The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-10
KOSCIUSKO'S HEART.
In MausOleum Built by Patriotic
Poles in Switzerland.
Zurich Correspondence of the London
STANDARD.

Poles i'm Switzerland.
Zurich Correspondence of the London
STANDARD.
An interesting celebration has taken
place in the pretty little town of Rapper-
schWyl one hours distance by rail from
the industrial capital of Switzerland, on
the occasion of the transfer of the heart
OF hosciusko from the fortress of Zurich
10 d mauso.eum specially erected TO receive
1t in the old schloss of Rapperschwyl Kos
clusko Is so entirely forgotten by the pres
ehl generation of Englishmen that it may
be as well to mention that the hero of the
first struggle of Poland to recover her In
dependence died in 1917, at Solothurn, in
the house of a Swiss friend, Joseph Zelt-
ner' TO whom he left his heart as a legacy.
M ZeltneTs descendants accepted the
trust and deposited the relic in one of the
towers of the fortress of Zurich. In 1853
the eXiled Poles residing in France and
switzerland erected at Rapperschwyl,
close TO the old castle, a monument TO
commemorate the 100 anniversary of the
commencement of their struggle for indie
pendence. In 1871 the late Count Platter
purchased the castle and restored It, and
installed 1t in a Polish museum, which has
become ever since a kind of shrine devo-
ted TO keep alive the now somewhat flick
ering flame of Polish nationality and a
place of pilgrimage for all the sons of Po-
y
signed to long, though they would fain
hope not an eternal, exile.
rms spot was deemed eminently anpro-
PIRATE as the final resting place for Kosci-
uskos heart and it was resolved to build
a mausoleum to receive II. Ii was COM
pleted few months ago and 1t was de-
cided that its Inauguration should take
place last Wednesday. Whether there
was an arriere pensee in making this cele-
bration coincide within a very few days
with the president of the French repub-
lies visit to the Emperor of Russia, | am
not in position to say positively, but
think 1t very probable. The Polish colony
in Paris who enjoyed the good will of the
masses and the support of the govern
ment under the reign of Louis Philippe,
the second republic and the second en-
pire, but on whom the third republic has
turned the coolest of cold shoulders, large
ly contributed to the cost of erecting the
mausoleum and organized the celebration.
That they intended it to have a distinctly
political character seems clear from the
invitation which they issued. They asked
all friends of Poland to be present, being
DESTROYS ito mpart to this solemnity an
imposing character and thus give evidence
of the deep feeling, amounting to cult
entertained by all the sons of Poland for
the memory of the man who did his best
to prevent her fall. They WILL added the
committee, "in thismanner give al effect
ual proof that respect for law and JUS
tice are not yet entirely obliterated and
that the oppressed of to-day are justified
in entertaining a hope of q brighter fu-
ture."
In response to this invitation about 500
persons, among whom were several dis
tinguished Poles, assembled at Rapper-
schwyl and attended the ceremony. The
mausoleum consists of tower of por-
phyry, in the inner vault of which stands
a bronze urn resting on pedestal of black
marble. On the pedestal is the efiigy of
Kosciusko, standing out above the Polish
eagle with outspread wings. The Muse of
History lifts veil over the head of the
hero with her right hand and with her
left holds a trumpet to her lips. Above
these figures is the inscription: "Resur-
gat Polonia." The inner walls of the
vault are decorated with fresco paintings.
The ceremony commenced by the cee-
bration of mass at the Catholic church,
whence the company marched procession
ally to the castle, preceded by two flags
and the women wearing the Polish ma
tional dress, carrying the closed vessel
containing Kosciusko's heart on a stretch
err Peasants habited IN the national Pol
ish dress We're also a conspicuous feature
in the cortege. The vessel containing the
heart having been placed reverently inside
the mausoleum, speeches were delivered
in Polish by seven members of the COM
mittee and one in French by Prof Wen
ceslaus Gastonet. Among the other speak
ers were M. Bojko, a representative of the
Order of Peasants in the Diet of Galcia
and the Austrian Reichsrath, who wore
the national dress, and another member of
the Austrian Chamber of Deputies, Dr.
Lewaskowsky. The Polish colony In Paris
was largely represented, the best-known
member being the famous oculist, Dr.
Galezowski. -Four wreaths were laid upon
4 ..ag NHaae4. Irau 4- -
massive gold. A banquet took place in
the evening.
The idea of Polish nationality has been
under a cloud for so many years that the
earnest faith in the possibility OF its re-
vival evinced by all who took part In this
ceremony was as impressive as it was I'M
expected to the foreign observer.