Friday, June 09, 2006

A Bissel Gertrude Stein

Found this curious piece in Painted Lace and Other Pieces (1914-1937), p. 94:

I know all about the war I have been in France ever since the peace. Remember what was said yesterday.
We can think and we know that we love our country so.
Can we believe that all Jews are these.
Let us remember that the little bird of all is not the one that has the singing dell. It sings and it sings and a great many people say it is not pleasant. Is it litely that there is real grief. Anywhere there are beards and everywhere there are girls and all about there is a wealth of imagery.
I saw all this to prove that Judaism should be a question of religion.
Don't talk about race. Race is disgusting if you don't love your country.
I don't want to go to Zion.
This is an expression of Shem.

Dated 1920, evidently. Not sure what to make of it, but I have to return the book to the library today, and wanted to post it here for future reference.

More soon.
E