The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1875-09-30

roland every ten or twenty years must
hoist her ensanguined sign, toss aloft
the holocaust of victims, her advertise
ment of despair. How otherwise an
peal to the instincts of an illiterate but
impassioned race, peasants who have NO
book-iearningp By showing Poland
those blood-red letters, printed on the
body OF her sons, these become SO manv
primers. A single lesson impresses It
into their souls; the father tells the son
OF it, the grandmother the grandchild
strive to eliminate some of the grosser
factors. Life seems to me, as grow
Older, more sacred than it used to be !.
Yet, / who speak to YOU have run
many terrible risk. That I am alive
now simply means that may be some
dozen other men have been brushed out
OF my path and out of existence. There
is where the whole enigma of the mat
ter lies. That Poland must be free, if
not this year, at least in this century,
will not doubt. But how? But YOU
have led me into topic rarely venture
on, save with my own people. am
one of the Polish Legion in America.
Some have thought that aid might come
from this quarter, but that is neither
probable nor possible. I am here for
another reason. Many a Polish refu-
gee, many a dissatisfied one finds a
home here. They seek me for advice.
The dole give them -o
''What!" I exclaimed, s'and you
are starving at times!''
s'Pray, pardon my arrogance. Well, !,
what little money may be sent me, is
more theirs than mine. My occupation
at the Office fits one purpose of my life !.
For four years / have been making out
list OF Poles in the United States.
have poured over directories from every
city. Some day, when the final effort
is to be made, money, the sinew of
war, will be forthcoming, and my long
catalogue of names, the labor of many
a night of incessant toll, will bring its
fruit. l am expansive tonight. Will
you walk home with me?''
We crossed Broadway, and near the
North River, in a miserable tenement
house, mounting up the stairs to the
uppermost story, Quasi had a room.
In that room were a bed, a chair, and
a washstand. For decoration there
were sabre, pistol, and lance with
a tattered pennon. ssI have often
wanted canary-bird in my room, :"
said Quasi, ssbut then seed is expen-
sive, and working at night would have
disturbed it, and it might have frozen
in winter. See, my work is here,"
and from closet he drew out series
of huge folios. ssThese are my lists.
Many of these men have prospered won
derfully in America. In their affiuence
they will not forget their mother. See
here-here is name. That man ma
tured a plot at Posen. There was
traitor, and he had to fly. We smug-
gled him over to Constantinople. It
was during the Crimean war. He came
here a beggar. He was Jew, and
cried sglass to mend," through New
York streets. He is banker to-day in
San Francisco. might draw on him
for large amount for the cause. He
has given already, and will give yet
without stint.'
'sAnd the traitor?" / inquired.
1t was family matter. His own
brother put a knife into his heart. He
did not live day. Here is my black
list. No true Pole ever talks with
these, or breaks bread in their houses.
Once my fiat passed, once our mother
slighted, they are pariahs Quasi
with his threadbare coat, his inky
finger, his squalid appearance,
here assumed the defiant, arro-
CANT mien of an emperor. "Here,
in this poor room, execute my
plans = it is in our dingy office,
on an empty stomach mostly, that /
mature them. Will you stay with me
yet awhile? 1t is absurd that I can't
even offer you cup of coffee, but am
as poor as a rat. But see you, Ameri-
ca has been to me school OF proba- |
ton. This makes my sixth year here.
In a month or so shall be promoted to
a European port. An important post
will be confided to me. When the time
comes shall be happy to return you
the dinner you shared with me to-day. .
Quasi and / met frequently after that,
but any attempt to renew conversation |
IN regard to Poland he declined. Itwas
IN 1870, just before the French and
Prussian war, that Quasi invited me to |
line with him.
In Quasi's humble lodging met two
other guests. Quasi, my host, was
called count; my right-hand neighbor
vas addressed as general. His name I
Knew. His likeness had been familiar |
@ many through the illustrated prints
Is brave Polish officer in the United |
States service during our civil war. On
ny left hand was dignifed old gentle
nan, spoken of as the right reverend.
The repast was Spartan in its simplicity.
took curious tone. For
ign events, which are simple to us
Al