Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-06-24
LEMBERG A MODERN CITY
HID Enjoyed a T1picaliy American
"Booni" before Outbreak OF War.

Describing Lemherg, for whose pos
session the mghtiest trial of strength of
the war has been developing the last few
weeks. statement just Issued by the
National Geographic society says:
l.emberg. under Austrian overlordshlp.
has been a stronghold of Polish national
consciousness. Almost unhampercd by
the imperial authorities, it has admins
tered, as Galicia's capital. the last rem
nant of Polish Poland When the Cali
clan Diet was formed in 1861, I.emberg
had fallen from her brave position of
the days of the Polish kingdom, The
city was roverty-crushed, unimproved,
undrained and. hence, unhealthy. with no
schools. and, generally. upon the verge
Of ruin. To-day, aroused by the con-
stitution of 1866, after % years OF hope
full effort, the tide of invasion swept
over a beautiful. intensely modern city.
full Of fine, substantial buildings, of
lovely, well-planned parks, of up-to-date.
richly stocked shops. of excellent schools
and colleges, of great monuments and
expensive public works The destructive
tide of battle rolled over careful work
of two generations, and is now driving
back again upon it.
Before the outbreak IF the present
war. there was no city of IcmberG's size
in Europe, upon whose streets one might
find more alert. vivacious life, The city
had enjoyed typically American boom
for more than generation. and its peo-
pie had more of an air Of buoyant con-
fidence than any other Polish community.
Industries were growing; and the COM
mission and transit trade OF the city was
attaining the Importance of this trade
under the old kingdom. From a small,
bitterly poor community. Lcmberg had
progressed to the position OF a wealthy
metropolis of 100000 inhabitants.
! The Galician capital lies in a sharply
cut valley, embroidered on every hand
by woll-wooded hills. The parks and
promenades of the city reach out into
the hills. whose some Of the finest walks
and garden spots have been laid out
Beyond the suburbs of the capital. little
Polish villages straggle over the country
roads, and before great armies passed
this way, flocks OF thousands upon thou
sands Of ducks and geese. for which
Galicia enjoyed no small measure OF
fame, met the travellers eyes everywhere
The insignificant little stream, Pcltew. ar
affuent of the Bug, flows by the city
! Lemberg lies 46s miles northeast OF Wen
ma by rail. and 2lo miles cast-southeas'
Of Cracow II is about 20 miles from
the Russian border. The capital is
main station upon trunklnes to Odessa
Czernowitz capital of Bukowina, Bres
lau. in Germany. and BUDAPEST. ir
Hungary. 1t Is the fourth city in size
In tine Austrian Empire, coming afte,
Vienna, Prague and Triest CONNER
cially and industrially, as we'll as pol
ttically and Intentionally, il is the mos
important city in Galcia. Its factorie.
turn out machinery, iron wares, matches
stearin, candles and naphtha.
Besides being the seat of the chief
economic organizations and of the govern
ment Of the crownland, Lemberg is ar
important religious center, the seat o.
three archbishops, of the Roman Catho
lie. the United Greek and the United
Armenian churches. The University o.
Lemberg was founded by Emperor
Joseph II in 1854. and. ince 1871. It's Ian
Guage of instruction has been Polish
There are a number OF important museum
collections In the city. among them col
lections all important to the student %
the early life and customs Of the coun
try.