18 SLAVS ON SOUTHERN FAEMS. 



but as neither of these two races are represented in agriculture in the 

 South to any appreciable extent they do not command the same 

 interest as is now manifested in the Bohemians and the Slovaks. 

 Because, too, of the subordinate position of the Crown lands of 

 Croatia and Slavonia within the Hungarian Kingdom, there is not 

 the same interest centering around the Croatians, or the Slovaks for 

 that matter, as around a people possessing a more pronounced 

 national integrity. 



It is therefore possibly the Bohemians, with the possible excep- 

 tion of the Slovaks, more than any of the other Slavish races, about 

 whose national, racia : , and literary history so little is known and 

 who at the same time command such an interest among the people 

 of the South. This interest in the Bohemians on the part of the 

 southern people is intensified by their coming among us in such 

 large numbers as agricultural settlers. 



BOHEMIANS AS A PEOPLE. 



As a people, none possess a more fascinating history than the 

 Bohemians, for the story of the ups and the downs of the Bohemian 

 nation has the grip and thrill of a fairy legend. One can not read, 

 for instance, the legendary tale of the founding of the now beautiful 

 city of Prague by the mythical Princess Libusa without catching the 

 charm of Bohemia. The history of Prague is largely the history of 

 Bohemia. Visit Bohemia and one can feel that the indomitable 

 spirit of Prince Rupert of the Rhine, that dashing cavalry leader of 

 ancient days, still lingers here and there among the Bohemians. 

 There, too, one finds — a most hopeful sign, thanks to Palackv, the 

 great Bohemian historian— that the pride of nation has again been 

 firmly planted in the hearts of his people. Nor did that martyred 

 Bohemian patriot and reformer John Hus fight and die in vain. 

 John Hus's death at the stake in Constance 500 years ago made him 

 the "Immortal Bohemian." He it was who implanted the spirit of 

 emulation in the Bohemians of to-day. The labors of the astute 

 Rieger, champion of the old Bohemian constitution, and the teachings 

 of the brilliant Braf also add their force to the story of the Bohe- 

 mians — a truly great story of a really great people. 



Only a great people could build and maintain a city like the modern 

 Prague — that splendid modern-ancient municipality of more than 

 600,000 inhabitants. There we find, in spite of the germanizing 

 policies of the overlords of the Bohemians, a genuine Bohemian city. 

 Possibly no more than 7 per cent of its population now are Germans. 

 Prague is truly a "golden city of a hundred towers," where the 

 mystery and charm of its illustrious past have not been sacrificed in 

 the building of the industrial and commercial city of to-day. 



William Sitter once said of Prague that "if Ruskin had not been 

 so much occupied with Florence, Venice, and Amiens, he might have 

 written three volumes with the title 'The Stones of Prague,' and there 

 would not have been on the surface of the earth a more beautiful work 

 of history and architecture." 



Writing of the Bohemians as a people, Prof. Niederle says: 



The Bohemians and Slovaks are derived from the western body of Slavs. The 

 Slovaks can in general be regarded as a part of the same ethenic group, although con- 

 siderably separated by various conditions. Both arose from a common center near that 



