Jewish Life in the East. By Sydney Montagu Sarnue% (C.
Began Paul and Co.)—Mr. Samuel gives us a very interesting view, stated with perfect candour, of the condition of his nation in Egypt and in Palestine. Naturally, the chief interest attaches to that portion which is settled in Jerusalem. To say that the restoration of the Jews to their native country has come within the range of practical politics, would be too much ; but, on the other hand, it is quite certain that the question has ceased to be, what it would have been thought fifty years ago by all except a few students of prophecy, ridiculous Under these circumstances, it is important to note the condition of the population which would form the nucleus of tho now nation. Mr.. Samuel in not encouraging about it. It is under the domination of a very narrow and bigoted priesthood ; kept there, at the same time that it is pauperised, by the distribution of the alms of the Hebrew race throughout the world. To contribute to the needs of the Jerusalem Jews is a duty which none of their kindred can neglect. To part of tho population—and it numbers, it seems, more than ten thousand—as much as £6 per head is sometimes given in the year. Mr. Samuel speaks also of the action of the converting agencies which are at work in Jerusalem. He seems to think them more effective than they are commonly sup- posed by Christian opinion to be. Among chapters treating of places other than Jerusalem, wo may mention that on " Hebron." An appendix deals with Mr. Lawrence Oliphant's scheme for the colonisation of Palestine, to which he gives a provisional approval.
But tho Jews, as ho soya elsewhere, prefer much the labour of the head to the labour of the hands, and this preference has degraded the lower, while it has elevated the upper class.
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