登陆注册
778500000004

第4章 我的家庭 (4)

Warsaw was then under Russian domination, and one of the worst aspects of this control was the oppression exerted on the school and the child. The private schools directed by Poles were closely watched by the police and overburdened with the necessity of teaching the Russian language even to children so young that they could scarcely speak their native Polish. Nevertheless, since the teachers were nearly all of Polish nationality, they endeavored in every possible way to mitigate the difficulties resulting from the national persecution. These schools, however, could not legally give diplomas, which were obtainable only in those of the government.

The latter, entirely Russian, were directly opposed to the Polish national spirit. All instruction was given in Russian, by Russian professors, who, being hostile to the Polish nation, treated their pupils as enemies. Men of moral and intellectual distinction could scarcely agree to teach in schools where an alien attitude was forced upon them. So what the pupils were taught was of questionable value, and the moral atmosphere was altogether unbearable. Constantly held in suspicion and spied upon, the children knew that a single conversation in Polish, or an imprudent word, might seriously harm, not only themselves, but also their families. Amidst these hostilities, they lost all the joy of life, and precocious feelings of distrust and indignation weighed upon their childhood. On the other side, this abnormal situation resulted in exciting the patriotic feeling of Polish youths to the highest degree.

Yet of this period of my early youth, darkened though it was by mourning and the sorrow of oppression, I still keep more than one pleasant remembrance. In our quiet but occupied life, reunions of relatives and friends of our family brought some joy. My father was very interested in literature and well acquainted with Polish and foreign poetry; he even composed poetry himself and was able to translate it from foreign languages into Polish in a very successful way. His little poems on family events were our delight. On Saturday evenings he used to recite or read to us the masterpieces of Polish prose and poetry. These evenings were for us a great pleasure and a source of renewed patriotic feelings.

Since my childhood I have had a strong taste for poetry, and I willingly learned by heart long passages from our great poets, the favorite ones being Mickiewecz, Krasinski and Slowacki. This taste was even more developed when I became acquainted with foreign literatures; my early studies included the knowledge of French, German, and Russian, and I soon became familiar with the fine works written in these languages. Later I felt the need of knowing English and succeeded in acquiring the knowledge of that language and its literature.

My musical studies have been very scarce. My mother was a musician and had a beautiful voice. She wanted us to have musical training. After her death, having no more encouragement from her, I soon abandoned this effort, which I often regretted afterwards.

I learned easily mathematics and physics, as far as these sciences were taken in consideration in the school. I found in this ready help from my father, who loved science and had to teach it himself. He enjoyed any explanation he could give us about Nature and her ways. Unhappily, he had no laboratory and could not perform experiments.

The periods of vacations were particularly comforting, when, escaping the strict watch of the police in the city, we took refuge with relatives or friends in the country. There we found the free life of the old-fashioned family estate; races in the woods and joyous participation in work in the far-stretching, level grain-fields. At other times we passed the border of our Russian-ruled division and went southwards into the mountain country of Galicia, where the Austrian political control was less oppressive than that which we suffered. There we could speak Polish in all freedom and sing patriotic songs without going to prison.

My first impression of the mountains was very vivid, because I had been brought up in the plains. So I enjoyed immensely our life in the Carpathian villages, the view of the pikes, the excursions to the valleys and to the high mountain lakes with picturesque names such as: "The Eye of the Sea. "However, I never lost my attachment to the open horizon and the gentle views of a plain hill country.

Later I had the opportunity to spend a vacation with my father far more south in Podolia, and to have the first view of the sea at Odessa, and afterwards at the Baltic shore. This was a thrilling experience. But it was in France that I become acquainted with the big waves of the ocean and the ever-changing tide. All my life through, the new sights of Nature made me rejoice like a child.

