 a deluge, but it was the refreshing dew from Heaven and the 
 blessed rain, so that there might be gathered " thy corn, thy wine, 
 and thine oil." 
 
 Charity is indeed a noble virtue. It is Heaven-born, and sent 
 into the world as the grand ambassador from the high court above 
 to give succor to the poor, to be the protector of the widow and the 
 orphan, and to be the ministering angel wherever misfortune has 
 laid its heavy hand. There is no consciousness in which we may 
 more truly rejoice than that of fully understanding its holy mis- 
 sion; there is nothing that can bestow upon us greater honor than 
 meritorious service in its cause. Its ministry dates from the dawn 
 of time, and civilization bears more and more the impress of its 
 salutary influence. It never fails to raise its solemn protest wher- 
 ever prejudice, intolerance, and persecution have sown their bane- 
 ful seed; and, although it may not always secure for itself a suc- 
 cessful hearing at the moment, it never speaks entirely in vain, 
 for its echoes reverberate through time. Charity, however, an- 
 nounces its approach much more often in loving smiles, speaking 
 its words in touching strains, and manifesting its presence in grace- 
 ful form. It will forever hold up in flaming letters the genealogy 
 of man, reaching to the one great Father; and it will never cease 
 to demand that all the children of God regard each other as 
 brothers.
 
 ADDEESS DELIVERED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF 
 THE BALTIMOEE BRANCH OF THE ALLIANCE 
 ISRAELITE UNIVERSELLE, MARCH 19, 1893. 
 
 . . . The Alliance Israelite Universelle was established at a 
 time which may properly be regarded as a golden age by our 
 European coreligionists. Full participation in all political rights 
 had been accorded our brethren in France. In England disabili- 
 ties had been relegated to the story of the past by the progress of 
 enlightenment which distinguishes that country. In Germany the 
 ghettoes had disappeared, and those who had so long been their 
 unfortunate inhabitants could step out into and breathe more 
 freely in the fresh air of freedom, and realize that an Israelite 
 could have rights in the state as well as duties. In Austria a new 
 era had dawned. In the great struggle for a fuller recognition of 
 the rights of the many nationalities comprising that great empire, 
 there came a solution on the side of right, in the benefits of which 
 our brethren were accorded a liberal share. Even in the domain 
 of the Czar the condition of our brethren had materially improved 
 under the influence of Alexander II. ; and, while they had still to 
 suffer from oppressive laws, their lot had been made so much 
 more tolerable that they were comparatively content. Harold 
 Frederic gives a very graphic account of this period in his excel- 
 lent book, " The New Exodus," describing under the name of the 
 " Golden Age " a period which every one must acknowledge falls 
 very far short of being worthy of modern civilization. But still, 
 as Russian despotism had somewhat relented, the hope was enter- 
 tained that the example of the more civilized nations would before 
 long be more fully followed. It was a hopeful period, and the
 
 316 Aaron Friedenwald, M, D. 
 
 organization of the Alliance Israelite UniverseUe was opportune. 
 The objects formulated at that time, for which it has uninter- 
 ruptedly labored since, are, first, to secure equality for Israelites 
 everywhere and to promote their moral advancement; second, to 
 lend material aid to those who suffer because of their being Israel- 
 ites ; third, to promote publications favoring these objects. 
 
 The establishment and maintenance of schools in the Orient to 
 foster European culture and encourage industrial pursuits offered 
 a wide field for the application of these principles, and up to recent 
 years formed almost exclusively the work of the Alliance. The 
 persecutions to which our brethren in Eussia were subjected in 
 1882, however, and the renewal and intensification in 1890 of these 
 persecutions, which continue unabated up to this time, added a 
 very sad work to the activities which it had hitherto assumed. 
 Every avenue by which the unfortunate ones could escape from this 
 annihilating oppression was availed of, and it was mainly the 
 representatives of the Alliance who directed this exodus and dis- 
 tributed the means that had been contributed for the relief of the 
 misery by which it was attended. The work which the Alliance 
 has done in bringing forward the men and in organizing the various 
 committees to deal with the questions arising out of this persecution 
 will ever be most creditably connected with what will be known in 
 history as the memorable martyrdom of the Eussian Jews towards 
 the close of the great nineteenth century. When that prince of 
 philanthropists, Baron Maurice de Hirsch, conceived in 1889 the 
 project of his munificent foundation for aiding Eussian immigrants 
 in America in their early struggles, to save them from pauperism, 
 and to make it possible for them to secure within a short time a 
 livelihood in honorable pursuits, it was to the Alliance that he 
 looked for the initiatory movement toward the consummation of 
 his purpose. The first communication which reached America on 
 this subject was from the central body of the Alliance in Paris and
 
 Addresses. 317 
 
 was directed to Moses A. Dropsie, Esq., for many years President 
 of the Philadelphia branch of the Alliance, and to Judge Myer A. 
 Isaacs, similarly connected with the branch in New York, and a 
 member of the Central Committee. This communication requested 
 that these gentlemen should invite to a conference others whom 
 they might select, to devise a plan for carrying out the Baron's 
 object. I had the honor of being one of those invited to this con- 
 ference, which took place in Philadelphia. The Central Commit- 
 tee of the Baron de Hirsch Fund was organized in 1890, and Judge 
 Isaacs was made President thereof. The honor of attending the 
 conference in Philadelphia, and my appointment as Chairman of 
 the Baron de Hirsch Committee of Baltimore, I undoubtedly owe 
 to my connection with this branch. 
 
 The Alliance has done a very important work in bringing into 
 touch with each other men in very distant parts of the world who 
 are willing to listen to appeals that come from afar and are ready 
 to join hands in extending that refined benevolence which can feel 
 for the wants of others, though they dwell in remote lands, and 
 who can understand misery, though it be expressed in a strange 
 tongue. . . .^ 
 
 *The remainder of the address consists of a detailed account of the 
 various activities of the Alliance.
 
 1 
 
 " A TEIP TO PALESTINE," AN ADDRESS READ BEFORE 
 THE YOUNG MEN'S HEBREW ASSOCIATION OF 
 NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 25, 1899. 
 
 Palestine has always held a high place in the affections of the 
 Jews. The hope of eventually returning to their old home sus- 
 tained them in their sad wanderings during eighteen centuries. 
 Driven from place to place, they remained a homeless nation. Now 
 and then a short rest was granted, and they dreamed that they 
 had found a new home; but, alas! it was but a dream. What 
 wonder, then, that in late years, when almost the whole world has 
 simultaneously risen against them with a fierceness and a cruelty 
 that has seldom been equalled in past ages, thousands upon thou- 
 sands have sought homes in that land towards which they had 
 turned in their prayers during the years of their persecution, to 
 that land in which their ancestors had received the divine revela- 
 tion, to that land which had been the forum of their prophets, to 
 that land in which first was heard the holy song of their inspired 
 poets. Some who had struggled and suffered, who were content 
 still to suffer, but could struggle no longer, came to pass their 
 last days in prayer and to die in their old home; and some came 
 who had suffered and struggled, and who were willing to suffer 
 and struggle still further, to become the pioneers in the great work 
 of building a new home where their old home had stood, in which 
 the nation should undergo such a regeneration as would insure it 
 peace at home, secure respect for its children everywhere, and 
 inaugurate the time when the world shall acknowledge that Israel 
 has become a blessing to all the nations. 
 
 To see that Old Home, to gaze upon the places that have been
 
 Addresses. 319 
 
 the scenes of events so memorable in history, to mingle my tears 
 with those of our brethren who weep at the wailing place for the 
 desolation which the despoiler has wrought, and to grasp the strong 
 and friendly hands of those who have begun the building of the 
 New Home, was the object of the journey whose story I am about 
 to tell. . . . 
 
 Leaving New York on the 16th of April last, accompanied by 
 Mrs. Friedenwald, a delightful voyage of eight days brought us 
 to Gibraltar; in four days more we reached Naples. . . . Two 
 days more, and we were carried to Port Said; from whence the 
 Egyptian Eailway conveyed us to Cairo in a few hours. . . . 
 
 The trip [from Alexandria to Jaffa] lasted two days. Jaffa 
 lies directly on the coast, with no harbor to break the force of 
 the sea, and therefore does not always offer a kind welcome to the 
 traveler who seeks to disembark there. During fine weather 
 there is no difficulty in landing at Jaffa, but when the sea is stormy 
 it would be a hazardous attempt. Landing is effected, the steamer 
 having anchored some considerable distance out, by means of small 
 boats which convey the passengers and baggage ashore. The 
 principal danger in disembarkation is due to quite formidable 
 rocks which project from the sea very near to land with smaller 
 or larger interspaces. It is very obvious how readily a wild sea 
 would dash such boats to pieces against these rocks, and it there- 
 fore often occurs that steamers do not stop until they reach the 
 next landing place. When the sea is calm, the skilful Arab boat- 
 swain does not find it difiBcult to pass between the rocks in safety. 
 
 The day on which we arrived was propitious. Mr. Kaminitz, the 
 genial proprietor of the Hotel Palestine, who had been apprised 
 of our coming, came on board the steamer, extended us a warm 
 " Shalom Alechem," that Jewish greeting which, 'mid the Oriental 
 scenes so new to us, with the strange people, speaking their strange 
 language, crowding in small boats about the vessel and scrambling
 
 320 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 wildly aboard, made us feel safe and satisfied. Through his . . . 
 thoughtfulness, he delighted us with news from home before we 
 even landed, for he brought with him the letters that had been 
 addressed to his care. We soon descended from the steamer into 
 one of the boats, and in a very short time we stood upon the soil 
 of the ancient home of Israel. How grateful I felt for this realiza- 
 tion of a life-long dream! What sacred memories were awakened, 
 what a fervent new hope the old hope had become ! 
 
