New Britain herald., 1929-06-01

RO3eS 0f This Clty LeAd
 Nationality n New England
 The day is near when New Brit ain Poles will be the recognized leaders in Polish American affairs in New England, and likely as not will
 be looked upon by other far-oh Pol ish communities with no small amount of envy and regard-a com- munity which they may pattern their communal life in all branches of human endeavor. There is no ques- ton of doubt that the local commun- ity has already established its leader ship amoog Connecticut Poles and Is looked up to as the criterion of unity and cooperation. Doubtless, there are still some difficulties, some de- gree of uneasiness and lack of faith among the various groups, but the time is approaching when all these petty misunderstandings between themselves will be ironed out as the younger generations become more assimilated and thoroughly Ameri- canised.
 Whatever the difficulties between themselves may be it still remains 10 bs proven that they lack the com mon link of unity and cooperation tor all purposes, when occasion de- mands. Time and again they have come to the fore and proved that a united effort to attain an objective seldom went amiss. The advance ment, progress. or whatever one wishes to call the unusual rise of the American Poles, is nothing to marvel at. but certainly one is forced to admire tho integrity and deter- imitation that the Poles of New Britain have shown in the compara- lively short time they have been . part of this city's history. Whatever their shortcomings might be. they have made excellent progress. con- sidering the handicaps and obstacles they had to overcome.
 The local community is not yet a generation old. and Is no doubt, the youngest in point of settlement-but in point of wealth (privately owned homes, community buildings, church. e. schools. etc.,) they may be con- sidered we'll near the top rung. Their history, like that of . majority Of other Polish communities through out the United States. is a tale Of gradual and steady climb from com parative poverty to point where they are considered seriously as part of the social, political. economic and educational life in America.
 The immigrant Pole. coming to this city to settle was not of the business, professional or even skilled labor type. The majority who came here were poor peasants, seeking . better livelihood. They were not an educated lot-conditions in their na- tive land forbidding them to gain knowledge. Only the well-to-do fam lilies were in a position to send their children to schools. On the average. the immigrant Pole had an education corresponding to the third or fourth grade, while a large number were !lliterates-a condition not due to personal laxity to attain knowledge of letters, but due to the oppressive syatem of the czars of Russia, whose only method of educating the peas ant was the Cossack whip, better known as the "nahajka." On the whole the were God-fearing. indus- trious and ambitious lot. willing to give up the luxuries and pleasantries Of life, to gain what was lost. or could not be gained in an oppressive atmosphere. Such were the Poles, who came to this country IS to 70 years ago.
 The hardware industry in this city offered an opportunity to those who wished to settle down and help in the progress of the city and eventual ly help in acquiring individual eco- homie independence through work. The feld was young and opportuni- ties numerous. About 35 years ago the Poles began to come here in greater numbers. In those years en- tire Polish families were . scarcity. They came here piecemeal and brought other members of the fam fly as financial conditions permitted. As other members arrived, the earn ing power increased, and as years went by. the thrifty nature of the Pole found him in position to look around for permanent home wherein he could house his family and be an independent property owner.
 The church was a potential factor in holding the people together. The Poles are devout Roman Catholics on the whole and when they thought that their community was large enough to support a church and a priest. they appealed to the head of the diocese for permission to estab- fish q church. The church became a common link in keeping them from separating and used its influence 10 spread the doctrine of brotherly love and unity to which they earn estly adhered. The founding of church meant cooperation and growth, and growth in turn meant increasing families and the subse- quent necessity of schools to send their children to. The average Ioie was quick to realize that schooling of the children, meant quicker pro- gress and fast advancement. Chit dren were given their primary cdu- cation in the parochial schools and if finances permitted. they were sent to higher institutions. This vas rather hard in mary families. where the brood was large. The older children. despite desire to continue, had to leave school at an early age of 14. and so to the factory 10 help support and educate the younger members of the family and it was not until a family felt n&ncially independent before any one of its members could be given higher and better education. Despite these hrDdiCN n- many Sho had a strong