Fashion Humanitarian Organization, United Colors of Fashion (UCOF), sets a standard for engaging glamour & generosity | UCOF Academy | Empowering Youth through Fashion Education
Fashion Humanitarian Organization, United Colors of Fashion (UCOF), sets a standard for engaging glamour & generosity
NEW YORK, NY (October 17, 2012) – The Museum of the City of New York burned a bright golden orange tonight, that of United Colors Of Fashion’s logo, a Fashion Philanthropy organization, which aids charities for children living with HIV and AIDS and supports the arts and fashion education in New York, as celebrities, fashion icons, and philanthropist engaged in their annual themed Benefit Gala: “Be Glamorous: Glamour Gives.”
The Benefit Gala commenced with an awards ceremony honoring celebrities and philanthropist such as Grammy award winner Dionne Warwick, and Phillip Bloch, Hollywood’s celebrity stylist, for their humanitarian efforts.
Amongst other honorees were former model and muse to Givenchy, Sandi Bass, who was honored as UCOF’s “Casting Director of The Year,” by iconic supermodel, Pat Cleveland, and former America’s Next Top Model judge, Miss Jay Alexander. “It was a delight to have had legendary Pat Cleveland walk in our show. It was a fascinating night to remember. What we do at UCOF is investing in the lives of those who lack resources. When you invest in the empowerment of young adults, you offer guidance for our future leaders, designers and entrepreneur,” said Ciano Clerjuste, President of United Colors of Fashion and founding partner.
The awards ceremony commenced with fashion photographer, filmmaker and former judge of America’s Next Top Model, Nigel Barker, who delivered a speech commissioning the mission of UCOF and urging for advocacy to make differences.
“We can all do a lot more, in fact we can all do something, in fact we all too very often do very little.”
Mr. Barker praised UCOF for “bringing the issues of the world together and the fashion industry together.” Bukiwe Sangqu, the spouse to the UN Ambassador to South Africa was also honored.
The Gala was reflective of the arts, which is also inclusive of the mission of UCOF. Hosting the event was Kaye Tuckerman, lead actress from the cast of “Mama Mia,” on Broadway, and Thuli Dumakude who was casted as the original “Rafiki” from Disney’s “Lion King,” on Broadway, who made mention of the UCOF “Ambassadors of Hope” support bracelets that were made by the women of the Thembalethu Beader, meaning “My Hope.”
The latter part of the Gala consisted of an international high fashion runway show, which was produced by the internationally acclaimed fashion and entertainment producer in Africa and honoree for Producer of the Year, Jan Malan. Featured designers such as season nine, “Project Runway” winner, Anya Ayoung-Chee, and returning presenter to UCOF, South African designer, David Tlale and other international designers such as Style Butler (Denmark), Amparo Chorda (Spain), Carla Silva (Angola), Naked Ape (South Africa), and Soucha Fashion House (Egypt)-an exhibition by House of Diehl (USA) and Losson Couture (Spain).
The show featured supermodels such as Sessilee Lopez, legendary Pat Cleveland, Ajak Deng, just to name a few and was supported by international ambassadors such as Ms. Universe 2011, Leila Lopes.
Tonight was a harmonious orchestration and manifestation of the mission of UCOF.
Each facet of what UCOF embodies, that of embracing fashion, art and philanthropy, was beautifully depicted at this event. This Gala served as a commencement ceremony to bring awareness and support to the uniqueness of UCOF, but more so, that patrons can have an intimate look, a visual demonstration of what the capabilities of UCOF consists of.
The organization will continue accepting 100% tax-deductible donations, products and government grants until March 1, 2013. The team is scheduled to travel to South Africa in March to deliver all donations to the Soweto Hospice, and spend a week with the children at Mapetla Day Care in Soweto. The total amount raised from the Gala, auction, government grants and corporate donors will be reported to the public in the first quarter of 2013. “We urge supporters and the fashion industry to not just end here, but continue supporting and donating to our cause as it will help bring a better and brighter future,” said Veronica Rovegno, UCOF’s founding partner and Vice President.
