Baruch Drama Centered Upon Wall Street

A Jewish Tragedy— Drama in three acts—by Bernard Baruch. Bloch Publishing Co.

Mr. Baruch’s melodrama occupies itself with the wildly see-sawing fortunes of Abraham Reiter, Galiclan immigrant garment-maker, shot high up in Wall street during the most extravagant period of the boom. Yet even amidst the pomp of an office “fitted out in the most up-to-date style” and of a “richly and tastefully furnished salon,” Reiter soberly keeps his head; his attachment to orthodox Judaism and a native balance serve him well.

We see him dispensing his largesse and advice generously—but sagely—to institutions, old friends and the newly-swarming spongers. And towards his employees and in his debates and dealings with his Communist friend, Moseson, he is a positive model of enlightened capitalism.

But the crash changes all that. Gone are Reiter’s plans for a new era in treatment of employees. It also drives his polylinguist, beautiful wife, frothy, it would seem, but ah! really deeply attached to her husband, to make, for her husband’s sake, the great sacrifice. The tragedy occurs when Reiter fails to appreciate the motives of the sacrifice promptly enough; and on this tragic note, enlivened by the opposed battle-cries of “Long Live the Social Revolution” and “Long live Eretz Yisroel,” the play closes.