Bezpłatny fragment - Val K., Immigrant

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're re-reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite book retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Chapter Minus Three: Author's Foreword

Make no mistake: this book, and all those in  The Zuriel Disclosures , are works of fiction. I have attempted to make the depiction of history as accurate as possible, but where the facts were scant or non-existent at the time of writing, I invented them. Please do not think that because you read something in my book it must be true. I hope that you will check everything I say. Much of my historic data comes from sites that I visited on the Internet, so the data is as accurate as that.

It would add to your enjoyment to follow trips from one place to another. You can find the places mentioned on an Internet map of Poland, France and Germany, and on Google Earth. I highly recommend clicking on the links, especially regarding battles.

Chapter Minus Two: the Angel Zuriel's Foreword

I am Zuriel, the guardian angel of Valentine Karnowski, whose life is the unifying thread of this, previous, and subsequent books. This one is about the leaving of his country and coming to America. As an angel in the presence of the triune God, Who is Truth, I know a lot more than you on earth: I know the truth, rather than commonly-held beliefs about human events. I am a precise kind of being, and that is why I often give times of sunrise, sunset, high- and low- temperatures, wind speeds and other facts of weather, because I know the influence these can have on human events.

Well, why am I writing these books? Valentine Karnowski has led a most unusual life, having lived thru many events of historical significance. I want to show the hardships forced on him and the Polish nation, of which he was a part. I want to show the faithfulness of the Poles to Jesus' Catholic faith. I want to show that — relative to wealth — the “upper class” is actually the lower class, and — relative to morality — the “lower class” is actually the upper class.

This book is in the form of a journal, because the life of Man happens day by day. While something is happening in one place, something else is happening in another. The problem with many novels is that e.g., in chapter 1 they will deal with the weather over a period of time, then in chapter 2 they will go back to day one and deal with geography. Chapter 3 will go back to day one and deal with Mr. X, etc. I tell you about things that are happening simultaneously.

How am I writing them? I give inspiration to Mr. Schmidt, and he types it all out.

Part 1: Prior to the Franco-Prussian War

Chapter One a Soldier in Many Prussian Wars

Mon. February 14, 1870. Walenty Karnowski's Namesday. In a free Poland, it might have been a day of joy, a time for family, friends, and laughter. But in Prussian-occupied Łasin, it was a day of reflection. Walenty — or Val, as those closest to him called him — would turn 28 this May, a Pole in a land that had been stripped of its sovereignty, its language, its dignity. Born illegitimate and orphaned, he had risen despite every obstacle placed by a foreign regime determined to erase men like him. On June 29, 1856, he completed eighth grade in the German-controlled Hildebrandt state school — a rare feat for a Polish boy under occupation. And not only that, but he had achieved highest honors in all but first grade. The years that followed, living with his mentor Michael Rogala, offered rare peace: a Polish home, Polish values, and honest labor in the shops around Łasin's square. But even that was stolen. On his twentieth birthday — May 31, 1862 — the Prussian war machine conscripted him into its ranks. A Pole in a foreign uniform, serving a kingdom that crushed his people. On this namesday, Val asked not for gifts, but for something forbidden: the right to live as a free Pole in a free Poland.

Val got out of the regular Prussian army on May 31, 1865. While in it he participated in the Second Schleswig War in the Battles of Dybbøl (April 18, 1864), Als (June 29, 1864) and Lundby (July 23, 1864). He came back to famine in Poland, a famine that had existed in varying intensities since his childhood.

After May 31, 1865 he was put into the active reserves, and exited from them on May 31, 1867. While in the active reserves he participated in the Austro-Prussian War in 7 battles beginning with Hühnerwasser (June 27, 1866) and ending with Üttingen (July 26, 1866).

Upon mustering out of the Prussian army's active reserves on his 25 th birthday in 1867 he was placed into the inactive reserves, where he'd have to stay until he was 40, getting out on May 31, 1882. In the inactive reserves there was still the possibility of being called up for another war. Every year he'd have to spend 15 days in the field to brush up on his training.

It would have been nice to return to Łasin three years ago and live with Michael, but for the fact that Michael had sold his interest in Łasin's inn to his partner and friend (and Val's Jewish uncle) Nathan Karnowski, and moved to Pelplin in September, 1862 — almost eight years ago. He had not been using the high IQ that God had given him, and which he had used in getting a degree from the Sorbonne in Paris. Teaching jobs for Poles in Prussian-dominated Poland were almost non-existent, but he had found one: at the Catholic seminary in Pelplin.

Chapter Two Val’s Friend, Edward Wilkoszewski

Prior to 1854 Valentine, his friends Michael Rogala and Edward Wilkoszewski, who were 12, 24, and 30, resp. at the time, used to get together and discuss ideas, including religion and politics. They were the most highly-IQ'd people in the area, and had found each other. It turned out that Edward shared Val's daydream about someday moving to the “wonder-city” Chicago, in the USA.

In 1830 Edward was a student at Kraków University. He took part in that year's November Insurrection , and had to escape with his life. He moved to Paris, where he had a few friends, among them a certain druggist, and another, a picture frame manufacturer. He was given work in the drug store where he learned among other things how to make cosmetics. His other friend, the picture frame manufacturer, also gave him work in his factory and taught him how to make the elaborately carved and gilded frames which were very fashionable in that period.

Wishing to better himself, young Edward migrated to America and settled in New York State. But being energetic and restless he did not remain there very long. He met Miss Romualda Górczyńska and married her. He next moved to Philadelphia where his oldest child, Bronisława, was born in 1855. After a year or two in Philadelphia, he came to Chicago, where he finally settled. He started a picture frame factory. He was very successful in this business venture as his was the first picture frame factory in Chicago. He made frames for O'Brien and Thurber, the leading art dealers in Chicago.