 We were made comfortable in the hotel, which, while Jewish, is 
 liberally patronized by Christians and Mussulmans. A gentleman 
 of the latter class, holding a distinguished position in Jerusalem, 
 who was our neighbor at the table, spoke English fairly well, and 
 gave us much interesting information in regard to the manners 
 and customs of the country. We learned that the Mohammedans 
 prefer the Jewish table on account of their dietary laws, which are 
 somewhat similar to the Jewish dietary laws. They do not eat swine 
 flesh, and have a sort of Shechitah [method of ritual slaughtering]. 
 
 Jaffa, as we know from the Bible, is a very ancient city. It was 
 probably never very large, and is still a small town of about six 
 thousand inhabitants. It does not look as old as one would sup- 
 pose. There has been much new life implanted in this old city 
 during the past twenty years, due in part to the settlement of a 
 thrifty colony of German Templars in the city, and the agricultural 
 colony of the same community, Sarona, in its close proximity; but 
 more largely to the increase of Jewish settlers in the city itself, 
 and the influence of Jewish colonies which have grown up in the 
 country north and south of it. Its commerce has increased three- 
 fold during the last few years. It has many substantial stone 
 buildings, and its streets are always enlivened with Oriental scenes, 
 with which we had already become familiar in our short sojourn 
 in Egypt. The natives in their Oriental costumes present quite 
 a picturesque appearance. Their complexions embrace all shades
 
 Addresses. 321 
 
 of brunette, becoming darker and darker until finally both the 
 rich pigment and the characteristic features of the transplanted 
 African are reached. They are all dark, but for convenience are 
 classified as white and black, and they live in great harmony and 
 close social relations, which will cause less surprise when we con- 
 sider that there are no elections in the Turkish domain. The large 
 number of camels and donkeys carrying all sorts of burdens lend 
 an especially animated character to the streets. Wagons have, up 
 to quite recent years, been considered superfluous; the few that are 
 now seen form an innovation introduced principally by the Jewish 
 colonists. Soon after our arrival in Jaffa we were most cordially 
 met by the Committee, " Ha-Waad ha-Poel," representing the inter- 
 ests of the Choveve Zion Association of Odessa in the colonies. . . . 
 From these gentlemen we obtained a fund of knowledge regarding 
 the colonies, and directions as to our further journeys. The Beth 
 Tia-Seferj the school specially fostered by the Choveve Zion Asso- 
 ciation of Eussia, is an institution of more than ordinary im- 
 portance. Here Hebrew is taught as a living language. It has 
 become the language of conversation among the pupils, and in- 
 struction in all the branches of knowledge is imparted in the 
 sacred tongue. The children evidently love the ancient language, 
 which has been made their own, and with the language there has 
 been infused into them a love for their race and a love for their 
 religion which is thoroughly pervaded with the national idea. This 
 school is designed to be the model school for the colonies. The 
 founders of this school have early recognized that, besides properly 
 preparing and planting the land, it is equally important to rear the 
 young generation so that men and women may come forth who 
 shall prove themselves worthy to occupy the land, and who, among 
 all its products, shall stand out prominently as its noblest yield. 
 
 "We spent about three days very agreeably in Jaffa. During 
 this time we visited Mikweh Israel, the agricultural school of
 
 222 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 the Alliance Israelite Universelle, and Pethach Tikwah, one of 
 the colonies, both reached after a short drive from Jaffa. Of these 
 I shall speak presently. I desire to mention here that there is 
 much intelligence and refinement ... in Jaffa. This society 
 is made up of the teachers of the various schools, physicians, 
 the committee of the Choveve Zion, officers of the administra- 
 tion of the various colonies who visit Jaffa from time to time, and 
 other settlers at this port . . . wlio have been well educated, 
 and . . . have had the advantage of good social intercourse. 
 
 The Alliance Israelite Universelle can justifiably point with pride 
 to Mikweh Israel, not only because it is the only agricultural school 
 in the East, but also because there are few to be found in other 
 parts of the world that can equal it in the thoroughness of their 
 instruction and in the salutary influence which they have wielded. 
 The waste land which surrounds it for miles upon miles testifies to 
 the superior intelligence and untiring industry that has made it 
 the garden spot of the region — a model which has served to direct 
 the newer agricultural enterprises in Palestine; and it forms such 
 a contrast to the country in which it lies that it is like an oasis in 
 the desert. 
 
 About sixteen to eighteen young men are sent out from this 
 school annually, and they find positions in the colonies and else- 
 where as gardeners; some have even been sent to Argentine. We 
 had a most delightful stroll through the groves, consisting of 
 orange, lemon and ethrog trees. These are well cared for. They 
 are protected from the cold winds by eucalyptus trees and hedges 
 of acacia and pomegranate. The acacia has a most beautiful yellow, 
 highly fragrant flower, from which, and from other flowers as 
 well, perfumes, we are informed, are manufactured in the colony 
 Yesud ha-Maalah. Much has been done here in the planting of 
 trees, among which must be mentioned the palm, almond, apricot, 
 olive, and mulberry; the latter is important for its bearing on the
 
 Addresses. 323 
 
 silk culture. The institution derives its principal income from vine 
 culture, the wine produced being of very fine quality. The 
 various kinds of cereals and vegetables are also planted here, but 
 not in large quantities. In this direction, the object in view is 
 the instruction that is imparted, and not the yield. We saw 
 wheat, oats, barley, and other plants from many countries, planted 
 and grown under varying conditions, to show the pupils the prac- 
 tical results of non-fertilization, fertilization, and the special ad- 
 vantages of certain fertilizers, and to demonstrate what kinds 
 are suited to the soil and climate. 
 
 Charles Netter must have been inspired with a spirit almost pro- 
 phetic to have conceived the idea which called this great institu- 
 tion into being. The undertaking met with many obstacles in its 
 early career, and the Alliance began to hesitate about giving the 
 required pecuniary aid. Netter threw his soul into this important 
 work, which he regarded as a great beginning by which his breth- 
 ren should be led back again to their normal condition, an agri- 
 cultural life. He left France, settled at Mikweh Israel, devoted a 
 large private fortune to making it a success when other means 
 failed, and remained there until he died. A very imposing monu- 
 ment marks his last resting place amid the scenes of the labors 
 which made his name immortal. He held the best of titles to the 
 distinguished location of his grave. He created his own Gan Eden. 
 
 After a full conference with our friends in Jaffa we concluded 
 to visit the colonies near that city, and then to reach Sejet, a sta- 
 tion on the railroad to Jerusalem, and, after devoting as much time 
 as was needed to seeing Jerusalem, to proceed to the other colonies. 
 In continuing my story, I shall not sandwich Jerusalem in between 
 the colonies, on account of the limits of this occasion. . . . 
 The colonies which we visited on our first trip were: Pethach 
 Tikwuh, Eishon le-Zion, Ekron, Kechoboth, Ghederah, and Kas- 
 tinje; Wadi el-Chanin, which belongs to the group, we had to 
 pass by.
 
 324 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 Pethach Tikwah was included in the program of one of our ex- 
 cursions from Jaffa. . . . We reached our destination after 
 about one and a half hours' drive over a very dusty road, through 
 a country left to lie barren, for the most part, with but feeble at- 
 tempts at cultivation here and there. 
 
 Somewhat further on in our way we passed a wagon filled with 
 men and women who were pointed out to us as Gerim, " prose- 
 lytes." They have quite an interesting history. They are Eus- 
 sians from the Caucasus who have adopted Judaism, have found 
 their way here under very great difficulties, and consider it as their 
 greatest happiness to be reckoned among the Jews. They are em- 
 ployed in Pethach Tikwah, and are very industrious and extremely 
 pious. There are quite a number of these people who are Jews in 
 the fullest sense of the term, and have been so for quite a long 
 period. It is said that there are no less than five hundred fami- 
 lies of this community in Eussia. They are known as Sahhatniker 
 [Sabbatarians]. They owe their origin to a movement which be- 
 gan in the sixteenth century.* At first the Jewish Sabbath was 
 adopted; later they appealed to the Eabbis for instruction, and 
 ultimately they became ardent followers of the Jewish faith. They 
 have been subjected to very cruel persecution, and all yearn to 
 come to the Holy Land to live in communion with their brethren 
 in faith. 
 
 In approaching Pethach Tikwah, a pleasant impression is at 
 once made by the beautiful background of green forest which the 
 landscape presents. An avenue lined by fine shade trees leads to 
 the village. At the end of this avenue, upon an elevated spot, the 
 beautiful synagogue is most appropriately placed. The house of 
 the administrator is quite a fine building; those of the colonists 
 are of a modest character, and provide both cheerful and comfort- 
 able homes. This is one of the colonies of Baron Edmond de 
 
 * See Jewish Encyclopedia, Art. Judaizing Heresy.
 
 Addresses. 335 
 
 Eothschild, without whose munificent aid the success of this new 
 Jewish resettlement of Palestine would have been an impossibility. 
 The vineyards in this, as well as in almost all of the other colonies, 
 form the chief source from which the colonists derive their support, 
 although grain is also raised successfully. Although the natives 
 have received in the development of the colonies many valuable 
 object-lessons as regards the advantages of modern means in agri- 
 culture, it is also true that in some respects the colonists had to 
 learn and adopt the methods pursued from time immemorial in the 
 East. This is illustrated in the manner in which the wells have 
 been dug, and in the solid lining of masonry by which they have 
 been fortified. . . . 
 
