A SPECIAL OCCASION


Once on a day, I spoke at the Athenæum, New Orleans, for the Young
Men’s Hebrew Association.

When they had asked my fee I answered, “One Hundred Fifty Dollars.”
The reply was, “We will pay you Two Hundred—it is to be a special
occasion.”

A carriage was sent to my hotel for me. The Jews may be close traders,
but when it comes to social functions, they know what to do. The Jew
is the most generous man in the world, even if he can be at times cent
per cent.

As I approached the Athenæum I thought, “What a beautiful building!”
It was stone and brick—solid, subdued, complete and substantial. The
lower rooms were used for the Hebrew Club. Upstairs stretched the
splendid hall, as I could tell from the brilliantly lighted windows.

Inside, I noticed that the stairways were carpeted with Brussels.
Glancing through the wide doorways, I beheld an audience of more than
two thousand people. The great chandeliers sent out a dazzling glory
from their crystal and gold. At the sides, rich tapestries and
hangings of velvet covered the windows.

“A beautiful building,” I said to my old-time friend, Maurice J. Pass,
the Secretary of the Club.

He smiled in satisfaction and replied, “Well, we seldom let things go