He was an ardent patriot and his sympathy always went out to the poor Poles who began to come to America for economic and political reasons. They were mostly people who had no knowledge of English and no trade. As soon as they landed in Chicago they found their way to him and he took them into his factory where he gave them work until they could find something better or more suitable. Many of them remained with him until they learned the trade of making picture frames and one or two afterward even started factories of their own, and became wealthy.

He believed that the immigrants really needed guidance in many ways, so one of his achievements was to organize them into a society known as the Gmina Polska , where they used to meet and discuss politics, as well as their problems. He kept in touch with the culture and art of Poland and his home became the meeting place of all visiting artists, writers, and celebrities. He entertained Henryk Sienkiewicz , Helena Modjeska , her husband Count Karol Bozenta-Chlapowski, and Paul Sobolewski.

The 1870 Chicago City Directory listed him as a manufacturer and wholesale dealer of frames, moldings, etc. His store was at 186 Lake St., corner of Wells. His factory was at 1009 and 1011 W. Madison. He resided on the northwest corner of Harrison and Des Plaines — not in the “Polish Patch” — the vicinity of Chicago Ave. and Halsted St. He came at a time when there were almost no Poles; there was no “Polish Patch”, so he lived among English-speakers. The advantage of that is that he learned English relatively quickly.

Val was very anxious to keep informed about Edward's progress, and letters went back and forth, whetting Val's appetite for life in Chicago.

Chapter Three Val’s Home: The Sikorski Estate

During his last stay in the army Val had made friends with Nicholas Rzepiński from a village named Wielkie Chełmy , about 80 miles west of Łasin. It turned out that the nobleman Stanisław Sikorski, of the crest Cietrzew (black grouse), having inherited the estate at Wielkie Chełmy from the Lewalt-Jezierski family, crest Rogala (horn), had built a palace there in 1852—3, and had hired Rzepiński (Compulsory labor, or serfdom , was now a thing of the recent past), and he in turn had told Val about the availability of work there, and Val had re-located thither in September, 1862 when Michael had moved on to teach at Pelplin.

Nicholas had a relative — Simon #1 — who had taken his wife and three children and emigrated to Chicago in April, 1868. Val was also anxious to keep informed about Simon's life there.

In 1880 Wielkie Chełmy will be noted in  the Geographic Dictionary as having its own Catholic school and a size of 13,337 morgs (about 8,414 acres). It will have 14 dwelling houses and 205 inhabitants — all Catholic, which meant that they were all Polish.

Living in Wielkie Chełmy were Matthias Jażdżewski (Polish spelling) or Jażdziewski (Kashubian spelling — 50), his wife Ewa Rzepińska (43), their daughter Marcyanna (22) and son Joseph (19). Joseph and Marcyanna will sail for the USA on the barque Christel on June 6, 1871. Joseph is anxious to escape being drafted into the Prussian army; thru some kind of rare Prussian mix-up, altho he turned 21 on 2/5/1871, he has escaped being rounded up, and feels the government breathing down his neck. Marcyanna is an adventurous sort, and sees this as possibly her only chance to have a better life. She will marry Val Karnowski in Chicago.

Living in the palace at Wielkie Chełmy were owner Idzi Stefan Sikorski (52), his wife Marja Magdalena née Dękowska (38), his children Władysław Placyd (19), Bolesław Jan (17), Stanisław Marian (16), Mieczysław (15), Stefania Antonia Roberta (13), Kazimierz Fabian Sebastian (11), Józef Stefan (10), and Bronisława (6). Future son Witold will be born in 1872, all of the crest Cietrzew.

Stefan Sikorski represented the progressive part of the Polish landed gentry of Royal Pomorze (renamed by Prussians West Prussia): he managed his estates with great business acumen, increasing their profitability, which allowed him to buy new estates. In this way he acquired the granges named below, and established standing among the Polish gentry. In  Chojnice County only Władysław Wolszlegier from Nieżychowice, 19.4 mi. south, was richer than Stefan; thus, in all of Kashubia Sikorski belonged to the richest group.

Lord Sikorski owned farms at the villages Czarniż, Brusy, Kosobudy, Czyczkowy, Żabno, Czarnowo, and of course Wielkie Chełmy. Val was sent to live in a barracks-like building at the grange at Czyczkowy . From there he would have liked to travel to Pelplin on some Saturdays after work, and stay overnight to visit Michael Rogala. He would have liked to attend Mass at the cathedral and return on Sunday evenings. Alas, it was just too far.

Val shared a room with three other men. They were: Tytusz Łasiński, Chryzostom Prondziński, and Polikarp Szweda. There were two bunkbeds there, and Val slept on the lower level of one of them. The floor was compacted earth covered with rushes. There was a large fireplace where meals were cooked, a table and chairs. Val had continued to draw, a habit Rogala had introduced him to in his childhood, and Szweda used to harass him about this. „You t’ink you’re a great artist? Only great artists draw”, he accused. Val replied, „How do you think they got great — overnight? They practiced. Besides, no, I don’t think I’m a great artist. Not now, probably never. I just enjoy drawing.” Val was on good terms with the other two.

Val had kept up his drum- and harmonica-playing, and could be relied upon when a kapela was needed at a wedding celebration. These also were thanks to Rogala, and also were a source of jealousy on Szweda’s part.

