The herald., 1894-11-19

During the past week an incident oc-
Cured in the Polish salon at the ex-
position that shows the deep feeling
animating these men, who in very many
instances are exiles from their country.
Three young appearing men stood trans
fixed before Mateyko's splendid paint.
ing of Wernyhora Relating the His
tory of Poland and Prophesying Her Re-
suscitation. 1t may be remembered by
the studiousy inclined that Wernyhora
was q peasant who lived during the
time preceding the tismemberment OF
Poland by Russia, Austria and Prussia.
The painting illustrates the moment OF
prophetic inspiration in which Werny.
bora predicts the downfall of Poland,
the many but unsuccessful attempts to
regain her independence, and her final
success.
The three gentlemen stood transfxed
in front OF the picture for some time.
Tney did not utter word. Very few
people were in the salon and their
rapt manner did not provoke COM
ment. Having feasted their eyes they
engaged in rapid conversation for few
minutes, grasped each others'nancs and
turned to leave the salon. Tears were
yelling from their eyes; old memories
had been stirred and the smoldering
fires OF patriotic feeliug-that deep feel
ing that considers life itself as nothing
when surrendered for country-had
been quckened into new life.
Mateyko has depicted the history of
Poland in his numerous works. 10 his
Wernyhora, for the painting of which
he has been overwhelmed with honors
in this as we'll as in sll European coun-
tries. he shows a Greek priest with the
bloody knives and Russian knout under
his feet as the personiicstion OF that
Russian per6dy that resorted to the
basest crimes to murder Poland. Polit-
cally and geographically Poland is the
center OF gravity, the pivotal point of
Europe. While independent che was
the shield of the civilization OF Europe.
The destruction OF this barrier de
prived Western Europe of its bulwark !;
what the Ottoman empire, with it's wild
Asiatic mobs, was in the middle ages
now is the semi-barbaric and despotic
Russia of the present-the menace of
peace OF all Europe, and may be of the
entire world. The fall of Poland was
contemporary with the volcanic political
changes OF the last decade of the past
century. In this country the declara-
tion of independence, and in Europe
the French revolution attracted the at
tention OF all the world. For this rea-
son the sneaking robbery OF Poland was
committed comparatively without no.
tice. The phrophetic words OF Jean
Jacques Rosseau, the French philoso-
pher, best expressed the situation :
"On avale la Pologne, mas on la
Vomirs."
DSpeaking the other day regarding the
destiny OF his country Polish gentle
man said: "The fret shot across the
Russo-German frontier and Poland is
bound to be free. Ths solution of the
Balkan question, the possession of the
Dsrdanelles, the key to the western
worlds commerce, lies not in CONSTANT
nople, but in Poland.
"The elite of the Russian and German
armies are Poles-the territory of war
will be Poland-the bone of contention
in Europe is Poland-the casting vote
lies with the Polish nation. AS best
proof of this is the hypocritical love for
Poland displayed by the Triple Alliance
In the time when war clouds loom above
the political horizon. When the Prus-
slams defeated Austria at Sadowa in
1866 Austria was compelled to give to
Poland the same autonomy, and the pa
triots understood well how to use the
fret breath OF liberty. Knowing full
we'll they could not cope with their op.
pressors by force of arms, the dropped
tine sword and grasped the pen. They
determined to fight with school teach
ers, as Germany did France in 1870. as
Japan is doing today with China"
Poland having had her suferings writ.