disgrace such an union would bring upon your family?"

"I have, my father, weighed, and am measuring and considering all surrounding circumstances and conditions. Ilove him."

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Since when do you cherish love for him, I pray?"

"The first sparks of love which nestled themselves in my bosom were conjured up by his rendition of Mendelssohn's 'Songs without Words,' which he improvised at the 'Foorshpiel' of Bashke Litovitz two years ago while waiting for the girls to arrive. Ever since I have been unhappy

yet happy to hear him again. Despite my resolutions to the contrary, I could hardly wait for the opportunity to again be enabled to listen to the divine strains of his fairy-like violin."

"Have you promised him your hand?" inquired the father tremblingly.

No, father, the ardent love and great respect I cherish for you forbade me to take such a step without your consent. There is no thought of my being happy if the happiness is not shared by you." A ray of hope spread over his distorted countenance, and he continued:

"My child, I have always prided myself on being a descendant of 'Yakhsoonim' (superior families). So also came your sainted mother from 'Lamdonim' (savants), and Tsadikim' (pious and righteous). Your sisters and brother married into distinguished families. Itcha Dombriner comes from a "Yakhsoonish ' family. I think him a very fitting mate for you. As to marrying through a Shadkh'n,' Reb Yoshe Pinsker is a very pious, conscientious man, and somewhat related to me, hence a friend of the family. Consequently he surely has your welfare

at heart.

Kalmen Wielnik's daughter

marry a Klezmer!”

"Pardon me, father, can a Klezmer not be as good a man as Itcha Dombriner or any one else?"

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Yes, daughter, but you must not lose sight of the fact that you can never make silk of flax. A musician's worth is his music. He is not honored because his gypsy life exposes him to too many temptations. The flatterings he receives are prone only to spoil and effeminate him. He is loved not on account of his antecedents or his person, but because of his ability to please the senses."

"I beg your pardon for taking the liberty of correcting you. You are by far wiser and more experienced than I am, but the world is advancing. The market value of fine flax ranges nowadays often higher than that of silk. Neither of them can take the place of the other. As the

world is becoming more and more civilized and progressive the musician, the true artist, rises in esteem in parallel with the love which is cherished for his art for art's sake. His education and culture keep pace with the development of his genius. He stands on a like pedestal as does the author, the banker, or the official of high rank. Applause, when earned, is never dangerous, but, on the contrary, an inspiration to the true artist. As to antecedents, we often find that the worst among perpetrators come from the very best families. Take, for instance, Yoske Mazik. His father, himself a great scholar and an unusually good man, descended from a lineage of rabbis and distinguished people for generations. His mother was surely a most virtuous woman. They spent a fortune on his education. The way he treats his family and the miserable life he is leading is an open secret. He has squan

dered the fortune his father left him and soon his family will become subjects of charity."

"Yes, daughter, unfortunately it is so, but do you not cite an exception?"

"That may well be, but there are exceptions also among musicians, and Sheeka is one of them. He is loved not only because of his genius, but also honored and respected on account of his valiant traits. The Natchalnik Count Dimoff not only enjoys his lessons, but does not disdain his company. You can often see them together promenading, on horseback, or sleigh riding. He mingles in the very best of society. He is a gentleman."

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But," interrupted her father, " Sheeka is not much of a Jew. He eats' Trayfa' (food not prepared according to the Jewish dietary laws), and he seldom attends divine worship. Itcha Dombriner is a pious young man."