Evening star., 1923-08-15
BY THE MARaUIsE DE FoNTENoY.

Poland's premier, as is we'll known
educated peasant farmer, who never
until he attained his present office,
had worn collar or tie, and to
whom evening dress. that dreary garb
of so many republican dignitaries on
both sides of the Atlantic-the drab
ceremonial uniform of democracy
was totally unknown. Nor is he ac-
quainted with any language save his
native tongue Poland's new presi-
dent, who not so long ago was
journeyman printer in London, is an
entirely different kind of man. speaks
English f1awlessly, and, like so many
of his calling, is we'll read ana Wen
educated, and he is bearing himselI
| with; so much simple aleh1eg sssion as ~
have created profound impression
upou all those with whom ne Is
brought into contact.
During the state visit of the King
and queen of Rumania to Warsaw
and 10 Cracow, when so much of the
old time state and pomp and cere-
moniaI etiquette of the eighteenth
century kingdom of Poland were re
vivedsfor the occasion, he did not Tor
! a single moment seem out OF place
or lacking in distinction' ana com ON
pletelv won not only the admiration
but also the hearts Of the royal
visitors.
II used to be considered that it
was OILY in the new world that men
| could be raised overnight by their
fellow citizens from the humblest sta
i tions to the most exalted offices. But
! II may be questioned whether today
Europe does not furnish US with more
numerous instances of sudden
changes of fortune and Of position
than the western hemisphere. 1t was
but a few weeks ago that Poland's
nrasident was earning a pittance by
| his trade as printer and making
| his home in a modest little three
room fiat in one OF those glgantlc
| tenement. houses that are sprlnglns
! up everywhere at Warsaw IN order
| to meet with the demand of the in
creased population, attracted to the
city by it's growing importance and
prosperity-a little fiat where he lived
Without servants and where he did
| his own cooking. And yet, today. he
| is the master of the stately Belye-
dere Palace. surrounded by superb
gardens and adjoining the Lazienki
Park, which, built by King Stanislaus
Augustus, was the residence OF tne
emperors of Russia when they came
to Warsaw.
Situated like the Lazienki Palace
and park on the beautiful avenue
which is the Warsaw contretemps or
| the Champs Elysees In Paris, the Bel
/ yedere has been used for hundred
wears past as the official residence
| of the Russian governor general of
Poland. 1t was there that the Czaro-
witch Constantine Paulovitch, while
viceroy of Poland, surrendered to his
Younger brother. Grand Duke Alex
ander, his rights of succession to the
Muscovite throne, of which he con-
sidered himself unworthy by reason
| Of his remorse for having been privy
to the assassination of his father,
[ the maniac Emperor Paul.
X v y
The Belvedere is a most imposing
structure. which is maintained by the
republic with a good deal of splendor,
and there is a perfect army of serv-
ants and officials of high and low de-
gree, awaiting and eager to do the
presidents bidding and to ascertain,
even beforehand. his wishes and his
wants And every day and on many
evenings the apartments of the palace
are thronged with great mobiles bear
ing the most historic and illustrious
names of Poland, with their wives
the Polish ladies of rank have at all
times been. celebrated Tor their
haf nh n Il