2005-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005
whose work “A Sketch of Jewish History” (published earlier in Germany in 1896 as “Sechs Vortraege, [etc.]”) she was then translating and reviewing for acceptance by the Jewish Pub. Society of America, of which she was editor and Sec’y. 3 ¼ page letter entirely in her tiny, neat, easily readable hand; from her home in Baltimore, July 19, 1897 (and not as normally seen on official J.P.S. letterhead) to Judge Mayer Sulzberger important member of the Board of the J.P.S.: “under separate cover I send you an annotated copy of Mr. Karpeles ‘Sechs Vortraege.’ When I glanced through the book after the meeting, my impression was that the author had largely quoted from his former book, which is itself one huge quotation from [she names three other noted Jewish authors] by way of his own ‘History of Jewish Literature’ [with German title]. I marked a few almost literal repetitions from ‘Jewish Literature and other essays,’ when I could at once put my finger on them. Compare, for instance [she gives comparisons in both books]. On closer examination I found the whole book a rehash of ‘Jewish Literature’ though in a way whose crookedness cannot always be illustrated by pencil marks. A laughable example of literary exploitation you will find [gives page number]. Is it policy under these circumstances to publish [Karpeles’ book] ? When I went about translating…the superficiality and inaccuracy of the work [were so obvious] that I should consider myself derelict to my duty if I were to omit writing to you about it. Not one of the misquotations, etc., to be sure, constitutes a capital crime and your sec’y [i.e. Henrietta] may fitly be expected to correct such inaccuracies. This was done in his ‘Jewish Literature etc.’ with the result that she [Henrietta] has continued to find inaccuracies since it was published and has groaned in spirit when National Council Essayists and B’Ne B’rith orators, the writers for whose piratical use one of our committee naively wished to have ‘Sechs Vortraege’ published, have innocently repeated Karpeles’ statements as gospel truths. The inaccuracies are such as to indicate the unscientific and unliterary cast of the author’s mind, as well as the callousness of his conscience, and the presumption is that the whole book is honeycombed with them. I recall with disgust that when I pointed out to Mr. Karpeles some of the inaccuracies in [Jewish Literature, etc.] in order to obtain his sanction for changes, he discouraged further correspondence by saying that he was too busy to give proper attention to the matters brought before him. THIS CONFIRMS MY IMPRESSION THAT HE IS THOROUGHLY DISHONEST. Even though ‘Sechs Vortraege’ were a brilliant compilation, in reality it is the sweepings of a third rate journalist…which in my opinion lack even the warm rhetoric that might transform them into a semblance of literature. Is our society prepared to put a premium upon literary dishonesty ? Knowing Karpeles as we do, or as we should, from our former intercourse with him, may we again shield ourselves from responsibility for his slovenliness behind his reputation, a reputation which, underserved as it is we are consistently increasing ? As strong as any feeling that I have in the matter is the unchristian one of not wishing to be duped by a ‘smart’ journalist in the Fatherland, who dares unload his literary refuse upon the Jews in Yankeeland.” …She mentions showing the work and expressing her opinion to Cyrus Adler and writes that both of them… would be equally disgusted by the hypocrisy and “charlatanism” and also that “Dr. Adler said that I might report to you and if you were inclined to stop the proceedings and reconsider the matter ‘he is with you…’ you made no secret of your personal opinion at the meeting…I know that if it contained honest ‘stuff’ the inaccuracies would not modify your judgment and I trust that you will credit me with some such large mindedness…but [the work] constitutes grounds sufficient for the dismissal of a case and favor of an admittedly poor book ?” Fine condition. An impassioned, confidential letter by this remarkable woman, long considered one of the most eminent of her era, an ardent Zionist and a founder of Hadassah. (As a footnote, J.P.S. did publish the Karpeles “Sechs Vortraege” work in 1897; see Singerman No. 5199). An exceptional letter by this exceptional Jewish lady.
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