This event was made possible by the board of directors. Additional support provided in part with South African Airways, Hair & The City, Makeup Pro, Wines of South Africa, Jan Malan Productions, Losson Couture, COPHA, Patemm, DP Photo, IMG, New York Model, Wilhemina, Major Model, MUSE, Hadja Models, Red Models, Q Models, Women Model, Fenton Moon Models, Dimitrios, Heart 365 Emporium, Teni Cocker, Gwyneth, Eleqt, Fashion One TV, Vigore and Eramene Clerjuste.
For more information on United Colors Of Fashion, press and media inquiries please contact:
Veronica Rovegno
veronica@unitedcolorsoffashion.org
917-266-4171
Recent PostsNight and Days: Sarmatian Review, April 1999
Nights and Days
By Maria Dabrowska
Part One: Bogumil and Barbara
Introduction
In the old days, the Niechcic family lived more or less like all
the rest of the squirearchy. They maintained close and varied
relations with their relatives - even with the most remote - who
usually held estates similar to theirs or, what amounted to the same
thing, suburban gardenlands supplying comparable agricultural income.
They felt themselves to be an intimate part of a powerful
self-sufficient tribe, which had its own jargon of kinship and
friendliness, pondered how to educate its children aloof from outside
influences and, in general, conducted its business in such a way that
movement outside the tribe, or even outside the local ever-expanding
family structure, was rare. The grandfather of Bogumil Niechcic,
Maciej, however, had begun to drift slowly out of the family world.
More and more often he received into his home friends and
acquaintances from outside the clan: scientists, professors, artists,
journalists, members and activists of political parties, people of
doubtful origin or those who also left their own circle. The tale
went out that Maciej Niechcic gave away heart, mind and, last but not
least, money to perfect strangers. He acquired a reputation as a
restless man and his own people began to avoid him.
What extenuated these antics in the minds of his more sympathetic
relations was Maciej's supposed ambitious desire to emulate the great
nobles, magnates and celebrities who traditionally patronized
science, art and politics.
Soon, however, it became evident that Niechcic was a stranger to
such ambitions: it was not in the least evident that the significance
and splendor of his house was increasing in any sense. On the
contrary, Maciej Niechcic seemed to be doing everything to become
poorer and less conspicuous. For example, after the rising of 1830,
he conceived the idea of exchanging one of his hereditary estates for
another which, for some reason or other, suited his purposes better.
Conducting the negotiations connected with the transfer, he showed
more faith in his fellow men than prudence in seeing to his interests
- as a result of which he bought an estate mortgaged to such an
extent that his purchase led to the loss, not only of the newly
bought estate, but also of one of the remaining family villages. So
it was that the son of Maciej Niechcic, Michal, inherited from his
father the family estate Jarosty considerably trimmed down, as well
as his father's restless disposition. He also tried to wrench himself
out of the family world and began his grownup life with a scandalous
deed. He married a Dominican novice Florentyna Klicki. This Miss
Klicki was the pretty and very poor bearer of a prominent name, who
entered the convent in order to avoid being at the mercy of her rich
relations. The story went out that Micha Niechcic had been seeing her
secretly in the cloister, and that, if the truth were known, he had
simply stolen her away. And even though, later on, everything was
done according to law and custom - the lady repented according to all
propriety, was released from her novitiate, and both received
absolution and the sacrament of marriage - the noble houses, great
and small, would not forgive Niechcic his behavior for a long time.
He, however, did not make much of it, for, even though he was kind to
everyone, he resembled his father in seeking for the associations to
which he aspired: respect, friendship, closeness - not in the
neighboring mansions, but in the world at large, with people busy
with intellectual work or with public affairs. As for Lady
Florentyna, she felt happy in her new circumstances, partly because
having tasted many humiliations in her youth from people of her own
circle, she considered the society of anyone else a great blessing,
and partly because to be happy was consistent with her truly
affectionate nature.
