Evening star., 1936-07-26
CAREFREE GUIDE
FOUNDED RESORT
Popularity of. Zakopane,
Poland, Won by His Music
and Stories.

zAKOPANE, Poland, July 25.-Just
rs Poland seems new because 1t was
recreated on the map Of Europe only
after the World War, so its finest
Summer resort, Zakopane, has an air
OF novelty and freshness to Americans
that quite bellies the fact that it has
been popular for the last IS years.
The story of the development of
Zakopane, here in the heart OF the
Tatra Mountains, highest group in the
Carpathian range, is an interesting
one. While it is always combination
OF attractions and sometimes chance
events that bring travellers to a resort,
one story about Zakopane attributes
Its popularity to a single factor, the
character OF the old city's most care
free inhabitant, man named Sabala.
Sabala delighted so in singing,
playing the violin and telling stories
that he neglected his family until at
last even its COW had to be sold. He
came out of the house then, carrying
his violin, and played the cow little
tune because. he explained, he did
not want her to feel blue at leaving
him.
Finally Gets Statue.
Renowned throughout the region
for his tales, Sabala became guide
to the few outsiders who visited
Zakopane Among these was a Polish
doctor, who was so delighted with
Sabala's stories and ways that he came
back again and again, bringing his
friends with him and finally estab-
fishing a health resort here. Artists
and travellers came, too, and Sabala
at last had his day Of glory for he
was always the favorite guide and
literary men even came to write down
his songs and tales. He did not
die until the 1905 and today statue
to him stands here looking out over
the mountains he helped bring
fame to.
Sabala or no Sabala, Zakopane pos
sessed attractions that sooner or later
were certain to make it a fine resort.
There are many excursions into the
mountains from it, both for Summer
hikes and later Winter sports, a trip
by boat through the rapids of the
Dunajec River and drives to nearby
scenes Of interest.
Picturesque Guides.
Zakopane Is both a tourist center
and a gathering place of peasants of
nearby regions who flock here for
Sunday mass in typical mountain cos
TUNES. A race of shepherds lives in
this district, tending cattle and sheep
on the slopes during the Summer and
calling to each other with a loud cry,
which sounds like a high pitched
laugh, gradually deepening in tone.
Many of them serve as guides for
travellers.
Old houses in Zakopane are of wood,
the pieces cleverly joined with wooden
pegs instead Of nails. AS a rule these
have many gables and broken roof
line and nearly all of them stand in
wooded lots. Buses and automobiles
run along the streets but old-fashioned
horse cabs are plentiful, too, and give
the city an air of leisure one seldom
meets with.
Zakopane's landmark is Giewont. or
the Sleeping Knight, a long noun
tain whose shape resembles that of a
knight stretched out asleep on the
ground. 1t Is one of the highest peaks
In Poland and various legends center
about 1t. One tale Is that the Sleep
ing knight is the guardian of the
mountains and that to the end OF
time he will protect the mountains
and all who come here as guests.
Another legend says that within the
mountain sleeps the legendary king,
Boleslaw the Brave, with all his
knights.