Lord Sikorski, being a man interested in making a profit, not patriotism, hired Germans as overseers of his farms whenever possible. He believed that Poles were too soft-hearted, too sentimental, and would go easy on the workers, who were almost always Poles or Kashubes. the overseer of the Czyczkowy farm was a Prussian: Odovacar Sigivald. Unbeknownst to anyone, he was a member of the local coven, which met in the Tuchola Forest. It didn’t take long for him to notice Val’s piety, and to give him a hard time because of it.

Chapter Four Val's Neighborhood

The palace or manor house at Wielkie Chełmy was a large 2-storied affair of no historic style, (most educated people would call it downright ugly) whose façade consisted of three sections. The central one was the widest, and was itself subdivided into three sections by two buff-colored pilasters. Each end section was as wide as each of the three middle ones. There were two odd cylindrical features, perhaps 4 feet in diameter, which divided the three major sections from each other. On the extremes of the entire façade there was one of these, making four in all. Each was capped by a crenellation. The first floor was reached by about ten steps as wide as the middle section of the three, leading to a narrow red door. Due to the elevation of the first floor, there was a basement on ground level, which housed household servants. The façade was white; the little cylinders were buff. The wall of the basement was of an even darker buff. The roofing was composed of red Ludowici (flat) tiles which sloped back from the façade. There was no chapel in the building.

The local church parish, at Brusy - 2.1 mi. NE of Czyczkowy, — at this time was built of oak wood, covered with shingles. It was very old. It had a large tower on the west side with a turret. There was also a turret over each of two side chapels. In the mid-19 th C, the church had become too modest for the needs of the parish, which at that time had about 7,000 believers.

Fr. Augustyn Wika-Czarnowski was pastor at this time. He will die in 1876. The vicars are Fr. Antoni Graduszewski and Br. Stanisław Budnik. The organist is Alojzy Marzanek; the sexton is Marcin Lemańczyk.

The parish cemetery held a mausoleum/chapel for the Sikorski family. It was of red brick, and quite large. There was a central tower with a simple roof that sloped down from a ridge beam. The peak of the roof faced the onlooker. Below was a wide setback doorway capped by an arch. Behind the tower was the peaked, low-roofed body of the chapel.

The closest Lutheran church — Holy Trinity — is in  Chojnice ’s Old Market Square, built in 1620. It has a three-tiered Baroque tower and a small turret. There is a sundial on the main façade, which keeps the city's inhabitants on the exact time. The pastor was Rev. Goteleib Helmfriedssohn.

Chapter Five Otto von Bismarck, Bane of Poland

In 1849 when Michael Rogala still lived in Łasin, Otto von Bismarck, at the time a relatively unknown member of the Prussian parliament, had induced the spy Jerome Boszk to assassinate the pastors of the parishes of Szczepanki, Łasin and Gruta — all Polish — who were keeping the spirit of Poland alive. Rogala was also on his list.

Boszk was a Kashube from Wiele. Early in his life he had been told of the glories of Kashubia, of dukes like Siemomysł, Świętobor and Świętopełk. When the Prussians approached him to be a spy, they assured him that the overall plan was for them to restore Kashubia to an independent country, of which Prussia would be the guarantor.

One would think that someone who dealt in spying activities would be a drinker, but Boszk never touched a drop: he knew that he needed to keep a clear head at all times. Likewise, he stayed away from sexual liaisons. Too many spies had been undone by drink and women.

The Prussian Secret Police, now fairly well established, wanted Boszk to keep an eye on Rogala, so they went to Msgr. Izbaner in Pelplin. This monsignor had fathered an illegitimate child, and the Secret Police used it to blackmail the priest into using his influence over bp. Marwicz to get the pastorates of the now-dead Polish priests filled by Germans. (Of course the priests in question knew nothing of this machination, and did their best to be good priests.) Now the Prussians wanted the monsignor to use his influence over bishop Marwicz to get Boszk hired on in some capacity as to be able to watch Rogala's movements. He was hired to be the secretary of the bishop.

*

Otto von Bismarck wanted to exercise power. In order to get it he had made a pact with Satan on September 24, 1847. The Evil One made periodic visits to him to keep up his morale. These visits occurred at 3:00 am, the antithetical hour of Jesus' mercy.

He had lost interest in sex with his wife Joanna after she became pregnant with their last child, Wilhelm, in 1852, and insisted on separate bedrooms. He had only married her in the first place because, as a politician who wanted to climb, it looked good to have a wife, and her family had connections. Same for having children: he cultivated the loving-father image.

Tonight at 3:00 am his room became frigid, and developed a foul odor. Satan appeared and croaked,

“Greetings. Long time no see, heh, heh. Today I want to tell you about Henry VIII’s suppression of monasteries, which started this day in 1536. The dissolution was a set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry disbanded monasteries, priories, convents, and friaries in England, Wales, and Ireland, expropriated their income, disposed of their assets, and evicted the former inhabitants. Altho he originally envisaged this as increasing the regular income of the Crown, much former monastic property was sold off to fund Henry’s military campaigns in the 1540s. He was given the authority to do this in England and Wales by the Act of Supremacy, passed by Parliament in 1534, which made him Supreme Head of the Church in England, thus separating England from papal authority.”

“I would like to separate our Catholics from papal authority.”

“May I suggest going after the Jesuits? Accuse them of all sorts of ridiculous nonsense. You Junkers control the press. You can do it. Then go after the other religious orders. You Germans are the master race. No other comes close to you in magnificence. When other nations see what you are doing, they will imitate you. Inferiors are always drawn to superiors.”

The arch-demon disappeared in a cloud of fog. The wheels of the sociopath's brain started turning, working out a long-term strategy for achieving what Satan had proposed.

