Mary Antin ( 10 of 10 )
His struggle for a bare living left him no time to take advantage of the public evening school. In time read more
His struggle for a bare living left him no time to take advantage of the public evening school. In time he learned to read, to follow a conversation or lecture; but he never learned to write correctly; and his pronunciation remains extremely foreign to this day.
On a royal birthday every house must fly a flag, or the owner would be dragged to a police station read more
On a royal birthday every house must fly a flag, or the owner would be dragged to a police station and be fined twenty-five rubles.
If education, culture, the higher life were shining things to be worshiped from afar, he had still a means left read more
If education, culture, the higher life were shining things to be worshiped from afar, he had still a means left whereby he could draw one step nearer to them.
But most of the Gentiles were ignorant.
But most of the Gentiles were ignorant.
In the evening of the first day my father conducted us to the public baths.
In the evening of the first day my father conducted us to the public baths.
No, the czar did not want us in the schools.
No, the czar did not want us in the schools.
We are not born all at once, but by bits. The body first, and the spirit later; and the birth read more
We are not born all at once, but by bits. The body first, and the spirit later; and the birth and growth of the spirit, in those who are attentive to their own inner life, are slow and exceedingly painful. Our mothers are racked with the pains of our physical birth; we ourselves suffer the longer pains of our spiritual growth.
One positive command he gave us: You shall love and honor your emperor. In every congregation a prayer must be read more
One positive command he gave us: You shall love and honor your emperor. In every congregation a prayer must be said for the czar's health, or the chief of police would close the synagogue.
First, you had to have a tutor at home, who prepared you and talked all the time about the examination read more
First, you had to have a tutor at home, who prepared you and talked all the time about the examination you would have to pass, till you were scared.
As we moved along in a little procession, I was delighted with the illumination of the streets. So many lamps, read more
As we moved along in a little procession, I was delighted with the illumination of the streets. So many lamps, and they burned until morning, my father said, and so people did not need to carry lanterns.
