Echa obchodów setnej rocznicy podpisania przez USA Deklaracji Niepodległości w prasie warszawskiej

Abstract

Each year on July 4 Americans celebrate subsequent anniversaries of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. On that day numerous federal and private events take place. In 1876 Americans decided to celebrate the centenary of gaining independence in a special way - with the main feast on July 4 and minor events throughout the whole year. The complexity of some festivities required starting extensive preparations even a few years earlier. The biggest attraction of the celebrations was the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures and Products of Soil and Mine organized in Philadelphia. This undertaking, due to its international character, caused the greatest interest abroad. This article focuses on reports describing celebrations of the centenary in the Warsaw press in the years 1873-1877. The first articles appeared in 1873, when the president officially declared that the exhibition would be the focal point of the celebrations. From that time on the Polish press tried to follow subsequent stages in the preparations for the exhibition. The authoress of this article describes the impressions of Polish correspondents observing the festivities of 1876 and the contribution of Poles in the celebrations. Numerous articles on the centenary printed in Polish newspapers and periodicals reflected a great interest in the topic. Editors sent their correspondents to the United States in order to have immediate and direct relations. Sygurd Wisniowski was the one who wrote the greatest number of reports. He shared his impressions with 'Gazeta Polska', 'Tygodnik Ilustrowany', 'Klosy' oraz 'Tygodnik Mód i Powiesci'. Jan Karlowicz wrote for 'Bluszcz' and 'Biblioteka Warszawska'. It is worth mentioning that Polish correspondents focused on the exhibition in Philadelphia because of its international character. Polish correspondents perceived it as one of the most extraordinary events of those days. Such a conclusion may be drawn on the basis of numerous extensive articles in the Warsaw press. Their authors were fascinated by the magnitude of the exhibition. They also admired Americans for their efficiency in organizing such a worldwide known event.