South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-12

ed gentleman OF modest tastes. in
teuectual distinction and ardent
patriotism. His summers for
years were spent on a farm n
switzerland. where he was mucl
interested in poultry raising. where
he sometimes even ran the lava
mower himself and lei the sim
plest outdoor life.
Nevertheless. ne did not forgs {
his native country. Several years
before the war he bought back D..
fathers ancestral home in Poland.
confiscated by the Russian govern
ment when Paderewskt senior WAS
exiled TO Siberia during the plane
lists childhood This home served
as headquarters for Polish patrl-
OTIS during the musicians periods
Of residence.
In 1913 he issued to Americl
an almost prophetic appeal Tor
Polish freedom. in the name Il
Pulaski and other Poles who
fought for American Independent
during the Revolution.
World peace cannot be a real
ity until Poland's fate is settled"
he said. THE Balkan war has
encouraged US greatly II has
made our young men ready 70
fight We look to the future. We
Poles are 23.OOO.0OO people. shar-
ing one language. one literature.
And from the moment war was
declared in Europe it was Poland.
and not music. that occupied FIRST
place in the heart of Paderewsk.
The tide OF invasion soon swept
through the unhappy country
Paderewski. its knight, its modern
Pan Michael. gave lavishly of has
own substance; then he turned 10
America
q cannot play" he told New
York. in the spring Of 1915. II
have no time TO practice and NJ
heart. I cannot write. mus
give my all TO save what is left e.
my people. If the people OF
America but knew. ] should have
no more anxiety. The suffering ia
Poland is greater. very much
greater both in extent and degree.
than is the case in Belgium. Ten
million people are starving-dy1ns
of hunger with no one to help
them"
He organized and supervised
nationwide work OF relief. speak
ing with splendid eloquence all
over America, pledging his own
fortune to his suffering country.
He forced himself to give concerts
once more, but all the proceeds
went 10 Poland. At one concert
in Carnegie Hall he raised $4,000
for his people He forgot his
cherished reserve and appeared ~
bazaars and parlor COMMITTEE
meetings to arouse interest ia ms
tortured land: where. in the words
Of one Of his own recent appeal
There are no children under seven
years Of age. Newborn children
die almost Immediately. for their
mothers have nothing to give them
but tears"
When the United states d--
cIared war on Germany he ir-
stantly started a movement Tor u
Polish Legion. and in the autumn
OF 1917 received the approval &c
the War Department for this plan.
Then he proceeded 10 organize the
formation. equipment and trainlu-
OF this legion. last June thee
were 1900 Poles. recruited from
the United States. in the Allied
battle lire in France. some 5000
OF them from New York They
carried into action both The stars
and stripes and the national rs-
Of Poland
When the pianist-patriot sailed
for Europe. "a month ago. ic De-
came known he had given up er-
cry dollar Of his private fortune 20
help his people, spending hundreds
Of thousands. Part Of his savings
had been invested in a half-mE-
Hon-dollar hotel in Warsaw. which
the Germans seized during their
invasion and held as a headquar-
tiers. after strippine It OF al are
ucles Of value. Paderewskl also -
known TO have impaired his health
seriously by his day-and -nizht de-
votion for four years and half ID
his national cause.
II is not surprising that he -
the one man whom all parties ia