The Washburn leader., 1914-09-04
WOMEN OF POLAND [
More. Ardent Than the Men In
Their Love For Their Country
TOLL AGES PEASANT GIRLS.

usual prominence in Poland. Some
place her as superior to man in nearly
every way. In the various conspiracies
and in the revolutions against Russia
Polish women have had an important
part Many have given up all their
worldly goods in the cause Of their
country. while Others have fought on
the field of battle and lost their lives in
the same cause. Still others have gone
into exile without murmur. They
are capable Of any sacrifice for patriot
ism. and they prove their sincerity by
their actions The women are still the
most jealous patriots. and it is due to
them more than the other sex that
patriotic feeling is still so intense.
Thus writes Nevin o. Winter In his
-Poland of Today and Yesterday"
The Polish women. he continues.
nave always been noted for their beau
~ and the perfect shape Of their hands
and feet They take part in all the So
cial affairs. and no festival is complete
without their presence. They are ex-
tremely good linguists, and nearly all
speak two or three languages. In War
saw met one young woman Of nine
teen or twenty summers, just out of
school. who spoke Russian. German,
French and English almost as fluently
as her native Polish This is not an
uncommon accomplishment.
The women do not enjoy the social
freedom of the American girls. as the
chaperon is still necessity to protect
the good name of girl They are
never left unprotected. Marriages are
made in much the same manner as In
France, and the contracting parties
frequently know little about each other
before they are joined for better or
worse.
''The will of my honored parents has
ever been sacred law to me-" says
the Polish girl. with resignation. When
a messenger came with a proposal of
marriage If goose was served with
dark gravy at dinner or u pumpkin
was put in the carriage as he was leav-
ing this meant that the offer was posi-.
lively refused. He was treated to a
goose fricassee" was an expression
frequently heard in the olden days.
The Polish women of the upper class
es are undoubtedly charming and pos
sessed Of the graces of true womanli-
ness. Perhaps it is the possession of
these womanly qualities and the alb
sence. of the masculine elements
wherein lies their real charm. A pen
Gil or brush is certainly a better me-
dium than a pen to portray such at
tractive types Of womanhood.
The lot Of the peasant woman. how
ever, is especially hard. as 1t is with
all Slav races. and this is noticeable
throughout all the Polish provinces.
They do more than their full share OF
the family work. Sometimes one will
see more women in the fields than men.
and Kaleidoscope effect Of color is
then visible Blue. green. yellow. gold
and silver are mingled in various COM
binations. They pin up the overskirt.
which leaves bright petticoat exposed
to view.
Woman is valued chiefly for the
work she can do. and she is expected
to bear a large family Of children as
we'll. For man to say that his wife
does more work than horse or two
horses is considered the acme of
praise. 1t is no wonder that a girl
naturally attractive soon grows old
and haggard. Hard work. with little
pleasure. the care Of numerous fam
lily and no regard for personal attrac.
ton must inevitably leave their mark
before many years: hence it is that
many Of these Polish women look bag
gard and old even before they have
passed the third decade Of life.
There are. indeed. few bright spots
in Polish peasant girls life after
marriage In their youth some OF the
girls are very attractive. and they
look quite charming in their pictur.
esque national costumes that are still
common in Galicia. They generally
20 barefooted In summer. for boots
cost money. Sometimes they will
carry their boots when going to church
and only put them on just before en-.
tering the sanctuary.
DO women work on the rallrOaOS IN
section hands?" ! asked fellow pas
senger ON the railway in Galicia.
had seen groups of women along the
track with pick and shovel In hand.
but could scarcely believe that they
did the hard work Of that occupation.
Yes. and they do the work better
than the men," be replied.
At Cracow have seen them carry
ing mortar for the mas0ns aud plaster
ers where new buildings are being
erected. They were spading the. dow.
er beds In the parks and were doing
the work as we'll as tie masculine
OveTseer could have done 1t. They
hang paper or paint a house. 1t did
not make any difference whether there
were three or dozen women working
together. there was always one man
who did nothing but act as Overseer.
Along the roads they may be seen
carrying heavy bundles or pushing
loaded wheelbarrOws. Everywhere
q Aa-