Stanisława Umińska was a Polish actress born on November 17, 1901 in Warsaw. From 1917, she attended the famous vocal and drama courses of Helena Józefa Hryniewiecka, thanks to which she gradually gained recognition in the eyes of adults and in the summer of 1919 she performed in the semi-amateur theater Promenada. She did not have to wait long for a much more serious role. In October of the same year, she appeared on the stage of the Polish Theatre, where she played Sara in George Bernard Shaw’s Major Barbara. From then on, her career only gained momentum. Umińska appeared on the stage of theaters all over Poland and gained popularity. The acting world was absolutely impressed by her, and the audience predicted a bright future for her. In the end, she played 25 roles. No one could have expected the tragedy that would happen to the young actress.
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Jan Żyznowski was the love of her life. The couple quickly became engaged
Young Stanisława Umińska met Jan Żyznowski in 1923. The man was a writer, but he also liked to indulge in painting from time to time. Although the couple was separated by a large age difference, which was as much as 12 years, they quickly fell in love with each other. The lovers were almost inseparable and quickly became engaged. Friends mentioned that Stanisława and Jan were a true model for them of what a relationship should look like and what love is. For Żyznowski’s relatives. Although the man had treated women quite disrespectfully so far, he spoke fondly of Stanisław. Friends recalled that since he met the young actress, he could not help admiring her sensitivity and devotion. The love that met John was soon to prove to be a blessing for him. Stanisława’s future turned out to be more difficult.
Although the couple’s relationship lasted quite a short time (only half a year), and the engagement was even shorter, no one doubted that Stanisława would follow Jan into the fire. It wasn’t long before she was going to have to. In 1924, Jan Żyznowski fell ill with liver cancer. However, it is worth dwelling on this information for a moment. on YouTube you can hear that according to some sources, the man already knew about the disease, but for some reason did not want to inform his beloved about it. However, it is difficult to say at the moment whether this is true or just a rumor. Perhaps we will never be able to determine it. The reason for withholding such important information is also unknown. It is worth emphasizing that in those days liver cancer was actually a death sentence. Jan Żyznowski also had no chance for treatment in Poland. Doctors advised the man to go to Paris, which he did. In the famous clinic of Dr. Roussy, he underwent radium treatment, which was to be the last hope for Żyznowski. The writer left for France alone, but did not wait long for his beloved.
Stanisława Umińska did not leave her beloved one step. She even gave him blood
In the spring of 1924, Stanisława Umińska played her last role. She played the role of Berta in Dickens’s “The Cricket Behind the Chimney”. Then, in May of the same year, she joined her sick lover in Paris, abandoning her career forever. The prognosis, however, was not good. Żyznowski suffered greatly. Despite two surgeries and a higher dose of morphine, the patient was in unimaginable pain. A temporary improvement allowed only a walk around Paris. Although this gave the couple hope, it soon turned out that they were in vain. Jan was wasting away from day to day, and for Stanisława it was an extremely painful sight. She did not leave her beloved’s bed for a step. When Żyznowski had bouts of pain, she reached for a morphine syringe without hesitation to relieve her fiancé. The medical staff was impressed by her dedication. They had no doubt that she could do anything for her beloved Stanisław. It was soon to be seen how far she was willing to go.
Żyznowski suffered greatly, he often screamed in pain. Devastated and desperate, Stanisława did everything to ease his suffering. More than once she gave him her blood, gave him injections or simply wrote down the words of the book that Jan dictated to her with the last of his strength. The novel was especially painful for the woman, because the story contained in it was confusingly similar to their own experiences. Despite this, Stanisława never refused her beloved help. Jan mentioned from time to time that he wished his fiancée would end his suffering. The man had a gun and asked Stanisława more than once if she would be able to end his life, but the young girl did not want to hear about it. Żyznowski also asked doctors for help. Suffering made euthanasia the man’s greatest dream.
On July 14, doctors informed Umińska that her fiancé’s condition was hopeless and he would probably pass away in the next few days. Tired and devastated, the woman wasn’t surprised by the news. But she didn’t think too long about what the doctors had told her. Żyznowski suffered another attack. The man’s shrill scream was heard throughout the hospital. When he managed to control his pain, Umińska made a decision. On the night of July 15, she pulled out a gun, previously prepared by her beloved, and shot him in the temple. The sound of the gunshot quickly alerted the nurses. When they entered the room, they saw a crying Stanisława on her knees.
I killed him. I killed the only man I ever loved
– said Umińska, and then fainted.
The court acquitted Umińska. She was called “the angel of death”
The case was highly publicized both in Poland and in France. The public hailed Stanisława as the “angel of death”. The public was impressed by the young woman’s strength and courage, and no one doubted that she acted solely out of love. The prosecutor debated whether to charge the woman, and the hospital staff testified in her favour. There could only be one verdict – acquittal. Umińska herself, however, had great remorse.
I repeat: I had no right to do that. Jan didn’t order, he only asked before, once in Warsaw… He was so strong, steadfast, and besides, he didn’t know that there was no help for him. He loved life, he hated death. I wanted to spare him the knowledge that he was going to die. Or maybe I wanted to spare myself, afraid of not being able to look at inhuman suffering… At that time, I did not yet understand that the soul of every human being matures in suffering, there is a mystery in it that we do not know. And our interference is then a brutal intrusion into the mysterious process of the spirit that breaks into the light. I once took care of an abnormal girl; when she died, in the last moment of her life, she became a normal child, her eyes had a flash of awareness, she smiled at me – for the first time. And if someone had previously… disturbed her, she wouldn’t have matured to that moment… We often only look for our own goals, and we should look for the truth. This search is tedious. Sometimes it takes a long time before a person is mature enough to make certain decisions. These are strange ways… Different thoughts. Today I know that John is saved and I am his breath; and the fact that I am alive is his salvation. But I also know that by doing it back then, I was doing society a disservice. Has it forgiven me?… And I ask again: Am I saying with my whole life that it was not allowed?
– said Umińska in one of the interviews years later.
The woman never returned to the stage of the theater, nor did she fall in love. She decided to join the Samaritan Order. In 1937, she made her perpetual vows and became Sister Benigna. Until the end of her days, she helped the sick and the excluded.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