Michal's participation in the 1863 rising was significant
enough to have Jarosty confiscated after the defeat and to send him
to Siberia. His wife followed him. Lady Florentyna, having
buried her husband in the remote Siberian forests, came back to
Poland and, having cried her eyes out over the lost son, became a
housekeeper in a mansion belonging to some acquaintances.
These were the parents of Bogumil Niechcic. Bogumil Adrian was
he came into the world after many years of
marriage. The older children died, one after another, which was,
according to local opinion, God's punishment for Lady Florentyna's
departure from the road of her holy vocation.
Bogumil grew up healthy, and at the age of fifteen he took part
with his father in the rising of 1863. [Polish rising for
independence against the Russians. Ed.]
In point of fact, Michal Niechcic had joined the insurrection not
when the gentry finally decided to do so, but at the very beginning,
together with the burghers, artisans, and youngsters of all
extractions. His participation in the conflict was significant enough
to have Jarosty confiscated after the defeat and to send him to
Siberia. His wife followed him. The son Bogus was taken care of by
some of those relatives who regarded the progeny of Maciej Niechcic
as a family of madmen. Their understanding of their educational
duties toward the youngster entrusted to their care was such that,
shortly afterwards, he fled from them so cleverly that they were
unable to find a trace of him. In the meantime, Lady Florentyna,
having buried her husband in the remote Siberian forests, came back
to Poland and, having cried her eyes out over the lost son, became a
housekeeper in a mansion belonging to some acquaintances. She was
satisfied with the bread she earned, for she had preserved the
serenity of spirit which had never left her whatever her situation.
After some time, her health deteriorated from age and the hardships
of past life. Then the owners of the estate Krepa where she worked,
fixed her a little flat in an outbuilding and settled her there
together with her brother Klemens Klicki, also an ex-insurrectionist,
who until then, lacking material means and somewhat deranged
mentally, had lived in a poorhouse.
Teaching was one of the few professions open to educated Poles
under the Russian government.
Lacking a broader field of activity
forbidden to them by the government, Poles expended their energy in
long chats and in play.
One day at the door of this cottage, where the resident Florentyna
Niechcic was finishing her days together with Klemens Klicki, knocked
the son Bogumil, having returned after the wandering of many years.
The maiden name of Barbara Joanna, later the wife of Bogumil
Niechcic, was Ostrzenski. As for her grandfather, Jan Chryzostom
Ostrzenski, he lost his estate Lorenki amidst many unfavorable
circumstances of an economic nature which testified as much to the
difficult situation of the whole country as to the fact that
gathering and maintaining earthly goods did not agree with the nature
of the aforesaid Jan Chryzostom. But if he resembled the Niechcices
in his ability to lose material goods, he did not betray any
inclination to acquire, or create, any other more intangible ones. He
did not try to wrench himself out
contrary, while in the process of losing his inheritance he was on
the best terms with family and neighbors. He was a lively rip and was
generally liked because he drank, hunted, played cards and danced
with everyone. Thus, he left his sons nothing but small leaseholds.
One of these sons, Adam, had an alluring appearance and his father's
disposition. While his brothers came back to the ownership of small
estates, he lost everything on his lease, and since he hated the
country, he soon moved to the city where he became a treasury clerk.