同类推荐
  • 世界文学知识大课堂:美洲现代文学大家

    世界文学知识大课堂:美洲现代文学大家

    主要讲了阿根廷现代文学大家,拿大现代文学大家普拉特大家,墨西哥现代文学,尼加拉瓜现代文学大家 智利现代文学大家等美洲地区国家的文学大家。作家是生活造就的,作家又创作了文学。正如高尔基所说:“作家是一支笛子,生活里的种种智慧一通过它就变成音韵和谐的曲调了……作家也是时代精神手中的一支笔,一支由某位圣贤用来撰写艺术史册的笔……”因此,作家是人类灵魂的工程师,也是社会生活的雕塑师。
  • 撒切尔夫人给女人的13堂智慧课

    撒切尔夫人给女人的13堂智慧课

    2013年4月8日,英国前首相撒切尔夫人去世,享年87岁,引发全球媒体的关注。英国首相卡梅伦表示:“听到撒切尔夫人离世的消息,我十分悲伤。我们失去了一位伟大的领导人,一位伟大的首相,一位伟大的英国人”,“她不仅领导了英国,更拯救了英国”。美国总统奥巴马发表声明称,美国失去了一位“真正的朋友”。法国总统奥朗德表示,撒切尔是一名伟大的人物,她在英国历史上留下了深刻的印迹。
  • 爱因斯坦自述(中小学生必读丛书)

    爱因斯坦自述(中小学生必读丛书)

    本书将通过爱因斯坦的自述和其书信。真实地反映他的生活经历、事业理想、喜怒哀乐、特立独行及其辉煌的一生。,爱因斯坦不仅是伟大的科学家,也是一位具有很高天赋和独特风格的德语写作家、音乐爱好者、哲人和社会活动家。他是人类历史上绝无仅有的一位传奇人物,集多种角色于一身:丈夫、父亲、儿子、情人、良师、益友、犹太人、世界公民、社会良心、和平主义者、业余小提琴手、统一场理论的独行侠……总而言之,是“生活在他自己世界里的个古怪天才”
  • 富兰克林自传(中小学生必读丛书)

    富兰克林自传(中小学生必读丛书)

    《富兰克林自传》的出版具有划时代的意义。它在1771年动笔,1788年完成,前后历时17年之久。这位饱,经风霜的老入,以拉家常的方式,把自己成功的经验和失败的教训娓娓道来,整部自传既无哗众取宠之状,也无盛气凌人之势,在通俗易懂的叙述中不仅有睿智和哲理的火花,且全书文字朴素幽默,使人备感亲切,《富兰克林自传》开创了美国传记文学的优良传统,从此,自传成为一种新的文学体裁。
  • 告诉你一个丘吉尔的故事

    告诉你一个丘吉尔的故事

    精选了丘吉尔人生中富有代表性的事件和故事,以点带面,从而折射出他充满传奇的人生经历和各具特点的鲜明个性。通过阅读《告诉你一个丘吉尔的故事》。我们不仅要了解他的生活经历,更要了解他的奋斗历程,以及学习他在面对困难、失败和挫折时所表现出来的杰出品质。
热门推荐
  • 嫡女棣王妃

    嫡女棣王妃

    “姨娘,夫人似乎断气了~”“哼!这么一碗药都下去了,难道她还能活着不成?”“那这······”一个年纪稍长的人朝着这位称作姨娘的人示意了一下自己手中的婴儿,似乎有些犹豫,“这好歹是个男孩,现在夫人已经死了,如果姨娘把他占为己有,然后得了这府中的中馈······”“嬷嬷?!”女子也不等她的话说完,就打断了她,“你记住了,我恨死了这个女人,她的儿子,只能随着她去,我就是以后自己生不出儿子,抱养别人的,也不会要她的。把他给我扔马桶里面溺了,对外就说一出生就死了!”猩红的嘴唇,吐出来的话却是格外的渗人。嬷嬷还想说什么,动了动嘴,却是一句话也没有说,转身朝着后面放着马桶的地方走去。却是没有发现旁边地上一个穿着有些破旧的衣服的小女孩此刻正瞪大了眼睛看着她们两。这是什么情况?自己不是被炸死了吗?怎么会······于此同时,脑中不断有记忆闪现出来,她们是自己的母亲和刚出生的弟弟啊?!不行,先救人。转头看见旁边谁绣花留下的针线跟剪刀,想到自己前世的身手,拿起一根绣花针就朝着那个嬷嬷飞了过去,却在半路上掉落下来,暗骂一声,这人是什么破身体。却引得那两个人听见动静看了过来。女人阴狠的盯着她,“你居然没有死?”微微眯起眼睛,自己的前身也是被她们弄死的了,看样子她们谁也不会放过,抓起旁边的剪刀就冲了过去。随着几声惨叫声,从此以后,府中府外都传遍了她的“美名”——凤家大小姐心肠歹毒,刺伤了府中无数的人,宛如一个疯子。
  • 无敌大小姐

