Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-13

cent larger than before the beginning of
| the colonization commission. Then the
government proceeded to Germanize the
| children and adults in various ways. it
Polish Children were beaten for dfsoD~
dience and several killed. The use of the
Polish language In discussing the latest
inventions in public meetings is forbidden.
so that in many parts of German-Poland
mute meetings are held where motions
are written on blackboards and voting is
done by signs without sound. forced
appropriation law was passed short
time ago In spite of that the Polish ele-
ment there increases instead of diminish
ing. Besides the whole province OF upper
Siiesia, which has been Gerrnanized for
over two hundred years, has now returned
to the use of the old language.
Conditions in Austria.
.On the other hand in the Austrian part
OF Poland the conditions are much better.
There is a steady if not very rapid inn
provement and development. In 1886
Galicia was admitted to a somewhat
modified autonomy and here are. the re-
suits: In 1885 the annual appropriation
was 1.15S.OOO crowns. in 1905 1T was 81
211.OOO. In 1865 there were 2.476 schools
with 5000 classes: in 1903 there were
there were $4,000 school children. In
1903 there were 94o,l6S- The cost of
public schools in 1874 was $S4S, 5000; in
1 1919 sl1;1sse"e The population a sr ec
in 1905. In 1874 there were $50 societies.
in 1900 there were sol 500. In 1874 there
were forty-one libraries: in 1903 there
were 1.oS; OF periodicals in 1879 there
were 90. In 1900 there were 237.
LAS far as Russian part of Poland is
concerned. in the early seventies there
began so-cailed period of organic work.
The people came to the conclusion that
it was not the time for armed inSurrec-
lions and that the masses should be train
ed and educated in common every day
activities instead. This work was prose-
cuted with considerable energy. One of
the first duties of Polish community was
to counterbalance the outstanding inter-
ests of schools by education at home.
literature, periodicals and by starting a
large number of village schools for the
children of the peasants. There were
many of them, in spite of the extreme
fines for the secret teaching of Polish.
In one-day census it was found that
% per cent of all the people were able to
read only Polish. which they could not
learn at governmental schools. Since
1885 special attention has been paid to
arousng a national consciousness among
the masses of the peasants and towns
people. and it was found to have been
successful in the revolution OF 1906.
Growth of the Poles.
I'm closing let us sum the actual results
of subsection of Poland since 1895. In
population Poland has increased from 49,,
100000 Of true Poles at the partition to
26,O0OOOO at the present time. divided as
follows: In Russian Poland, Is, 600. 600; in
Austrian, 4.OOO,OOO; in Germany, 4.OOO.OO:
in America, 100000 and scattered, 1000.
60. AS far as systematic education con-
cerned. this has not increased as much as
it ought to under the normal condition.
rapidly decreasing. AT the present time
there are published in the Polish language
over six hundred periodicals and the
yearly output of books exceeds seven
many years. This literature covers the
whole gamut human soul and human
knowledge. beginning with the great mas
ter classics like Micldewicz. Slowacki.
krasinski and coming down to our own
days. when we have men like Sienkiewicz.
Prus Of the older generation and from
among the younger Reimont Zeromski.
Wysianski, Przybyszewski and hosts Of
others scarcely less illustrious: In music,
outside of enormous funds of folk song,
we have only one Chopin. that could be
classed az Of the first rank. Painting and
art in general. on the other hand, are ex-
tremely prolific. Poland has school of
its own, and this school contains names
second to no civilized race. In political
conditions one of the drawbacks for the
progress of Poland is the long-drawn-Out
struggle between conservatism and prog
ress and between different shades of one
and the other. But this is no different
from any other national organism.
Since 1853 the Polish question seems to
have become only an internal question in
Russia. Prussia and Austria, and even
that seems to be on the way to settle
ment. But as the apathy and despair
induced by the latest i'll success have dis
appeared, the confidence of the nation
has returned and with it have increased
it's activities. So that numerically and
economically the Poles in each Of the
divisions are becoming more and more
of a factor to be reckoned with. And of
course, apace grow their demands for
recognition of their national needs"
Concert at National Theater.
At the completion of the first days ses-
sion a concert was given under the
auspices of the United Polish Singers of
America at the New National Theater
The house was crowded with members
of the Polish National Alliance and many
residents Nine. Marcella Sembrich. the
Polish opera singer. whose work was to
be the feature Of the program, was I'M
able to be present.
much applauded. especially his perform
ance of Paderwski's Air de Ballet"
Nine. Antoinette Szumowsld, Nine. R.
Kwasigroch and Francis Rosenthal also
contributed some excellent numbers. The
concert included the overture from
Thomas "Mignon." sung by Nine.
Kwasigroch; piano solos. including the
nocturne in G minor, two maZurkas and
an impromptu (ChOpin) by Nine. Antoin-