 Among other signs of desolation which one observes in traveling 
 through Palestine, the absence of trees is especially conspicuous. 
 It is only where Jews have again settled that the forests are begin- 
 ning to be restored. In Pethach Tikwah alone, forty thousand 
 eucalyptus trees of goodly growth testify to the munificence and 
 far-sightedness of the Baron. Besides the several important re- 
 spects in which these trees will prove their utility, very much can 
 safely be expected of them in counteracting the malaria with which 
 this colony is afflicted. With the growth of these trees, which is 
 most remarkably rapid, the evil has already decidedly diminished, 
 and it is hoped that it will gradually disappear. What wonder, 
 then, that one hears nothing but praises and blessings for the 
 Baron and prayers for his preservation ? 
 
 The colony is provided with a good school, modeled after the 
 one in Jaifa, except that the Ashkenazic pronunciation of Hebrew 
 has been retained. Hebrew is the language in general use, but 
 Arabic, Turkish, and French are also taught. . . . We were 
 greatly pleased with our visit to Pethach Tikwah, for we found in it 
 a highly developed Jewish colony. The trees and vines and fields 
 reflected . . . creditably the intelligence and industry of the 
 22
 
 326 Aaron Feiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 new Jewish farmer, but our greatest satisfaction was derived from 
 the assurance of our brethren that they were contented with their 
 lot in their new life and in their new home. 
 
 Eeturning to Jaffa, we proceeded further on our journey. . . . 
 We again availed ourselves of Cook's carriages, proceeding joyfully 
 on our way, not minding the heat or dust. We found it rather 
 remarkable that notwithstanding the high temperature we were not 
 oppressed. This is due to the extreme dryness of the atmosphere. 
 In walking for hours through the colonies we did not perspire, and 
 after a drive of six and eight hours we were surprised that the 
 horses, which were not spared, did not sweat. The time required 
 to reach Eishon le-Zion did not exceed one hour. This is the great 
 colony of the region, being a central point for all the colonies of 
 Judea. The Baron has erected here at great expense a vast plant 
 for the manufacture and storage of wine, and also for the produc- 
 tion of everything connected with this important industry, and it 
 is to this point that all the grapes of the colonies of this region 
 are brought and sold to the Baron. ... We were first shown 
 through quite a number of deep cellars, supplied with long rows of 
 great casks which in the aggregate contain about 30,000 hectoliters 
 of wine. The superstructure consists of a series of extensive and 
 connected buildings, each serving a special purpose in the great 
 work which is accomplished here. In these separate depart- 
 ments elaborate machinery is provided, all of which is driven from 
 a common source, a Corliss engine. . . . 
 
 We were next taken through the machine shop. Here, as well 
 as in every other part of the establishment, only Jews are at work. 
 The superintendent of the shop is a Mr. Bapo, a perfect Goliath 
 in form, with a kindly face, a native of Jerusalem, who was edu- 
 cated at the Alliance School. ... It was refreshing to see our 
 brethren swinging the sledge-hammers with ease and showing amid 
 the sparks that were flying in all directions that they loved their
 
 Addresses. 327 
 
 work and they were satisfied with their station in life. All the 
 iron work needed in the construction of the rest of the buildings 
 came out of this shop. 
 
 There are several grades of red and white wine produced here 
 that have attained a well-merited reputation among connoisseurs. 
 Cognac, which is rated as the equal of the best that can be found 
 in any market, is also distilled here. I cannot refrain from adding 
 my commendation of the quality of the wine. In enjoying its 
 pleasant taste and exhilarating effect, I felt that it must have 
 been this sort of which it is written K'ljs-na^ nDK'^ pM " and wine 
 that maketh glad the heart of man." . . . 
 
 Mr. Boris Ossawetzsky, the manager of the wine department, 
 a fine musician, has formed an orchestra that gives performances 
 every Sunday evening, which contribute greatly to the entertain- 
 ment of the people and have given opportunity for refined enjoy- 
 ment. A fine, capacious building has been erected by the colonists 
 themselves for library and meeting purposes, and it is here that the 
 concerts are given. Synagogue and school have been amply pro- 
 vided for, and everything betokens a community of earnestness 
 and intelligence. . . . Hospitality greets one at every step, 
 and the colonists feel grateful for every indication that the Jews 
 of other parts of the world take an interest in them and in the 
 ideals for which they are striving. They have worked hard. They 
 have proved that they can do the hardest work well. They feel 
 proud of having surmounted the great difficulties of their early ex- 
 periences. They are full of courage and full of hope. They love 
 Palestine. They feel that they have at last found a home. Be- 
 sides the intellectual improvement and moral elevation which has 
 been a direct outcome of the new ideals in their new life, the more 
 natural environment in which they have been placed has had a 
 physically beneficial effect which is noticeable in their bearing and 
 in their movements. It was very gratifying to us to see them
 
 328 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 mount their horses with the agility of the Arab, and to find them 
 fully masters of everything that horsemanship requires. In the 
 early history of the colonies, the Arabs made the mistake of trying 
 to intimidate them. It must have been a very good lesson which 
 they received, for, from their very good and peaceful conduct since, 
 they seem not to have forgotten it. . . . 
 
 Leaving Eishon le-Zion in the afternoon, we arrived at Eecho- 
 both towards evening, but there was still time left to see much of 
 the colony, which presents much the appearance of a German vil- 
 lage. This colony made a good impression in every respect. It 
 was founded by an association in Warsaw named Menuchah 
 we-Nachalah, " Peace and Possession,'^ and forms one of the in- 
 dependent colonies, although it must also be stated that both in 
 Pethach Tikwah and in Eishon le-Zion there are quite a number of 
 colonists who own their land. 
 
 The community of Eechoboth has adopted a novel and effectual 
 method of protecting itself against theft. An agreement was made 
 with a neighboring sheik to furnish a watchman at ninety francs 
 per month, with the stipulation that he shall make adequate in- 
 demnification for anything that may disappear, and the plan has 
 worked satisfactorily. This safeguard applies only to the danger 
 of this kind to which the colony is exposed throughout the year. 
 Against the periodic thieves who make their incursions with the 
 ripening of the grapes, the only insurance . . . available is 
 a number of armed colonists who patrol the vineyards all night 
 during the season. This police system is established in all the 
 other colonies. . . . 
 
 The three remaining colonies of Judea, on account of their prox- 
 imity, were readily reached in one day's journey. 
 
 Ekron, after being a failure at first, came under the patronage of 
 the Baron. The Baron, as an experiment, selected a number of 
 Eussians who had experience as agriculturists, with the view of de-
 
 Addresses. 329 
 
 voting the colony to the raising of grain. The experiment was 
 eminently successful. Subsequently, to make the colony more 
 profitable still, he changed it to a wine and fruit-growing one, and 
 he has not been disappointed. This aggregation of orange, lemon, 
 ethrog, palm, apricot, almond, pomegranate, and acacia trees under 
 favoring climatic influences and the most advanced horticulture 
 presents a beauteous picture, which cannot be excelled in its kind. 
 Ghederah (Katra) had a unique beginning. It was settled by 
 Eussian students. They had a very rough experience, but they 
 maintained their courage. They were materially aided by the 
 Choveve Zion Association of Eussia, and the colony has prospered. 
 One-half of it is devoted to wine and fruit; the other half to grain. 
 It is interesting to note that these young men, brought up in the 
 Eussian universities under the vitiating influence of Nihilism, have 
 fully recovered therefrom, and have returned to a true Jewish life. 
 The houses in this colony are built of limestone, are well con- 
 structed, and present an appearance which lends a special charm 
 to the place. Several of these houses are architecturally quite pre- 
 tentious. In one of these, owned and occupied by a Eussian of 
 means, we were kindly received. He came here because he wanted 
 to live in Palestine. We were rather surprised to see, in the room 
 in which we were entertained, some exquisite pieces of furniture 
 brought all the way from Eussia. The floor was made of white 
 and black blocks of marble, arranged with a decidedly pleasing 
 effect. The samovar, the large brass tea machine, a very orna- 
 mental piece which one often sees in Eussian houses in the East, 
 was soon set going. Our kind host, already advanced in years, 
 chirped and skipped about, the very picture of happiness in his 
 cordial attentions to us. In thinking now of him and of his breth- 
 jen who are left in the land of the Czar, I am strongly reminded 
 of our Eussian Jewish poet Eosenfeld's pathetic song of the happy
 
 330 Aaron Feiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 canary bird singing its sweet chants in the green woods, and of the 
 one in the cage whose song is a sigh. 
 
 We finished the day with the drive to Kastinje, the home of our 
 friend Kaiserman. Our host, with the aid of a female Arab ser- 
 vant bearing the euphonious name of Sapcha, attended most gener- 
 ously to our wants. This colony is devoted exclusively to the rais- 
 ing of igrain, and was established by the Choveve Zion. Mr. 
 Kaiserman showed us the plan of storing grain which had been 
 learned from the Arabs, and which is also in vogue in some of 
 the other colonies. It consists of excavations in the ground of the 
 shape of an elliptical vase, with a long neck, and of a capacity of 
 holding as many as a hundred and fifty bags of grain. These ex- 
 cavations . . . are very skilfully made by the Arabs. They 
 have the advantage of great economy, while the grain remains per- 
 fectly protected. In the threshing of the grain the method of the 
 natives has been found advantageous. It consists of spreading it 
 out upon the field and driving horses, drawing a sort of heavy 
 sled, over it in continuous circles. 
 
