"All the old piety seems to be breaking down.

It's Purim, but how many of us have been to hear the--the what do you call it ?--the _Megillah_ read?
There is actually a minister here to-night bare-headed.

And how many of us are going to wash our hands before supper or _bensh_ afterwards, I should like to know.

Why, it's as much as can be expected if the food's _kosher_, and there's no ham sandwiches on the dishes.

Lord! how my old dad, God rest his soul, would have been horrified by such a party as this!" "Yes, it's wonderful how ashamed Jews are of their religion outside a synagogue!" said Hannah musingly.