Sun. February 20, 1870. Sexagesima Sunday. It was above freezing from 8:47 am til 4:48 pm, ie, 8 hours. Much melting turned to slush; afterward the slush froze, leaving bumpy surfaces on which to drive wheels or walk. Val did the latter, and attended 9:00 Mass in Brusy's All Saints church .

In the Epistle St. Paul lists the hardships that he has to endure for the Gospel, but says that he will glory in his infirmities. “Except for that brief period when I lived with Rogala, my life has been a succession of infirmities. I must remember that every morning I offer them all to God for some good purpose”, Val concluded; “That will make them bearable and profitable.”

Afterward, out in the courtyard, parishioners milled around catching up on local news. As he conversed with a small group of young men, he looked over a shoulder of one of them and noticed Marcyanna Jażdżewska (22). He had seen her before, but never taken much notice of her. Today something led him to study her. She had brown hair which she wore in a single long braid. The skin of her face was smooth, and tanned from much farm work outdoors. She was about 5 feet, 8 inches tall, and properly proportioned for her height. When she spoke she exuded a lively merriment. She smiled and laughed a lot. She listened until a speaker had finished her piece before replying. Overall she seemed a very happy young person.

Chapter Six First Steps on the Path to War

Thurs. February 24, 1870. In Düsseldorf the day broke at 7:04. Spanish ambassador Eusebio Salazar arrived at the residence of Prince Charles Anthony (59) with formal letters for Charles' son Prince Leopold (35), as well as King William I and Bismarck, in which an offer of the Crown of Spain was at last made to Leopold, subject to approval by the Spanish Cortes (parliament).

*

In Czyczkowy it was Tłusty Thursday — Fat Thursday, Poland's version of Mardi Gras. There was famine in the land. Before the famine wives would make a pastry called Pączki. They were made of a dough, risen from yeast, and cooked for only a few seconds in oil or fat so as not to leave them grease-sodden. Val and the other men in his barracks could only daydream about some past year when they had tasted this treat.

The sun set at 17:35. At 18:30 Val and his roommates sat down and by the light of candles ate a meager supper of foraged weeds. They went to bed hungry, a not-unusual occurrence.

Vedas. March 2, 1870 . It was Ash Wednesday, a day to fast and abstain. It was also Val's day off. There was ice on the ground, making it hard to walk for those going to church. There were slips and injuries. Many a person rubbed butt or knees while in church.

During Mass Val occasionally cast a glance at Marcyanna Jażdżewska. She seemed very intent on her prayer book. That impressed him.

At the end of the 6:00 am Mass in Brusy people stood in line to get ashes. As Val looked around he saw people there who almost never went to Mass, but wouldn't think of missing their ashes. "Doesn't it dawn on you that you are to reform your lives, to seek out God's purpose for you? In my own case, what IS my purpose? Is it just to suffer?" he thought as he drew nearer to Fr. Wika-Czarnowski's thumb.

The day broke at 6:51 as the last few received their ashes. Out in the courtyard on his way home Val said, “Hello” to Marcyanna Jażdżewska, and she shyly returned the greeting. He joined his roommates, and she her family as all wended their way home.

It snowed from 8:45 am til 10:45 am, but it melted as it hit the ground. Today was the first day of spring and people felt a certain optimism because of it, despite the ice on the ground.

There was still famine in the land, and for super Val fried a  warmuz consisting of stinging nettle tops, groats and fat. His Obazina bread contained dried and powdered male catkins from the Common Hazel tree. For drink he had sap of the Common Hornbeam tree, mixed with water. He disliked the taste, but it took the edge off his hunger.

Sunset was at 17:46.

At 19:00 Val attended choir practice back at the church, which was 2.5 miles NE.

Fri. March 4, 1870 . In  Chicago in far-off America the first light of day was at 6:20. On this day in 1837 Chicago was incorporated as a city. The small Polish population there, which included Edward Wilkoszewski, Simon Rzepiński #1, and Chicago's first Pole: Antoni Smagorzewski-Sherman, and their families, gathered for 6:30 am Mass at St. Stanislaus Kostka's tiny wooden church and celebrated St. Casimir's Day.

*

Lord Sikorski kept twenty dairy cows on his Czyczkowy folvark, and one bull, named Voytek. Sikorski liked to breed his cows during the month of March, and currently several of them were in estrous. Today Val was given the task to oversee that Voytek's servicing of the cows went successfully and without any harm.

Sun. March 6, 1870 . It was the First Sunday of Lent. In the seminary in Pelplin Michael Rogala went into the refectory to take his mid-day meal. As he was seated in the noisy hall he was joined by a coterie of students, and all of them soon got to discussing Philosophy or Theology, both of which Michael taught. Spy Jerome Boszk, now the bishop's secretary, joined them. Since Boszk knew almost nothing about either, he skillfully veered the conversation away, and the subject eventually turned to Michael's time in the Crimean War . Boszk was hoping that Michael would say something that would get him into trouble with the Prussian government. Rogala told of his meeting with Michael Czajkowski and his Sultan Cossacks, about the Allies' six attempts to take Sebastopol, and his participation in them, and he informed them that there was a Polish city on the Asian side of Istanbul, called Adampol, founded by Prince Adam Czartoryski. None of this seemed particularly injurious to Prussia.

“I presume you fought against Russia. Didn't you fear trying to defeat a country with which Prussia has good relations?” Boszek asked, grasping at straws while at the same time trying to appear on the side of the Poles.

“Seeing as how Bismarck declared German neutrality, no”, Michael answered.

“I might as well leave; this is going nowhere”, said the spy to himself, and, letting the subject change, took his leave for another time.

