Participation card and badges

The cost of participation in the congress was set at 14.40 crowns. As proof of payment, participants received a congress card and congress badges. These were bronze plaques, one-sided, designed by sculptor Henryk Kunzek. They were hung on ribbons: Kraków Esperantists on white-blue, Polish Esperantists on white-amaranth, and others on green.^[6] They had a quadrangular shape with a loop, on which a "naked woman sitting on a winged globe; hands raised above the head reaching for a five-pointed star" was depicted. The inscription VIII UNIWERS KONGRESO ESPERANTISTA = XXV JARA JUBILEO KRAKOW 1912 was placed on the sides. In October, Wiadomości Numizmatyczno-Archeologiczne reported that all badges, minted in several thousand copies, were distributed among the congress participants.^[11]

The congress fee entitled participants to:^[6]

• Free admission to the congress opening, plenary sessions, and section meetings;
• free admission to the jubilee evening, cabaret performances at the architectural exhibition, and the ball;
• receiving congress publications, including an illustrated congress book, illustrated guides to Kraków and Zakopane, a Kraków views album, and others;
• free admission to all Kraków museums;
• free tram rides;
• discount for a trip to Wieliczka (4 crowns);
• discounted admission to the architectural exhibition (1 crown);
• 50% discount on tickets to the painting exhibition at the Palace of Art and at the Spiski Palace. The Palace of Art on Szczepański Square issued a catalog in Esperanto for the congress.^[12]

Beginning of the congress

Before the congress proceedings began, participants from different countries met to choose a representative who would speak on their behalf at the ceremonial opening of the congress. Poles from the three partitions were entitled to choose three individuals, but at the suggestion of Dr. Skałkowski from Warsaw, it was decided to select one representative. The choice was to emphasize the unity of Poles from the three partitions. Antoni Grabowski was chosen.^[17]

In the afternoon of August 11th, at 3:00 PM, the delegates gathered in the hall of the Old Theater for the solemn inauguration of the proceedings. The hall was decorated with flags and the city's coat of arms. Seated at the presidium table alongside Ludwik Zamenhof were Odo Bujwid, Carlo Bourlet, Antoni Grabowski, Kraków's vice mayors Henryk Szarski and Józef Sare, starosta Władysław Kowalikowski, Father Giesswein, and city councilors. Carlo Bourlet opened the proceedings and proposed the election of the congress authorities. Szczepan Mikołajski was elected chairman, with H. Bolingbroke Mudie from England, Engineer Rollet de L'Isle from France, Arnold Behrendt from Germany, A. Niedoszywin from Russia, and A. Grabowski from Poland as vice presidents. Secretaries were appointed: Chavet from France and Dr. Leon Rosenstock serving as congress secretary.^[15]

President Szarski welcomed the guests, reading a pre-prepared text in Esperanto. He thanked for choosing Kraków as the meeting place for Esperantists. Jan Kanty Federowicz spoke on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, followed by the chairman of the organizing committee Odo Bujwid, who spoke about the relationship between Esperanto and patriotism. Finally, Ludwik Zamenhof took the floor. He mentioned deceased Esperantists and announced that he believed his work had already matured. Therefore, during his speech, he declared that for the last time he stands before the congress as a leader and director of the movement, and if he comes to future congresses, his place will not be on the stage, but among the rank and file.^[17] Secretary Chavet read greetings and telegrams from around the world. Representatives of governments then spoke, followed by representatives of the national groups gathered at the congress: Americans, Ukrainians, Croats, Belgians, Bulgarians, English, Scots, Irish, Welsh, Danes, Finns, French, Germans, Italians, Poles, Japanese, Mexicans, Norwegians, Serbs, and Swedes. In the name of the Spaniards, four delegates spoke because separate speeches were addressed to the congress by representatives of Catalans, Basques, and Castilians. The final item on the agenda was a resolution to send telegrams to Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria (Kraków was part of Austria-Hungary) and Queen Elisabeth of Wied.^[15] In the evening, a reception was held in honor of Zamenhof in the hall of the Rifle Society.^[15]