    无敌大小姐

    当现代阴狠毒辣,手段极多的火家大小姐火无情,穿越到一个好色如命,花痴草包大小姐身上,会发生怎样的化学反应?火无情一醒过来就发现,自己竟然在众目睽睽之下上演脱衣秀。周围还有一群围观者。这一发现,让她极为不爽。刚刚穿好衣服,便看到一个声称是自家老头的老不死气势汹汹的跑来问罪。刚上来,就要打她。这还得了?她火无情从生自死,都是王者。敢动她的人,都在和阎王喝茶。于是,她一怒之下,打了老爹。众人皆道:火家小姐阴狠毒辣,竟然连老爹都不放在眼里。就这样,她的罪名又多了一条。蛇蝎美人。穿越后,火无情的麻烦不断。第一天,打了爹。第二天,毁了姐姐的容。第三天,骂了二娘。第四天,当众轻薄了天下第一公子。第五天,火家贴出招亲启事:但凡愿意娶火家大小姐者,皆可去火府报名。来者不限。不怕死,不想活的,欢迎前来。警示:但凡来此,生死皆与火家无关。若有残病者火家一律不负法律责任。本以为无人敢到,岂料是桃花朵朵。美男个个很妖娆一号美人:火无炎。火家大少爷。为人不清楚,手段不清楚。容貌不清楚。唯一清楚的是,他有钱。有多多的钱。火无情语录:钱是好东西。娶了。(此美男,由美瞳掩饰不了你眼神的空洞领养。)火老爷一气之下,昏了过去。家门不幸,家门不幸啊。二号美人:竹清月。江湖人称天上神仙,地上无月。大国师一枚。美得惊天动地。火无情语录:美人好,尤其是自带嫁妆又会预测未来的美人,娶了。(此美男,由东de琳琳领养)三号美人:轩辕子玉。当朝七皇子,游历四国。一张可爱无敌的脸。单纯至极。火无情语录:可爱的孩子好,可爱又乖巧的孩子更好。可爱乖巧又不用给钱的孩子,娶了。(此美男,由刘千绮领养)皇帝听闻,两眼一抹黑。他的儿啊。怎么就这么不争气呢。四号美人:天下第一美男。性格不详,籍贯不详。火无情语录:谜一样的美人,她喜欢。每天都有新鲜感。娶了。(此美男,由告别的爱情li领养。)五号美人:天下第一名伶。火无情语录:解风情的美男,如果没钱花把他卖了都不用调教。娶了。(此美男由伊眸领养。)六号美男:解忧楼楼主。相貌不详,身世不详。爱好杀人。火无情语录:凶恶的美人,她喜欢。娶了。(此美男由陈铭铭领养)七号美男:琴圣。貌如谪仙,琴音杀人。冷清眸子中,百转千回,说尽风流。(此美男由伊眸领养)夜杀:天下第一杀手。(此美男由静寂之夜领养)
  • 重生洪荒之我为准提

    重生洪荒之我为准提

    一个平凡的小和尚在一次意外中穿越到了传说中的洪荒时期,更加出奇的是穿越后的他竟然是西方教也就是后来的佛教两位始祖之一的准提道人。那么拥有现代人意识的准提将会有怎样的一番经历呢,他还会和传说中的准提道人是一个德行么?O(∩_∩)O~
  • 象牙贵族 出版

