SLAVS ON SOUTHERN FARMS. 13 



The real movement of Bohemians to Texas has been in progress 

 since the early fifties, coming first direct from Europe, and later 

 chiefly from the industrial centers of the East. The principal colonies 

 are located in the counties of Fayette, Lavaca, Austin, Burl son, 

 Williamson, and McLennan. Many of the settlements which have 

 been established since 1890 are the result of a shift in population 

 from the older colonies — the settlements on the "Panhandle" are a 

 direct result of this tendency. 



Bohemians throughout the Texas colonies send their children to 

 the district schools. In some of the towns a parochial school is also 

 maintained. Considering the settlements as a whole, however, 

 school attendance is comparatively poor. A very small percentage 

 of the children pursue their education beyond the grammar grades, 

 although a few are found as teachers in the public schools. 



As soon as they are old enough to work on the farms the larger 

 portion of the children leave the schools and go to work on the home 

 places. They generally remain at home until they marry, it is 

 no doubt true that much of the success of the Bohemians in agri- 

 culture is due to this fact. Even the women in the middle classes 

 regard it their duty to assist in the cultivation and harvest of the 

 ci ops. 



Possibly 90 per cent of the Bohemians in Texas are Roman Catho- 

 lics, and in all towns where they are in sufficient numbers they have 

 then own church and resident priest. Some of these churches, 

 usually situated on the top of a hill in the rural regions, are built of 

 brick; some of stone; but the majority are frame structures. 



One very prominent rural church crowns a hilltop in the midst of a 

 wilderness where the land as far as the eye can reach is only sparsely- 

 settled — not more than 20 farms are visible. As widely scattered 

 as this congregation is, it furnished $15,000 in cash toward building 

 a brick church. Some of the members of this church come a distance 

 of over 20 miles to attend mass each Sunday. 



In these colonies there is also a marked inclination for social inter- 

 course, and the monotony of farm work is frequently broken with 

 picnics, dances, and other social diversions. These Bohemians are 

 fond of music and dancing. Near crossroads connecting Bohemian 

 towns is often found a dancing pavilion. In the towns such places 

 are also found; some of them being rather large and costly. They fire 

 built usually by public subscription, or by some club, and during the 

 summer months dances are frequently held. Throughout the region 

 are found orchestral bands and choruses. 



Local newspapers printed and published by Bohemians in a 

 large number of towns keep well abreast of the times and have a 

 very marked progressive effect throughout the region. 



National, State, and church holidays are all celebrated by the 

 Bohemians. The Germans join with the Bohemians in the observ- 

 ance of church festal days as well as the American holidays, and such 

 gatherings are often made the occasion of great festivity. During 

 the summer months there are numerous social diversions in the form 

 of picnics and open-air dances, participated in by the two races, who 

 mingle together freely. As is well known, Texas also has a very 

 large rural population of Germans 



In all of these settlements the very best feeling exists between 

 the Americans and Bohemians, although in many cases the Bohe- 



