The Knickerbocker, Vol. 10, No. 3, September 1837Various
History
The Knickerbocker, Vol. 10, No. 3, September 1837
Various
Periodicals
I did not receive it till the day after that designated, but still
I went. There did not seem to be even a porter or a servant on the
premises. An old man escorted me up stairs, and knocking, the door
opened where a good looking gentleman was writing. I was at a loss to
know whether he was the prince or not, but he seemed to expect me.
'Monsieur ----?' 'Oui, Monsieur.' He escorted me to the next room,
and took my card into another. In a few minutes, a noble-looking man,
about fifty-five, came out, and taking my hand, was 'very glad to see
Mr. ----;' 'walk in;' and so I was seated on a plain gingham-covered
sofa, with the Prince Czartoryski. The apartments, furniture, etc.,
are plain almost to meanness, and the prince's pantaloons themselves
looked as if they had been washed five or six times; a fact which
I consider highly creditable to him. He has decidedly one of the
finest, noblest countenances I ever saw. It is expressive at once of
dignity, energy, and benevolence. It indicates a contempt of every
thing mean.
I must confess I felt rather awkward in this my first tête-à-tête
with a prince. It was so hard to have to say 'your highness' at
every sentence, that I finally dropped it entirely, and answered
yes, Sir, or no, Sir. He evidently expects this form, but does not
insist upon it. He inquired about the condition of his countrymen
in the United States; if they had obtained employment; if they
conducted themselves well; what gentlemen had interested themselves
for them. He had not heard of Mr. Wilder, and told his secretary to
take down his name. He asked if any association for the Poles existed
in New-York, and if one could not be formed; if the Americans were
not rather partial to Russia, and thought she had done right. This I
answered very warmly, and said that, on the contrary, our country had
watched with astonishment the conduct of the other powers of Europe
in not interfering in behalf of Poland. That the wrongs of Poland
were a favorite theme for our school-boys and school-girls.
After a conversation of half an hour or more, I took leave, the
prince inviting me very cordially to call on him when I returned to
Paris. The morning papers state that 'the government (of France)
yesterday made an application to Prince Czartoryski for three hundred
Poles to go to Spain'--for which 'party,' I did not notice.
FOOTNOTE:
[11] I am particular in the mention of these pecuniary facts,
believing that they will be useful to American readers, who may
contemplate going abroad.
LAY.
I.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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