Page:Czecho-Slovak Student Life, Volume 18.djvu/298
STUDENT LIFE
Published monthly, excepting the summer months, at Lisle, Ill., is written for and about American Students of Czechoslovak Ancestry.
The feature articles have been written expressly for the Student Life. Permission to reprint will be readily granted.
The date on which your subscription falls due is printed opposite your address on the magazine cover. Kindly send your renewals promptly—this saves us the expense of sending out renewal letters, and leaves a little more for the improvement of the S. L.
STUDENT LIFE PROGRAM
1—To acquaint the English speaking world and our own younger generation with the historical, artistic, literary, musical and cultural treasures of the Czechs and Slovaks.
2—To make prominent Americans of Czech and Slovak ancestry better known.
3—To present the achievements and activities of American Czech and Slovak students and alumni in America.
4—To kindle a greater interest and desire among Czechs and Slovaks for higher education.
5—To inform and entertain by means of interesting news items, good short stories and rollicking student humor.
PICTURE ON THE S. L. COVER.
UR COVER picture this month shows the most remarkable feudal castle in Bohemia, which was built by Charles IV about twenty miles south of Prague, and which was called by him “Karlův Týn” or Charles’ Castle. It was begun in 1348 by the French architect, Matthew of Arras, to whom Charles had already entrusted the building of the Prague Cathedral. Intended as a safe keeping-place for the State archives, it had to be in an inaccessible position, and was very strongly built, and fortified. Originally a deep ravine had to be crossed before the first gate could be reached, but the ground was levelled here in 1590.
To defend the castle and to guard the treasures Charles appointed a Burgrave, assisted by twenty-two vassal knights and twenty vassal peasants. Ten men had always to be on guard night and day. Once every hour they were required to cry aloud from the walls: “Keep far from the castle! Keep away from the castle to avoid danger of death!”
The great tower, in which is the Chapel of the Holy Cross, is 121 feet high and has walls 15 feet thick.
In 1422 the Hussites tried for twenty-four weeks to capture the castle, but all their efforts were in vain.
The richness of the interior of the five chapels, as Charles left them, was unequalled by anything that then existed. Some of the original frescoes are still to be seen on the walls, including portraits of Charles and his Queen. The Chapel of the Holy Cross, where the priceless treasures were kept, was closed by means of four strong iron doors, with nine locks, and ten bolts. The walls are all inlaid with precious stones, amethysts, yellow amber, white and yellow quartz, including originally even diamonds, None but the