It was the second half of the nineteenth century. Leading minds in European culture were being rapidly emancipated from the rationalist doctrine which undertook to solve all the puzzles of mankind by the application of pure reason. An age of ferment and doubt followed the years of certainty and dictatorship. While in the eighteenth century the French school of rationalists dominated the intellectual world and kept the huge mass of humanity in a stagnant position, the middle of the nineteenth century saw the world preparing for its new age.
Inquiry, instead of ready-made opinions, doubt instead of disbelief, in the world of the intellect; murmuring beneath the surface which rapidly expressed itself in open ferment and revolt in the field of politics.
Aged Europe, which just emerged from the dark Middle Ages, quickly entangled itself in various holy and unholy alliances, which culminated in the World War.
Driven by intellectual unrest, economic need and the everlasting search for the unknown, great masses of Europe's population transplanted themselves to the New World.
The New World, with its vast territory, rich resources and virgin soil, entered into the great day of its promise. Sailing vessels, in a fight against the elements, brought shiploads of the best of Europe's human material, the most capable, the most promising and the best fit, because they were dissatisfied and daring.
Into the components of the new republic, cemented by "Hebrew mortar," a small stream of Hebrew element flowed.
This element had not an easy task before it.
Fleeing from political oppression, which followed the Prussian Revolution of 1848, uprooted by the economic destruction which followed it, driven by the doubt of the future, the handful of Jewish refugees from Germany found itself bewildered. The small group of Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese refugees which preceded them, extended, indeed, its hospitality to the newcomers. However, this hospitality corresponded with their means. But backed by an age-old tradition, with an innate love for freedom, desire for education, hardiness of stock and eagerness for hard work, the newcomers soon adapted themselves to the new world.
The command of Jeremiah given to the exiles in Babylon ("Build houses and take unto yourselves wives and pray for the peace of the city") was speedily carried out.
The Jewish refugees from the western countries who filtered in sought their opportunity for freedom and reconstruction on the wide, open, unbuilt spaces of the new republic.
On one of those sailing vessels a Jewish family from Sembach, Germany, was brought to the shores of America. A member of this family was the three-year-old Mary Fels.
The Fels family found in the new country an environment which, although it was full of ferment similar to that which they had left behind, had the distinction that the principle of liberty had already triumphed.
The effects of the Civil War, which had been concluded a year before, were beginning to be felt. For the first time in the history of mankind, slavery was abolished by the proclamation of Abraham Lincoln, giving rise to similar steps all over the world. The economic results of the Civil War were dreadful. However, with the vigor characteristic of the new republic which came into its full meaning by the decision of the Civil War, substituting the form of a federation of states by "one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all," developed a strong economic and intellectual activity.
Out of the misery of the war, the foundations for greater prosperity were emerging. Liberty and equality were the slogans of the day, privileges appreciated and enjoyed with eagerness and enthusiasm by the Hebrew element.
The Fels family joined the stream of those young men and women who went west. Soon they were established in the state of Iowa, the fertile plain which grew rapidly. Its economic growth was accompanied by the growth of educational facilities.
In the town of Keokuk, on the banks of the Mississippi and the Des Moines, on the wide, fertile plain, Mary Fels was reared.
America was on the eve of its great day as a leader of mankind. In these days, Mary Fels, as a pupil of the Keokuk high school, from which she graduated at the age of 16, and as a student of St. Mary's Academy, Notre Dame, Indiana, chose her own way. While still a child, Mary Fels differed from her environment and went along the untrodden road. From the bluffs of the Mississippi banks, looking toward the fertile plains of Iowa, Mary had visions of the future. On the fertile plains of Iowa, with no mountains to obstruct the view, the girl dreamed and had her visions of America, of her people, of mankind.
Naturally, her Prince Charming would come across these plains.
And it came to pass.
A young man, twenty years of age, born and reared in this new country, a son of one of the first families who settled in the South, traveled in the Southern and Mid-Western cities to sell the products of a coffee firm in whose employ he was. He was a pleasant and likable chap. As a pupil in the public school he had left his mark early. His father, however, decided that the best field for the lad was commerce. Joseph Fels was the name of the boy.
Swift of motion, a pleasant conversationalist, an excellent salesman, he sold not only the goods of his firm, but his personality as well. His circle of friends grew with every town he visited.
One day in 1872 he passed through Keokuk, Iowa. Conversing with one of his customers, after the usual courtesies had been exchanged, the buyer, learning the young man's name, hastened to inform him that there was a Jewish family in the town bearing the same name -- Fels.
With the family love peculiar to the Jewish race, Joseph left his business and his prospects, and hastened to visit the house and to get acquainted with these people who were, perhaps, members of his family.
When he reached the door of the house and pulled the knocker, a charming little girl came out to open the door and usher him [in] to her father and mother.
He was twenty; she was nine. His name was Joseph Fels; her name, Mary Fels. They became acquainted.
The child remained in her room, busy with her school books and probably dreams of that young prince who would some day come and take her to his castle. No one could foresee that the results of this meeting would be important not only to the pair, but would perhaps constitute one step forward in the social order of humanity.
The young man spoke to her parents about the topics of the day -- it was an important epoch in the history of the country. When he departed, he promised to return in due time. However, every year the young traveler came back to Keokuk, with the regularity of a clock. When he came, he did not fail to visit the house of Mary. Nine years he came and went and then, on November 16, 1881, the two were married.
"When I saw that little girl I decided that she would some day be my wife," Joseph Fels testified after many years.
Thus began the beautiful romance on the banks of the Mississippi.
(Editor's note: in 1927, Mary Fels published a book of reflections on Judaism and "the path toward oneness with God" entitled Toward the Light. It would seem that this chapter of William Z.'s intended biography of Ms. Fels, "A Study in Jewish Womanhood," was directly inspired by her book. Perhaps this allows us to date its composition as 1927 or 1928.)
No comments:
Post a Comment