The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-01
From the Boston Gobe.

A LTHOUGH it is II years since
IA "Quo vadis?p became one of the
\ earliest of the modern best SELL
ers, thereby making Henryk Sienkiewicz
known throughout the fiction reading
world the personality of this famous
Polish novelist is little known to the
millions who have been thrilled by his
story of the persecution of the Christians
under Nero.
The successful filming of Quo vadisY'
has directed renewed attention to its re-
nowned author, who, besides his literary
fame, is regarded as Poland's foremost
Interpreter This mastery weaver of pow.
erful historical romances is man
apparently in the prime of life
despite his 81 years. OF medium
height. with his dark hair touched with
gray. with a serious but kindly face, and
possessing a quiet dignity. Sienkiewicz
impresses one by his unassuming modesty
his natural dignity and his great re-
serve power.
The author of "Quo vadis?" and the fa-
nous trilogy known as the zagloba Ro-
mances. makes his permanent home in
where everyone is able to direct you to tn ,
house where Pan Sienkiewicz' lives. For
he is idolized by the denatIonalized Poles
as the greatest prophet of unhappy Po-
land.
Despite his industry with his pen, Sine
kiewicz does not live the life Of literary
recluse At times, in the winter, ne may
be met on the streets of Warsaw, in the
editorial rooms of some Polish news
paper or at various literary gatherings.
Yet it is in his own home that he is
happiest, for he is devoted to his family
and his work.
1t has been the custom of Sienkiewicz
for many years to spend his summers in
the Carpathian mountains on beautiful
estate of 800 acres given him by the Polish
peopl in 1902, on the twenty-fifth ,anniver-
sary of his entrance into literature. On
this estate there is splendid mansion, all
the work having been performed by Polish
artisans as their gift of appreciation
II always have a manuscript on hand, !"
he says ut may be play or historical
novel. At present it is the latter.
Wherever he goes throughout Poland,
the author of "Quo vadis?" is recognized
By the people and treated with the utmost
respect. Men raise their hats and little
children are rejoiced to have him notice
them. Sienkiewicz is a prophet not with
out honor in his own conutry.
When he was %. after he had left the
university, he began those wanderings
which have influenced not little his
work and genius. In 1877 he Joined Nine
Modjeska's colony of expatriated Polish
artists in California, but this experiment
did not prosper. and Sienkiewicz returned
home to publish series of papers which
embodied his experiences in America. He
continued to travel until the loss of his
yonug wife fairly prostrated him. Besides
his son he has daughter, Yadviga, two
years younger
He, is reserved and rather uncommuni-
cative when discussing hts own career
but his face brightens perceptibly when
his children are mentioned. .
"They are great comfort he said.
my daughter lives with me in Warsaw
and my son comes home from Cracow to
visit us frequently"
In 1880 he began that undertaking which
made his name a household word in To-
| land, the publishing of with Fire and
Sword, 1.-The Deluge" and Pan Mich
ael" First given TO the world in War;
| saw journal, traEslations appeared si-
multaneously in Berlin and Vienna. Eight
years he labored incessantly, for Sien-
llewicz is tireless worker. The merit
of his books was recognized by jeremiah
Curtin. the American linguist, whose
translations were eventually given to the
American reading public by Little, Brown
| & Co., the Boston publishers.
without Dogma psychological novel
of modern thought, came along in trans
lated form in 1898, followed two years
later by social study of contemporary
| life in Poland called "Children of the
| Soil" Neither book could have been said
! to be a popular success But the faith
of Sienkiewiczs 5 American publishers ap-
peared to be nubounded and their patience
III waiting for the great reading public to
respond to his genius was rewarded when
Mr. Curtin's translation of Quo vadis?"
came in 1896. With less effort than lad