He associated, however, only with the neighboring squirearchy, for
only among them was he able to enjoy himself to the full. He was
lucky, people liked him despite his lack of means and he soon married
Miss Jadwiga Jaraczewski, the heiress to the two estates. In
accomplishing this match, he was helped by luck as well as by
accident. To be specific, the father of the bride gave her to Adam in
a fit of rage because she dared to fall in love with a neighbor's
tutor, a German and a burgher by birth. The father, a Mason, a
democrat and a major under Bonaparte, was permeated with the ideals
of the French R all this did not weaken, however, his blind
attachment to tradition, to his coat of arms and the family line. He
had wanted to marry his daughter in a way that would be consistent
with her feelings and with the demands of her position. However, when
she began to give him trouble after the discovery of her romance with
the teacher, and threatened to become a nun if her marriage were not
accepted - in a fit of spitefulness, cruelty and pride, the father
decided to give her away without minding her feelings, to the first
suitor who appeared, provided he was a noble. Adam Ostrzenski had
moreover, being a likable man, he had already
won the hearts of the parents.
Miss Jaraczewski took the compulsory marriage vows with tears and
was not happy with her husband. Adam Ostrzenski soon lost both dowry
estates and began to neglect his wife for months at a time for other
women. She, on her part, was unable to forget her teacher. Both of
them, however, had so much gentleness of disposition and
attractiveness about them, that they could not remain indifferent to
each other. After each financial loss, each argument and each
emotional parting, they would return to each other amidst outbursts
of desperate love, and they gave life to six children, four of whom
Barbara was the youngest of them, just as Bogumi was his parents'
youngest. She had no rememberance of a well-to-do home. She was born
in a town where Adam Ostrzenski, after many vicissitudes of fate, had
obtained the office of mayor. She was five when she lost her father.
Adam Ostrzenski was struck by lightning in his own flat, at the
moment when he was trying, during a storm, to close the window
tightly so that water would not drip on the floor.
Widowed, Jadwiga Ostrzenski moved to the provincial capital of
Kaliniec, following the advice of the patriarch of the family, the
rich councillor Joachim Ostrzeski, who felt an obligation to
supervise the family of his imprudent relative. There she opened a
boarding house for high school boys, at the same time educating her
own children with great difficulty. After one year of such life, the
insurrection of 1863 all boys, including her oldest son
Daniel went to the woods to join the guerrillas. At that time,
Jadwiga Ostrzenski sank so low financially that she had to exchange
her spacious flat for a room with a garret, and to sell almost all
her furniture. However, she did not lose her strength of mind even
for a moment, nor did she allow her children to quit school. Sad
experiences of her early years had disenchanted her with the prestige
and benefits of affluence and birth. She believed only in education.
She wished her sons to become scientists, or at least to acquire
positions requir she wanted to provide the same
opportunities for her daughters. When the insurrection was put down
and Daniel, wounded in the leg, came home at last, Lady Jadwiga moved
heaven and earth - including the vice governor of Kaliniec, whom the
councillor Ostrzenski knew - to enable her son to finish the
gymnasium and afterwards to enter the university. Timid and unsure of
herself by nature, she was fierce and unyielding when she confronted
difficulties or harassment related to the education of her children.
In this respect, she was ready for the greatest humiliations and
sacrifices, including the repugnance of asking for favors in
governing circles. She would not accept any financial help, however -
in that she was unpleasantly and rudely proud - she would agree
unwillingly, only to the summer trips to Piekary Wielkie, the estate
of the councillor Joachim. Besides, she believed herself capable of
getting out of the greatest difficulties, and trusted that her
children would help out in time. One son was supposed to be a
biologist, the other, an engineer. Already they were in higher
educational institutions, Daniel in Warsaw and Julian in St.
Petersburg, and supported themselves by giving lessons. But they
could not as yet send anything to mother, or perhaps they did not
feel obliged to do so, occupied as they were with scholarly pursuits.
So it was that Lady Jadwiga lived, with her two daughters in
indescribable poverty. During the first few years their sustenance
depended almost exclusively on the sale of the grand remnants of the
past: linen tablecloths, old furs, cambric undergarments and keepsake
silver. When this stock ran out, the older daughter, Teresa, having
reached the upper forms of the gymnasium, b they
did not always suffice for dinner, but they kept them from starving.
