The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1917-05-25
7 IECH bendzie pochevalowy
Jesus Chrystus" { Blessed
be the Lord Jesus Christi.

" be the Lord Jesus Christi.
"Na wieki wicklow" (for
ages and ages). Thus one Polish peas
ant greets another, as his ancestors
have done for centuries, writes Nevin
o. Winter In the Christian Herald. This
quaint salutation is heard everywhere
In the Polish section Of Austria, Ger
many and Russia, the peasant always
removing his hat In truly gracious
way as he thus greets noble or
stranger. 1t is one Of the surface In
dications of the deep religious instinct
that seems to be inbOrn with the Slavic
races, and that Is found among both
Russians and Poles Devotion to the
church Of their choice reaches de-
gree for which 1t Is difficult to find
analogies In the new world,
The events now taking place In Eu-
rope may result In realignment of
Poland, If not in q re-establishment Of
her national sovereignty. Independ-
ence In q limited degree has been prom
ised by both Russia and Germany.
Whatever may be the outcome of the
titanic struggle now taking place, the
allegiance Of at least a part Of the
Poles is very likely to be transferred
to another overload II the dream Of
another Poland, SO long cherished In
the Polish bredst, fail Of realization.
Our sympathies must 60 out to these
downtrodden people, who are so proud
Of their own ideals. 1t Is only In the
Austrian province of Galicla, where
30 much fighting has taken place, that
the Poles have been allowed to breathe
freely, speak their own language with
out fear, and openly educate their chill
dren in their beloved tongue. Polish
peasants do not shine Intellectually,
since there has been little opportunity
to develop the intellect. But, for that
matter, what peasant does2 The most
of them are not even able to read or
write.
Superior to Russian Brother.
AS a consequence, the Polish peas
ant impresses one as being rather slow
in both thought and action. But he
is not 80 slow as the Russian peasant,
and he has more independence of
thought and action than his Slavic
brother. This quality sometimes ap-
proaches unruliness, a Characteristic
that, at times, has led Poles into con-
fiict with authorities In the United
States, as we'll as with their own cler-
ical authorities. 1t has also resulted
in the formation of a number Of inde-
pendent Polish Catholic churches on
this side of the Atlantic.
The Polish peasant Is essentially a
tiller Of the SOIL This has been his
occupation during all the preceding
generations, and 1t still continues to
be the height of his ambition. His talk
Is Of agriculture, and most of his joys
are connected with the different sea-
sons. Most of his food is raised In
his own garden or fields. Potatoes are
n great staple, and cabbages are al
most as important. Beans, corn and
beets add to the larder. Cabbages
are much used In making the thick
soups so well liked, and soup Is also
made Of red beets. In summer his
costume is simple, consisting only of
thin shirt and trousers; but In win
ter padded sheepskln coat, with the
wool turned inside is added. To the
bare feet nre added coarse boots, and
to the bare head hat.
"Do the women do the work of sec.
ton hands here2' | asked of fellow
traveller as our train was approaching
Lemberg, which has been the objec.
tive Of contendlng forces 80 frequently
Women Injured to Hard Labor.
"Yes," he answered, "and they do II
exceedingly well.' 1t was only another
evidence that tho lot of the Polish
woman Is especially hard. This is no
ticeable throughout all the Polish prov
inces Of the three dominant countries
They do more than their full share OF
the family work. The Polish woman
of the lower classes has not yet
emerged from the physical and menta
slavery of former ages, Sometimes on,
will see more women in the field thar
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