Leading Articles in the Reviews. 



185 



SLAVONIC UNITY. 



The Sokol Festival at Prague. 



Writing in the mid-July number of the Nouvelle 

 Revue, .M. Paul Cloareo describes the Sokol Festival at 

 Prague, and explains its national significance to the 

 Slav race. 



sixteen thousand performers. 



Every fi\e years this great athletic festival is cele- 

 brated at Prague, and its interest far exceeds that of a 

 mere spectacle offered to visitors. In a large arena of 

 35,000 square metres, over 10,000 athletes t;ike part in 

 a wonderful performance manoeuvring with perfect 

 ensemble to the strains and rhythm of music. In 

 addition, some 6,000 women and girls take part, and 

 their movements are equally precise. The men are 

 dressed in blue and white costumes, leaving the arms 

 bare, and the effect is most harmonious. The women 

 wear red caps and white collars. As interludes in these 

 marvellous displays certain more distinguished 

 Sokolists perform more difficult exercises. On the 

 last day 1.300 men and women reproduced a Greek 

 scene, namely Marathon. The famous Greek warrior 



came to cry " Victory " before expiring in the public 

 square, then the army entered amid acclamation and 

 dancing, while the priests offered a sacrifice to the 

 gods, and finally there were the athletic games. The 

 spectacle was mounted with admirable care, and the 

 organiser, M. Vanicek, is to be congratulated on its 

 success. The spectators, who numbered about 125,000, 

 were not sparing in their applause and cries of delight. 



solidarity of the SLAV RACE. 



But all this would seem a trifle if one did not feel 

 behind it the energetic will animating the performers, 

 men and women who come to Prague from every 

 quarter of the Slav horizon to affirm their national 

 sentiment, the right to the liberty they claim in the 

 different countries peopled by the Slav race. That is 

 the real significance of the Sokol festival. As the 

 representatives of Slavism the Sokols come to Prague 

 as a sort of holy city to express their faith in the 

 destinies of their race. The choice of Prague may seem 

 odd, but one must remember that the Czechs take a 

 high place as defenders of the rights and liberty of 

 conscience. Ardent adherents of the doctrines of John 



The Congress of the Sokols in Prague : A nation determined to be fit — twelve thousard Men at Drill. 



Women are aiiJciou'-; to be fit six tlioiisand Women Members of t!io So'.tol Society at Drill 