The family situation got considerably better when Daniel and
Julian completed their studies. Julian remained in St. Petersburg,
and only announced by a letter that he had received a good position,
but Daniel settled down with his mother and sisters and began to
teach biology in the recently established private technical gymnasium
in Kaliniec. The teaching profession was, at that time in Poland, one
of the few open to the educated Poles. So that, shortly afterwards,
the daughter Teresa also began to teach in the same gymnasium which
she had previously attended and when the youngest one, Basia,
completed her schooling, she, in turn, began to disseminate her
freshly acquired knowledge in various private houses.
Chapter One
Gaiety, bustle and small talk began now to reign in the household
of Adam Ostrzenski's widow. A suitable apartment was rented in the
middle of the town and friends and acquaintances of Daniel and Teresa
began to flock there afternoons and evenings to read books, sing and
dance together. The budding Miss Basia's hemline was still very high,
in spite of her respectable earnings reaching as much as a few rubles
a month. She was still regarded as a little girl by the company which
gathered in Lady Ostrzenski's home, but in a way which did not hurt
her self-esteem. For she was not only admitted to all the amusements
of the more adult assembly, but also enjoyed a number of privileges
on various occasions. Daniel Ostrzenski's friends were young students
or freshly baked lawyers, doctors and teachers, biologists,
historians, mathematicians. All of them had great reserves of vigor
and talent commensurate with great enterprises and, lacking a broader
field of activity forbidden to all by the government, they expended
their extra energy in long chats and in play. They read together
Buckle's History of Civilization in England and Huxley's
The Physical Basis of Life, discussed Darwin's theory, played
Chopin's revolutionary etude, his 'insurrectionist' prelude and
Sonata Pathetique of B they sang Mickiewicz's ballads and
such songs as "Rise up, o eagle, from your wounds and shackles,"
"Hide away mother, my gowns, pearls, rose wreaths," "Why is the heart
sad," etc., took long promenades in the moonlight on the river bank
and in the park, danced until the small hours, went boating in the
country near Kaliniec and, under Daniel's leadership organized
botanic expeditions. In the summer, the same manner of spending the
time was transferred to the country estate of the councillor Joachim,
who gladly gathered around him both his poor relations and their
socially and intellectually distinguished friends.
At that time, Miss Barbara took a strong liking to the diversity
of life and to mental entertainment, whose contagious gaiety she took
to be the essence of her own nature. She felt then herself to be
happy and joyful, especially when the guests included a certain Mr.
J&zef Toliboski, a young lawyer of small but shapely
proportions, the dark-haired owner of a black beard and fair eyes,
cold and steely in color but in expression, fiery and caressing. He
seemed to be taking a great interest in the younger Miss Ostrzenski.
They had never been alone with each other, but in every gathering he
was always near her.
One day during a country excursion, the whole company was resting
on a hill by the river. Part of the riverbed at that place was
overgrown with the blossoming water lilies which Miss Barbara liked
very much.
'What a pity,' she said, 'that one cannot pick them.'
J&zef Toliboski glanced at her and, saying nothing, as if
it were not a coquettish prank but an austere proof of his readiness
to do anything, proceeded into the river just as he was and,
immersing himself up to his shoulders, came back with his arms full
of heavy white flowers. Those on the riverbank cracked jokes during
the whole time, roaring with laughter, and Miss Barbara cried. After
this event she was even more happy when Mr. J&zef was among
the invited crowd.
A few years passed. Daniel became engaged, and shortly afterwards
Teresa followed his example. Miss Barbara doted upon Daniel and
adored Teresa. Therefore their betrothal filled her simultaneously
she rejoiced in their happiness but regretted
the necessity of losing them to some degree. And not only them. She
was afraid that when brother and sister left the house, the
sympathetic and intelligent company in which her youth was passing in
such a blissful manner, would also disperse. Though it often happened
that she felt herself an inseparable part, or even the center of the
soirees, merrymakings and chitchats, she did not have so high an
opinion of herself as to think that these nice people gathered for
her sake as well. Her brother, the wisest and most learned of them
all, was the cause of their coming, and also her sister, who was so
very interesting and more beautiful than she herself. Both wedding
ceremonies left little in the memory of Miss Barbara, because she
wondered all the time whether her brother's friends would continue to
frequent the Ostrzenski home.