 Our Arab servant's carriage was a typical example of the grace- 
 ful bearing of the young Arab women, acquired, probably, from the 
 erect posture enforced in the carrying of water jars and other bur- 
 dens upon their heads. She promptly disappeared toward night- 
 fall, as no Arab girl is known to be absent from her native village 
 at night. She was about twenty-four years old, a rather advanced 
 age for a girl in the East not to be married. "We learned that she 
 was promised to be given as wife to a little boy while she was quite 
 a young child. The boy disappeared, and unless a divorce is ob- 
 tained, or his death can be established, she can, according to the 
 custom of the country, never marry anyone else. 
 
 In driving from colony to colony we passed a number of Arab 
 villages which added much to the interest of our journeys. The 
 physician at Ghederah had been called the day before we arrived to
 
 Addresses. 331 
 
 attend a neighboring sheik who was very ill. It became known 
 that a physician from abroad was travelling through the country, 
 and I was requested to meet the medical attendant in consultation. 
 I gladly availed myself of the opportunity of seeing the inside of 
 an Arab village. Such a village consists of a large circular wall 
 built of mud, which at the same time forms the outer part of the 
 houses, which are covered with a thick layer of straw. The village 
 is entered through a wide arched gateway. On entering the court, 
 a motley assembly of men, women, children, camels, horses, cows, 
 donkeys, goats, and other cattle was observed. 
 
 All around there were at intervals single openings which served 
 as door and window to the respective dwellings. The house we 
 entered consisted of a room twelve by twelve with a pile of stones 
 in the center about three feet high, four feet broad, and about six 
 feet long, covered with blankets, which formed a bed upon which 
 the sick sheik lay. There was absolutely no other furniture in the 
 room. The open court serves the purpose of the general parlor, 
 sitting-room, dining-room, kitchen, and stable. Libraries are not 
 required, and only of recent years has a feeble attempt been made 
 to have village schools. The sheik had been sick for nearly six 
 weeks. He shared the common belief that Providence alone should 
 be relied upon in sickness. When he, however, got so ill that he 
 could not resist the demands of his four sympathizing wives any 
 longer, a physician was finally sent for. On leaving the village, I 
 asked the doctor who came with us from Ghederah how it was pos- 
 sible that a man like the sheik, who was reputed to be a man of 
 considerable means, could live in such a wretched environment. 
 He replied, " Such folk are quite happy as they are. They follow 
 out a political economy of their own which resolves itself into the 
 proposition that the less one has, the less can one be deprived of by 
 the oflBcials." They are not oppressed by" the giving of a dowry to 
 procure husbands for their daughters, a custom so wide-spread
 
 333 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 among other peoples; on the contrary, the father is paid a sum 
 averaging about two hundred and fifty dollars for each daughter he 
 gives away in marriage. Sometimes a father desires to increase 
 his household by an additional wife and wants at the same time to 
 escape the pressure of a cash transaction; he then gives away a 
 daughter and takes a wife in exchange. A more commendable 
 phase of Arab life was observed in the many poor women whom 
 we met returning from the fields and carrying upon their heads 
 loads of grain, these being the gleanings to which they are entitled 
 by a statute based upon the Jewish law. At Kastinje we parted 
 with our good friend Kaiserman, and proceeded in charge of our 
 Arab driver to Sejet, a point about half way on the railroad between 
 Jaffa and Jerusalem. . . . 
 
 After spending eleven days in the Holy City, during which time 
 we visited Hebron, Jericho, the Dead Sea, and the River Jordan, 
 we returned to Jaffa. Following the direction of our friends of 
 the Jaffa Committee we drove to Chuderah under the guidance 
 of one of the colonists of that place. He had been spending Shabu- 
 oth in Jaffa on a visit to his betrothed. He carried a rifle and 
 wore a belt well stocked with cartridges. He had been in many a 
 combat when the natives were not as peaceful as now. A conspicu- 
 ous sinking of the bridge of his nose marked him as one of the 
 heroes of these battles, and probably on this account he deemed it 
 prudent to be fully armed while on the road. He was quite an in- 
 telligent man and entertained us with an account of the early 
 struggles of the colonists and the success they had achieved, which 
 went far to lessen the discomfort of our journey, lasting eight hours 
 over very dusty roads, and through a country which offered very 
 little in the way of scenery. . . . 
 
 We reached Chuderah late in the afternoon and were most hos- 
 pitably received by Dr. Soskin, director of the colony. This colony 
 was founded by a number of societies in Eussia and occupies a ter-
 
 Addresses. 333 
 
 ritory of nearly 7000 acres, which is about twice as large as the 
 largest of the other colonies. Its western boundary is formed by 
 the Mediterranean Sea, where it has a little harbor. Unfortu- 
 nately malaria has raged here in its severest forms, owing to two 
 swamps which generate this disease. Attempts at draining the 
 land had to be abandoned on account of the large number of deaths 
 occurring among those engaged in the work. The sufferings of this 
 colony have been greatly mitigated through the benevolence of 
 Baron de Eothschild, who, during the last few years, has annually 
 expended 10,000 francs to enable the colonists and their families to 
 spend two months of the season of danger in other colonies. A 
 number of those thoroughly acclimated remain at home on guard. 
 Besides this, the Baron has had two hundred thousand eucalyptus 
 trees planted on the swampy land, and it is expected that the sani- 
 tary condition of the colony will soon be very much improved, and 
 that ultimately malaria will entirely disappear. The land is 
 richly productive. The vines yield a rich harvest; watermelons 
 grow well and abundantly, and find a ready market in Egypt, being 
 shipped direct from the colony. Sesame, which is also largely 
 raised, is a small plant with many seeds from which oil is extracted, 
 and . . . commands a fair return. 
 
 We left Chuderah in the morning and arrived at Zichron Jacob 
 in about three hours. We now passed through a mountainous 
 country. The hillsides were terraced in many places, but barren 
 until we reached the Jewish settlement. When we were assured 
 that the rich vine-clad slopes we beheld, as beautiful as those on 
 the Ehine, occupied places that had been as barren as those we 
 passed, we felt that a new miracle had been wrought. Moses 
 struck the rock, and the water gushed forth ; here the colonists had 
 appealed to the rocks, and they have yielded wine abundantly. 
 Zichron Jacob is a beautiful town of about 2000 inhabitants, with 
 fine houses, the administration building being almost palatial in
 
 334 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 character. A park" with a splashing fountain is placed in the cen- 
 ter of the town, surrounded by broad, clean streets, with shaded 
 sidewalks. The synagogue is quite an imposing structure. Zich- 
 ron Jacob, on account of its highly developed condition and gay ap- 
 pearance, is often called by the colonists the "new Paris." The 
 bright little cottages, the luxuriant gardens, with the orchards of 
 orange, lemon, pomegranate, and palm trees attached to them, the 
 green slopes smiling upon the peaceful homes, and breathing a rich 
 promise in the language of the vines, seemed to give an answer to 
 the Psalmist's query : nm i<3'' pso nnnn ha ''yv nk^S " I will lift 
 up mine eyes unto the hills ; from whence shall my help come ? " 
 
 Zichron Jacob was first settled by Eoumanian Jews, as Samarin. 
 They had to bear untold hardships. At one time, so we were told 
 by an old settler, their last resource to procure bread was to pledge 
 their 8efer Torah, " Scroll of the Law," for a loan. They re- 
 deemed their pledge, and it is now especially endeared to them. 
 Baron Edmond de Rothschild has given this colony his munificent 
 protection, and to this cause is mainly due its great prosperity. Its 
 present name, Zichron Jacob, the " Memorial of Jacob," is a trib- 
 ute to the father of the Baron. This colony bears the same rela- 
 tion to the Galilean colonies as does Eishon le-Zion to those of 
 Judea. All the grapes are brought here to the extensive plant 
 provided for the wine industry. 
 
 Shefeya and Umm al-Jimal are two small colonies, outgrowths 
 from Zichron Jacob, constituted entirely of workmen who had pre- 
 viously been employed in the latter colony. They are planted be- 
 tween the hills, and give signs of growing prosperity. The houses 
 are cheerful and neat; the colonists seem proud of their advance- 
 ment. We arrived during the season of the silk culture. Before 
 every house there was a vast collection of branches of the mulberry 
 tree. Women and children were engaged in stripping the leaves 
 from the branches, and thus providing food for the worms. In
 
 Addresses. 335 
 
 the main room of every house, — and this was largely true of Zich- 
 ron Jacob also, — the usual furniture had been removed, and shelves 
 were provided for feeding the worms. It was a pleasant scene to 
 behold mothers and children with happy faces and nimble hands 
 engaged in this important domestic industry. . . . 
 
 Could we have prolonged our stay in Palestine, wo should have 
 crossed the country from west to east to visit the colonies of which 
 Eosh Pinnah forms the center, viz. : Mishmar ha-Yarden, Yesud 
 ha-Maalah, and Metullah, but the season was too far advanced. 
 . . . We regretted this the more, as it is in this direction that 
 Palestine exhibits its greatest picturesqueness. The life of these 
 colonists and the products of the land are very similar to those we 
 have already described, as we were . . . informed. It is, 
 however, worthy of mention that the silk industry is of special 
 importance in Eosh Pinnah, where a factory for the spinning of 
 silk is in successful operation. Yesud ha-Maalah is noted for the 
 raising of roses, jessamine, acacias, tube-roses, and rose geraniums 
 on a large scale, from which the fragrant oils are extracted in a 
 quite extensive factory which has been erected for that purpose. 
 
