When I visited Poland in 1975 (circa) with Pauline Dobish, word came to me that Karol said he would like to visit, and that we should go to see him. One of the family said after we came halfway around the world, he could walk a few steps to see us. I settled it by saying I'd show respect to my elder by going the extra steps myself, and having started out for his house, we met him on his way to see us.

He had a pine branch for a doormat, and a clean, bare whitewashed room, where he told us he still bakes his own bread and keeps his own house, that he mends his own clothes, too. Altogether a fine, wholesome gentleman, spare in build and building,