which were even then intolerable, to forget themselves in dancing the peautiful and poetic dances of Poland. Truly a gallant people, greatly misunderstood of the world. To America, the free, the great DemocracyPoland, the Democracy of Ages past, is looking for a helping hand. A helping hand reached out as to a brother-to help her to her feet-to hold her erect-when she is on her feet. Every Polish heart would give its last drop of blood for the man who is the first real friend they have found-who has spoken for them, advocating Freedom for Poland-President Woodrow Wilson. The very mention of his name gives a Polish audience a thrill, as no other name does— for he said Poland should be "free and united." Polish people have had many promises made them, but all because someone wished to make use of them, and, therefore, promises without value. President Wilson gave his message to the world only because it was just and proper. So we, who love Poland, look forward to a free, United Poland, with the right to the pursuit of happiness, and to worship God in their own way. Then shall the Polish History be written anew, and truly-her art and literature given to the world. To America shall then come the thanks of that freed people, for all she had done. For the American Red Cross, which has built up the devastated land, and been a mother to her people. It will all come about some day, and we shall look back to the suffering, calm in the existing FREEDOM and PEACE, with thankful hearts that the Heavenly Father has remembered His Polish children. Polish Politics-alas! they exist. We pray the self-seekers guiding them shall also be swept away in the flood of Sunny Freedom, for the real politics of Poland is only Democracy, with all the deepest meaning of the word. No Kings! No aristocracy-just people—and a Government of the people-by the people! Laura de Gozdawa Turczynowicz. NOTE. With the exception of four, these chapters were serially published in the Free Poland. Some are here reprinted in the same form and under the same titles as published in that periodical; others were given a different title and lost much of their original form in the process of revision and reconstruction. They were, of course, originally written as contributions to the Free Poland, and it was only after they had received a favorable comment from the Polish press and been freely reprinted in several representative papers and periodicals, and after it had been urged that their publication in book form would render a definite service to the Polish Cause, that the writer consented to gather them in this book. St. Louis, Mo., 1918. A. J. Z. |