Having seen her new sister-in-law, she irrevocably lost all hope
in this respect. Daniel Ostrzenski's bride was Miss Michalina
Poleska, the daughter of a family of squires from the countryside
near Warsaw. Her parents were just on the eve of losing their estate,
their bad financial standing had recently scared off several
in this situation, they considered it not
unacceptable to give their daughter away to a young man of good
parentage to whom a brilliant scientific career was predicted. Still,
they could not deny themselves the pleasure of explaining here and
there that their daughter had committed a m&salliance,
justified only by the ardor of her love - in which they, as parents,
had not wished to interfere. These tales reached the ears of Lady
Jadwiga, and on that account the new daughter-in-law was received
somewhat haughtily.
Daniel Ostrzenski's wife was Miss Barbara's junior. She was
seventeen, but she had already developed into a splendid and
abundant, full- smartly dressed, with rosy cheeks,
she attracted all eyes. Side by side with her, Miss Barbara looked
like a frail little girl, and so she felt. It seemed to her that now
for the first time she saw a true woman, facing whom such creatures
as herself could do nothing but retreat into the shade. So that when,
after the first and second wedding, there indeed came a few quiet,
empty, and penny-pinching weeks - she secretly decided that the
period o and on that occasion, she cried her
eyes out over the inevitable, as she thought, loss of Mr. Toliboski's
friendship. For if he did not fall in love with her sister-in-law,
which he could only avoid by the most serious precautions, in the
luster emanating from the latter, he would lose all notice of little
Things did not turn out so badly, however. On the contrary, after
a short break, social relations were reestablished, the friendly
circle began to meet again not in one, but in three homes. Daniel's
Michasia was indeed anxious to receive praise, but she did not
believe that any competitor could deprive her of it. She liked to
shine in every respect, but she drew others into the light in which
she moved - indeed, she had an exceptional ability to organize
successful social events. Whether at a reception, country excursion
or skating party, or during more serious social gatherings, she knew
how to bring out in full relief the role and assets of each one of
those present, so that everyone felt himself to be necessary,
desirable and at his proper place - and, therefore, willingly ceded
top priority to her. She had not had much education, had not even
completed the gymnasium unlike Basia and Teresa Ostrzenski, so that
when the young company discussed topics taken from history, biology
or philosophy, she would sometimes say something stupid, confuse
generally known facts or even mispronounce less common words, not to
speak of names. But she organized poetry recitations, tableaux and
amateur theatricals with great delight, and drew everyone into these
activities - which talent did not, in fact, raise any grudges against
her because it contributed greatly to the diversity of social
relations. Lady Michasia's specialty was to create everything out of
'Out of nothing,' she would say, 'I fixed his supper, patched up
the curtain and the d&cor. And also this dress that everyone
so dotes upon, I made, if the truth were known, out of nothing.'
The new sister-in-law proved to be very affectionate towards Miss
Barbara, and both young ladies soon developed a warm friendship. This
friendship was more uninhibited on the part of Lady Michalina, for
Miss Barbara always entertained certain reservations. Among other
notions, Lady Michalina considered it a manifestation of friendly
closeness to discuss together wardrobe and the details of beauty
care. It was hard for Miss Barbara to bear this sort of intimacy.
Both her self-esteem and her modesty suffered a great deal when her
sister-in-law praised or upbraided her on her appearance, or when she
undressed to show Basia a new styling of the bodice or panties. But
it was merry and pleasant to talk to Michasia about current events.
