Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-24
MOBILES OF POLAND.
Though They Occupy 9 Proud Place
in History They Are Brutes.
NO HUMAN FEELING SEEMS LEFT.
Trest tho Hebrews and Low er Glasses - L
They Were Slaves
AWFUL 1ND1GN1rIEs wIKENIN SAW
rcoRR1sroNDzNcr OF THE prsrArcH.I

| CORRESPONDENCE OF THE prsrArcn.l
CRAoow, GAL1CIA, April 11-H one
could first approach Cracow from the north,
| filed with the sentimental romance OF
Polish heroic memories, and have In mind
| the Poland and Cracow Of that time when
Cracow was the residence of Polish sover-
eigns, Q view Of the ancient city would be
one of great impressiveness.
t AT any distance, from this direction, the
structural seeming is one of unimpaired
splendor. Its many church spires, quaint
and huge-peaked roofs, spacious palaces and
dark old towers are clustered in great pro-
fusion around the Wavel Rock, on which
stands the castle of Zamek, the former royal
castle of Poland At its base the dragon of
the cave, which noisome hole may still be
seen. was killed by Krak, the Cadmus Of
Poland. At the city's southern side can bs
seen the cleaning waters of tho blue Wis
tula, which almost encircles the olden town.
The splendid Vistula vale stretches fair
and far beyond. And the southern horizon
is serrated edge of misty blue, where,
over against sunny Hungary, rise the peaks
of wild Tatra and the grand Carpathian
range.
Petroleum Has Hand In Revival.
But splendid as is this first seeming tho
ancient city of kings, cathedrals aud uni
versities is now simply gorgeous shell Of
stone, swarming with population the most
miserable and seemingly hopeless human
eyes ever Deheld. The city once held from
$4,000 to 100, 900 seuls and was the CONNER
ciai as we'll as royal capital of Poland. Its
desertion and degradation reached an appa-
rent lowest ebb quarter of a century since.
Subsequently Austrian reforms, and the
general improvement of the condition of
the Galician Polish peasantry, and especial
ly the stimulating effect Of excellent devel-
opment in agricultural and the mineral and
petroleum fields of Galicia, reawakened
some of its old-time commercial activity.
But this fell away again as Lemberg grad
ually became the commercial capital of Ga
licia. Then came another influx of popula-
tion, but of so dolorous sort that Cracow's
present increased housing of humanity is
certainly the most painfully and pathetical-
ly abhorrent in all Europe. The city is not
more than ten English miles from the Rus
sian frontier During all the unspeakably
cruel prosecutions of Russian Polish Jews
which have Indignantly thrilled the civil
lied world during the past few years, Cra-
COW has received and succored greater
number of these helpless refugees than any
other single European city.
The Impetus of Knout and Lash.
So near is the city to the Russian frontier
that every week, often nearly every day,
witnesses professions of these outcasts given
speed across the border by the impetus of
threatened knout and lash, and the even
more goading fear of actual murder. In
1864 saw with bursting and mutinous
heart the God-forsaken folk of my own race
as they were driven from Atlanta, while
their homes we're burned behind them. But
rev olting as was that brutal scene of So
called military necessity" it could not
be compared with what is of such common
occurrence here. that it attracts no further
comment or attention. Two great objects of
interest will be found before you enter the
city. To the north is one of the most
gigantic embattled fortresses in Earope.
Austria has always claimed that this was
for use as a frontier fortress in the event of
Russian hostilities. As nearly 1000 spies
in citizens clothing are said to be still in
use in Cracow and the immediate vicinity,
the Polish peasantry prefer to believe it
was built and is kept manned for the pur-
poses of awe and efectual subiugation.
In any event it forms q threatening
national feeling which may be found but
three miles distant upon the eminence of
This il the colossal Kos
ciusko Mound.
Over in Ireland the humble peasantry,
loyal in their memories for even legendary
hero or saint, when passing the spot where
the body fell or was inferred, cast pebbles
upon the grave and murmur prayers for the
repose of the soul. A similar Polish na-
tioral alteration of the brave and the good
has resulted in this most curious memorial
in Christendom.
A Sacred Heart-Bnilt Memorial.
1t is $50 feet high and is principally
formed of earth, brought in sacks and bar
row loads with infinite toll from all the
battle fields famous in Polish history. Grim
and tragic is the satire upon this sacred
heart-built memorial, on the part of relent-
less power. When it was nicely completed
the Austrians found it an excellent pedestal
for one Of the huge detached forts with
which they proceeded to surround Cracow
in fve-mile circle.
The outer walls of the city itself are very
interesting and massive. They will remind
you of the tremendous old walls of Neur- |
emberg, down in Bavaria They are quite |
as high and thick, but are varied at inter-
vals with surmounting towers, both |
square and round, of immense thick
ness and great height with most picturesque
ninaretted roofs. The gateways are quite |
IS remarkable as those at Malta, and are |
given great additional quaint charm by
heir curious old shrines. These are very |
,ncient; indeed so old that the carving OF |
he foriture and images is almost wholly |
lefaced. From this fact alone they seem to |
lttract the greatest number of worshipers; |
md on many occasions have been scarcely |
lble to pass beneath these huge arches
,wing to the crowds packed like panicky
heep upon their knees against the shrines.
Round about and within the old city at
his season of the year, just as the foliage is
BEGINNING to show along the banks of the
Vistula and among the gigantic trees of the
.ncient promenades, casual glance gives
he impression of serenity and even bright
less. One feels as though quiet and salts
,od roipp pxri}h nj ,r,fbo,k