Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-04
IN BEAUTIFUL WARSAW
Most Attractive Russian City in
Many Respects.
PALACES AND FINE PARKS
Some of the Famous Musicians Pro-
duced by Poland.
SERVANTS CLAMOR FOR TIPS
Cab and Street Car Service Behind the
Times-No Drunkenness to Be
Seen-Emigration to America.
SERVANTS CLAM0R FOR TIPS

BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the Chicago
RecordsAerad.
WARSAW. Poland. August 9, 1906 I
Warsaw is more attractive city than
st. Petersburg or Moscow. and in many re-
spects the most attractive in the Russian
empire. There are splendid palaces of the
nobility. surrounded by gardens and groves.
an unusual amount Of foliage for so large
a city; and scattered at frequent intervals
are gardens and little parks and other
breathing places in which the people can
rest and play. The park system is quite ex-
! tensive and comes into the very midst of
the business section. You can almost step
from the door of your hotel into a dense
forest These pleasure grounds are we'll
utilized. They are almost always filled with
children playing upon the grass and in piles
Of sand that have been brought for their
amusement. while the older folk seem to
spend a good deal of their time sitting at
the tables Of the cafes listening to the
music and slipping their wine and beer.
In the business section the shop windows
are bright with tasteful displays of goods.
and the sidewalks always seem to be
crowded. There are several interesting
monuments and statues of the heroes of
Polish history. heroic figure of Nicholas
section Of two of the principal streets. one
of Thorwaldsens best works. The great as
tronomer sits in a chair holding an astro-
labe in one hand and a compass in the other,
as If he were demonstrating the movement
OF the spheres, and the pedestal Is tnscrib-
ed "Grata Patria," as if he were son of
Poland. fact which is disputed by Ger
many Coperncus was born in 1913 at
Frauenburg, a little town on the German
frontier, and is therefore native of Ger
many but he went to school in Warsaw
and lived here a considerable part of his
life at least until he became famous.
A block farther down the street is the fine
old Roman Catholic Church of st. Croix. in
which the heart of Chopin, the great musi-
clan, Is kept upon the altar In an urn, and
he has statue in one of the open squares.
Chopin's father was Frenchman: his
mother was Pole and he was born at
vala. a suburb about mile and half
from Warsaw. He spent his boyhood here.
and here he developed his musical genius.
but went to Paris in early manhood and
remained there the rest of his life. When
he died he was buried In the famous ceme-
terry of La Chaise. Paris, but in his will re-
quested that his heart should be placed on
the altar of the Church Of st. Croix, War
saw. In which he was baptized.
Famous Polish Musicians
Poland has produced many famous mus-
clans. The De Reszkes were born In the
country near here, were educated in War
saw and made their debut in the enormous
opera house near the palace. in which sew
eral other great singers have made their
regulations. The De Reszkes are Of Jewish
origin. and their sister married Baron Kro-
nenburg. a railway builder, manufacturer
and banker, the richest man in Poland. His
residence is the finest in Warsaw. He also
Is of Jewish ancestry.
Paderewsk Is native of Warsaw, and
was brought up and educated here. He
learned to play the piano In the Warsaw
Conservatory and made his debut at that
institution when he was about sixteen years
old He also is of Jewish ancestry, The
Warsaw Musical Conservatory is the best in
Russia, and one of the best in Europe. 1t
has faculty Of thirty professors and be-
tween three and four hundred students.
The De Reszkes and Paderewski have
| a large number of relatives here who in
clude some of the wealthest and most in
huential members OF the community. All
three of them appear to have saved their
money and invested much of 1t in Warsaw
real estate. am told that Paderewsh Is
worth several millions Edouard De Reszke
| is rated at $1.5O0.000 and Jean at $3.50. 900. !
The brothers own large frontage upon the
principal business Streets including the Ho-
tel de SAKE. and Paderewski Is the principal
owner Of the new Hotel Bristol. altogether
the finest in Russia, and one of the best in
Europe Everything about 1t is on a mag
nif1cent scale. The decorations and fur
| nishtngs are very artistic the plumbing and
all the appointments are Of the most mod
ern pattern. and there is no hotel in the
United States or Europe that surpasses 1t
600. and the manager told me that Pader-
ewskf owned the majority Of the stock,
which represented his earnings in England
and America. Paderewsk has a magnih-
cent suite of apartments. which he occupies
whenever he comes to Warsaw, but he Is
not often here. In the intervals between his
upon beautiful estate at Morges. on Lake
Geneva, where he has a large vineyard In
which he takes deep personal interest.
The hotel does not seem to be well patron
pense and trouble on the part Of the pro-
jectors to make 1t comfortable-but every
one who comes here appreciates 1t.
Every day at dinner in the dining room
we have been entertained by a native VIC
linist. who is likely to be heard from some
day. He is evidently a genius. and plays
repertory is quite varied. He does not
confine himself to classical selections, but
entertains the American guests with coon
songs, cake walks and other familiar airs.
with strong Polish accent.
Clamor for Tipe.
The drawback about the European hotels
Is the ceaseless clamor Of the servants for
tips. But you cannot blame them. They
are paid very small wages-often none at
all. Many of them actually have to pay
for their positions. The head porter of the
Paderewski hotel pays 1000 rubles a year
for his place, the head waiter pays 1000,
and the man who stands at the door of the
dining room to look after the hats pays
1000 Other servants are also required to
pay for their places. while the rest Of the
staff. except the cooks and others who do
not come in contact with the guests re-
ceive no compensation whatever from the
management and are entirely dependent
upon the travelling public. OF course they
are eager for tips, and no one can blame
them.
An American gentleman who has been
spending some time at the Hotel de PEu-
rope In St Petersburg told me the other
day that the man who had been waiting
upon him inquired about the prospect of OBJ |
tanning employment in New York, and my
friend, taking an interest In the fellow, ar
ranged for his emigration. It appeared
upon inquiry that he had been employed at
the Hotel de fEurope for Ave years on a |
salary Of 1918 month. and since the DO
litical troubles had reduced the business of |
the hotel his wages had been cut down to |
%. He got his meals in addition to this, !
but had to find his own lodgings. His tips. |
however. amounted to about $25 q month. |
All OF the principal servants in the Hotel