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RABBIS

Constitute a sort of nobility of the Jews, and it is the first object of each parent that his sons shall, if possible, attain it.  When, therefore, a boy displays a peculiarly acute mind and studious habits, he is placed before the twelve folio volumes of the Talmud, and its legion of commentaries and epitomes, which he is made to pore over with an intenseness which engrosses his faculties entirely, and often leaves him in mind, and occasionally in body, fit for nothing else; and so vigilant and jealous a discipline is exercised so to fence him round as to secure his being exclusively Talmudical, and destitute of every other learning and knowledge whatever, that one individual has lately met with three young men, educated as rabbis, who were born and lived to manhood in the middle of Poland, and yet knew not one word of its language.  To speak Polish on the Sabbath is to profane it—­so say the orthodox Polish Jews.  If at the age of fourteen or fifteen years, or still earlier, (for the Jew ceases to be a minor when thirteen years old,) this Talmudical student realizes the hopes of his childhood, he becomes an object of research among the wealthy Jews, who are anxious that their daughters shall attain the honour of becoming the brides of these embryo santons; and often, when he is thus young, and his bride still younger, the marriage is completed.

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BARBER-SURGEONS.

Jacob de Castro was one of the first members of the Corporation of Surgeons, after their separation from the barbers in the year 1745.  On which occasion Bonnel Thornton suggested “Tollite Barberum” for their motto.

The barber-surgeons had a by-law, by which they levied ten pounds on any person who should dissect a body out of their hall without leave.  The separation did away this and other impediments to the improvement of surgery in England, which previously had been chiefly cultivated in France.  The barber-surgeon in those days was known by his pole, the reason of which is sought for by a querist in “The British Apollo,” fol.  Lond. 1708, No. 3:—­

  “I’de know why he that selleth ale
  Hangs out a chequer’d part per pale;
  And why a barber at port-hole
  Puts forth a party-colour’d pole?”

        ANSWER.

  “In ancient Rome, when men lov’d fighting,
  And wounds and scars took much delight in,
  Man-menders then had noble pay,
  Which we call surgeons to this day. 
  ’Twas order’d that a huge long pole,
  With basen deck’d, should grace the hole. 
  To guide the wounded, who unlopt
  Could walk, on stumps the others hopt;
  But, when they ended all their wars,
  And men grew out of love with scars,
  Their trade decaying, to keep swimming,
  They join’d the other trade of trimming;
  And to their poles, to publish either,
  Thus twisted both their trades together.”