The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1914-05-07
WOMEN OF POLAND
More Ardent Than the Men In
Their Love For Their Country.
TOLL AGES PEASANT GIRLS.

Hard and Rough Laboring Work
Makes Them Appear old and Hag-
gard Before They Reach Thirty.
Charms of the Women of tho Upper
Glasses.
Woman occupies position of un-
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 Held 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 1t 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 aud Yesterday"
The Polish women. he continues
nave always been noted for their beau
~ and the perfect shape OF their hands
ana 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.
Eraneh and EnUifSn n IA, 81
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 a necessity to protect
the good name of girl They are
never left unprotected Marriages are
made in much the same manner as i'm
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-" saws
the Polish girl, with resignation. When
Il messenger came with proposal of
marriage if a goose was served with
dark gravy at dinner or pumpkin
was put In the carriage as he was leav-
ing this meant that the offer was posi-
lively refused HE was treated To
! goose frlcassce" was an expression
frequently heard in the oIden days.
The Polish women of the upper class
"s are undoubtedly charming and pos
NesSed OF the graceS of true woInanli
ness. Perhaps 1T is the possession of
these womanly qualities and the alb
Sence Of the masculine elements
wherein lies their real charm pen
I'll or brush is certainly better me.
dunn than a pen to portray such at
tinctiye types OF womanhood
The lot Of the peasant woman. how
ever, il especially hard. as II is with
nll 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.
aud Il Kaleidoscope effect of color is
then visible Blue, green. yellow. gold
md silver are mingled IN various com
hnations. They pin up the oversight
which leaves bright petticout exposed
| TO view.
Woman Is valued chiefly for the
work she can do. and she is expected
TO bear a large family OF children ~
well. For q 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 girl
naturally attractive soon grows old
md haggard Hard work. with little
pleasure, the care OF numerous fam
lie a. al No ri F.n
lion must inevitably leave their mark
before many years; hence ii Is that
many OF these Polish women look hag
| gard and old even before they have
| passed the third decade Of life.
There are. indeed. few hright spots
IN Polish peasant gitrs life after
marriage. IN their youth some Of the
! girls are very attractive aud they
! look quite charming In their plctur-
/ esque national costumes that are still
common In Galicia. They generally
/ 90 barefooted IN summer. for boots
/ cost money. Sometimes they viii
carry their boots when going to church
and only put them on just before en-
/ tering the sanctuary.
/ do women work on the railroads as
section handsY ] asked n fellow pas
senger on the railway IN Gallcia
had seen groups Of women along the
/ track with pick aud shovel Ia band.
/ 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 masous and plaster.
ers where new buildings are being
erected They were spading the dow.
or beds In the parks aud were doing
the work as well as the masculine
overseer could have done it. They
hang paper or paint r house u did
act make any difference whether there