The Amarillo Globe-Times from Amarillo, Texas • Page 14

Globe-Times Wednesday, March 15, 1967 Amarillo Friends Aid Stricken Polish Ballet Master (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) gestures, "That is Polish port, only Russia grab." a Her father was a physician, as his father had been. She had seven brothers. In elementary school, Mrs. Pianowski remembers, children were forced to learn Russian. They were forbidden to speak Polish or to learn of Polish history and its heroes.

"They tried to make Polish Russian," she said. She said the Polish parents gathered their children at secret meetings to teach them of their national heritage. Back in Warsaw, where the young couple made their home, Pianowski became the main male dancer in the opera ballet. At this time, the Bolshevik revolution was in progress in Russia. The ballet dancers in Russia had begun to leave their country for fear of their positions and safety.

The greatest male and female dancers of the: time, Ni- jinsky and Anna Pavlova, had already left Russia and others were following them. Many of these a reassembled outside Russia to form what was to become the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, under the direction of Serge De Diaghiloff. Pianowski joined this company to escape the growing Russian pressure in Poland, and Mrs. Pianowski was soon put never given up hope of finding to work making sod bricks so his wife, that housing could be built for Shortly the prisoners. Amarillo, Still, the prisoners were given no food.

Somehow, Hess said they got potatoes and were able to eat whatever they could forage from the countryside. But the main staples were bread and before coming his brother to money will 3 collected and donated; Miss Juanita SUva "of need a grandmother," be used to try to get the'Catholic Family Service "She willthus be able withs the fund Pianowskis' son to Amarillo toihopes to make arrangements for r5 'vlv 3 mSn hon rP Ill teulsw Ws father before he dieslMrs. Pianowski to live with a Pennsylvania piioued to tell ronfo af(nr hnshnnd's to feel useful." Pianowski that Sabina had written him trying to locate the maestro. Falteringly, Sabina a water, according to Pianowski. "Not vitamins, not vegetables, meat, not soap," a i describing conditions in iU e'n bWore sTbm only plenty lice." could gct a visa to come to the Piauowski began corresponding as brother and sister, for fearr the Russians might take reprisal against Sabina for having a husband SABINA PIANOWSKI in 1939 happy people Polish," Mrs.

Pianowski said. he and his voung wife toured with the company? The Pianowskis had a sma Soon, he was offered the posi-j (time i Mrs. Pianowski said she saw people die of typhus, scurvy and other diseases, people infected with skin ulcers and many more with their hair and teeth gone. Mrs. Pianowski told Hess that she constantly heard children crying and screaming for food.

Mrs. Pianowski recalls that one day during the middle of the winter, she went to a watering hole that had been cut in the ice of a river. Other women were there also to draw water for their families and livestock. She saw a woman despondent over her hunger and that of her five children, go to the edge of the watering hole and bring the suffering to a tragic end. "One two three four five and self," Mrs.

Pianowski said, "all in river." She was visibly shaken at recounting the happening. After about a year in Siberia, Mrs. Pianowski had a chance to get her son George out. The Russians said that if the young working with the fund. Mrs.

Teague said the club is see his father before he dieslMrs. Pianowski to live with a 2t variety show at and, secondly, to create after her husband's! Hess and Mrs. J. D. Ballew'Oijij, te end March, permanent fund to take care of death.

'307 Cottonwood are chaige fascosa "We want to try to get her of the fund, which is being col adopted into a familv where lected at the Bank me luna. permanent Airs. Pianowski husband's death. after United States. Another five years of separa-j tion.

On Feb. 1956, Pianowski lies; jranted his U.S. citizenship notified Walter Rogers, then congressman for the 18th Congressional District, of the situation and the congressman immediately began working with the U.S. Immigration Service in Washington and the American Embassy in Warsaw. After about six months of cablegrams, letters, distance telephone calls and miles of red tape, word was This was also a and jewels.

wfoch Northem accepted. Again, he and his wife toured, with this company. Sirs. Pianowski's eyes lit up when asked where the tour took them. "Oh, all, all," she said, forming a globe with her expressive hands.

"Africa, Sud America, Australia, Spain, I a i a England, France, United States While the company a performing in Buenos Aires, Anna Pavlova, who was also in South America with her company, attended a performance. She was so impressed with Pianowski's choreography that she at once offered him a position as ballet master of her company. He accepted and after two years, became chief ballet master of the company, a position he held 13 years. Hess said that Pianowski has always talked glowingly of his years with Pavlova. He said the woman, who is considered by Africa, they could leave Siberia.

