The text describes the statue of St. Jack in Vilnius. The history of this statue is presented, as well as the question of its restoration by Aleksander Horain, and later by Canon Boguslawski and Kazimierz Wilczynski. The text goes on to describe the sculpture in detail, as well as the inscription on the monument (Source: Tygodnik Illustrowany, Warsaw 1902, Półrocze I, p. 293, after: Digital Library of the University of Lodz).

A modernised reading of the text

The statue of St. Jack in Vilnius.

Returning from the Bend. Vilnius at the foot of Pohulanka, shrouded in mists, gave the impression of some fairy-tale, enchanted, sunken castle. The towers, just emerging from these mists, shone with their crosses in the glare of the rising sun. The castle ruins of Bekieszów and Trzykrzyska stood like oases above this purple-grey sea. In the windows of the towers, only the sun blazed with the glow of molten metals, and there, hen, farther and farther stretched bands of forests and hills merging on the horizon into a uniform dark sapphire tone. And here, on the summit of Pohulanka, darkness was falling more and more: the trees of Zakręt covered us with the sun, which, now illuminating only the roofs, chimneys and treetops, was pouring its rays on the much-revered statue of St. Jack, which stands on this lofty hill.

The story of how the statue of St. Jack was erected is lost in the mists of time. The first traces we find are uncertain reports by the Dominicans, which date the statue's erection to 1403. In 1762 the statue and the pole, which was almost completely destroyed at the time, were restored. The consecration of the new statue was performed by Alexander Horain, bishop of Hyrena, referendary of the Holy Land, suffragan of Samogitia, archdeacon of Vilnius, assisted by numerous clergymen, in front of the whole tribunal and several tens of thousands of people.

In 1808, Canon Boguslawski, while restoring the statue of St. Jack, and wanting to annoy the Dominicans who were in no hurry to restore the already crumbling statue, had the Dominican habit of St. Jack repainted in the colours of the Carmelites; he also put the following four-line poem on the plate, which no longer exists today:

"You are in Heaven, and we here on earth Dare not look with sinful eyes! Ask of God what we need: Virtue, reason and health and bread.".

The next restoration of the statue took place in 1843, thanks to the efforts of Dr Kazimierz Wilczyński. The consecration was performed among the numerous people gathered by Father Mamert of Fulczyn Iderburtt, a doctor of theology and canon of Vilnius. After several decades, the statue once again began to deteriorate, threatened by ruin and oblivion, which unfortunately consumes so many mementoes... But once again a protector was found who, sparing neither time nor effort, raised the statue from decline. This time the statue was carved from copper according to a wooden model by the sculptor Balzukevich, who, with the help of a drawing by his son, a painter, did a very good job, and the accompanying drawing and photograph give an idea of the work.

It remains for me to mention the marble plaque, which Kraszewski, reading out some decades ago, found badly damaged. The inscription that remains, I enclose:

"May it be... pocli... Jesus Chrs. on the w... Commemoration... given to God s... For eternity in good constancy, 45,000 zl... Preaching M... In the Church of the Holy Spirit Jagiellonian from... Consecration to the Bishopric of Vilnius of Ignatius James of Rus... to the 24th in June of SS. Peter and Paul Qu... By the sworn sons of ... Dominic Patryar for hereditary service to the souls of ... the whole of Lithuania, Ruthenia, etc. with the word of ... By the farewell of the nominated Shepherd ... Parent of JWJMP. Michael Castellan of Vilnius... Son of HPV. Jan Podczaszek and Marshal of the Tryb. WXL. W. X zl. R. M. With this colossus from the circulation of the missionary devotees of the lady... Meritorious for centuries half-sixth Missionarz... St. Jacek will confess... B. Vitus the first. of all Lithuania Bishop of the wounded... Bl. Gabryel Nicholas the Angel... Felis from r. 1532 d. April r. 1554 d. 22 Apr. Cyprian To r. 1604 d. 24 Bishop of Meton. Suffrgan. Vilnius. In another for their Apostolic work in the homeland... drawn up... For the days of the imaginary Year from the ascension to the Archpriesthood... Missionarz... from heaven words by... 1762 At the bottom of this plaque is a four-line poem: "Reader Keep the word of the Creator, that thou from Lotow... Do not become a pillar, so God punishes for unfaithfulness... To the good a reward, and to the sinful... Ask the Lord's Angelic trouncing greeting...". .

From the quoted text, one can see in what condition the plaque is, and what fate this monument has gone through, which today, thanks to Fr Kurczewski, has been saved from complete destruction. And today, against the backdrop of the setting sun, this statue stands radiant, beaming with power and solemnity... The years will pass, and it will stand. Honour indeed to those people who, having loved the monuments of the past, know how to save them from destruction!