whom Herzl esteemed very much, asked permission to photograph him, for the purpose of issuing copies. He was at once willing. The artist gave him a pose, and prepared his apparatus.
Herzl shook his head, and said, "No, my friend, not that way." And he disposed himself in the attitude in which he desired to be seen. The artist desired a change, spoke of the unfavorable light, weaker picture, artistic effects, etc., but it did not matter; Herzl remained steadfast. He would either be photographed in the pose he chose, or he would not be photographed at all. The artist had to yield. Herzl had decided to have his Semitic profile photographed. There was nothing coquettish in this.
The Autograph Hunter
One day last year a young Russian Jew wrote to Herzl somewhat as follows:
"Dear Dr. Herzl:
I have an uncle who is not a Zionist, but who can be induced to be one; and will probably become one, as he has promised me that if you will send me a few lines in your own handwriting in Hebrew, he will give two hundred kronen to the National Fund."
Whereupon Herzl, anxious to earn two hundred kronen for the Fund, sent for his Hebrew Secretary, and had a letter written which he copied with great care. He was no writer of Hebrew, and the task was one of considerable difficulty. However, he was satisfied to have earned two hundred kronen for the Fund, and sent the letter off.
A few weeks later he received an acknowledgment, couched somewhat in the following form:
"I thank you for yours in Hebrew, which I prize very much. I am, however, conscience-stricken. I have no uncle, and
there will be no two hundred kronen. If you feel I have misled you, I will send you your writing back."
Herzl read the letter, and remarked how he had sweated at the task of preparing the Hebrew. He was very much annoyed, but refrained from answering. The incident, however, impressed itself on him. He was very careful afterwards in yielding to these tricks for autographs.
An Estimate
An article, entitled "Dr. Theodor Herzl," from the pen of Mr. Sidney Whitman, appears in the current number of the "Contemporary Review." The article argues: "Whatever may be thought of the feasible or fantastic character of Zionism now that its guiding spirit is gone, there can be no doubt that it at once exercised a powerful influence over the minds of the Jewish proletariat throughout the world. In less than seven years from the day when, practically without financial resources and against the advice of all but a few personal friends, Herzl started his Zionist propaganda, the movement already numbered more than a million adherents, distributed over different parts of the world. He displayed an extraordinary activity in the furtherance of his project, and succeeded in calling forth the same on the part of others. Thus, one English Zionist, who shared Herzl's enthusiasm, travelled over 27,000 miles in little more than a year on behalf of the cause."
Mr. Whitman stated that Dr. Herzl's visit to England for the purpose of giving evidence before the Alien Commission was "by special request." That evidence, he remarks, was admitted by all accounts to be "one of the clearest and most statesmanlike representations of