The Ghetto Part 1

The Ghetto.

by Herman Heijermans.

PREFACE

_In the not wholly grateful task of adapting this play to the present demands of the English and American stage, partly as those demands have been interpreted by others than me, numerous alterations have been thought necessary. I hope that this adaptation does not conceal the fact that Mr. Heijermans' original is a work of very admirable unity and force._

_CHESTER B. FERNALD._

 

_September, 1899._

THE GHETTO

THE FIRST ACT

SCENE: _A street in the Ghetto in Amsterdam. On the left the shop of SACHEL. Running down from the centre to the right, diagonally, the wall of a ca.n.a.l; a bridge across the ca.n.a.l; a vista of the river and the city at the back._

_Enter SAMSON and DANIEL._

SAMSON.

Have trade and traffic gone to bed for Sabbath?

DANIEL.

Not till old Sachel shuts his shop. See, he sits there in the gloom like a spider waiting in its web. He would keep open all night for two cents.

SAMSON.

He's waiting for his son. What if the old man knew that Rafael spent half his time composing music--music for which he gets nothing? He would lock the door on Rafael to-night.

DANIEL.

Let him! The world shall hear from Rafael. Wait till we play his music.

SAMSON.

But he still has time to devote to his father's Christian servant-maid.

DANIEL.

Eh--you have noticed too? [_They look into the shop._] Ah, see her! I say, she's the handsomest in Amsterdam--high or low! You had better be careful what you say about her to Rafael.

SAMSON.

I am. When I spoke a trifle lightly of her, he offered to smash my head with your 'cello.

DANIEL.

And you apologized?

SAMSON.

Not wanting it smashed.

DANIEL.

Meaning your head.

SAMSON.

No, meaning your 'cello. But I shall proceed with her. She is unhappy--I think she needs _me_!

_Enter MORDECAI, with a piece of lace, by way of the bridge. He goes into the shop._

I thought we had done with trade in this street. There goes an old sheep to p.a.w.n his fleece. I say--bah!

DANIEL.

So will the old sheep say "Bah!" when Sachel has shorn him. See the old man feeling it over--they say he can tell bra.s.s from gold by the touch of his talons.

SAMSON.

It is well the old man is blind; if he saw the look of disgust on the girl's face--ay, she'd like to rush out in the air!

DANIEL.

If she hates trade so, why does she stay in the Ghetto?

SAMSON.

She has nowhere else to go--she doesn't appear to want to get away.

Are they cursing each other over a copper? See the curl of her lip!

Look! look!

[_ROSA rushes out of the shop._

ROSA.