Page:Brandes - Poland, a Study of the Land, People, and Literature.djvu/128

 116 and wall-paintings; Greek misfortunes and sorrows for more proximate modern miseries, Polish and universal.

The cholera has appeared in the villages around here: at B., at K.—everywhere. Out of ten attacked by the sickness, five at least generally die immediately. Unfortunately in this month many church festivals are held. Thus next week a local festival is impending; the Pardon. The peasants gather in crowds on this occasion to make merry and enjoy life for a few days. In the Middle Ages there was some sense in this kind of festival. At that time the church imposed upon sinners of both sexes severe punishments, all sorts of penances (such as not being allowed to eat meat for five years; the wearing of a hair shirt for years, &c.). Now and then a general pardon was given, and of course this was celebrated with extravagant joy. In our days the punishments and penances have ceased, and only the fairs remain. But under present circumstances they are rather perilous. The peasants revel in fruit, much of which is unripe, and drink a quantity of beer. We have applied to the priest and asked him to write to the archbishop to get the festival definitely postponed, but as the latter has refused a similar request from a neighbouring community, there is little or no hope.

Last week I went to Warsaw and had an audience of his Excellency the President of the Censorship, M. Jankulio, a handsome man of mixed race, who has, they say Greek, Jewish, and Russian blood in his veins. He is allied to the Gurko family; was for a time secretary to the Governor-General, and has made a speedy career. He received me with courtesy, assured me that printed matter sent to me was not retained, for one reason, because nobody in the censorship understood Danish; I should get everything sent to me without delay, &c. Nevertheless, a week later, I received a Danish newspaper of July 31, sent to me on the 12th of August with the stamp of the censorship in St. Petersburg. His Excellency, who called in several subordinates to report, has, as may be seen, been greatly misinformed as to what is taking place in his own office; the functionaries, who do not understand Danish, have simply sent everything to St.