Wed. March 9, 1870 . In Berlin the sun peeped over the horizon at 6:35. At about 10:00 am Bismarck (55) presented a memorandum to King William I in which he argued in favor of a Hohenzollern on the Spanish throne. Prince Charles Anthony's son prince Leopold was a Hohenzollern, altho a Catholic one. Bismarck told the king of the advantageous position in which that put Prussia, and the Germanies, in surrounding France on the east and south.

*

At Czyczkowy this was Val's day off. It was above freezing from 11:50 am til 5:51 pm, ie, 6 hours. Snow melted into slush. He was in the habit of taking long walks on his days off, and he wasn't going to let the slush dissuade him.

At 7:00 Val attended choir practice at the church. They practiced a new Mass for Easter.

Thurs. March 10, 1870 . In  Holy Name Cathedral Bishop Thomas Foley was installed as coadjutor bishop of Chicago, to help mentally unbalanced bishop Duggan. For all practical purposes bishop Foley fulfilled the duties of the ailing Duggan. Foley will be Val's bishop.

*

In Pelplin when dawn came there was snow on the ground. Upon exiting from daily Mass Rogala went to the refectory for breakfast. Once again Jerome Boszk sat with him and some students. Once again he tried to trap him into seditious talk, but again failed. He wondered if Michael suspected him and was being especially wary of him, or if he was just naturally wary. He would need to try more extreme means.

Night fell at 18:01. After supper Jerome Boszk went to a back alley of town and approached two German men whom he knew who were exiting an inn. Walking along with them and speaking in German, he asked: “How loyal to Prussia are you?”

“Oh, we're very loyal. After all, the government has confiscated a big Polish estate, split it up, and given each of us a parcel.”

“How would you two like to make 3 Thalers each?” he asked. They were obviously interested.

“Whadda we hafta do?” they asked.

“There's this Polish know-it-all and rabble-rouser. He is NOT loyal to Prussia. Quite the opposite. Makes a lot of difficulties in our improvement of this land. I want you both to swear to the Catholic bishop that you heard him teaching the overthrow of Prussian rule, like they did in 1848, that he wants to lead an insurrection.”

“Gee, I dunno. Won't dat get us into trouble? Besides we don't even know dis guy.”

“He comes here on Fridays after supper to have a drink. Be here tomorrow. I'll be here to point him out and introduce him to you. We will sit at another table until he is engaged in conversation with one other man. We will accuse that other man as his accomplice.”

“Don’t feel like you’re stabbing someone in the back. Rather, think of how you are helping your country. You want to hold onto that land, don’t you? You want it to go back to the Polocks?”

“What if the bishop asks us for details?”

“The bishop will want to quiz you on details. So if we come up with — and rehearse — an elaborate scenario, you’ll be in the clear. Remember: that’s 3 Thalers.” That convinced them, as their weekly pay as hod-carriers was 2 Thalers. And so he took them home and rehearsed them.

Fri. March 11, 1870. Ember Day. Night began at 18:03. After supper Rogala entered the inn in Pelplin. The two Germans were already sitting at a small table, scanning the room to ascertain who this traitor to Prussia might be. Having seen Rogala enter, and knowing that the two were already inside, Boszk entered and sat with them. After a while another teacher from the seminary joined Rogala. “Let’s let them get into a conversation before I bring them over”, Boszk said.

After a while Boszk called over to Rogala and said, “Oh, I didn’t see you there. Why don’t you and your friend join us?” The two came over, and introductions were made all around. Boszk maneuvered the conversation onto the Insurrection in Poznania in 1848. After some time Boszk said to the two Germans, “Boys, we have some business to take care of. Let’s leave these two to enjoy the rest of their evening”.

Upon exiting, Boszk said, “OK. So now you know who he is. Be outside the bishop’s office on Monday morning, March 21st”. Every night he rehearsed them.

Mon. March 14, 1870. At 3:00 am (tonight) the devil appeared to Bismarck and said to him:

“Karl Marx will die this day in London, England in 1883. You know about his Communist Manifesto of 1848. I know that you hate all he stands for, but there is much about him that you can emulate”.

Satan put Bismarck into a trance. In his trance he heard Marx say the following things:

“We Communists disdain to conceal our views and aims. We openly declare that our ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions.

Let the ruling classes tremble at a communist revolution.

The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win.

Working Men of All Countries, Unite!”

“What do I have in common with that hairy, stinking Jew-pig?”

“You both believe in censoring the free dissemination of information. You already censor the press, and Communists will do so when they gain power. Altho Marx talks a good game about ‘the people’, you Junkers and the Communist ruling class will clamp down on ‘the people’. You Junkers have nothing but contempt for them.”

After the apparition disappeared Bismarck resolved to do everything in his power to suppress Communists and socialists.

Thurs. March 17, 1870. The New York Herald reported that some ship passed the westbound Christel at lat. 47º, long. 37º 50’. The 47th parallel goes thru the state of Maine. 37º 50’ is in the mid-Atlantic. The “other” ship must have been a steamer, and must have reported this upon landing in New York, as wireless radio would not be invented until 1896. -GRS. The Christel was the sailing ship on which Val Karnowski will emigrate to the USA.

Sat. March 19, 1870. In Brusy the sun rose at 6:11 am while people were still in church. This was the anniversary of Justin Flis’s death in Berlin, 1848. Val remembered and offered his Mass for him. At Mass’s end those not having work to do on a folvark ran home, ate and set out for the first day of foraging for famine food. It was a day to tap Norway Maples and Birches for their sugar water, and to collect Bugloss, Wild Radishes and Cow Parsnip. A brisk barter in foraged herbs would ensue tomorrow and every morning from now on at the church. Those who had not had the good fortune to have any to trade — chiefly old and infirm people — pleaded for gifts of whatever herbs they could get, usually wilted or otherwise undesirable weeds.