Moreover, the fear concerning the possible loss of Mr. Toliboski's
friendship was gone. Daniel Ostrzenski's wife was, in fact, much less
dangerous in this respect than one might have supposed. Men admired
her, but only from a distance. In spite of the great freedom of her
manner, she was too monumental and too Sunday-best to kindle more
personal feelings. Perhaps also her love for Daniel made her
some men, however, maintained that she evoked
indifference in her husband also, for she did not have the talents
and the temperament of a great lover. Nonetheless, Daniel must have
held different opinions about that: Miss Barbara could not imagine
anyone looking happier more ardently in love than he did at that
Be that as it may, Lady Michalina's charms did not deprive any of
the other young ladies in the circle of her admirers. Indeed, Miss
Barbara even acquired two new ones in the course of the parties
organized by her sister-in-law - they both were, however, rejected on
grounds which were not quite clear for the rest of the company. As
for J&zef Toliboski, he did not cease to court Miss Barbara in
spite of the obvious beauty of the professor's wife (for that was the
name by which Lady Michalina was called), in spite of her curly
tresses, jet-black and elaborately set, her hazel eyes, and her happy
facility for moving around in the world. And now his courtship was
pursued not only in public - now they were taking walks together,
during which the young man, even though less eager to flatter than in
public, knew how to convey his friendship by a look, a handshake or a
few words. Miss Barbara patiently enjoyed this state of affairs
during the next two years, until the day that the word went out that
Mr. Toliboski was to be married. Entertainment and parties already
were less frequent at that time, the professions of the members of
the group were consuming more and more time, and Daniel and Teresa
had become parents. The wedding of J&zef Toliboski and Miss
Narecki - plain but rich - took place in Warsaw, where parents of the
bride were spending the winter. J&zef Toliboski renounced the
promising career at the bar which people were predicting for him. And
the young couple settled down in Borowno, the dowry estate of the
bride, several miles away from Kaliniec.
Soon afterwards Barbara Ostrzenski became as one terrified of
participating in life. She removed herself from worldly affairs,
began to dress austerely in black, and since she wore short hair and
looked somewhat boyish, she was nicknamed 'the seminarist.' The only
person with whom she kept in close touch was her sister, who was, it
appears, also her confidant. Some familiarity existed also between
her and her brother-in-law, a witty and energetic Lithuanian by the
name of Kociell, somewhat ugly in appearance, but who liked his
sister-in-law very much and knew how to make her enjoy herself.
Miss Barbara, who once dreamed of further studies and of some
vaguely envisaged distinction in intellectual pursuits or perhaps in
letters, now abandoned all ambitions in that field and decided to
master the art of sewing. In order to achieve this goal, she left for
Warsaw using the money borrowed from her brother-in-law for that
purpose. There she began to take the appropriate schooling in the
well-known salon of the sisters Kunke, at the corner of Krakowskie
Przedmiescie and Kr&lewska streets. This kind of work made up
for certain inhibitions in her friendship with her sister-in-law
Michalina. Now, from a professional standpoint, she could discuss
with her ladies' garments and underwear with great pleasure. And,
since she felt guilty that she could not satisfy Michalina in this
respect before, she now wrote to her very often and described in her
letters the most fashionable garments of the season, which included
black satins with golden trimming, sky-blue dresses with yellow
damask tops, smart dark-sapphire velvets and the otter-colored
costumes, so greatly in demand in Paris. When the borrowed funds ran
out, Miss Barbara abandoned sewing but did not leave Warsaw. She
began to earn money again, teaching arithmetic and handiwork at a
school for girls established by a classmate of hers. In that way she
returned to the same sort of acquaintances and intellectual hobbies
which she had enjoyed in the past. In addition to that, she
discovered a new kind of spiritual pleasure, detached from personal
relations. It was furnished by museum collections, theaters, art
exhibits, Musical Society matin&es, and public lectures. In
the letters to her sister, she called this new manner of
familiarizing herself with science and art 'the true enjoyment of
life.' She regained her gaiety, ceased to regard the old Kaliniec
bunch of friends as irreplaceable and found other ways of spending
the summer than visits with her mother and sister. She began to spend
her summer and winter vacations either with the family of her
brother-in-law in Lithuania, whom she had recently met and at whose
home she had again rejected the proposal of a serious young suitor,
or with lady Zenobia Lada, a remote relative of the Ostrzenskis
living in the town Borek in the northern part of Mazovia. Miss
Barbara liked to go to Borek, for she felt herself welcome there: she
was looked at and admired as a person from the upper set, a Warsaw
elegante. Besides, the countryside there was different from that near
Kaliniec. The road to Borek led through large and varied broadleaf
woods, which stretched around for miles. While travelling on this
road Miss Barbara would gladly expel from her memory all thoughts
about past and future, and let herself sink entirely into the swarthy
thickets, into the luxuriant greenness, full of music and the sigh of
the wind. All this would happen, of course, in the daylight, for if
she happened to travel through those woods at night, she trembled a
little, especially while passing the immense forest in the Krepa
estate, where rotting trees emanated a pale phosphorescence through
the darkness.
