THE SLAVIC IMMIGRANT. 31 



Czechs. "Bohemia constitutes the point of the wedge formed by the 

 advance of the western division of the Slavic race into Central Europe. 

 For this reason Bohemia has been the bulwark of Slavic supremacy, 

 and has acted the part of a buffer in checking the progress of pan-Ger- 

 manism in the Slavic states. The German element is stronger in Bo- 

 hemia than in any other Slavic state, and the Bohemian Slavs are taller 

 and more blond, possibly because of a strong infusion of Teutonic 

 blood. 



The Czechs possessed a native literature as early as the ninth cen- 

 tury. Their country is well supplied with schools, in about one half 

 of which the Czech language is spoken. They are far better educated 

 than any other Slavic immigrants. 



The valley of the Elbe is a rich agricultural country, and through- 

 out the kingdom industry and manufacturing are highly developed. 

 For this reason more than fifty per cent, of Czech immigrants are 

 skilled laborers or mechanics — an unusually high percentage for Slavs. 



The Czechs have a very wide area of distribution in this country. 

 This is natural, for, being skilled in various occupations, they can find 

 employment anywhere. They have scattered from New York to Ne- 

 braska and Texas. The following table shows the destination by states 

 of the Czechs arrived last year: 



ef„*„ vr„_v„- ^fri-^^uo Ratio to Total Number 



State. Number of Czechs. ^^ ^^^^^^ Landed. 



New York 1,387 25 per cent. 



Illinois 1,375 25 



Ohio 660 12 



Pennsylvania 571 10 " 



Texas 391 7 



Wisconsin 217 4 " 



Nebraska 194 3 



All other states 795 14 



Total 5,590 100 per cent. 



There are certain cardinal requisites in the make-up of a desirable 

 immigrant. He must have a good physique, he must be willing to do 

 rough hard labor, and he must be a man who intends to make this coun- 

 try his permanent home. Observations of the Slavic immigrants will 

 show that they have a very rugged physique, that they are very willing 

 to work at the most arduous labor, and that they have no desire to re- 

 turn to the oppression and grinding poverty of the old world, A dis- 

 passionate study of their history in Europe reveals nothing to their 

 disadvantage. In addition their moral standard is a very high one. 

 They are a simple, right-living people, intensely religious and mindful 

 of family ties. They are guileless compared with the Hebrew, Italian 

 or Levantine races, and before the Board of Special Inquiry they usually 

 tell the plain truth. 