    象牙贵族 出版

    [出版上市]现实就像手无寸铁对荷枪实弹,她只能默默承受然而,人生的过程中有赢就有输感情的世界里,不会总输不赢谁能说示弱不是一种智慧?示弱是最高的智慧!她……
  • 嫡女棣王妃

    嫡女棣王妃

    “姨娘,夫人似乎断气了~”“哼!这么一碗药都下去了,难道她还能活着不成?”“那这······”一个年纪稍长的人朝着这位称作姨娘的人示意了一下自己手中的婴儿,似乎有些犹豫,“这好歹是个男孩,现在夫人已经死了,如果姨娘把他占为己有,然后得了这府中的中馈······”“嬷嬷?!”女子也不等她的话说完,就打断了她,“你记住了,我恨死了这个女人,她的儿子,只能随着她去,我就是以后自己生不出儿子,抱养别人的,也不会要她的。把他给我扔马桶里面溺了,对外就说一出生就死了!”猩红的嘴唇,吐出来的话却是格外的渗人。嬷嬷还想说什么,动了动嘴,却是一句话也没有说,转身朝着后面放着马桶的地方走去。却是没有发现旁边地上一个穿着有些破旧的衣服的小女孩此刻正瞪大了眼睛看着她们两。这是什么情况?自己不是被炸死了吗?怎么会······于此同时,脑中不断有记忆闪现出来,她们是自己的母亲和刚出生的弟弟啊?!不行,先救人。转头看见旁边谁绣花留下的针线跟剪刀,想到自己前世的身手,拿起一根绣花针就朝着那个嬷嬷飞了过去,却在半路上掉落下来,暗骂一声,这人是什么破身体。却引得那两个人听见动静看了过来。女人阴狠的盯着她,“你居然没有死?”微微眯起眼睛,自己的前身也是被她们弄死的了,看样子她们谁也不会放过,抓起旁边的剪刀就冲了过去。随着几声惨叫声,从此以后,府中府外都传遍了她的“美名”——凤家大小姐心肠歹毒,刺伤了府中无数的人,宛如一个疯子。
  • 早安,男神

    早安,男神

    竹马表示:二十年前抱大腿求嫁的青梅居然不认识自己了,求破!青梅表示:要贴身保护男神了,我该怎么做?急,在线等!——世界上最美好的事儿就是,我爱你,恰好你也爱我。
  • 白手打天下一百招

    白手打天下一百招

    有人对世界上的那些富豪们做过一项研究,发现在这些富豪之中,只有一小部分是继承遗产成为富人的,而95%以上都是通过白手起家的,其中包括赫赫有名的钢铁大王安德鲁·卡内基、石油大王洛克菲勒、金融巨鳄摩根、软件业皇帝比尔·盖茨、华人首富李嘉诚等。
  • 成大事必备的9种心态

    成大事必备的9种心态

    要成大事,绝非易事,但也并非高不可攀,就看你以什么心态入世,抱定怎样的决心。正所谓大器有大成,小材有小就。为此,笔者经过长时间的准备,精心推出了此书,单从以下九个方面阐述了能成大事的九种心态:积极向上的心态;勤勉谦恭的心态;诚实守信的心态;敢于挑战的心态;善于合作的心态;知足平衡的心态;乐观豁达的心态:宽厚容人的心态;永远自信的心态。
  • 教你学习演讲

    教你学习演讲

    口才是指我们在交际的过程中,口语语言表达得十分准确、得体、生动、巧妙、有效,能够达到特定交际目的和取得圆满交际效果的口语表达艺术与技巧。
  • 地心修仙

    地心修仙

    玄影,他是一个普通的高中生,一次意外,他坠入了万丈深渊,来到了离地心最近的地方,地心之谷。在这里,他遇到了两个人,一个是苍擎宇,一个是香雪舞,三人情投意合,义结金兰,从此在地心之谷里开始了修炼。