Drogobych. Schulz participates in an evening poetry reading of Antoni Słonimski and Julian Tuwim.
The meeting with the two members of the Skamander group of poets was organized in the Sokół hall at Mickiewicza Street*. This is probably what Schulz refers to in his letter to Julian Tuwim* of 26 January 1934 (the only preserved letter to the poet): “Sir, when you once came to Drogobych years ago, I was in the room, looking at you vindictively and rebelliously, full of gloomy adoration”1. However, it seems that Schulz tactfully ignored the circumstances of the evening.
Antoni Słonimski, who also participated in that meeting, describes it in a satirical way in the weekly chronicle in Wiadomości Literackie of 12 May 1929. According to Słonimski, apart from literature lovers, in the Sokół hall there was also a large group of Polish nationalists, who disturbed the performance. “Tuwim goes on stage and almost at the same time he’s already back. Whistles, roars, stones, rotten eggs and apples hit the decorations [...]. «For Polish generals! Away with you! Go to Russia in a sealed carriage!»”2. The cries of the militants referred to Tuwim’s pacifist poem “Do generałów” (“To Generals”), attacked in the National Democracy press (among others by Józef Gałuszka3 and Adolf Nowaczyński4) for alleged sympathies to bolshevism. In an attempt to calm the crowd, the nationalists are said to have solemnly sung a patriotic song “Rota”.
According to Słonimski, the police ended the meeting ahead of time for security reasons and escorted the poets outside the borders of Drogobych. (jo) (transl. mw)
See also: 26 January 1934.*