Excerpts from a regional chronicle in the periodical "Wieści z Polski", which, among other things, mentions Ralf Modrzejewski (son of Helena Modrzejewska), a bridge builder in the USA [erroneously given as the creator of the Brooklyn Bridge - editor's note], who is to build a new connection between the United States and Canada over the St. Cloir River. The issue also mentions the periodical 'Wychodźcy', which recalls what America owes to Polish immigrants. The formation of the Polish American intelligentsia is also cited, as well as T. Wronski, an opera singer who applied for a permanent opera house in Detroit. The Argentine section, in turn, mentions the level of affluence of the Polish community in Argentina, as well as its participation in the general national exhibition (Source: "Wieści z Polski", Warsaw 1928, R: 1, no. 4-5, pp. 45 - 46, after: Jagiellonian Digital Library).

A modernised reading of the text

What does America owe to the Poles?

In No. 40 of "Wychodźca", we read an article under the above title signed with the pseudonym "American". The article is so interesting that we would like it to be read by our compatriots from across the Ocean, especially by Polish-American youth. We quote it in full. What does America owe to the Poles? "At a time when there are more and more voices in the United States claiming that immigrants, coming from Slavic and Romance countries, are less valuable than "Nordics", who trace their ancestry back to Germany, England and Scandinavia, it is worth remembering what America owes to the Poles. 150 years ago, when the Americans began the sacred struggle for their liberation, the first Europeans to come to fight under their banners were the French and... the Poles.

The Polish generals - Kosciuszko and Pulaski - rendered immense services to the American insurgents. However, they were not alone. Among others, we should also mention Wiktor Kochanowski, a Polish officer who formed two regiments in New York and took part in thirty-two battles, further generals: Krzyżanowski and Rosenkrantz, who distinguished themselves at the defence of Washington. I believe it is not an exaggeration to say that the Poles contributed to some extent to freeing America from the English yoke. Over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, millions of our compatriots came to the United States. They were not driven to America by a desire for romantic adventure, but by the pursuit of bread.

Our emigrants paid for this bread with hard and arduous work, which contributed greatly to today's American prosperity. Polish workers were not only not inferior to the "Nordics", but fat better. The greatest industrial powerhouse of the United States - the great automobile manufacturer Henry Ford - claims in his book entitled My Life and Work that "Polish workers seem to me the most clever and ingenious". The huge American industrial and mining centres are overflowing with Poles. In the industrial heartland of the United States - Chicago - we have 400,000 Poles.

Wherever you need to work the most and where you need to persevere, you will find our compatriots everywhere. Today, the United States is home to four million of our compatriots. This human gift is the greatest gift Poland has made to the United States. The racial species of Poles coming to the United States was first class. They came to the "New World" people who were healthy, in their prime, very energetic and enterprising. They increased the percentage of the manufacturing population in the United States. Poland raised these people, paid for their upkeep when they were powerless children, and then gave them back to America. There were very few children and old people coming. Maryland State Governor Ritchie said:

"We received adult and mostly mature workers, thus avoiding the considerable cost of training, raising and feeding them during their infancy and the loss from child mortality. The United States would not have grown to the power it presents today if it had not been for the human material from Europe, both from the mainland and the islands, who crossed the Atlantic and here, wrapped in patriotism for the new Fatherland, felt loyal to our flag and gave their strength and health to building the source of this country's prosperity."

Among these arriving masses in America, a powerful percentage were Poles. Accidents, occurring so frequently in modern industry and mining, affect a powerful percentage of Polish workers. Poles give to America not only all their strength but also their blood... And the number of accidents in industry and mining in the United States is very great. In 1925 - 10,537 men lost their lives in industrial enterprises, while the total number killed in the American army during the World War was only 77,000.

During the world war, 12,000 of the American citizens killed were of Polish origin, despite the fact that in the United States Poles made up only 4% of the population. According to official statistics - 300,000 Poles served in the American army, not counting those who enlisted in the Polish army fighting in France. Poles not only gave their strength and blood to America, but also took a very lively part in its cultural life. The great artist Modrzejewska, adored by Americans, was Polish.

In American opera, we still had Jan de Reszka, Korzeniowska and Adam Didur; on stage and in moving pictures, Pola Negri and Gilda Gray; the famous symphony orchestra in Philadelphia was directed by Leopold Stokowski and Artur Rodziński, while in Detroit by Tadeusz Wroński; pianists: Jozef Hoffman, Jozef Rubinstein, Mieczyslaw Muenz, Zygmunt Stojowski, the world-famous violinists Bronislaw Huberman and Pawel Kochanski, as well as the singer Marcela Sembrich, are all Polish-born.

Also painters: W.T. Benda and G. Gwozdecki and the sculptors Olszewski and Szukalski are also Poles. There are so many Poles, especially in the field of art, that it is impossible to mention them all here. In countless fields, Poles have contributed to the elevation and expansion of the economic and political power of the United States. In the face of these facts, how miserable the complaints of the "100 per cent" Americans, who slander Slavic immigration and impose quota restrictions on it, look.

The organisation of the Polish-American intelligentsia.

A very comforting symptom is the organising of the unfortunately so few Polish-American intelligentsia. The fact that the Polish-American intelligentsia does not yet play the role in the United States that it should, in view of its merits and numerical strength, is due to the small number of professional intelligentsia, the so-called professionals, and their lack of organisation. Any new organisation of the intelligentsia is therefore to be welcomed. A club of Polish New England professionals has been formed in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Dr. Bronislaw Smykowski of Bridgeport, Conn. was elected president of the club, Dr. Stanislaw Mieczkowski of Worcester was elected vice-president, Dr. Julia Bauman of Holyoke, Mass. was elected cashier, Dr. B.R. Lutecki of Hartford, Conn. was elected secretary. Dr. K. Smolczynski, attorney Paul P. Flak, and attorney A.S. Bachorowski joined the committee. The social committee consisted of Dr. K. Michalski, attorney Joseph Lewandowski, pharmacist C. Klismowski. Society of Polish Journalists. Polish journalists in the United States work under difficult conditions, and their work is extremely responsible. The failure to organise the journalistic fraternity overseas has been very damaging to those involved.

The idea of creating a joint organisation has long been on the minds of Polish-American journalists. Much has been written on the subject, and finally a convention was held in Pittsburgh, at which 12 journals were represented. It is regrettable that the convention was not attended by all Polish newspapers, regardless of their views, but it is to be hoped that the "Society of Polish Journalists in America", established at the convention, will in time be joined by all journalists. The provisional board of the newly formed institution included: Zygmunt Stefanowicz, editor of the "Dziennik Zjednoczenia" - president, Z. Stachowicz, editor of the "Cleveland Monitor" - vice-president, Jan Przyprawa, editor of the "Union Gazette" - secretary and Jozef Wedda, editor of the "Daily Record" - cashier. The Selection Committee, which is also to constitute a Court of Honour until the next Journalists' Convention, consists of three, namely Dr K. Warchl, V.L. Alski and T. Jasiorkowski.

The Convention also adopted a draft of the statutes of the Society of Journalists. Pole creator of opera in Detroit. The well-known American opera singer, Mr Tadeusz Wroński, thanks to his untiring efforts, led to the city of Detroit having its own permanent city opera. This great artist is held in high esteem by Americans as a singer, singing teacher and opera director. It is worth mentioning that, working mostly among "hundred per cent" Americans, he does not forget about Poland and the Polish-American community and often offers his precious time for his compatriots, organizing concerts and so on.