 The preceding is a condensed account of the life of the colonists 
 and the possibilities of the land upon which they have settled. 
 It has been definitely ascertained that Palestine is fertile and 
 capable, with proper cultivation, of yielding ample sustenance for 
 several millions of additional inhabitants without taking into ac- 
 count the many more who could find support from the develop- 
 ment of commerce and industries for which it offers a promising 
 field. The desolation and poverty that prevails now is ascribable 
 to some extent to the lethargy of its inhabitants, who have neg- 
 lected agriculture; but more largely to the policy of the Turkish 
 Government, which has exerted a withering influence upon the 
 development of the country in every respect. But even under 
 these unfavorable conditions the colonies have prospered, and the
 
 336 ' Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 fact has been satisfactorily demonstrated that the Jew can become 
 a successful tiller of the soil. Under his hand, Palestine has be- 
 gun her regeneration. Barren hills have been clothed with gener- 
 ous verdure. Deserted valleys have been reclaimed. Where ruth- 
 less waste has for centuries ruled supreme, happy Jewish villages 
 have grown. The forests that had disappeared are returning 
 from their long exile and spreading their protecting shade and 
 breathing their health-giving influence. Vine and fruit tree are 
 vying with each other in offering their reward to the noble band of 
 pioneers who have come from afar in their renewed love for the Old 
 Home, and bid welcome to generations yet unborn. The busy bee 
 has been charmed back again by flowers that have donned their 
 brightest colors and spread their sweetest fragrance, and honey has 
 again begun to flow. Plants have been ennobled by grafts of the 
 best of every land. But the greatest change here the Jew himself 
 presents. His bent form has become erect; his enfeebled body has 
 regained strength; his cringing spirit has left him, and courage 
 marks his movements instead. The tongue that so oft was bid to 
 be silent has regained its freedom, and is readapting itself to its 
 ancient sacred language. The Jew lives for high ideals, and feels 
 that the time has come to make a new effort to rise out of the 
 humiliation into which he has been dragged by centuries of re- 
 lentless persecution. In vain has he proffered his love and given 
 his blood in defence of the various countries of his adoption. He 
 has been denounced as an alien and a parasite almost everywhere, 
 and at the end of the nineteenth century, which promised so much, 
 7,500,000 out of the 10,000,000 Jews in the world are placed under 
 conditions which make life almost intolerable. His frailties have 
 been magnified, his worth ignored, and his oppressors have sunk 
 deeper and deeper into unconsciousness of the crime that they have 
 perpetrated, and are continuing to perpetrate against him. He has 
 striven honestly to live down prejudice, but the more he has tried
 
 Addresses, 337 
 
 to adapt himself to circumstances, the more inexorable has become 
 the condition that he must cease to be himself. In his Old Home, 
 in Palestine, he hopes to become completely himself again. Here 
 there shall be established a center for Jewish thought, and a life 
 shaped by lofty Jewish ideals. From here there shall radiate an 
 influence that shall reach Jews in every corner of the globe, and 
 place them in a proper light, and eventually enforce amends for 
 the wrongs from which they have so long suffered, so that finally 
 the day may dawn when "out of Zion shall go forth the law, and 
 the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."
 
 "GLIMPSES m PALESTINE." 
 
 Palestine lias always attracted the interest of the Jewish, Chris- 
 tian, and Mohammedan world. The Jews regarded it as their in- 
 heritance, and have never relinquished their title to it. . . . 
 
 The Mohammedans have held possession of Palestine for many 
 centuries, and have great reverence for the historic places. They 
 look with pride on their achievements during the Crusades, and 
 Saladin will never lose in comparison with Godfrey de Bouillon 
 and Eichard the Lion-hearted. 
 
 The Christians have two great incentives for intrenching them- 
 selves as strongly as they can; they hold that the possession of the 
 burial place of the founder of their religion must be forever secure 
 to them and that they must be sufficiently strong to assert them- 
 selves when the final dealing out takes place, and each . . . 
 Christian sect hates the others too much to permit any one sect to 
 obtain an advantage in this regard. 
 
 The principal city and the point of greatest interest in Palestine 
 is Jerusalem; it is now readily reached by railroad from Jaffa; it 
 is picturesquely placed upon Mt. Zion and Mt. Moriah at an ele- 
 vation of 2700 feet above sea-level, enclosed by a beautiful wall 
 with a number of gates. The population numbers between fifty 
 and sixty thousand inhabitants, two-thirds being Jews; of the re- 
 maining one-third about two-thirds are Mohammedans and the rest 
 Christians, representing all their varied sects. Jews and Moham- 
 medans live amicably together. The Mohammedans have not much 
 love for Christians. The Christians, besides hating everybody else, 
 are kept quite busy hating each other. Certain religious festivals 
 held by Christians in the church of the Holy Sepulcher would be
 
 Addresses. 339 
 
 rendered scenes of murder and bloodshed were it not for the Prince 
 of Peace, who is represented in this instance by the Turkish Guard. 
 Most of the people one meets upon the streets have nothing to do, 
 and do not seem at all oppressed by their inactivity. 
 
 The place where the Temple stood occupies about one-fifth of the 
 area of the city. It is enclosed by a wall, and remains an empty 
 place except in its center, which is occupied by the Mosque of Omar. 
 I looked down upon this great enclosure and the Mosque from the 
 high tower on the Mount of Olives. I shall not attempt to de- 
 scribe it. How can it be described by one who could view it only 
 through tears? . . . But only glimpses I am to offer. Jewish 
 children speak more languages in Jerusalem, perhaps, than in any 
 other part of the world. In the Kindergarten of the Alliance I 
 listened to very small children singing English songs. All speak 
 Hebrew, and besides this many speak Arabic, German, French, 
 and English. 
 
 You wondered, no doubt, when I stated that English was taught 
 in the modern schools, whence the teachers were procured to do 
 this teaching. Jerusalem is a great gathering place for that genus 
 hominis which in America is known by the generic term " cranks." 
 They find their way from all parts of the world, and America has 
 not been left without its representation. About sixteen years ago 
 quite a number of our countrymen and countrywomen, probably 
 twenty persons in all, felt convinced that the prophecies were near- 
 ing their fulfilment, and they wanted to be on the spot, to be on 
 the ground floor, among those who were counting on their benefits ; 
 they went to Jerusalem and waited from day to day, till the days 
 became years, and their means were expended, and want stared 
 them in the face. The fulfilment for which they had waited and for 
 which they are still waiting had taken too slow a train, they found, 
 and they eventually came to the conclusion that they had to do 
 something besides praying and getting up early every morning and
 
 340 Aaron" Feiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 ascending the Mount of Olives to meet the messenger who was to 
 bring the tidings, for the wolf was at the door; so they have taken 
 up a number of pursuits, among them nursing the sick, taking and 
 selling photographs of scenes in Palestine, producing various ar- 
 ticles for household use, and especially teaching. For this a num- 
 ber of them were specially qualified, and they have proven them- 
 selves excellent teachers in the Jewish schools; and have otherwise 
 contributed materially to the spread of the English language in 
 Jerusalem. They have resigned themselves to a life of celibacy. 
 When a married couple enters the family their relations change to 
 that of brother and sister; children are the common properly of 
 the family. In consequence of their faith they live in perfect 
 peace, so they say, though a great many doubt it; and they hold 
 that by the general adoption of their system of belief the whole 
 world would be at peace. We have here another example of the 
 mistake so often made, that because a certain plan works satis- 
 factorily on a small scale, it must necessarily work equally well 
 upon the largest scale. I met a number of them and spent an 
 evening in their society, and foimd them very intelligent indeed 
 and equally refined. There seems to be some kind of a mystery 
 connected with them, which no one has yet been able fully to 
 unravel. . . . 
 
 In speaking of the American family we met an example of people 
 in Jerusalem who do not marry at all ; in the Mohammedans we find 
 a class who sometimes marry quite frequently; and in the Jews we 
 have examples of people often marrying at an age at which we 
 should still consider them children. The case of a boy of fourteen 
 marrying a girl of twelve ... is nothing very uncommon, nor 
 is it very rare for a man to be a grandfather before he is forty 
 years old. 
 
 There are a great many Eabbis in Jerusalem; I cannot say ex- 
 actly how many thousand. I have heard some bad things said 
 
 I
 
 Addresses. 341 
 
 about them, which in no instance did I believe; for I have been 
 greatly prejudiced in their favor, because, among other reasons, 
 they never, or very seldom preach, and have no means of defending 
 themselves against these charges, . . . 
 
 The sights one is shown in traveling through Palestine are 
 principally the burial places of the patriarchs, kings, and prophets. 
 In other words, we are brought to the great cemetery of our former 
 national glory. It would be a dreary journey for him who did not 
 believe in the resurrection of the dead, but for him who believes in 
 this resurrection, and for him who has the insight to recognize the 
 first signs of the quickening, there is a joy to be found here which 
 no other place in the world affords. Here and there, in Judea, in 
 Samaria, in Galilee, and also faintly, yet recognizably, in the 
 Hauran, there is a new life sprouting up, a life that Palestine has 
 not known since the Jews were taken away as captives. Twenty- 
 four Jewish colonies now decorate a landscape which but recently 
 was one continuous . . . waste. Happy homes have here 
 been established from which Jewish songs resound in tones pro- 
 phetic of the new era that is to come. The land has begun to 
 divest itself of its badge of mourning; where nothing but weeds 
 grew and famine barred out all animal life, forests have reappeared 
 and vineyards have covered the nakedness of the mountains and 
 orchards are offering their luscious fruit and fields are bearing rich 
 yields of grain. Where ignorance reigned . . . for centuries, 
 Jewish schools now shed their blessings, and the returned exile has 
 regained his own, his ancient sacred language. After an absence 
 of eighteen centuries and passing through endless vicissitudes, 
 forced to do what he had not been accustomed to in his old home, 
 and to do this so long, that he forgot what was his normal state, 
 he has come back and resumed his old work, and shown the world 
 that Palestine is fertile, and that the Jew can become a successful 
 tiller of the soil. 
 23
 
 " LOVEES OF ZION/' AN ADDRESS DELIVEEED BEFORE 
 THE MICKVE ISRAEL ASSOCIATION OF PHILADEL- 
 PHIA, DECEMBER 23, 1894. 
 
