Canicula in the imperial-royal Przemyśl

However, this view seems overly superficial. The third-largest city in Galicia (after Lviv and Kraków) bustled with garrison life, not devoid of its own special charms. In 1910, the city's population exceeded 46,000, and the Imperial-Royal garrison's soldiers numbered around 8,000. These proportions meant that the army exerted a significant influence on the city's life. Along with the military units, technological innovations arrived in the city: the telephone, the telegraph, electricity, military balloons, and waterworks. At the same time, the shameful practices of prostitution and venereal diseases also emerged. Let's take a closer look at the canicule from over 120 years ago.

Kanikuła – a time free from classes – began in earnest with the summer solstice in June. Among the Slavs, it was celebrated as Sobótka, Kupala Night, or Midsummer's Eve. Imperial-royal Przemyśl was no exception. The city celebrated it under the name "Przemyśl Wreaths." Besides its folk character, the holiday also appealed to patriotic sentiments. The Przemyśl press even referred to it as a "national celebration" ("San" from 1880), organized with public contributions. "Przemyśl Wreaths" were watched by several thousand residents. Several hundred seats were set up on the right bank of the San for distinguished guests, and the event began in the evening with mortar fire. Afterwards, floral wreaths and a large number of flaming wreaths were released onto the water. Young men in boats and barges tried to retrieve the floral wreaths. Simultaneously, tar pyres were lit on both banks of the river and fireworks were set off. As the boats and galleys approached the bridge, the orchestra played the song "Poland Is Not Yet Lost." The festivities usually ended after 10 p.m. This is how the first-class fortress celebrated the festival of water, fire, fertility, and love.

A throw at Zasanie.

In addition to cultural entertainment, the city offered soldiers and residents more shameful ways to spend time in the company of so-called "straws"—as Przemyśl prostitutes were called. The scale of this practice in Przemyśl necessitated the establishment of syphilis wards in its hospitals (both municipal and military). The article "Przemyśl in Numbers," published in "Głos Przemyski" on August 23, 1902, issue 12, reported that in 1900/1901, the city had 116 women engaged in open prostitution. However, an underground economy flourished in this business, so the number of women practicing the world's oldest profession was likely higher. In 1904, there were 12 open brothels and 150 registered "straws," and venereal diseases accounted for approximately 21 percent of those treated in the Przemyśl hospital. The commencement of construction of a military hospital on Dobromilska Street (today's Słowackiego Street) in 1882 was intended to help solve this nightmarish problem. It's worth citing a few examples related to this practice. Right next to the railway station (Kolejowa Street – Legionów Square) stood a massive building known as the Gans Passage (owned by Israel Gans). According to oral history, it housed a establishment offering sexual pleasures. Such services cost 4 to 5 kroner.

It was used primarily by officers and non-commissioned officers of the Imperial-Royal. Less prestigious establishments of this type were located on Strycharska and Czarnieckiego Streets. Amalia Kutna owned one of these houses at 4 Dworskiego Street. According to press reports, brothels operated despite public protests and a ban imposed by the authorities. On June 13, 1901, issue 47 of "Echo Przemyskie," the owner of one such establishment located at 6 Basztowa Street was a man named Springer. The owner ignored the authorities' orders and the public's demands, despite the house being located next to a dormitory and middle schools. These places of debauchery often witnessed deadly brawls between the garrison soldiers residing there. Such a situation occurred on Podwinie Street at Józef Kowalski's brothel, where a senior private stabbed his army comrade. Local residents didn't remain passive and wrote petitions to the Imperial-Royal Fortress Command to shut down the house. Along with prostitution came pimping. A certain Józef Kranz earned his living by arranging jobs for girls in prostitution houses, charging them 10 złoty each. The amount he demanded was excessive, and two women, Sala Feuerman and Anna Molenda, filed a complaint with the police asking them to protect them from such exploitation, as reported in "Echo Przemyskie" in June 1899, issue 49.

As the Przemyśl garrison grew, so did the number of people holding hotel licenses. Christian magazines, including "Echo Przemyskie," complained about the corruption and demoralization that prevailed within them, and about the granting of licenses to those who were indifferent to their sources of income. The Przemyśl National Hotel on Dworskiego Street was one such hotel. A "respectable hotel" that, according to the press, maintained a brothel was the "Romanie" Hotel, where each of its waiters faced charges of pimping girls into prostitution. The editor of "Echo Przemyskie" (March 7, 1901, issue 19) wrote that he didn't understand why this individual (the owner) hadn't already had his license to operate the establishment revoked, even though the police were aware of it and had likely notified the Imperial-Royal Starosty.

In addition to hotels, the city saw the emergence of numerous cafés, confectioneries, beer halls, and restaurants. These offered both military and civilians a pleasant pastime. Among the best cafés were "Cafe Metropol," "Cafe Edison," "Cafe Elite," and the "Grand Cafe" on Mickiewicza Street. For example, "Cafe Habsburg" at 7 Kościuszki Street was comfortably furnished, featuring three billiard tables and a reading room stocked with dozens of newspapers and magazines. Military music concerts were held there in the afternoon. At 5 Kościuszki Street, the Russian National House was located, where Stanisław Fesnak established a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Those with a sweet tooth were invited to Erazm Rosiewicz's "Lwowska" confectionery, located at 2 Dworskiego Street and later moved to 1 Kolejowa Street. The confectionery had large mirrored windows, and the interior was lined with crystal mirrors. The specialty was raspberry ice cream. Coffee and tea were also served. The previously mentioned building in the Gansa passage, in addition to the entertainment hall, housed the "Hotel Royal," leased by Chaim Schorr. On the upper floor of this building was the exclusive "Stieber Grand Cafe." It's worth noting that the former waiter Stieber's café was considered the most elegant establishment in Galicia. It featured a card room, a separate ladies' lounge with a private entrance, and a billiards room. The café served Olomouc kvargels, croissants with roguefort, Jewish caviar rolls, and coffee. Owner Stieber later moved to Vienna, where he founded the "Splendid" café in the city center and became president of the Viennese coffee houses. Felix Mantel writes about all this in his "Fan of Memories."

For those thirsty for a drink on hot summer days, the city offered beer houses and wine bars on almost every street. Okocim beer, both draft and bottled, as well as mead, was sold on Ogrodowa Street (today Krasińskiego Street) and Grunwaldzka Street. M. Goldstein's restaurant and beer house operated on May 3rd from 1899. For those with a sweet tooth, the Bilder confectionary was open. Unfortunately, the sheer number of taverns didn't do the city any favors, but it did generate enormous profits, ranking high in the city's revenue. Nightly revelries, often orgies, disturbed the sleep of decent citizens and compromised public safety. Leon Bar's tavern on Winna Góra became infamous. "Echo Przemyskie" from February 3, 1901, No. 10, described this establishment as follows: "(...) every Sunday and holiday, orgies with music are held. Riotous mobs of Przemyśl's thugs, leaving the tavern, attack defenseless people passing by in the street (...). It should be noted that this tavern is also frequented by non-commissioned officers." This is not surprising, as most privates and non-commissioned officers spent almost all their pay on alcoholic beverages, prostitution, and tobacco.

Beata Świętojańska

Next week, part two of our article about Przemyśl's vacation in the imperial-royal city will be published. We'll write about walks, the menagerie, and other attractions. We'll also discuss how the Przemyśl people enjoyed themselves at the horse races.