Evening star., 1939-06-04
republic. that the above story is not

republic. that the above story is not
as incredible as it seems.
Poland Is really one of the larger
countries of Europe, for it could con-
tain three Englands. Naturally the
bulk OF modern tourists have flocked
to its large centers; to Warsaw,
Cracow, Lwow and Pinsk, but re-
Gently increasing numbers have
sought out the villages in the Car
pathian Mountains, particularly the
colorful regions about Zakopane and
Krynica, for 1t is in the mountain
villages and the Volhynian region
that the finest costumes are to be
seen on the peasantry.
More travellers are learning to seek
out the celebrations of the religious
Pardon festival held at Czestochowa,
Kalwarja zebrzydowska, Lowicz,
Studzieniczna and other places with
names equally puzzling to see in
print, but remarkably easy to pro-
nounce when you do 1t correctly.
Costumes Worn Daily.
1t Is often a disappointment to
tourists in Europe that when they
visit regions where costumes are
known to exist, they do not see
them because the peasants wear
their bright and varied colors only
on Sundays and holidays. In the
costume regions of Poland, the
costumes are worn every day and
there is never such disappointment.
In southeast Poland the country.
folk are mostly Ruthenians. or
Huculs as the Poles call them. Their
dialect is Russian.
The same people can be found in
the uplands of Volhynia and visitors
among them are charmed, not only
by their sturdy character and COL
orful attire, but by the sense of
Russia and the East which they
represent amid otherwise drab sur
roundings. The women are usually
clad in bright-red skirts, white
blouses richly embroidered in cross
stitch and black beaded. Their legs
are strapped with ropes of braiding
and moccaSins are on their feet. The
men wear white homespun linen
trousers and shirts embroidered In
cross-stitch with many colors. So
beautiful are these costumes that
British and American visitors of
recent years have insisted on buy
ing complete costumes which have
doubtless appeared at fancy dress
balls and other parties.
Men Also Shop.
There Is ample choice, for each
region has its own special costume
Some ladies like to array themselves
in the costume Of the Cracow girl,
which is colorful and light, while
others prefer the Lowicz dress with
its broad stripes of orange, green
and other colors. Even the men
Of modern tourist groups have been
known to buy complete Hucul noun
taineer outfits. embroidered shirts,
sleeveless coat with cape, the dec
crative belt and peculiar hat, all
doubtless to impress stay-at- home
friends with something of the at2dos-
phere of romantic Wanderings.
On Whitsunday the houses. doors
and windows of these country dis
tricts of Poland are decorated with
green branches, birch garlands and
purple flags, all symbolic of the
return of spring Strangest of all is
the old custom which can still be
observed where old manor houses
exist with their many retainers and
servants. These gather outside the
main entrance of the manor house
and crack horsewhips rhythmically
which is supposed to celebrate their
good wishes for the season to their
masters and mistresses, just as the
noise of flrecrackers is used in other
lands to celebrate such times and
seasons.
These manor houses, scattered all
over Poland, provide some of the
finest hospitality which many recent
American visitors have found. Hotels
and pensions are not available ex-
cept in the cities and in the most
frequented regions, so that the en-
tertainment off the beaten track
must of necessity be in the incest
homes. Grace Humphrey in her
Poland the Unexplored' tells OF
many such entertainments. The
American is lucky who plans such
holiday in such land.