*

At Satan’s 3:00 am visitation tonight he told Bismarck:

“On this day in 1906 will be born Adolf Eichmann. He is a German-Austrian SS-Obersturmbannführer and one of the major organizers of the Holocaust — the ‘Final Solution to the Jewish Question, in Nazi terminology. He will be tasked by SS-Obergruppenführer (senior group leader) Reinhard Heydrich with facilitating and managing the logistics involved in the mass deportation of Jews to ghettos and extermination camps, where the victims will be gassed, in Nazi-occupied Central Europe during World War II. The death toll at Auschwitz alone will include 960,000 Jews (865,000 of whom will be gassed on arrival), 74,000 ethnic Poles, 21,000 Gypsies, 15,000 Soviet prisoners of war, and up to 15,000 other Europeans.”

“Why do you tell me this?”

“Your hatred of Jews, Poles, Catholics — everyone who is not German — will lead to this. This should make you burst with Aryan pride!”

“What do you mean ‘Aryan pride’?”

“Adolf Hitler, about whom I have already told you something, will exalt the German race as far superior to all others; he will invent this category of humans, the Aryans. And of course only Germans will qualify!”

“Will he rid Europe of the Jews?”

“Indeed he will. And Germany will rule all Europe and Asia, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It will be a glorious time and be known as the Third Reich. You will begin the Second. But more of that later,” said the father of lies.

You know, he will write a book called Mein Kampf. In it he will praise you thus: ‘What miserable pigmies our sham statesmen in Germany appear by comparison with him (you). And how nauseating it is to witness the conceit and effrontery of these nonentities in criticizing a man (you) who is a thousand times greater than them. And how painful it is to think that this takes place in a country which could point to a Bismarck as its leader as recently as fifty years ago’.”

After the Devil’s departure Bismarck drifted into a reverie. “A Jewless Europe. Too bad I will not be around to see it”, he said, as he fell into a satisfying sleep.

Mon. March 21, 1870. In Pelplin Jerome Boszk met his two false witnesses outside the bishop’s palace. He had made sure that they were washed and shaved and wearing their Sunday best clothes. He said to them, “After this is done, I advise you to avoid coming into Pelplin until it all blows over”. He went to his desk, as usual, but then approached bishop Marwicz and said, “Your excellency, I have some distressing information. One of your teachers is planning on leading an insurrection like they had in Poznania in 1848”.

“Really! Which one?”

“Michael Rogala. I have two witnesses just outside the door waiting to confirm this.” The bishop appeared flustered.

“All right, show them in.” They came in with their hats held by both hands, and bowed slightly. “What’s this I hear about one of my teachers wanting to lead an insurrection?”

“Yes, your honor. ‘is name’s Michael Rogala.”

“Where did you hear of this?”

“We were in Staudenmaier’s Inn a week ago Friday, and heard the whole thing.”

The bishop called a servant and ordered him to get Dr. Rogala out of class.

When he came he said, “These men say that you are planning an insurrection on the order of what took place in Poznania in 1848. Is that true?”

Rogala was aghast. Recovering somewhat, he said, “No, your excellency. That is not true”.

Of the men the bishop asked, “What did you hear in Staudenmaier’s Inn?”

They relayed truthfully things that had transpired there, then diverged from the truth by saying, “This man was plottin’ with another teacher at this school. They must’ve assumed we’d go along with the plan.”

“Your grace, only part of this is true. We DID talk about the Poznania insurrection of 1848, but only about facts of old history, not any plotting for the future. Besides, these two are Germans. Do you really think they would be favorable to such a move, and that, knowing that, I would try to enlist them?”

The bishop was not a good referee, arbitrator or judge. His course of action in most — no, all — cases, was to take the easy way out. He was weak and didn’t want to run into trouble with the Prussian government, so he said, “I’m sorry, Michael, but I will have to let you go. Even if you are telling the truth, I can’t have this suspicion tainting this school”.

To the bishop Rogala said, “May I have some time to find other work?” and the bishop said, “Of course”.

Michael couldn‘t believe all this. Turning to Boszk, he said, “I look you in the eyes and tell you: I know you are lying, you and your friends here. I don’t know why you are doing this, but I forgive you”. He left and went to his quarters and began to pack his things.

Boszk coolly began his day’s work, and his accomplices went to their farms each 3 Thalers richer. With his mission accomplished, Boszk himself would be seeking other employment.

The sun went down at 18:21 on a good day’s work. By 21:49 all snow and ice on the ground had melted away. This was the first time the ground had been clear for a long time. Then the temperature went below freezing.

Fri. March 25, 1870. In a letter written by Bismarck to Harry von Arnim Bismarck referred to the first murmurings of resentment by Prussian prelates at the domination by the (Italian) Papal Curia in the Vatican Council, which had opened on December 8, 1869. As members of the master race, he and they assumed that Germans should do the dominating.

After serving in some other posts, Arnim was appointed ambassador to the Pope in 1864, and during the First Vatican Council (1869—1870), as ambassador of the North German Confederation. He supported the German bishops who opposed the dogma of papal infallibility. He was made a count in 1870.

*

By today Michael Rogala had found work in Chojnice, and had moved into a small flat there. He had made it his business to learn about his new home. For example, when the Prussians intruded themselves into Royal Pomorze in 1772 they had abolished Chojnice’s government, but it was restored in 1809 during the term of the liberal Prussian premier Scharnhorst. At the time Prussia was cowering under the domination of Napoleon. After Napoleon’s defeat in 1815 the town was again subject to anti-Polish policies, including Germanization. At the local high school, Polish was taught only two hours a week, between 1815 and 1820.