 Since affairs in Russia assumed a state which compelled thousands 
 upon thousands of its Jewish inhabitants to seek homes in other 
 parts of the world, the love of Zion which has accompanied Israel 
 throughout the dispersion has acquired a fresh intensity; this has 
 inaugurated a movement full of richest promise. This movement 
 has the lofty aspiration of making the Hebrew language again the 
 language of the Hebrews, and of establishing a home for Israelites 
 in the land which was the home of their ancestors. It shall be the 
 purpose of the lecture wliich I have the honor to deliver, by your 
 kind invitation, to present the motives which have led to the or- 
 ganization of the Chibbath Zion, to outline its progress, and to con- 
 sider the possibilities which it indicates. 
 
 The world has greatly marveled at the unexpected preservation 
 of the Jews. When Rome finally triumphed over the Holy City 
 and Israel was carried into captivity, everything pointed to the 
 total annihilation of the Jews as a people. Little did the historian 
 of that day dream that the historian of nearly twenty centuries 
 later would speak of them as the only living relic of antiquity; as 
 a people who, under the most adverse conditions, had made the 
 long journey from ancient to modern times; as a people fully pre- 
 serving their identity, and still adhering to that religion for which 
 they had to suffer unceasingly from the time of the destruction of 
 their nationality to the present day. But it is not the simple sur- 
 vival of the Jews of which history has to take account. It must 
 accord them recognition not only for having preserved themselves.
 
 Addresses. 343 
 
 in spite of having been subjected to persecutions such as have been 
 the lot of no other people, but also for much that they have pre- 
 served for the world. They were largely the media through which 
 the intellectual achievements of the East reached the West during 
 the Middle Ages; and to them, furthermore, must be credited no 
 mean share in the progress the world has made since that time. Dur- 
 ing that long period in which the whole of Europe was steeped in 
 ignorance and the continuous clash of arms was the expression of a 
 vile brutality, the Jews, proscribed at every step by those in power, 
 subjected to the contumely of vulgar mobs, insecure in the posses- 
 sion of their tangible property, with no place that they could call 
 a home, cultivated a spiritual life and an intellectual life; and in 
 moments of peace within their four walls their crouching forms 
 would assume the dignity of self-respect and they would look down 
 upon the degradation of their persecutors with contempt, were they 
 slaves or were they kings. Conscious of a sacred mission which 
 they were destined to fulfil, feeling their responsibility as custo- 
 dians of the Law, and animated by the hope of the restoration of 
 their national life, they became the heroes of an unequaled mar- 
 tyrdom consecrated to the glory of God. Through many centuries 
 they were the witnesses of the instability of material grandeur 
 among the many nations. While they were kept alive by the in- 
 spiration of a holy faith, they saw one power succumb to another, 
 each in turn becoming their persecutors. Over and over again 
 they were robbed of all their earthly possessions, but they took good 
 care not to be cheated of their faith. Pressed as they were on all 
 sides, peace and honor were regarded as worthless currency when 
 offered them in exchange for that gem inherited from their fore- 
 fathers; although treated as aliens everywhere, they held this up 
 as the sign that they should become a blessing to all mankind. 
 
 When at last the light of modern times began to illumine the 
 world, and under its benign influence man was gradually led from
 
 344 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D, 
 
 serfdom into citizenship, and despotism had to yield to representa- 
 tive government, the Jew could not be excluded altogether from the 
 benefits which were brought about by the salutary changes. In 
 those countries which led in the advance the Jew was granted equal 
 rights. It seemed as if an era in the world's history had been 
 reached in which there could be no step backward in the application 
 of the principle of equal rights for all men. The general proposi- 
 tion that any law which denied the rights of any special class of 
 men carried with it the condition that the rights of all men would 
 be rendered insecure, was too clear to be disregarded. No class of 
 men, therefore, in the great struggle for liberty, could demand 
 rights for themselves which they would deny to others; and so the 
 Jew came in for his share, although the inference is Justified that 
 it was not always ungrudgingly awarded. 
 
 It seemed further that the intimate intercourse among the na- 
 tions which marked the age would bring them rapidly nearer to 
 each other in their sympathies, and that the memorable political 
 regeneration which had so greatly changed the complexion of 
 Western Europe could not long be barred out of the Eastern 
 empires. 
 
 Under these favorable auspices the Jew entered upon a new 
 activity. The long discipline through which he had passed aided 
 him greatly in the various fields in which he was now permitted 
 to move, and it was not long before he attracted attention by the- 
 distinction which he attained. It was not remarkable that he suc- 
 ceeded so well in the various branches of commerce, for, even with 
 the disadvantages under which he had previously labored, his 
 aptitude in this direction had fully manifested itself. He now 
 assumed a conspicuous part in the work to be done in other fields. 
 He had suffered under the unjust accusation that he had no ambi- 
 tion except for gain, but he soon appeared as an earnest competitor 
 in every avenue which led to honorable fame. In the arts and in
 
 Addresses. 345 
 
 the sciences, in literature and in politics, he contributed names 
 which will remain illustrious for all time. 
 
 Having always been loyal to the state, even when he had to 
 suffer from unkind discriminations, his pride in full citizenship 
 knew no bounds ; and he was not loath to rid himself of character- 
 istics, some of which were not to his discredit, in order thoroughly 
 to provide against the continuance of social distinctions between 
 him and other citizens. He plunged into the current of the times, 
 and his course indicated that he sought his welfare in directions in 
 which he drifted farther and farther from his Jewish interests. 
 He lived his new life as though he had just been born, and as 
 though his history had died at his birth. He felt sure that he was 
 now standing upon firm ground, and that no occasion could arise 
 that would render his rights insecure. 
 
 History has often repeated itself, however, in the testimony 
 which it has recorded in regard to unexpected interruptions in the 
 onward march of civilization ; and so in our day the long-cherished 
 hope that the benign influence which had developed in Western 
 Europe would travel eastward and reach the Jews where they were 
 most in need of it was doomed to meet a. sad disappointment. It 
 M^as a most bitter irony of fate that the storm came from whence 
 the refreshing zephyr was expected. In the country foremost 
 among those high in culture and in the development of general in- 
 telligence an intolerance asserted itself which, on account of its 
 anomalous character, had to assume a new name, " Anti- 
 Semitism"; this Anti-Semitism the lamented Frederick III. 
 (then Crown Prince) denounced as " Ein Schmach des 
 JahrhundertsJ" Moreover the contagion spread to its close 
 neighbor, that mighty empire whose institutions were formed 
 in the mould of the dark ages, and there it incited a 
 cruel persecution, which, in the intensity of its barbarism, 
 could be equaled only by events which disgraced mediaeval
 
 346 Aaron Friedenwald, M, D. 
 
 times. Anti-Semitism spread from Germany to Austria, and 
 even secured , . . some foothold in Eepublican France. To 
 provide a basis upon which it could stand, the Jew was confronted 
 by a remarkable arraignment. " He pushed himself forward and 
 secured positions which others should occupy." " He sent too 
 many of his youth to higher institutions of learning." " He filled 
 too many chairs in the universities." " He became too potent' a 
 factor in the press." These were some of the charges preferred 
 against him. The intelligence, energy, and ambition which enabled 
 him to elevate himself, and which would have been commended in 
 any one else, subjected him to a relentless hatred. He was de- 
 nounced as a parasite upon the nation, although he was an inhabi- 
 tant of Germany before Christianity was brought there, and was 
 here, as almost everywhere else, systematically robbed, whenever it 
 was worth while doing so, for many centuries. He was charged 
 with being governed by a low standard of honor in his dealings 
 with all men, and this by the party which sent Ahlwardt to the 
 Reichstag, even after he had been disgraced in a court of law. 
 Every possible distortion of statistics was made use of to place 
 him in a false light before the world, to Justify the cruel ostracism 
 to which he was at once subjected, and to offer a plea upon which 
 the abrogation of his rights under the law could eventually be con- 
 summated. Humiliating as this condition of affairs was to the Ger- 
 man Jew, against whom it was specially directed, it made a no 
 less profound impression upon his unfortunate brother in Eussia. 
 In Russia the Jew was in the way on account of his religion, and 
 inasmuch as he could not be made to desert his faith, he must be 
 gotten rid of. In Germany no one objected to his religion, it was 
 said, but his race, as a component part of the nation, would vitiate 
 the ethical well-being of the " Germanenthujn ;" and he had to be 
 degraded, so that he might be made harmless. The persecution in 
 Eussia, terrible as it was, could be more readily understood than
 
 Addresses. 347 
 
 the Anti-Semitism born in Germany. The former was the out- 
 come of the crime of one man, in a country whose people could not 
 claim rights ; the latter is the sin of a nation whose institutions are 
 based on the theory that all men have rights, to assail which is a 
 crime. Everywhere the relation of the Jew to the rest of the world 
 has been and is being busily discussed, and there has arisen what 
 has been called the " Jewish Question." Those who have been 
 forced to contemplate expatriation with all the hardships neces- 
 sarily attending it felt that they would be unwelcome guests wher- 
 ever they came. It has become more and more evident that the 
 Jew is more or less hated everywhere. The prejudice against him 
 has lasted for so many generations, has been made legitimate by 
 the example of so many high in the church and in the state, that it 
 has finally established itself as a perverted social instinct, to eradi- 
 cate which will require a very extended period of time and a higher 
 moral development than the world has yet attained. One who has 
 come into possession of wealth by inheritance would be rather loath 
 to renounce it on the ground that it had originally been dishonestly 
 acquired, especially on the allegation of one who was known not 
 to have enjoyed the friendship of the testator; and so will one 
 generation, inheriting a social prejudice from previous generations, 
 be disinclined to give it up for the benefit of one who has been 
 considered an outsider for an untold number of generations. 
 
