The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1917-04-12
IA TIECH bendzie pochevalowy
- Jesus Chrystus" Blessed
be the Lord Jesus Christ).


IN Re s:: y: Gs:s ;s::. dss;::
INA wieki wicklow" (for
ages and ages). Thus one Polish peas
ant greets another, rs 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 a truly gracious
way as he thus greets noble or q
stranger. 1t Is one Of the surface In
dications Of the deep religious instinct
that seems to be Unborn with the Slavic
races, and that Is found among both
Russians and Poles. Devotion to the
church Of their choice reaches a de-
gree for which it 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 a re-establishment Of
her national sovereignty. 1ndepend-
ence in 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 part OF the
Poles is very likely to be transferred
to another overhead If the dream Of
another Poland, so long cherishe3 In
the Polish breast, fail Of realization.
Our sympathies must go out to these
downtrodden people, who are so proud
of their own ideals. It is only in the
Austrian province Of Galicia, where
so 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
ilren 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 does? The most
Of them are not even able to read or
write.
Superior to Russian Brother.
AS consequence, the Polish peas
ant impresses one as being rather slow
In both thought and action. But he
Is not so slow as the Russian peasant,
and he has more Independence of
thought and action than his Slavic
brother. This quality sometimes ap-
DrOaches unruliness, characteristic
that, at times has led Poles into con-
fiict with authorities in the United
States, as well as with their own cler-
lcal authorities. It has also resulted
in the formation Of number or 1nde-
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 it 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
a great staple, and cabbages are al
most as important. Beans, corn ana
beets add to the larder. Cabbages
are much used in making the thick
soups so we'll liked, and soup Is also
made of red beets. In summer MS
costume is simple, consisting only Of
thin shirt and trousers; but In WIN
ter q padded sheepskin coat, with the
wool turned inside, is added. 10 the
bare feet are added coarse boots, ana
to the bare head hat.
"D0 the women do the work OF Sec
ton hands here?" I asked Of fellow
traveller as our train was approaching
Lemberg, which has been the objec-
tive of contending forces so frequently.
Women Injured to Hard Labor.
sYes," he answered, land they do 1t
exceedingly WELL" 1t was only another
evidence that the lot Of the Polish
woman is especially hard. This Is no.
ticeable throughout all the Polish prov
inces Of the three dominant countries.
They Go more than their full share OF
the family work. The Polish woman
Of the lower classes has not yet
emerged from the physical and mental
slavery of former ages. Sometimes one
will see more women in the field than
men, and Kaleidoscope effect Of color
is then visible. Blue, green, yellow,
gold, and silver are mingled In various
combinations. They pin up the over
skirt, which leaves q bright petticoat
exposed to view.
At Cracow have seen these women
carry mortar for the masons and plas-
terers, where new buildings were be-
ing erected. They were spading up
the flower-beds in the parks, and were
doing the work as well as the
masculine overseer could have done
it himself. They can hang pa
per or paint a house. Along the
roads women would be seen carrying