Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 172, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 July 1913 — IS UNCROWNED KING [ARTICLE]

IS UNCROWNED KING

Paderewski Meets Royal Reception in Native Land.

Dreamer of a United Poland—Practical Nature of Wife- Has Kept Musician From Leaving Concert Stage for Politics.

Warsaw. —Ignace Paderewski, the pianist, is the uncrowned king of Poland, says Warsaw correspondent. Whenever he appears in any town of the ancient Polish republic he is greeted with that royalty and enthusiam which belongs only to popular monarchs. There is a royal halo about Paderewski's presence in this country, whether it be in the part that lies under Russian, Austrian or German rule. When he goes out, crowds wait below to cheer him as he leaves the hotel. When he enters a theater, those who cannot get inside wait for hours outside in the hope of catching, a glimpse of him and cheering blm'on his way home. When he gives a concert, it is as if a king held audience.

The pianist’s growing popularity troubles the authorities, especially in Germany and Russia Poland. The Russian police have an idea that he will one fine day get himself crowned on the concert platform, between a sonata and a rhapsody. Always an ardent patriot, even when poor and unknown, Paderewski now spends huge sums on his country. If ft were not for the more practical influence of his wife, Paderewski, rich as he is, would be poor. No appeal for his country or less fortunate fellow countrymen can he hear in vain. Mme. Paderewski has made a rule of being present at all tpisiness interviews. This has made her many enemies. Paderewski would like, of all things, to buy an estate in Poland. Mme. Paderewski has, so far. dissuaded him, in spite of friends’ influence pulling the other way. His immense popularity probably would set the authorities against him. And Paderewski gives way. They retire to

Morges after each Polish visit; but this, his friends say, Will be his last out of Poland.

Morges is their Swiss home, where Mme. Paderewski finds life perfectly charming, with her wonderful fowls and parrots. Mme. Paderewski enemies contend that she keeps guard, over him because she fears that he will become so Intensely interested in his own country that he will want to give no more concerts and will thereby be ruined. .Some three years ago, when in Austrian Poland, where in Cracow he unveiled the historical monument he had given to his countrymen in memory of a famous victory over the Germans, many tried to persuade him to enter politics, to become a member of the Austrian parliament, for be is a splendid public speaker. Paderewski hesitated. The suggestion had much charm for him. But reflection, and his wife, persuaded him to refuse the offer. He went back to Morges—and the concert hall.

In England Paderewski’s influence and high social position have made even statesmen like Asquith and Sir Edward Grey, absorbed in larger politics and afraid of offending mighty Russia, interest themselves in the Polish question. The victorious Bulgarians paved the way for their successes in much the same manner. They had no Paderewski, but 'King Ferdinand went around Europe “booming” his little country. Thanks to his efforts, the world heard of Bulgaria, which was merely Turkey’s slave forty years ago. The Slav world Is waking up to great things.