 The efforts of the Jews themselves and of their friendly advo- 
 cates to place their cause in a true light before the world have not 
 met with much success. The hideous caricature under which the 
 Jew has so long been maliciously represented, has finally made such 
 a lasting impression upon the mental vision of his enemies that, 
 no matter in what guise he appears, he assumes the repugnant 
 form under which he has become familiar. So far there is no indica- 
 tioji which can encourage us to hope that any speedy change will 
 take place in this morbid condition. The restoration of healthy
 
 348 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 function to a perverted sense which has suffered for generations 
 from a hereditary infirmity, is an extremely slow process. In in- 
 dividual cases the Jew will succeed by life-long reputation for in- 
 tegrity, by special talents, or rare genius, in winning due recogni- 
 tion, but the friendship which it may bring him will not benefit any 
 other Jew; on the other hand, when one Jew brings himself into 
 discredit, the Jews as a class are embraced in the condemnation 
 which follows. The antagonism which is directed against the Jew 
 proceeds everywhere from the same cause, only its expression varies 
 according to the state of civilization in the respective countries in 
 which it exists. It is very unfortunate, therefore, that the geo- 
 graphical distribution of the Jews is such that only a comparatively 
 small number live in the more highly developed states of Western 
 Europe, while probably more than one-half of the entire number 
 are to be found congregated in a rather small area in Eastern 
 Europe, where the harshest conditions prevail. 
 
 It would be a sad mistake to continue to suffer and to wait for 
 that period when the brotherhood of man will be fully established, 
 and those enmities based upon differences in descent and belief 
 will cease. But what shall we do? The Choveve Zion have given 
 an answer to this question. It is based upon the conviction that 
 the preservation of the dignity of the Jewish people all over the 
 world depends upon the revival of the national idea. This will 
 bind them closer to their Jewish interests; and this is gradually 
 to secure for a portion of those imbued with the national sentiment, 
 who are now suffering from the depressing influences prevailing 
 within the overcrowded pale of settlement, a life such as their an- 
 cestors led, amid the scenes of their ancient history. Here the 
 Jew is to find peace in a simpler and more natural life. Here, in 
 freer movements, in fresher air, he is to regain his physical 
 strength. Here, under the inspiration of a glorious past, Jewish 
 thought is to develop in its richest spontaneity. Here, to the
 
 Addresses. 349 
 
 land where milk and honey once flowed, the Jew shall come from 
 his latest expatriation to redeem it from the waste, worn as the 
 badge of mourning for the children carried off by the ancient exile. 
 This sentiment led to the organization of the Choveve Zion Asso- 
 ciation in Eussia in 1882, shortly after the outbreak of the perse- 
 cution which has become so memorable; but, from the nature of 
 things in that empire, it continued to exist in secret until 1890, 
 when it received the sanction of the government. While it still 
 receives its largest support in Eussia, similar associations have been 
 established in Austria, Germany, England, France, and, I am glad 
 to add, in this country. Twenty-four colonies have thus far been 
 established, embracing a population of over four thousand souls. 
 The progress of these colonies has made it clear that the project 
 of repopulating Palestine by Jews in this way is perfectly feasible. 
 It is true that these colonies are still far from having reached full 
 prosperity, but the increasing reward which has attended the per- 
 sistent labor of the earnest colonists warrants the assumption that 
 it will not be long before they will be able to rely entirely upon 
 themselves. The Choveve Zion will then be enabled to devote 
 their means to the gradual organization of new colonies. . . .^ 
 
 The idea has taken deep root that the Jews should acquire a 
 home which should be their own, and which should be where their 
 ancestors lived and received that inspiration which will remain im- 
 perishable. 
 
 Under the influence of this sentiment, a new and quite extensive 
 Hebrew literature has been produced. Throughout the develop- 
 ment of the Choveve Zion, the acquisition of a home in Palestine 
 and the revival of the Hebrew language have been inseparably 
 interwoven. ..." 
 
 The creation of a literature . . . unmistakably signifies that 
 
 ^ A detailed description of the colonies follows. 
 
 * A sketch of the Renaissance of Hebrew literature follows.
 
 350 Aaron Fkiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 the national idea has taken new and deep root and is not likely to 
 prove an ephemeral growth, but that it will become stronger and 
 stronger. The return in a few years of thousands of Jews to 
 agricultural pursuits, out of which they had been driven by the 
 unfriendly fate of twenty centuries, under conditions demanding 
 such brave resolution, evidences an earnestness of purpose which 
 points to great possibilities. Palestine was peopled by Israel and 
 yielded sustenance to millions. It was wrested from Israel and 
 remained despoiled. Fertility is again to be restored to it by 
 Jewish hands. In the deserted places Jewish villages shall arise. 
 The vine-clad hills shall again recount the story of happy Jewish 
 homes. The peaceful valleys shall give testimony of renewed 
 Jewish life. The cities shall be redeemed from degeneracy through 
 Western culture, which the exile shall bring with him. He who 
 was a medium through which civilization reached the West during 
 the dark ages will appropriately become the bearer of enlighten- 
 ment through which the Orient is destined to be regenerated. In- 
 stitutions are to be reared which shall become the laboratories of 
 Jewish thought. The Jew is again to rise to his full dignity and 
 show the world how much light Judaism has shed and is yet capable 
 of shedding upon all mankind. This is the grand ideal which 
 thousands upon thousands hope for and are willing to work and to 
 suffer for. 
 
 But the influence of this movement is not to be restricted to 
 those who have, or who are willing to cast their lot in Palestine. 
 It is to take a strong hold upon the Jew everywhere. To him who 
 is still suffering from formidable persecution it is to be the great 
 hope that shall sustain him through his trial. To him who has 
 been elevated to full citizenship by the law, but made an alien by 
 the social decree, as in Germany and elsewhere, it will afford that 
 self-emancipation which is to shield him from the allurements of 
 the hour and fit him for the purposes of a high destiny. Through-
 
 Addresses. 351 
 
 out the great struggle, which is eventually to establish the brother- 
 hood of man, in which we are all to lend our best efforts, the great 
 fellowship which has hitherto embraced the Jews of every land is 
 inviolably to be maintained. In dealing with the antipathy which 
 assails him because he is a Jew, he is to think, to live, and to act 
 in a renewed realization that there is nothing so sure to contribute 
 to his happiness as that which is Jewish. He is to stop bartering 
 away his old treasures for flimsy novelties. He is not to borrow 
 from others, when he is in possession of an inheritance by which 
 the whole world can be enriched. This is how the " Jewish Ques- 
 tion " is to be answered for the Jew, not in a cringing spirit, but 
 animated by the pride of being descended from a noble ancestry, 
 to whom the whole world is indebted for having been the bearers 
 of a message which was the first to publish the lessons of justice 
 and humanity. 
 
 In the revival of the national idea it is not proposed that all 
 Jews be settled in Palestine. If those who have been honored by 
 citizenship in the more favored lands will but enter into the spirit 
 which underlies the movement, they can promote the cause by re- 
 viving the study of the Hebrew language, by forming societies of 
 Choveve Zion, as has been done in England and in Germany, and 
 by living consistently the life of a Jew; and by promoting the 
 cause in this way they will honor themselves, and fortify them- 
 selves to assume an attitude against which the shafts of Anti- 
 Semitism will prove unavailing. 
 
 " The eminence, the nobleness of a people, depends on its capa- 
 bility of being stirred by memories, and for striving for what we 
 call spiritual ends — ends which consist not in immediate material 
 possession, but in the satisfaction of a great feeling that animates 
 the collective body as with one soul." These are the encouraging 
 words which came from George Eliot. 
 
 The Jew is confronted by the alternative, either to make a brave
 
 353 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D. 
 
 resistance against the modern influences which conspire to bring 
 about his disintegration, and to come out of the fight with a new 
 victory to add to his glorious record ; or, misled by the false mean- 
 ing of assimilation, to surrender to what he is made to believe is 
 inevitable, and to suffer the ignominious doom of the forgotten. 
 But Israel will not surrender ! A Maccabean spirit will arise anew 
 to fire the Jewish heart to cast out the idols from the sanctuary. 
 It was not Israel that sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. It 
 was his to struggle and to win.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 LIST OF PUBLISHED AND UNPUBLISHED WRITINGS.* 
 
 Letter from Berlin" (dealing with Glaucoma and Iridectomy), 
 
 Maryland and Virginia Medical Journal, 1861, Vol. XVI, p. 349. 
 'The Pulse," a paper read before one of the Baltimore medical so- 
 cieties, 186 . , , e 4^U^ 
 
 'Diseases of the Lachrymal Apparatus," a paper read before the 
 
 Baltimore Medical Association, 1869. 
 ' Sympathetic Ophthalmia," a paper read before the Baltimore Medical 
 
 Association, 1869. . , o, • 4. 
 
