Our tale opens in some little town in the Pale of Settlement between the 1880s and World War I. A well-spoken, well-dressed young man appears and courts an attractive girl of a family belonging to the great majority of the Jewish townspeople—that is, impoverished and burdened with many children. The unknown suitor offers charm and gifts, and speaks knowingly of the great places he has seen and where he has a good business—Paris, Johannesburg, London, or New York. Will the girl accompany him westward and become his bride once they reach their destination.He does not want to stay long enough in town to marry publicly, since he might be seized for military conscription. The girl, excited by the prospect, implores her parents to give their consent to this proposal. She feels she loves this young man. With him, the bleak life and dismal future in the town will be exchanged at a stroke for happiness and prosperity in a great, distant city. Every month a few young townspeople were leaving, mainly for America. Already there were many more marriageable girls in town than there were young men for them. How could such a chance be thrown aside? Might it ever recur? If the girl wondered why of all the numerous poor girls in town she was enjoying these attentions, she would answer in her own mind by complimenting herself on her prettiness. Her parents, or her surviving parent or step-parents, gave their consent.
and , on the other hand , from an inconclusive peace forced upon both Russia and Roumania by a Germany that not only has failed to win the war , but that has gone down in disastrous de¬ feat in the great battle -field events which have stirred the world since the 18th of July , and who , at this writing , famine -stricken and in the throes of revolution , is a suppliant for mercy at the hands of the victorious Allies . By the ar¬ mistice terms submitted to by Germany on November n , the " Peace " treaties of both Brest-Litovsk and Bucharest have already become null and void , so that the position of the Jews of the above -mentioned countries will presently again become materially changed . All this goes to show how difficult is the task of the writer of present -day history , since what is a fact to -day may become an untruth to -morrow , and prog¬ nostication is at best but idle speculation.The author herewith expresses his thanks to Mr . Alexander Plarkavy and Mr . Abraham S. Freidus , of New York , for many helpful suggestions .and to his sister , Mrs . Sarah Frances Levin, of Dayton , Ohio , for assistance in the readingof the manuscript . For whatever typographical errors there may have eluded the watchfulness of the proofreader , he must fall back upon the kindly indulgence of the reader.Max Raisin.
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