, I guessed as much."

But the greatest and most constant hospitality was shown by Hillel to
a guest who was always with him and uppermost in his thoughts. Every
day it was his habit to withdraw for a while for private meditation.
"Whither art thou going?" asked his colleagues and disciples. "I have
a guest to whom I must show attention." "Who is this guest?" "My
soul," was the solemn reply; "to-day it is with me, to-morrow the
heavenly visitant may be departed and returned home."

Is it any wonder that, after forty years of activity in the
Patriarchate, when Hillel died (in the year 10 of the common era), men
said of him: "Meek and humble-minded, a saint has departed from among
us, a disciple of Ezra the Scribe." The title fitted his career, for
he came like Ezra from Babylon to Palestine and like Ezra he restored
the Law when it was threatened with destruction. Great as a student,
he was great also as an inspirer of other students. He left eighty
distinguished disciples, of whom the youngest was that famous Jochanan
ben Zakkai who became the savior of Judaism at the destruction of the
second Temple.

[Illustration: Signature: M. Hyamson]

EDITORS' NOTE--Dr. Hyamson's portrait of Hillel is the
first in a series of character sketches of Jewish
Worthies to appear in THE MENORAH JOURNAL. The second
paper will be on Hillel's disciple, Jochanan ben
Zakkai.

The Quality of Mercy

_A Sixth Act to "The Merchant of Venice"_

BY WILLIAM M. BLATT

[Illustration: _William M. Blatt (born in Orange, N.J., in 1876)
was educated in the public schools of Boston, and received his degree
of LL.B. from Boston University Law School in 1897. Besides being
engaged with the law in Boston and contributing to a number of legal
periodicals, Mr. Blatt is also devoted to letters and has published a
number of plays, including "Husbands on Approval," and many one-act
playlets, including "The Danger of Ideals," which have been given
professional performance._]

_Characters_: SHYLOCK, JESSICA, ANTONIO, GRATIANO, PORTIA, ISAAC, _a
servant of Shylock_.

_Scene_: A street in Venice.

_Time_: An afternoon, two years after the last act of "The Merchant of
Venice."

_As curtain rises, Portia and Gratiano discovered standing and looking
down the street, Gratiano pointing._

_Gratiano_ Now Lady Portia look a long way off
And see if you can recognize a friend.

_Portia_