In this very year of 1870, a new philomath organization called Mickiewicz, named after the Polish national poet, was re-founded. It had been established in a local school in 1830, but was forced out of existence in the 1860s. Among local philomaths are prominent Polish-Kashubian activists and writers Florian Ceynowa (1817—1881), and priest/historian Fr. Stanisław Kujot (1845—1914).

Michael knew that for the foreseeable future, teaching was out. Church leaders were just as timid as had been bishop Marwicz, and no amount of protesting innocence on Michael’s part was going to do him any good with them. So he found a job as a waiter in a restaurant. The deciding factor in moving to Chojnice had not been the job, but the prospect of being a contributing member of the Mickiewicz group. A bonus was that he could take the train to Brusy — 16 miles and about half an hour away — to spend time with Val Karnowski. “Why, who knows, I may get Val to participate in the group”, he thought.

*

At Czyczkowy the sun rose at 5:58 and set at 18:28.

At 7:00 pm Stations of the Cross were held in Brusy’s All Saints Church. Val attended.

Tues. March 29, 1870. The sun rose at 5:48. Spring plowing began on all the folvarks of the Wielkie Chełmy estate, and Val’s overseer, Odovacar Sigivald, sent him out on this task.

The sun set at 18:35 and the workers knocked off.

Thurs. March 31, 1870. The planting of sugar beets was begun in the Wielkie Chełmy area, as well as the planting of a second crop of carrots in kitchen gardens. People would also be planting root crops of beets, turnips, parsnips, a first crop of radishes, and sweet potatoes. Val and his roommates were at a disadvantage, as they worked during the day, and it was not possible to plant at night. They had to rely on barter of herbs that were foraged on Saturdays for vegetables raised by local housewives.

Fri. April 1, 1870. The sun awoke at 5:41. Val was assigned to repairing the harrows and the making of rakes.

The sun went to sleep at 6:40. There was a new moon, meaning that the sky was black.

Wed. April 6, 1870. The New York Daily Herald says that the ship Christel (NG) arrived today under captain Friedrichs from Bremen. The voyage lasted 30 days and delivered 80 immigrants to Herman Koop & Co. Friedrichs reported that they had had fine weather up to the Grand Banks; heavy weather afterwards.

*

It was Val’s day off. In Czyczkowy during the previous night the snow began to stay on the ground as slush, which eventually turned to ice. It snowed all day, resulting in a visibility of one mile; perfect visibility is ten miles. It collected on the previous night’s frozen slush.

When Val saw pigs vying with each other for the garbage thrown to them, he said to himself, “Oh, how lucky you pigs are! You can eat anything! We humans are fussier. Still, about now we will eat anything that will fill our stomachs!”

At sunrise 5:29 the wind gusted at 46 mph, a fresh gale: trees were swaying wildly, heavy snow was being buffeted about and unattached things were sent whirling thru the air. The snow turned heavy, with big wet flakes. This situation prevailed until 10:50 am — 5 hours. The actual temperature was 10°, but the windchill as people wended their way to church was -16.1°.

At 12:50 pm the blizzard diminished a bit: the wind had decreased to 43.7 mph, but trees continued to undulate; snow and unattached items were still swirling about.

At 19:00 Val attended choir practice at the church. Blowing snow continued, but the wind had decreased to 34.5 mph. His love of singing impelled him.

Mon. April 11, 1870. In Prussia the day began at 5:18. Bismarck (55) was ordered to rest and went off to his estate at Varzin; i.e., his doctor was ordered to order him. This “rest” was one of Bismarck’s political strategies to let the king know how much he depended on him. The only thing different was that Bismarck now plotted and connived from home, instead of in Berlin. Very little resting was done.

*

In woods near Czyczkowy there was Blueberry picking and Mushroom picking by women and girls.

The day closed at 6:57.

Thurs. April 14, 1870. Holy Thursday. The sun arose at 5:11. It was above freezing all day. Val attended the liturgy at 9:00 in Brusy’s All Saints church. The light freezing drizzle continued. Housewives sowed a second crop of radishes, even though the first crop had not yet matured.

The sun set at 19:03. It rained from 20:57 pm til 21:52 pm. The fact that the temperature never got below freezing meant that the ice largely melted; the rain meant mud for anyone needing to use the outhouse. Of course, by 21:52, most peasants were in bed.

Fri. April 15, 1870. Good Friday. Awake since last night, Bismarck took up a book, hoping it would make him drowsy. He read:

“On this day in 1456 Vlad the Impaler began his second reign as Vlad III. He mercilessly fought to protect Romania and Bulgaria from the Ottomans. Vlad was known for his practice of eliminating his enemies thru impalement, one of the most violent and painful deaths that could face a person. His sadistic reputation spread to the far reaches of Europe, and his legend lives on: it is remarkable to be regarded as a hero while simultaneously having well-known stories told of his cutting breasts off women, as well as roasting children, and feeding them to family members.”

Bismarck’s blood rushed to his head, causing him to become even more wide-awake. “Oh, to wield such power!” he thought.

*

Good Friday, a day to fast and abstain. Dawn was at 5:09. Val attended the liturgy in Brusy’s All Saints church. Fr. Wika-Czarnowski began the liturgy at 9:00 am. The actual temperature was 10°, but the windchill as people shambled their way to church was -16.1°. Heavy snow was being buffeted about by the 46 mph wind. He advanced on his knees to kiss the cross and took home a bottle of holy water.

