Elkan Lubliner, American

In Short

Montague Glass’s 1912 novel follows Elkan Lubliner, a sharp-witted young immigrant navigating the bustling garment district of turn-of-the-century New York. Starting as an assistant cutter for the firm Polatkin & Scheikowitz, Elkan rapidly proves his worth through keen financial instinct, relentless enterprise, and an uncanny ability to close tough deals. Across a series of interconnected business exploits, real estate maneuvers, and social mix-ups, he woos his sweetheart Yetta, outsmarts rivals, and secures his place as a full partner in the firm. The book endures as a vivid, affectionate portrait of American immigrant hustle, Jewish community life, and commercial ambition.

The Story

The narrative opens in the New York showroom of garment manufacturers Marcus Polatkin and Philip Scheikowitz as they argue over relatives, staffing, and business expenses. Into this high-stakes world steps Elkan Lubliner, a young arrival eager to make his mark. Placed initially in the cutting room alongside head cutter Joseph Redman, Elkan quickly demonstrates that his ambitions extend far beyond tailoring garments. He possesses a natural gift for salesmanship and a sharp eye for commercial opportunity, frequently offering bold opinions on how to secure big accounts like Appenweier & Murray.

Elkan's enterprise earns him rapid advancement, but his journey is filled with comic entanglements and competitive rivalries. When his firm attempts to secure business or arrange social introductions, matchmakers (Shadchens) like Rashkind and Fischko become involved. In one instance, a series of misunderstandings surrounds dynamic outings, prospective brides, and social functions, including an arrangement where Elkan is temporarily misidentified to help an acquaintance. Despite these social complications, Elkan remains focused on his true romantic interest, Yetta Silbermacher, whom he eventually marries.

As Elkan’s standing in the firm grows, his dealings expand into broader commercial and real estate ventures. He becomes involved in complex property transactions, such as purchasing a house on Linden Boulevard from the slick vendor Glaubmann. Navigating a sea of lawyers, tenancies, and legal hurdles—including disputes over verbal leases and the Statute of Frauds—Elkan displays firm resolve, taking charge of closing the deal himself when others hesitate. In another episode, Elkan attempts to purchase antique furniture for his new home, inadvertently buying reproduction Jacobean chairs from the antiquarian Ringentaub, only to discover that high-profile collectors like Jacob Paul (a credit man for the Hamsuckett Mills) can be easily fooled by market illusions.

Whether outmaneuvering rival salesmen like Leon Sammet, organizing business outings at Atlantic City hotels, or declining unnecessary and lavish expenditures like twenty-dollar-a-head "Chinese Lantern Dinners," Elkan consistently relies on quality goods, fair prices, and direct honesty over empty sales hype. By balancing sharp commercial instincts with personal integrity, Elkan secures major orders, earns the deep respect of his partners, and establishes himself firmly as a prosperous, respected partner in Polatkin, Scheikowitz & Company—a true American success story.

How It Unfolds

A dynamic entry Young Elkan Lubliner enters the garment trade as an assistant cutter under Joseph Redman at Polatkin & Scheikowitz. He immediately reveals his vaulting ambitions, boldly critiquing senior salesmen and declaring that he would rather push for major retail accounts than remain trapped in the cutting room forever.

Matchmaking and mix-ups Polatkin and real-estate broker Rashkind attempt to direct Elkan’s social life by arranging introductions to eligible young women, leading to comedy in uptown parlors. Meanwhile, Elkan navigates local gathering spots like the Harlem Winter Garden alongside colorful figures and matchmakers like Fischko.

Winning the heart Despite the efforts of professional matchmakers to steer him elsewhere, Elkan focuses his devotions on Yetta Silbermacher. Through persistence, shared outings, and growing professional prosperity, he wins her hand and prepares to build a life with her in the city.

Navigating real estate Elkan expands his ambitions into homeownership, tangling with shrewd sellers like Glaubmann and sharp lawyers over a suburban residence. When legal arguments over tenancies and lease terms threaten to derail the purchase, Elkan steps forward, asserts his authority, and closes the deal on the spot.

Furnishing the home Attempting to outfit his new house, Elkan purchases what he believes to be authentic Jacobean chairs from an antiquarian named Ringentaub. He soon learns the chairs are modern reproductions, gaining a humorous lesson in how self-proclaimed connoisseurs and corporate credit men judge value.

Securing the partnership During a high-stakes trip to Atlantic City, Elkan resists pressure to spend lavishly on entertainment, insisting that quality goods and fair pricing are all that matter. His triumph in closing key accounts cements his standing as a full partner in Polatkin, Scheikowitz & Company.

The People

• Elkan Lubliner: An ambitious, quick-witted young immigrant who begins as an assistant cutter and aspires to become a top salesman and partner. He seeks financial success and respect in New York, overcoming his initial lack of seniority through sheer initiative, sharp commercial instincts, and personal integrity.
• Marcus Polatkin: Co-owner of Polatkin & Scheikowitz. Pragmatic, volatile, and deeply focused on the bottom line, he frequently frets over business expenses and relative troubles, yet gradually comes to trust and depend on Elkan's aggressive sales talent.
• Philip Scheikowitz: Polatkin's business partner. More cautious and mild-mannered than Polatkin, he balances his partner's outbursts while managing internal shop disputes and family obligations from the old country.
• Yetta Silbermacher: A practical young woman initially working in domestic service who captures Elkan's affections. She values authenticity, supports Elkan's growing business career, and becomes his wife.
• Rashkind: A multi-tasking matchmaker, real-estate broker, and lodge member who attempts to navigate the complex social and marital networks of the immigrant community.
• Glaubmann: A slick property owner who attempts to sell suburban real estate at inflated prices, tested by Elkan's sharp bargaining and legal persistence.

In Its Own Voice

"Without a feller would think once in a while, Mr. Redman, he remains a cutter all his life."

Elkan explains to his head cutter why he spends his work hours strategizing about sales instead of merely plying his shears.

"When we got the right goods at the right price, Mr. Polatkin, why should we got to give a merchant dinners yet to convince him of it?"

Elkan rejects his partner's demand to host an exorbitant Chinese Lantern Dinner for a potential client, insisting on sound product value.

"So-o-o! That's what you mean by a collector!"

Elkan realizes with amusement that a corporate credit man who considers himself an art connoisseur has been completely tricked by modern furniture reproductions.

What It's Really About

Beneath its comedic dialogue and trade jargon, the book investigates the process of Americanization and social mobility among Eastern European Jewish immigrants in New York. It examines how traditional community structures—such as matchmakers, old-world family ties, and communal lodges—adapt to the relentless demands of modern American capitalism. The narrative asks whether economic ambition requires sacrificing personal integrity or cultural identity, ultimately arguing that genuine commercial success comes from practical competence, honesty, and self-reliance rather than slick posturing or superficial flash.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy historical comedy, workplace humor, or the literature of the immigrant experience will find much to admire in Montague Glass's work. The book offers an extraordinarily detailed, warm-hearted look at New York's historic garment trade, capturing the rapid dialogue, theatrical bargaining, and daily hustle of early twentieth-century commerce.

The reading experience is fast-paced and character-driven, filled with lively shop-floor banter and sharp observation. Readers should be prepared for heavy use of period immigrant dialect and Yiddish-influenced phrasing ("ain't it," "y'understand," "schlemiel"), which reflects the speech patterns of the era's New York garment district. While these speech conventions and period social attitudes take a moment to acclimate to, they lend the narrative an unmistakable authenticity. Elkan’s relentless optimism and sharp humor make this an enduringly entertaining portrait of making it in America.