The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-09-08

without knowing its country viii
lagos and its farms is sadly mis-
guided. In the United States we
laugh at the foreigner who thinks
he knows us because he has spent a
few months or even years in New
York. New York Is not America and
Warsaw Is not Polandl
Up till now Americans in general
know abysmally little about Poland.
Last summer when I went to one Of
the two biggest banks in New York
to buy travellers cheques for use in
Warsaw, the official with whom !
talked referred to the fact that they
had no branches in Russia" and
that, therefore, their cheques would
not be easy to handle in Warsaw.
But Warsaw Is the capital Of
Poland.
And now 1t has begun to dawn on
Americans that we have got 20
understand Poland, We have got to
know what she is like, because
Poland, more than any other coun-
try in Europe, is the power that can
hold the balance and maintain the
peace Of the world.
I see Poland as land OF unex-
plored possibilities. She has much
to offer the foreigner, especially the
foreigner who likes to mix a little
study with the pleasure of his
travels. She is a veritable museum
Of the past and should have the
opportunity to show her treasures
to Anglo-Saxons.
Another Side
There Is another side OF Poland,
which, as I see 1t, grows more in
teresting each year. That Is the
hitherto neglected but now mar
vellously developing industrial side
OF the nation. The average Amer
lean tourist who comes to Poland
will probably not be so enthusiastic
about the port of Gdynia as Poles
have a right to expect him to be,
for he will not have had the oppor-
tunity to see the contrast between
the Kashubian fishing village Of the
twenties and the modern port of the
thirties. But have seen the change
with my own eyes from modes Begin
ing In 1880 to the charming city
OF today. Each year a new quay
Is built, each year the city spreads
further. From my bedroom window
In Gdynia the other day I could see
five large apartment houses going
up. tell you In all sincerity that
Is more private building In Gdynta
than have seen in New York IN the
last five years In some residential
sections. do congratulate Poland
and her building industry on its en-
terprise. 1t is certainly a robust, an
expanding, enterprising nation!
Even to America accustomed to in
dustrial feats the Polish Central In
dustrial Regional Programme -
COP" as the Poles SAYS fas-
cinating, and there is nothing in
Poland should rather see than
that. The regulation and control Of
rivers, the transformation Of an in
temperate stream into light end
heat and power, are thrilling ac-
complishments and look with awe
upon the gigantic programme In this
direction which you have been carry
ing along during the last few years
In Central Poland.
And In Warsaw herself there have
been so many improvements since
my last visit In 1884 that an enum-
Grafton Of them would sound like a
The very first thing one
notices is the total absence Of beg
gars on the streets and on church
steps. Someone with vision and an
iron will must have taken the situa-
ton IN hand, for the transformation
has been accomplished thoroughly
and efficiently.
Traffic Lights
Another thing notice Is the
traffic lights. don't think traffic
lights are very beautiful, but they
are certainly q means Of bringing
about order. and order used to be
something lacking In Warsaw traf-
fic. ! have no. quite become accus-
toned TO the traffic lights In War
saw yet, for the different kinds Of
traffic, which you have here, con-