When he is finished, an officer gets up. He recalls the heroic days of the editor’s pioneering work in the Jewish streets, when he was alone, misunderstood, opposed, nay!—slandered! in an abominable way. He describes how the editor, with his good will—only!—and willpower—only! —overcame the resistance, and established “an Office, which is different from other institutions of the Jewish quarter in that it is,” . . . that “it stops certain things—and pushes forward other ones,” . . . that “it does, works, forms.” All this the editor did out of the goodness of his heart, good intentions, his own will, or steadfast willpower. Thus, “young Sam, be a good Jew and follow in your father’s footsteps”. Kisses, hugs, greetings.
The commander gets up. Five minutes of spontaneous ovation for the hero. Cheers: Long live the Commander! Long live the “Thirteen”!
“I’m sorry, I'm no speaker. May you be, Sam, a good Jew and a good man, [. . .] our ranks. I am appointing you the section head at the Office to Combat Usury.” Long, continuous applause. The boy stands to attention, acting as an authentic Prince of Wales. The commander sits down.
Mr Białer declares, citing numerous examples from the Bible and Jewish history that . . . this is a double celebration: national and national. National I—since it is Shavuot, National II—as it is the confirmation of Gancwajch junior. “Of course—the speaker says—we never lose hope that one day we will yet be happy.”
The editor established the Appointed Administration of Properties,766 which, after all . . . Conclusion: the Appointed Administration of Properties is at least the beginning of the Jewish national liberation. Whereupon: kisses, hugs.
Never before have I heard such rubbish and nonsense, uttered publicly and in a calm voice.
[3] When the last of the 25 speakers concluded his arguments, it was time for the exposé—as Gancwajch called his speech—of the editor.
“It is too difficult to bear as much praise as I have heard here—says the editor—on one’s own feeble shoulders. It is all the harder as it is undeserved, as the acknowledgements and deepest gratitude must be given to my colleagues: Mr Białer, without whom the Appointed Administration of Properties would never have been founded (and what would happen then?! God, oh God!)
