lly to indulge in his infatuation,
which a number of them soon began to call by a harsher term than _idee
fixe_.

He continued, however, with characteristic persistence to develop one
idea after another from his fundamental conviction. At this time he
was profoundly moved by several instances of apostasy, though his
pride would not permit him to betray it. As a man and as an artist of
the modern school, he had, of course, acquired many non-Jewish habits
and his study of the cultures of successive civilizations had left an
indelible impress upon him. How was this to be reconciled with his
return to Judaism? Often doubts assailed him as to the soundness of
his guiding thought, his "idee maitresse," as a French thinker calls
it. Perhaps this generation, having grown up under the influence of
alien cultures, was no longer capable of that return which he had
perceived to be their redemption. But the new generation would be
capable of it, if it were only given the right direction early enough.
He resolved, therefore, that his own children, at least, should be
shown the proper path. They should be trained as Jews in their own
home.

Hitherto he had permitted to pass by unobserved the holiday which the
wonderful apparition of the Maccabees had illumined for thousands of
years with the glow of miniature lights. Now, however, he made this
holiday an opportunity to prepare something beautiful which should be
forever commemorated in the minds of his children. In their young
souls should be implanted early a steadfast devotion to their ancient
people. He bought a Menorah, and when he held this nine-branched
candlestick in his hands for the first time, a strange mood came over
him. In his father's house also, the lights had once burned in his
youth, now far away, and the recollection gave him a sad and tender
feeling for home. The tradition was neither cold nor dead,--thus it
had passed through the ages, one light kindling another. Moreover, the
ancient form of the Menorah had excited his interest. When was the
primitive structure of this candlestick fashioned? Clearly the design
was suggested by the tree--in the centre the sturdy trunk, on right
and left four branches, one below the other, in one plane, and all of
equal height. A later symbolism brought with it the short ninth
branch, which projects in front and functions as a servant. What
mystery had the generations which followed one another read into this
form of art, at once