Young Pianowski thus left I "Every Saturday, a siberia and his mo he and has performance, maestro go to not seen her since. Today, he is country to us," Mrs. Pianowski an enlisted man in the British Army, living with his wife and time for the couple as evidenced Jn 1947 Mrs. Pianowski was by a picture in the a i returned 0 her natjve Poland scrapbook or. Sabina a sleek.

she was taken to a Eed Cross lumes i hospital in Bialystok in Northern Poland, where she spent three I months. sons in England, gay, social! The end of this happy period; Afterward, she was sent to a pori: clly jn Nor em Poland to work as a script writer for came in 1939. Eianowski was at the opera when he heard the first bomb hitj children's radio programs. the historic old theater. The Germans had invaded Poland.

The opera was bombed and burned and with it, Pianowski lost all the mementos he had collected of his career in ballet and with Pavlova. He also lost his job, as he was soon taken to a concentration camp in Germany and forced to labor in a munitions factory. His wife and son were left, unaware After she had been writing the radio scripts for some time, she was approached by propaganda ministers and told to write about Stalin, that he was a "very nice man, very like children very love Polish children and want to help children." Her refusal to do as she was told resulted in the loss of her received that Sabina's visa had been granted. On July 16, 1958, Sabina arrived in Amarillo on a train. Hess said she stepped off that train and the old couple, who had not seen each other for 10 years, "looked at each other as if all were still a dream." After about three or four davs, Hess added, they began.to talk like normal people, beginning to relate all that had happened to each during the long separation.

"At first," Hess said, "you could ask Mrs. Pianowski 100 times a day if she wanted something to eat, and she would readily say yes." The greatest marvel of this new world was the availability of food. Talk of America still brings a i i light to Mrs. Piauowski's eyes and a smile to 1 her lips. "I am very happy," she said.

"I very like America. "People American is very good for Poland. Polish people very like American people. American people really friends for Polish people. "Only I am unhappy for my husband." When asked if she still has hostility for the Russians, she' threw up" her ever-active hands and sank back in the arm chair, in the living room of thei Pianowski's apartment.

She explained meticuloush that it is not the Russian people he had been taken prisoner, at the country place. Job. dislikes. "Is Slslin and Khrushchev is Next she was put to work as a bandits. In Russia is hell However, mother and bookkeeper.

HELL!" she said excitedly sonj "I had very hard work," shci ovember the farm, took over the house and livestock and burned Mrs. being trained. She worked aljter. Pianowski's possessions as she this 10 years, stood by watching, horrified. Pianowskis were again on tour.

Throughout his career in the ballet, Pianowski a apparently known for his mental capacities. "Much of ballet relies memory," Hess said, adding that Pianowski's memory was remarkable. "It was said that he could watch one rehearsal of another choreographer's work and af- terwards know the dance as well was no food at all and no situation there, or better than the choreographer himself," Hess said. In the biography of Anna Pavlova written by her husband, it is said that Pianowski was relied upon for his great mind, In 1958, many to be the a ballerina of all time, thought ere sale for" long Russia! said of this job. "All day workj her duty to take the ballet to asj soon invaded Northern and very much hour in night." I possible.

So tnej The Russian soldiers came to She said that there were very here it was 'thought Mrs" 1 few bookkeepers and none Pianowski's health would be bet- Mrs. Pianowski said life in About five years ago, Hess said, he received a letter from! Pianowski's doctor in Seattle. I The old man had cancer. i Hess immediately decided "All," she said "not a I Poland after World War II was needle" was left. very difficult.

There was not flour, meat or medicine The mother and son were putjShe said America sent all thelhe should get the Pianowskis on a train bound for Siberia. medicine and new clothing thejback to Amarillo, so that he and. The cattle car in which Mrs. Polish people had. jhis wife could at loast see that! forj they were comfortable.

the. The Hesses rented an apart- I ment for the couple at 2225-A S. Pianowski and her son were put! "Russia is housekeeper was filled with people. TherejPoland," she said describm; was no food at all and no i situation there. bathroom facilities aboard thei "My country, Madame, is close enough to their car, but the doors were noti Russian," she told a reporter, own home so that they could opened at all durinr -J week trip to Siberia.

Mrs. Pianowski and her soni were more fortunate than many! the sadness in her eyes voice. and look in occasionally. The Pianowskis are existing 1 on S173 a month welfare, which In about 1946, Pianowski pay S75 rent, utility bills' S25 a to keep the dances in shape and of those traveling in their car. Ajreleased from the German workj including as much as authentic- doctor, who had managed tojcamp, and instead of returning)month for electricity me I smuggle some food aboard, to Poland, where the Com-; winter months, at least $36 for, In 1931.