At 19:00 pm Stations of the Cross were held in Brusy’s All Saints Church. Val attended.

The sun set at 19:05.

Sat. April 16, 1870. Holy Saturday. Sunrise was at 5:07. Val walked to Brusy, got on a train, and arrived in Chojnice’s station where Michael was waiting for him. The two attended the liturgy at 9:00 in Chojnice’s baroque church of the Annunciation of the BVM. At 11:00 Michael and he took a basket to church for święconka. The basket was covered with a white cloth whose edges were richly embroidered with folk motifs. It was a gift of an older neighbor woman who had taken a liking to Michael. In good years it would have contained kiełbasa, ham, horseradish, rye bread, Easter eggs, butter, salt and other things. Today it contained foraged herbs and dried squirrel meat.

Afterward Val and Michael both went blueberry-picking and mushroom hunting, then to Confession at 4:30. It was bath night, and both men took turns bathing in Michael’s copper tub. Val felt good, like he had when living with Michael in Łasin as a child.

Sunset was at 19:07. They sat and talked until late.

Sun. April 17, 1870. Easter. In Royal Pomorze there was snow on the ground. The highlight of the day in Poland was pre-dawn Mass at 4:30 and then a procession. Val attended in Michael’s church. The sun rose at 5:05 casting its bright rays thru the clear glass windows onto the white and gold of the church and the vestments. Afterwards Val ate święconka with Michael. In the afternoon they walked and talked. At about 6:30 Michael walked Val to the station, and Val rode back to Brusy. Arriving in the dark, he walked the short distance to Czyczkowy. He was content. On the train he said a Rosary.

*

The entire Sikorski household — nobles and servants — attended in Brusy church. The Sikorskis occupied special places in the sanctuary; their servants wherever they could find a place. Up front and off to the side was the empty plaster tomb. Above it was a statue of the resurrected Jesus, wearing a loose white cloth, and holding a triangular white standard with a red cross on it. His wounds showed clearly.

When families got home they had their Święconka celebrations.

Wed. April 20, 1870. The Protestant Union Congress, taking place in Wartburg, Thuringia, pronounced itself absolutely against Jesuits and Catholics.

*

From Düsseldorf Hohenzollern Prince Charles Anthony and his son Prince Leopold let Madrid know that they were no longer interested in the Crown of Spain.

*

At 19:00 Val attended choir practice at the Brusy church. The organist scolded him. “You are my star tenor. You let me down”, he said.

Val replied, “It’s true that I didn’t sing on Easter, but we will be singing that Mass again, and I will be there. I couldn’t pass up the chance to be with my old friend. And he is more than just a friend. He was like a father to me”.

Fri. April 22, 1870. At Satan’s 3:00 am visitation tonight, he told Bismarck:

“A Russian named Vladimir Lenin will be born today. In 1917 the Tsar will be overthrown, and Lenin will wield absolute power in Russia. Caused in part by a drought, the Russian famine of 1921–22 will be the most severe that the country experiences since that of 1891–92, resulting in around five million deaths. The famine will be exacerbated by government requisitioning, as well as the export of large quantities of Russian grain. To aid the famine victims, the US government will establish an American Relief Administration to distribute food; Lenin will be suspicious of this aid and have it closely monitored. During the famine, Patriarch Tikhon will call on Orthodox churches to sell unnecessary items to help feed the starving, an action that will be endorsed by the government. In February 1922 Sovnarkom (Council of People’s Commissars) will go further by calling on all valuables belonging to religious institutions to be forcibly appropriated and sold. Tikhon will oppose the sale of items used for the Eucharist and many clergy will resist the appropriations, resulting in violence.

In 1920 and 1921, local opposition to requisitioning will result in anti-Bolshevik peasant uprisings breaking out across Russia, which will be suppressed. Among the most significant will be the Tambov Rebellion, which will be put down by the Red Army. In February 1921, workers will go on strike in Petrograd, resulting in the government proclaiming martial law in the city and sending in the Red Army to quell demonstrations. In March, the Kronstadt Rebellion will begin when sailors in Kronstadt revolt against the Bolshevik government, demanding that all socialists be allowed to publish freely, that independent trade unions be given freedom of assembly and that peasants be allowed free markets and not be subject to requisitioning. Lenin will declare that the mutineers have been misled by the Socialist-Revolutionaries and foreign imperialists, and call for violent reprisals. Under Trotsky’s leadership, the Red Army will put down the rebellion on March 17, resulting in thousands of deaths and the internment of survivors in labor camps.”

“I assume that you are telling me this to elicit my approval. Well, there are aspects of which I DO approve.

“Lenin is taking a cue from you. I show this to you to spur you on. You should be proud.”

Sun. April 24, 1870. Low Sunday. 1st Sunday after Easter. In Rome the third session of the First Vatican Council opened. Today the dogmatic constitution on the Catholic faith Dei Filius was adopted unanimously.

Mon. April 25, 1870. Major Rogation Day. At Satan’s 3:00 am visitation he told Bismarck:

“On this day in 1599 Oliver Cromwell was born. He led the Roundheads to victory over the Royalists in the English Civil War, and was one of the signers of King Charles I’s death warrant in 1649; this was just the start of his autocratic behavior. I turned Cromwell into a regicidal military dictator. I got him to persecute Scottish and Irish Catholics. I got him to issue highly controlling religious rulings, which led to death tolls in genocidal numbers. Plus, he and his parliament will forever be remembered for banning Christmas.”

Sat. April 30, 1870. Sunrise was at 4:37. On the Sikorski estate it was a day to pick Common Juniper berries, and Val joined others in repairing to the Tuchola Forest to do so.

*