Jan Lada was a descendant of petty nobility, but even the memory
of the few acres that must have belonged to his ancestors, had long
since died out. His past jobs included bookkeeping and clerking for
big estates, and since he was industrious and lucky, he had made some
money. A part he had made by himself and a part he acquired in his
wife's dowry.
When Miss Barbara met him, he was comfortably off, held the office
of town clerk and was employed as the secretary in a business
establishment of the Agricultural S on top of that, he had
become again a landowner of sorts, for he owned a beautiful mansion
with a garden in the Borek suburbs, together with some hundred acres
of land - all this once having belonged to a large estate, now
defunct, with its center in Borek Dworski. Thus, he engaged in
several occupations, and looked as if he could manage twice as many.
He was a handsome, strong fellow of bushy dark brows with fair eyes
underneath, broad forehead, narrow round chin and luxurious mustache
falling on ruddy lips. Married to a clever but sickly, tiny, timid
girl, he detested her all his life. Mrs. Zenobia Lada was, in
comparison to him, a great lady by
he liked to
humiliate her for that and with acrid jokes reminded her now of her
plainness, now of her sickness. In connection with that he was
constantly infuriated with her frail intelligent children who had
inherited their mother's nervousness, and beat them till the air
whistled. He was hospitable, kind and gay with strangers, and did not
produce the impression of hypocrisy. He simply liked everyone better
than his own family.
Barbara Ostrzenski's visits were truly god sent for Lady Lada. She
would bring books and magazines, her conversations would make one
forget about the sad and sour life - the life which made Miss Barbara
think: 'How good I have not married and never will.'
For Jan Lada, Miss Ostrzenski's presence provided the occasion to
organize parties and receptions of which he was very fond.
To one such party there came a man who danced at first but then
withdrew to a neighboring room and began to watch one of the dancing
ladies. In doing that, he began to ease himself into the shadow of
the velvet curtain, as if trying to keep secret the direction in
which he looked. He was not a youngster, but a grown man, tall, with
long and beautiful legs, slim waist, wide shoulders and a broad,
pleasant face.
The young person at whom he was looking so incessantly, wore a
sequin-covered blouse and a black folded skirt with the sides pinned
up in a manner which, to him appeared much less exaggerated than
other women. She looked eighteen at most, her hair was black and cut
short like a boy's, her eyes - he did not yet have time to notice
her face, small, but clearly delineated, proud and
sincere. Of a free yet restrained manner and uninhibited movements,
she was bustling about the ballroom in her golden little cuirass,
which all the while reflected the light in thousands of golden
zigzags and twists.
Someone from the household passed by the guest who was occupied
with gazing and who then shuddered with embarrassment and asked: 'Who
is this young lady in the zigzagged blouse?'
The young man who thus inquired was Bogumil Niechcic.
Last updated 4/23/99}