DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25050#0112
grand historic tradition. The tenor of city life was dictated on the
one hand by the conservative community, which cultivated aristo-
cratic patriotism, and on the other by the numerous artists who
opposed wornout cliches of behaviour.
With the passing of time, this led to an era of true bohemia,
embodied by the artistic cabaret in Michalik’s pastry shop. The
heyday of the “Zielony Balonik” (“The Green Baloon”) cabaret
were the years 1905—1912. Satirical texts provided by journalists
and poets, notably Tadeusz Zelenski (Boy), Sichulski’s caricatures
and Karol Frycz’s puppets became classics in their fields, still
widely emulated. The vices of Cracow citizens were attacked, their
backwardness, obscurantism and small-mindedness were lampoon-
ed. In the puppet spectacles appeared effigies of bigwigs from
conservative circles. The biting, often frivolous texts scandalized
the peaceful community, but the cabaret enjoyed great popularity.
The more enlightened among those who where satirized by the
“Green Baloon”, could appreciate its significance and artistic
class. This is best illustrated by an anecdote about professor Jerzy
Mycielski, an art historian, who faulted the cabaret for removing
his puppet from a guest performance in Lvov. It was also him who
instigated a visit to “Jama Michalikowa” by the leader of Cracow
conservatives, Stanislaw Tarnowski, thus putting a seal on the
peaceful coexistence of these factions of the community.
The First World War. Against the background of these
seemingly carefree and stable times, new problems gradually
appeared. As in 1831 and 1863, immigrant groups from the
Russian zone arrived in Cracow after the 1905 Revolution, intent
on resuming the struggle. A pro-independence policy was almost
openly pursued in Galicia by the Revolutionary Faction of the
Polish Socialist Party, headed by Jozef Pilsudski, which already
had some battle experience. Taking advantage of the Austrian
general conscription law, the organization formed paramilitary
units called “Strzelec” (“Marksman”), intended as the foundation
°f the future Polish army. On August 6, 1914, a few hours before
105
one hand by the conservative community, which cultivated aristo-
cratic patriotism, and on the other by the numerous artists who
opposed wornout cliches of behaviour.
With the passing of time, this led to an era of true bohemia,
embodied by the artistic cabaret in Michalik’s pastry shop. The
heyday of the “Zielony Balonik” (“The Green Baloon”) cabaret
were the years 1905—1912. Satirical texts provided by journalists
and poets, notably Tadeusz Zelenski (Boy), Sichulski’s caricatures
and Karol Frycz’s puppets became classics in their fields, still
widely emulated. The vices of Cracow citizens were attacked, their
backwardness, obscurantism and small-mindedness were lampoon-
ed. In the puppet spectacles appeared effigies of bigwigs from
conservative circles. The biting, often frivolous texts scandalized
the peaceful community, but the cabaret enjoyed great popularity.
The more enlightened among those who where satirized by the
“Green Baloon”, could appreciate its significance and artistic
class. This is best illustrated by an anecdote about professor Jerzy
Mycielski, an art historian, who faulted the cabaret for removing
his puppet from a guest performance in Lvov. It was also him who
instigated a visit to “Jama Michalikowa” by the leader of Cracow
conservatives, Stanislaw Tarnowski, thus putting a seal on the
peaceful coexistence of these factions of the community.
The First World War. Against the background of these
seemingly carefree and stable times, new problems gradually
appeared. As in 1831 and 1863, immigrant groups from the
Russian zone arrived in Cracow after the 1905 Revolution, intent
on resuming the struggle. A pro-independence policy was almost
openly pursued in Galicia by the Revolutionary Faction of the
Polish Socialist Party, headed by Jozef Pilsudski, which already
had some battle experience. Taking advantage of the Austrian
general conscription law, the organization formed paramilitary
units called “Strzelec” (“Marksman”), intended as the foundation
°f the future Polish army. On August 6, 1914, a few hours before
105