 "Exophthalmic Goitre," a paper read before the Pathological Society 
 
 of Baltimore, 1870 (?). . ^. , 
 
 " Purulent Ophthalmia," a paper read before the Baltimore Medical 
 Association, April, 1870. 
 
 " Traumatic Cataract," a paper read before the Baltimore Medical As- 
 sociation, April 24, 1871. 
 
 "Various Conditions of the Nerves of the Eye Regulating the Con- 
 traction and Dilatation of the Pupil," a paper read before the 
 Medical and Surgical Society of Baltimore, May 4, 1871. 
 
 " Iritis," a paper read before the Baltimore Medical Association, Sep- 
 tember, 1871. ^^ ^ . ^^-^ 
 
 "Retinitis Complicated with Bright's Disease," Trans. Med. £ Chir. 
 
 Faculty, October, 1871. „ . ^ f 
 
 " Eczema," a paper read before the Medical and Surgical Society of 
 
 Baltimore, February 8, 1872. \ 
 
 " Glaucoma." a paper read before the Baltimore Medical Association. 
 
 November 11, 1872. . 
 
 "Phlyctenular Ophthalmia," a paper read before the Medical and 
 
 Surgical Society of Baltimore, May 1, 1873. 
 Introductory Lecture to the Course on Diseases of the Eye and Ear 
 delivered before the Class of the College of Physicians and 
 Surgeons, Baltimore, October, 1873. 
 "Report on Surgery: Indications for the Enucleation of the Eye-ball 
 and the Correction of the Deformity by the Insertion of an Arti- 
 ficial Eye," read before the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of 
 Maryland, April, 1876; Trans. Med. d Chir. Faculty, 1876, p. 82; 
 also Cincinnati Medical News, November, 1877. 
 
 * The unpublished writings are preserved in manuscript.
 
 354 Aaron Fkiedenwald, M. D. 
 
 " Ophthalmological Notes" (including " Ansesthetics in Ophthalmic 
 Surgery" and "Spasm of the Accommodation"), a paper read 
 before the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland, April, 
 1878; Trans. Med. t6 Chir. Faculty, 1878, p. 94. 
 
 " The Eye," a Lecture delivered before the Hebrew Young Men's As- 
 sociation of Baltimore, 1878. 
 
 " Optic Neuritis," a paper read before the Baltimore Medical Associa- 
 tion, April 11, 1881; Maryland Medical Journal, August 1 and 15, 
 1881; also reprinted separately. 
 
 " Introductory Address, delivered before the Class of the College of 
 Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore City, September 14, 1881, 
 . . . Published by the Class." 
 
 " Address on the Occasion of the Dedication of the Newly Acquired 
 Ground at the Simchath Thorah Festival of the Hebrew Hospital 
 and Asylum Association of Baltimore City, October 16, 1881," pub- 
 lished by the Association, Baltimore, 1881. 
 
 " Old Foes and New Friends," an Address upon Anti-Semitism, deliv- 
 ered before the Hebrew Young Men's Association of Baltimore 
 (1882?). 
 
 " Enucleation and Optico-Ciliary Neurotomy," a Clinical Lecture before 
 the Class of the College of Physicians and Surgeons; Medical 
 Chronicle (Baltimore), Vol. I, 1883, p. 150. 
 
 " Four Cases of Syphilitic Brain Disease Complicated with Eye Dis- 
 ease " (1883?). 
 
 " Relation of Eye and Spinal Diseases," a paper read before the Medical 
 and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland; Trans. Med. & Chir. Faculty, 
 1883, p. 187; also reprinted separately. (Abstracted in Medical 
 News (Philadelphia), Vol. XLII, 1883, p. 505, and in the Maryland 
 Medical Journal, Vol. X, 1883-4, p. 25.) 
 
 " Uraemic Amaurosis," a paper read before the Baltimore Medical As- 
 sociation, June 9, 1883; Medical News (Philadelphia), April 9, 
 1884; abstracted in the Medical Chronicle (Baltimore), November, 
 1884. 
 
 " Recent Progress in Ophthalmology," a review of current literature, 
 Medical Chronicle (Baltimore), August, 1883. 
 
 Address Commemorative of Dr. Andrew Hartman (f December 15, 1884). 
 
 Address delivered at the Purim Banquet of the Hebrew Ladies' Orphans' 
 Aid Society, Baltimore, February 27, 1885. 
 
 " Foreign Bodies in the Eye," a paper read before the Clinical Society 
 of Baltimore, March 20, 1885. 
 
 " Four Cases of Eye-Injuries," described at the meeting of the Balti- 
 more Medical Association, November 10, 1885; Medical Times 
 (Philadelphia), December 12, 1885. 
 
 " Osteosarcoma at Base of Skull," Maryland Medical Journal, 1886, 
 p. 500.
 
 Appendix. 355 
 
 "A Case of Optic Neuritis with Brain Symptoms: Recovery, witli Re- 
 marks," a paper read before the Clinical Society of Baltimore, 
 December, 1885; 'New York Medical Journal, February 5, 1887. 
 
 Address Commemorative of Professor John S. Lynch, M. D., delivered 
 before the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland, October 
 7, 1888; published in abstract in Trans. Med. cG Chir. Faculty, 1889, 
 p. 42. 
 
 " Disturbed Equilibrium of the Muscles of the Eye as a Factor in the 
 Causation of Nervous Diseases," a paper read before the Medical 
 and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland; Trans. Med. d CMr. Faculty, 
 1889, p. 199; also reprinted separately. 
 
 " Iodoform in Gonorrhceal Ophthalmia," a paper read before one of the 
 Baltimore medical societies, 1889. 
 
 Address delivered at the Opening of the New City Hospital, Baltimore, 
 January 1, 1889. 
 
 " Detachment of the Retina," a paper read before the Baltimore Med- 
 ical Association, November 11, 1889; Maryland Medical Journal, 
 Vol. XXII, 1889, p. 205. 
 
 Address at the Semi-Annual Session of the Medical and Chirurgical 
 Faculty of Maryland, Hagerstown, November 12, 1889; published 
 in part in Trans. Med. d Chir. Faculty, 1890, p. 10. 
 
 Address delivered at the Simchath Torah Festival of the Hebrew Hos- 
 pital and Asylum Association, 1890. 
 
 " The Modern Hospital," Presidential Address before the Medical and 
 Chirurgical Faculty of Baltimore, 1890; Trans. Med. d Chir. Fac- 
 ulty, 1890, p. 145; also Marylarid Medical Journal, Vol. XXIII, 1890, 
 p. 1. 
 
 " Jewish Immigration," an Address, published in the American Hebrew 
 (New York), (1891?). 
 
 Address at the Celebration in Honor of the Seventieth Birthday of 
 Professor Virchow, held in the Johns Hopkins University, Balti- 
 more, October 13, 1891; published in the Johns Hopkins University 
 Circular. 
 
 " Charity," an Address delivered at the Annual Banquet of the Hebrew 
 Benevolent Society, Baltimore, December 1, 1892. 
 
 Address delivered at the Annual Meeting of the Baltimore Branch of 
 the Alliance Israelite Universelle, March 19, 1893. 
 
 " Paralysis of the Eye Muscles of Central and Peripheral Origin," a 
 paper read before the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Mary- 
 land, April, 1894; Maryland Medical Journal, May 26, 1894; also 
 reprinted separately. 
 
 " Lovers of Zion," an address delivered before the Mickve Israel Asso- 
 - elation of Philadelphia, December 23, 1894; published in the Jew- 
 ish Exponent (Philadelphia) and reprinted by the Zion Association 
 of Baltimore.
 
 356 Aaron Friedenwald, M. D, 
 
 " Jewish Physicians and the Contributions of Jews to the Science of 
 Medicine: a Lecture delivered before the Gratz College of Phila- 
 delphia, January 20, 1896"; Publications of Gratz College, No. 1; 
 also reprinted separately, Philadelphia, 1897. 
 
 " A Trip to Palestine," an Address read before the Young Men s Hebrew 
 Association of Philadelphia, February 25, 1899, and also before 
 societies in Baltimore and New Yorli; published in the Jeivish 
 Exponent (Philadelphia). 
 
 " Glimpses in Palestine," an Address delivered before a Jewish society 
 in Baltimore (1899?). 
 
 " History of Medicine before Hippocrates," a paper published in the 
 Journal of the Alumni Association of the College of Physicians and 
 Surgeons, April, 1900. 
 
 "Circumcision" (Medical Aspects), an Article in the Jewish Ency- 
 clopedia, Vol. IV. 
 
 "Doctor George H. Rohe: A Memoir," read at the Memorial Meeting 
 of the Maryland Health Association, May 23, 1901; published in 
 pamphlet form. 
 
 " Removal of the Crystalline Lens for High Degrees of Myopia," 
 Journal of the Alumni Association of the College of Physicians and 
 Surgeons, Baltimore, July, 1901. 
 
 Address at the Celebration held in Honor of the Completion of the 
 Twenty-fifth Year of the Reverend Dr. Henry W. Schneeberger's 
 Service as Rabbi of the Chizuk Emoonah Congregation, Baltimore, 
 October 20, 1901. 
 
 " The National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives," an Article pub- 
 lished posthumously in the Jewish Comment (Baltimore), Novem- 
 ber 14, 1902.
 
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