L E T T E R S

37In February, perhaps in March, a very serious question arose about our stayhere in Paris. We had not received any government subsidy for some time. Itwas being said that the Emperor had not given his approval to the PolytechnicInstitute, 19 and that only enough money for our return to Poland had been sent.I then wrote to one of my colleagues in Warsaw that, in spite of all the planning,I might be forced to leave Paris soon. I had in mind my possible returnto Poland. It might have been these words that gave rise to the rumor youheard. Later, I think in my letter to Michael Jaroszewski, I wrote thatspringtime here is very beautiful, and that I try to take advantage of it by shortexcursions into the countryside around Paris. It is a custom enjoyed by almostall of the young people in Paris, to go out into the countryside on Sundays andholidays in the spring. My health, the need from some recreation in order tokeep working, as well as curiosity about the surrounding area, prompted me tojoin in the observance of this custom to the extent that my occupations and thefine climate allowed. However, from the time of my arrival here in November,I have not spent a single night outside the walls of Paris. And so, I don't knowwhether what I wrote gave rise to this rumor. Rumors are rumors; but I am alittle amazed that you would have believed a rumor to the point of addressingyour last letter to me and then adding "Poste Restante". By jumping to conclusionsyou upset yourself with all kinds of disturbing thoughts, with theresult that your health suffers, as you yourself write.My dearest Alexandra, let even the shadow of such thoughts be far fromyou. How could I change my place of residence without notifying you?Besides, could a change of residence on my part be enough reason to disturbyou?19 The scholars in Warsaw had organized a Polytechnic Council, and established a separatepreparatory College at the Royal University of Warsaw for those who wished to enter thePolytechnic Institute. They also prepared a full staff of professors. However, the Tsar keptwithholding his confirmation of this first Polish Technical School in Warsaw. It was even fearedthat he would withdraw the stipend of the professors who were on sabbatical leave.