The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-09-09


land has won her freedom still fresh
in our memory, we re-read with re-
newed interest the old-time classic
''Thaddeus of Warsaw"
The story takes place at that grim
era of history when the little kingdom
of Poland was attacked by Russia and
Austria, and having been defeated un-
der the leadership Of Kosciusko was
forced to sign the ignominous treaty
of partition that gave her territory
to the conquerors and wiped her name
off the roll of free nations. From that
date until this Poland. as an independ-
ent country, has not existed.
Jane Porter lived when the shadow
of this cruel tragedy still darkened the
world, and she penned her romance
of "Thaddeus" only nine years after
kosciusko had been taken captive and
while he was the idol of the hour.
The noble house of Sobieski was in
tensely patriotic and it's loyalty to the
ruling monarch, Stanislaus, led not
only the palatine but his grandson,
Thaddeus, into the fray.
It was the young mans first glimpse
of war and we see him and his grand
father setting forth to battle in the
highest of spirits. Before the boy
leaves home his mother, the Countess
Therese, presents him with a minia-
ture of his father whom he had previ
Ously supposed to be dead and let
ter from which he learns that his I'M
known parent was an Englishman
named Sackville who, while a guest at
"Villonow," the Sobieski estate, mar
ried Therese and afterward deserted
her. Since his mysterious disappear
ance nothing has ever been heard of
him. In the meantime Thaddeus has
been brought up under the name of
Sobieski and has given his word never
TO assume any other.
| The discovery that he is of English
| parentage is happy one, for our
hero's best friend, Pembroke Somer-
| set, is also an Englishman. While
| travelling through Russia for a holt
! day Pembroke, for the mere adventure
| Of it, has been persuaded to take up
! arms against Poland; and would have
| persisted miserably when wounded in
battle had he not fallen into the hands
| of young Sobieski who from an i'm
pulse Of pity saves his life and takes
him back to "V1llanow." Here the
stranger is welcomed with all kind
ness, and 50 winning is his personality
that he speedily becomes a second son
| in the home.
When summoned to return to Eng.
land he parts from his Polish hosts
with keenest regrets, and with the
| eager plea that when the war is over
| Thaddeus shall visit him in London.
That Poland will be the winner in
the present struggle, and a victorious
peace soon be concluded when the
friends shall be reunited, neither OF
them doubts. But no such fortunate
| result comes out of the war
Instead the Polish army is set upon
at every point by superior numbers
One stronghold after another falls
Kosciusko is taken prisoner; and al
length in order to prevent the slaugh
ter Of an entire people the King sur
renders and agrees to sign a treaty OF
partition.
1t is terrible day for Thaddeus
Sobieski
Wounded, he tries in vain to rally
his followers. 1t is useless. The
Cossacks rush forward in pursuit Of
the vanquished army, swarming after
their prey. Thaddeus is compelled tc
retire and as, with his few retainers
he retreats toward "Villanow" he
comes upon the dead body of his
grandfather who has been killed ir
the combat. There is, however, scan'
; time to mourn this overwhelming loss
Hurriedly young Sobieski presses or
to his castle where the women of hi:
household are defenceless. Here he
finds his mother wasted by illness anc
even while he fingers to protect hel
she dies in his arms. Further delay
is certain death. If he is to escape
with his life he must fee. AS he
mounts his horse and gallops away the
foe storms the redoubts, and puts the
buildings to fame. No alternative nov
!, remains for him but to say farewell tt
his native land and, an exile, haste1
his flight to England. All his property
is gone. The riches the family pos
sessed have been sacrificed to aid il
equipping the Polish army In con
sequence Thaddeus leaves home car
rying with him nothing but the few
trinkets he chances to have upon hi!
person.
One hope. however, cheers him il
his loneliness and despair. He will
soon be with Pembroke Somerset, ant
, no longer be friendless and alone
During the turmoil of the past few
months he has mislaid Pembrokei
address, to be sure; and in addition NJ
> letters from England have reached
him. but these facts he explains ava,
as a result Of the chaos in which b,
has been living. 1t never occurs t
him to doubt the loyalty or affection o
| the Englishman.
, On reaching London Thaddeus goe
at once to a hotel planning to sta,
there only until he can discover tn,
| whereabouts of his friend, but on find