Anna Pavlova died secretly shared his food with munists had taken over, medicine and the rest for food pneumonia in The a i them. chose to go to a displaced i And there is from $300 to $400 in Holland. She said that many people inj persons camp. iunpaid medical bills. Pianowski kept the companyjtheir car died, but the bodies 1 He lived in the American sec-i After Pianowski's death, his together until the end of thei were never removed.

i tor of Germany, refusing to ac-j ife will continue to receive his season and then went to During the long train ride.icept the Russians' invitation tojSocial Securitv benefits and the Latvia, where he staged ballets Mrs. Pianowski's feet froze in'return to direct the WarsawjCatholie Family Service, which the bitter cold. ballet. currently aiding the familv The doctor again came to hen An American patroness of the will continue to help Boston Ballet Center heard ofjjirs. Pianowski.

for two years. In about 1935, he was offered aid. He boiled potato and soaked her feet in the plight and arranged! However, no state and counts the position of ballet master for the Grand Opera Theatre ballet in Warsaw. potato solution. through her lawyer husband to financial a JH oe available "He was so thrilled by "He somehow managed to; have him brought to Boston toifor Mrs.

Pianowski as an alien Hess said. "It was there he hadisave her feet," Hess said. Theldirect the ballet. started as a student and to be atifeet were severely In 1952, the patroness died and; ness says Mrs. Pianowski the top of that company Khe Boston Ballet Center ants to become a naturalised so much to him." "When the weather turnsiup and began to change hands.iAmerican, but the time-con- This, to Mrs.

Pianowski. waslcold," he said, "her feet turn Pianowski began to look for assuming demands of the happiest time for the couple.Iblack and give her much pain." jnew position. husband's illness leave no time As Pianowski was director ofi He a an ad-jfor the necessary studying. And ballet at the largest opera house I When the train arrived in Dance Magazine; although she understands the in Europe, he was the people were came to Amarillo to takejU.S. Constitution in Polish, she with the highest social and in-led in an area which had nojover the ballet school at thejean't communicate its meaning lellectual circles in Warsaw andjhouses or lodgings of any Arts Conservatory.

-in English. in Europe. jThe people had to construct! "It's ironical," Hess said. "Plenty friends is own flimsy leau-los. i said Pianowski millions of dollars are sent to foreign countries to aid these people, yet one stranded here can get nothing." Hess said the public health; have been a "godsend' 1 for Mrs.

Pianowski. The nurses, i alternate coming each morning to bathe Pianowski. This has been a great help forj Mrs Pianowski, whose strength; was fast fading from changing i sheets and pajamas six seven times a day in addition to! changing his position frequently. Hess said the thought of putting Pianowski in a nursing home "breaks her heart." i "Somebody mentioned 'hospital yesterday," Hess said, "and she just went all up in the lair." I "Finally now," he added, people are showing an in, tercst." i He said Mrs. Helen Teaguc school nurse at Tascosa High School, where Hess is head of the speech department, has been instrumental in interesting "the right people" in the plight of the Pianowskis "those who will: do something." Private citizens have donated! sheets and pillow cases, and the' I Amarillo chapter of i Sirs.

Sabina Pianowski of 225-A Taylor goes through sonic mementoes of husband's career as a ballet master in Europe and the United Stales. She holds'; 1 An( sp( a fun na drawings of traditional Polish costumes and a recently-published book on started for the Pianowkis, Polish ar(s in which her husband, Micczyslaw Pianowski, is mentioned. the Polish Fund, the, SHOP THURSDAY 9:45 A.M. to 9 P.M. never before so much spacious luxury and value! ENGLANDER KING SIZE 3-PIECE SLEEP SET iirlii on Salts tor You get a complete 3-piece king size bedding set for 599 Includes roomy 76x80 king size mattress, two box springs Mattress with oil steel coil innerspring unit for superb comfort Features never sag, built up sides, layers of felt padding All three pieces covered in durable button tufted stripe cover No Down Payment On Convenient Terms y-ry SIMMONS EXTRA FIRM KING-SIZE 3-PIECE SLEEP SET Save $40! 78x80" Quilted Innerspring Mattress Two Box Springs Extra Firm Adjusto-Rest Auto Lock Coils Extra Padding for Better Feel, More Level Support Features Pre-Built Never Sag Border Bedding Third Floor No Down Payment On Convenient Terms KING SIZE LINEN VALUES FOR KING SIZE BEDS KING SIZE KOOL-FOAM PILLOWS, REG.

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