IN OLD BOHEMIA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 62, 7 December 1918, Page 8

IN OLD BOHEMIA

THE CZECHOSLOVAK ISSUE STORY OF A SUPPRESSED RACE (By Captain G. W. C. Hollist.) In the light for freedom of small oppressed nations no country presents more interesting or valid claims jlor consideration than the erstwhile King-, dom'of Bohemia. To many tho modern leini iHolieiniu. represents a collection of somewhat irresponsible folks somehow connected with impecunious art. Thosa who have had , the privilege of mixing in the. true artistic and literary circles realise how very incorrect is this description. The appearance- of the Czech as a powerful and invaluable ally to the Entente Powers has created a great \hough somewhat confused interest in Bohemia. Tho Czechs, (the nearest pronunciation is "Chech") ar6 a Slav nation, who inhabit Bohemia, which originally was an independent kingdom, but was, in 152e, united with the Grand Duchy of Aus:ria and the Kingdom of Hungary, (o form tho present Austrian Empire, ruled over by tlio iIL-futcd Hapsburg dynasty. Bohemia is situated in tho centre of the Continent of Eurbpp, and is divided by chains of mountains from Prussia, Saxony, Bavaria, and Austria. The Czechs settled in Bohemia in a.d. 150-500, and in A.i). 1037-1055 Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, and Poland were united tinder ono ruler, Bretisliui 1. Tlio present Bohemia, which represents tho ancient Kingdom of Bohemia, consists of Bohemia, Moravia, Southern Silesia,. and Slavokia, representiuj,' a population of 12,000,000. In some minds confusion exists between the claims of the Czechs (Western Slavs) and (lie Southern .Slavs (Jugo-Slavfi). Tho former, part of the great Slay, family, are racially connected with the latter, who We ctlinologically distributed through Albania, Serbia, Bosnia, and llerzogovina, Croatiii-Slavonia, Carcntia, and Styria. The Slavs havo in-more modern'itimos over opposed German-Aus-trian aggression, just as ni past history they saved Western Kuropo from being overrun by tho Turks.. Thus Western Europe owes an undying debt of gratitude to (he Slavs. The debt is not merely one of sentiment for -the past, but one for sacrifice in the present. There is no need to recapitulate what gallant Serbia, representing tho Southern Slays, Has done and is doing for tho Allied cause. As regards the Czechs, Bohemia, is in tho clutches of German Austria. As Austrian subjects they had, against (heir wish and national ideals, to join the Austrian Army. In consequence entire regiments of Czech'soldiers went over to the Russians without firing a shot, ,and the pro-Ally attitude of the Czechs facilitated several Russian and Serbian, victories in the early part of the war. In addition, at least 20,000 surrendered (o Serbia so that they could fight with, their racial allies. There are nlrcady 250,000 Czechs ami Slovaks in Russia, and every day produces evidence of the invaluable work they are doing in assisting the Allies. .Legions' of. Czech volunteers have been formed in Russia. France, and Great Britain. The. political work of tho Czechs and Slovaks in America in coun-teracting,-the extensive German propaganda is' well recognised.. Bohemia is a land of-romance both in tradition and reality. Romance, indicates that the country has not lost its gift of imagination. Tho gift of imagination produces tho finest characteristics in a na? tion, as evidenced by tho literature, industry, music, healthy manhood, and fighting qualities, and.last; but not least, t(w deep religion'of'the country. Tho outstanding character in tlio national history' of Bohemia is John Hus, who was born between the years 1309-1375. Ho is best described as a great truth-seeker; and in this respect is closely related to Leo Tolstoi of our own times. Ho embraced the doctrino of Wycliffe, and held the same views of the rights of the individual to the Church. As is so often the case with reformers, his religious beliofs wero' combined with a strong love for the welfare of his country. With the assistance of King Wenceslas (the hero of one of our"- favourite Christmas carols),/ ho succeeded in causing the German professors and students to leave the University of Prague (the capital of Bohemia) and found their University of Leipsic. John Hus died as nobly as ho lived. He was burnt at the stake on July 5, 1415. A prominent Scottish divine described Bohemia as r "the country of the book and the cup." Christianity was introduced by Borivoi and his wife Ludmilu, who wero in Moravia when Cyril and Methodius, two Serb delegates dispatched by the Byzantine Church, propagated the Gospel in the" Balkan countries. The restitution of the administration of wine at the Sacrament of. Holy Communion formed the keynote of reformation in Bohemia. "Tho cup," says E. Denis in his "Fin de Tlndepandence Boheme," "was tlio, symbol of'the purging of the Temple, the Saviour .reinstalled upon his throne, the liberty- of God's truth regained, Paradise reopened, crimes eradicated, commonwealth purified, enemies defeated, victory of national tougne achieved. All this wfis implied in the firm resolve not to forsake the cup, in suite of sufferings." This is the clue to the Hussite reformation '.in Bohemia 1 which has founded and'kept alive thosegreat national principled which have been the motive of the Czechs and Slovaks in psnousinir the cause.of the Allies. "The Bible is the direst treasure in every family. In modern times the British and Foreign Bible Society has put into, circulation in' Bohemia some 325.000 .Bibles and Old Testaments, 817.000 New ■Te=taments, (117.000 portions of the Bible, nnd 10,000 Bidlor. Gospels (BohomianEriijlish in parallel columns). Bohemia is rich in literature. Not much has penetrated,/ yet as far as, the English-speak-ing races, but Karapiat's delightful children'c:, book, "Broucci" "The Fireflies") lias been translated into English. Amongst the wealth of professed think* M-s- and polished writers Bohe/nia has produced the names of Jan Hus, K. H. DorovsVy, cml J. A. Komensky (Comenius) stand' out. Music and art-have taken ft prominent place in Bohemian national life. Amongst tho many componers nnd musicians who have emanated frnni Praguj- and elsewhere may be mentioned Kniolana, Seveik. and Dvorak, and '/.. Fibii'h. Dvorak's "Slalwt Mater" is a, work I hat won him (ho ear of flll Em-one. ' Lastly may bo mentioned the world-famed Jan Kubelik. The great Alliod Powers are'recognising lift , claims of Bohemia to independence after the war. Jan Hus represents (he- thought of Bohemia. Just as her aim was Ih< , essentials of civilisation, religion, and' freedom, in contradistinction to (he Germans, whose aim has always boon the superficialities, so are the Allies fichting for the same causes, in religion not for any particular doctrjno. but: for the freedom of the soul. President Wilron lias staled, "No lapse of time, no defeat of hopes, seems sufficient to reconcile (lie Czechs of Bohemia to incorporation with Austria." ' After the war he Sh'vs of Bohemia will receive from lao Allies the samo reward for their loyalty to (he Allied cause in obtnininir their freedom as will tho heroic Southern Slavs represented by Serbia.