Page:Czecho-Slovak Student Life, Volume 18.djvu/89

ing along with watercolors, mechanical drawing and architectural drawing.

Mr. Adolph Shonka, a Chicago architect’s rising assistant, who will soon be his own boss, and Mr. Jerry Vinicky, at present continuing his architectural course at the Chicago Technical College, are among the outstanding students of Father Alcuin’s recent classes.

Since the day Father Anselm introduced art courses at Lisle, enthusiastic students have not been wanting. Practically every local student takes up art in one form or another during his college career, and year after year, one or the other graduate leaves S. P. C. to try for and eventually achieve fame and fortune in some particular phase of painting.

When Charles IV. upon the completion of the crown of St. Vaclav issued regulations that it be kept on the head of the statue of St. Vaclav in the Cathedral of St. Vitus. Pope Clement VI. confirmed them by a Papal Bull dated May 6, 1346. The King’s orders provided that the crown could be taken from its resting place only when a King was crowned or on some other very important occasion. In all cases it was to be returned the same day. The Papal Bull provided that anyone attempting to steal the crown would be excommunicated and it also invested the Prague Archbishop with the right to crown the Kings of Bohemia.

Charles and Blanche (Princess of Valois, France) were crowned King and Queen respectively with the Crown of St. Vaclav on September 2, 1347, Archbishop Ernest of Prague and numerous Church and State dignitaries assisting.

Originally deposited in the Chapel of St. Vaclav, it was later transferred to the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Karlstein. Zikmund used the crown when he was crowned King of Bohemia in 1420, but he did not return it to its place. Instead he took it with him during the Hussite Wars and in 1422 deposited it in the Hungarian Vyšehrad (Highmount) on the Danube. Here it remained until the treaty of 1436 when it was returned to Karlstein. Until 1619 it remained here and then Frederick of Palatinate used it during his coronation ceremonies. As he was making a hasty exit from Prague, Frederick packed the crown intending to take it with him, but the populace, fortunately, thwarted his design.

Ferdinand II. (1619–1637) ordered the crown sent to Vienna where it remained until returned to the Coronation Chamber of the Cathedral of St. Vitus in Prague on August 9, 1791 by Leopold II. Thereafter it was kept under special guard. In 1866, due to the Prussian invasion, it was sent to Vienna, but was returned the next year.

On its last trip the Crown of St. Vaclav received homage of the people along the entire route. It was the symbol of Bohemian sovereignty. Resting in the treasure chamber of the Cathedral of St. Vitus, it may be seen today by visitors together with the other treasures of this ancient edifice.