AUTHORITIES The first part of this sketch, relating to the Battle of Manila, was taken from Admiral Fiske's autobiography, "From Midshipman to Rear-Admiral'; the latter part was published in the United States Naval Institute Proceedings, March, 1917. Patriotism it is that binds American sympathies to Poland. The services of the Polish patriot Thaddeus Kosciuszko in our own Revolutionary War will never be forgotten in the new world. But even the zeal and skill of men like Kosciuszko were not able to save their country from the intrusion of the armies of more powerful countries. Polish history may be traced back to origins so remote as to be largely mythological. In the sixteenth century it was the most powerful country of eastern Europe. In this land of valiant knights and brilliant. women, aristocracy flourished. The warring interests of these nobles resulted for a time in breaking the unity necessary for the preservation of military force and this contributed to the downfall of Poland. It is estimated that over fifteen million people still speak the Polish language; Polish literature dates from antique poems said to have been produced in the tenth century. Doubtless the Polish writers best known in countries beyond the borders of Poland are Mickiewicz, Slowacki, Krasinski and Henryk Sienkiewicz. Those who have read the masterpieces of the last named writer (Pan Michael and With Fire and Sword) may estimate the depth and power of Polish literary attainments. Polish music is strongly characteristic in its national tendencies. At first religious and then moulded after the folk dances and folk songs of the people, it is very intimately interwoven with the everyday life of the men and women of all stations. The polonaise of the court is as national in its spirit as the mazurka of the peasant. Paderewski's father was a gentleman farmer in Kurylówka (Podolia). His mother was known to have been a woman of exceptional musical gifts but as she died when the boy was still very young he received no benefit from this source. Paderewski was born at his father's homestead, November 6, 1860. When he was three years old his father was exiled to Siberia for suspected connection with a revolutionary project. When the exile returned after feeling the iron hand of Russian despotism, it may be imagined that nothing was left undone to instill a love for Poland in the heart of the fair-haired little boy. During his father's absence the little orphan did not receive nearly so much musical education in his early childhood as the average child of to-day. His musical tendencies, however, were very manifest. It is said that when he was little more than an infant, he clambered up to reach the piano keyboard and produced beautiful tones. Another story has it that an itinerant fiddler took an interest in the obvious talent of the child and gave him a few lessons now and then. His next teacher was one who Patriotism Poland. The Kosciuszko in be forgotten skill of men country from powerful cer Polish h remote as to century it Europe. In women, aris of these no unity nece and this c It is est intervals of one month and taught rangements of a semi-popular type, welve, Paderewski was sent to Warentered the conservatory as a regular piano teacher there was Janotha. excellent routine teacher with some ree. Janotha's daughter, Nathalie, Mme. Clara Schumann, also became reat note in Europe. Raguski, Pade in Harmony at the Warsaw Conservaknown outside of Poland. ambition of the future virtuoso was not ming a great pianist, but rather that of great composer. It was with this purpose t at his early concerts he often played his sitions. One instance pertaining to his as a pianist, is very interesting. He was to play at a concert in a little rural music and found the piano so antiquated that the Mickiewicz persisted in staying away from the strings iewicz. Th were struck In order to give the concert a man with a switch, who adjusted these saftey the were struck as the program proThis was probably the first piano ever intro speak the from antic the tenth known in last named Sword) ma literary att Polish mu tendencies. with a pay human action. Paderewski rethe consatory at Warsaw and when he was teens of age his proficiency was so pro |