BOHEMIA, MOEAVIA, AND AUSTEIAN SILESIA. 133 



of country between Briinn and Olmiitz hardly 40 miles wide, even though we 

 include in it Iglau and other enclaves exclusively inhabited by Germans. One- 

 half of Austrian Silesia and that portion of Moravia which lies nearest to Vienna 

 became German centuries ago. The inhabitants of many districts are bilingual. 

 Chechian appears to gain ground slowly, excepting to the north-west of Prague, 

 between the Eger and the Berounka ; and Germans living in Chechian districts 

 not unfrequently turn renegades to the extent even of changing their family 

 names.* 



The struggle between German and Slav is an ardent one in Bohemia. The two 

 detest each other, and the antagonism is all the stronger as it is one of class as well 

 as of race. The citizens of the towns are for the most part German, whilst the 

 aristocracy, the peasants, and many of the factory hands are Chech. The rivaliy 

 between the two races is stimulated by every political event, and even in the 

 smallest villages the national antagonism is kept alive by associations of every 

 kind. The Chechian peasant is by no means ignorant of the history of his 

 country, and though a Catholic, feels proud of the achievements of John Huss and 

 Zizka. These historical associations possibly account for the indulgence with 

 which he looks upon the few surviving congregations of Hussites. On the other 

 hand, he detests the Jew, whom he looks upon as an ally of his German enemy. 

 And indeed the Jews, with rare exceptions, take the side of the Germans, for it is 

 with German citizens or manufacturers that they transact most business. The 

 Jews speak both languages, but when among themselves they prefer German. 

 The influence of the Jews is by no means inconsiderable, for they are numerous, 

 and also more highly educated than either Germans or Chechians. Kolin may 

 be looked upon as their head-quarters, and in several other towns they form a 

 majority of the inhabitants. The Chechians, however, possess an ally beyond 

 the Carpathians no less powerful, and an exchange of sentiments is being carried 

 on incessantly between Prague and Moscow. 



Whatever the future may have in store for them, the Chechians are undoubt- 

 edly one of the most compact and energetic nations of Europe, and of all the 

 Slavs they have most successfully resisted foreign influences. The women of 

 Bohemia are famous for their clear complexion and fine figures. As to the men, 

 they do not much difler from the Germans, except that their cheek-bones are 

 somewhat more prominent, and their eyes deeper set. Their skulls are very large, 

 and if cerebral capacity is to be accepted as a test of intellect, they occupy a 

 foremost position amongst the nations of Europe, ranking high above the Germans. 

 They have indeed contributed largely to the march of ideas, notwithstanding their 

 political dependency and the wars which so frequently laid waste their country. 

 Prague is the oldest university of Central Europe, and Huss, a century before 