Jubilee evening

On August 12th, a concert was scheduled to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Esperanto movement and in honor of Ludwik Zamenhof. The concert featured performances by Ada Sari, actors Stanisława Wysocka and Wiktor Biegański, a men's choir composed of members of the former Musical Society, and Lutnia. Wiktor Barabasz conducted the event. Additionally, the orchestra of the 100th Infantry Regiment, led by conductor Sitter, performed.^[10]

August 15th

On August 15th, participants of the congress took part in religious services: Catholics at St. Mary's Basilica, where the service was conducted by Canon Giesswein and the sermon delivered by Father Szurek. Protestants prayed in the Protestant church, where the sermon was given by Pastor Michejda.^[18] Jews prayed at the synagogue on Miodowa Street,^[19] where the sermon was delivered by Rabbi Saphra from Annaberg-Buchholz.^[18] After laying wreaths at the monuments of Adam Mickiewicz and Nicolaus Copernicus, participants went to the architectural exhibition area, where photos were taken, and awards were given in literary competitions. In the evening, a ball took place.^[20] It began with Odo Bujwid leading the polonaise with Mrs. Zamenhof. The festivities lasted until 4:00 AM.^[21]

Congress proceedings and conclusion

During the plenary session on August 16th, a decision was made regarding the locations for the next congresses. The next one in 1913 was to be held in Genoa, and the following year in Paris. Delegates from various countries extended invitations to host future congresses. Thanks were conveyed to the Ministry of Education in China for establishing an Esperanto school in Beijing and for promoting the language in China. In the evening, participants could listen to Halka in Esperanto.^[22]

The closing ceremonies of the congress began with a tribute to the late Johann Martin Schleyer, the creator of the Volapük language. Speakers highlighted the good organization, and Glück from Vienna presented an album with the signatures of all the attendees to the congress. After expressions of gratitude from the organizers, La Espero anthem was sung, and with chants of "See you in Genoa", the proceedings were closed. After the congress ended, a delegation including President Mikołajski, Zamenhof, Bourlet, and Bujwid visited Vice Mayor Szarski to thank the city council of Kraków for the warm reception of the congress members.^[23] In Pola Esperantisto, Leo Belmont summarized the congress and its organization by writing, Kraków set an example in organizing the congress.^[24]

Excursion to Wieliczka

On August 13th, participants embarked on an excursion to Wieliczka, traveling in two trains. They were welcomed at the station by Mayor Franciszek Aywas. The purpose of the trip was to visit the salt mine.^[31] A total of 1,200 people participated in the excursion.^[32]

Lecture on garden cities

On August 14th, within the premises of the architectural exhibition opened in Kraków in 1912, adjacent to the Jordan Park,^[33] English architect Ebenezer Howard delivered a lecture in Esperanto titled On the Development of Garden Cities. The lecture was translated into Polish.^[34]

Performances

In the evening of August 14th, the play Mazepa translated into Esperanto by Antoni Grabowski was staged at the theater.^[35] The performers included Józef Węgrzyn and Stanisława Wysocka.^[36]

On August 16th, the premiere of Stanisław Moniuszko's Halka in Esperanto was performed by the Lviv Theatre of Opera and Ballet. The libretto was translated by Włodzimierz Wolski, and the orchestra was conducted by Bronisław Wolfsthal. The main roles were played by Józef Munclinger (as the Stolnik), Stefania Marynowiczówna (as Zofia), Leonia Ogrodzka (as Halka), and Adam Okoński (as Janusz).^[37]

Competitions

Literary competitions were announced before the congress. The award ceremony took place on August 15th at the architectural exhibition. The winners were: for fiction – Adela Schafer from London and Kurt Sommer, for poetry – Vasilij Devjatnin from Paris, for scientific works – Maurice Fréchet and Hugo Dreusicke.^[38][39]