The VIII World Esperanto Congress in 1912 was organized on the 25th anniversary of the publication of the first textbook for learning Esperanto. It took place in Kraków from August 11 to 18, 1912. Ludwik Zamenhof, who participated in it, declared during the opening that he was resigning from the leadership of the movement and would attend the next congress as an ordinary Esperantist. The congress was attended by Esperantists from Europe, Asia, and America. The proceedings took place within 28 sections and plenary meetings. As part of the congress, accompanying events were organized, such as performances, lectures, excursions (to Wieliczka and Zakopane), and competitions. An exhibition of Esperanto publications was prepared in the building of the , and the opening and closing of the congress, plenary sessions, and a ball took place in the halls of the Helena Modrzejewska National Old Theatre, during which participants presented themselves in national costumes.
Preparations Preparations for the congress began in early 1912. The Kraków City Council allocated a subsidy of 3000 crowns for the organization and allowed the use of the Old Theatre hall. An Illustrated Guide to Kraków in Esperanto was published. On August 8, the fire brigade began decorating the city. In front of the Academy of Commerce and the industrial exhibition, masts were erected to display flags and banners, with green garlands hung between them. The Josephite Workshop was responsible for their preparation and for decorating the interiors of the academy and the Old Theatre.
Organization The organization was led by a committee chaired by Odo Bujwid, with its headquarters at 19 . The congress proceedings took place in the Old Theatre hall, while the press facilities, press office, section meetings, and exhibition were located at the Academy of Commerce on Kapucyńska Street. Meetings of 28 sections were planned (including those for doctors, postcard collectors, teachers, Catholics, etc.). Working and plenary sessions (four in total) of the Universal Esperanto Association () were to be held in the Old Theatre hall. The press office of the congress was managed by editor Jerzy Grzywiński. Bank Krajowy opened a currency exchange office on the ground floor, where participants could exchange money. Congress attendees were entitled to free tram transportation upon showing their congress card.
The congress newspaper, Kongresa Bulteno, was published daily as a supplement to the Ilustrowany Kuryer Codzienny. The first issue featured a portrait of Zamenhof, information about Poland and Kraków, a telegram section for messages related to the congress, and an information section. Additionally, the Kraków-based Goniec Poniedziałkowy published a supplement dedicated to the congress, titled Lunda Kuriero.
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 . They were hung on ribbons: Kraków Esperantists on white-blue, Polish Esperantists on white-amaranth, and others on green. 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, reported that all badges, minted in several thousand copies, were distributed among the congress participants.
The congress fee entitled participants to:
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 and at the . The Palace of Art on Szczepański Square issued a catalog in Esperanto for the congress.
History
On the evening of 9 August 1912, Ludwik Zamenhof arrived in Kraków by train from Warsaw together with his wife. At the railway station, he was welcomed by the Congress Committee, led by Odo Bujwid. Accompanying him were the congress attendees: Carlo Bourlet, Gabriel Chavet, Frenckell, and S. Winkelman from Dresden. On Saturday evening, a cabaret performance in Esperanto took place at the . It consisted of a one-act play, a cabaret performance by theater actors, and a performance by an amateur Esperantist from Kraków, Kriss, with a monologue of a Chinese character. On the day of the congress opening, August 11, at 1:00 PM, the city authorities invited attendees to a lavish breakfast at the restaurant of the Old Theater. About a thousand people, including Ludwik Zamenhof and delegates representing 33 nations of the congress members, participated in it.
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.
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 and , starosta , Father Giesswein, and city councilors. Carlo Bourlet opened the proceedings and proposed the election of the congress authorities. 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.
President Szarski welcomed the guests, reading a pre-prepared text in Esperanto. He thanked for choosing Kraków as the meeting place for Esperantists. 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. 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. In the evening, a reception was held in honor of Zamenhof in the hall of the .
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. conducted the event. Additionally, the orchestra of the 100th Infantry Regiment, led by conductor Sitter, performed.
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. Jews prayed at the synagogue on Miodowa Street, where the sermon was delivered by Rabbi Saphra from Annaberg-Buchholz. 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. It began with Odo Bujwid leading the polonaise with Mrs. Zamenhof. The festivities lasted until 4:00 AM.
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.
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. In Pola Esperantisto, summarized the congress and its organization by writing, Kraków set an example in organizing the congress.
Ball Traditionally, during the congress, its participants gather at a ball. They wear national costumes that showcase the culture of each nation represented at the congress. 90 people could watch the ball from the gallery after purchasing special tickets priced from 11 to 6 crowns.
Tribute to Mickiewicz, Copernicus and Kościuszko
On August 15th at 12 o'clock, all Esperantists gathered at the Adam Mickiewicz monument. A wreath with green ribbons was laid, bearing the inscription: A la granda homarano – VIII Kongreso Esperantista, which in Szczepan Mikołajski's translation can be rendered as: Homage is paid to the great man, belonging to all humanity, the VIII Esperanto Congress. After laying the wreath, Holder from Geneva explained in his speech that thanks to translations into Esperanto, those who know this language can appreciate not only Mickiewicz but also other Polish writers such as Juliusz Słowacki, Eliza Orzeszkowa, Maria Konopnicka, or Bolesław Prus, even though their works are often not translated into the national languages of the participants.
In the afternoon, a wreath was laid at the then-standing Nicolaus Copernicus Monument in the courtyard of Collegium Maius. The speech was delivered by Professor Carlo Bourlet from Paris.
On August 17th in the afternoon, Americans who arrived at the congress laid a wreath and a flag at the Tadeusz Kościuszko plaque on the Main Square.
Exhibition