Page:The Czechoslovak Review, vol4, 1920.pdf/322

American Independence Day was observed almost universally throughout Czechoslovakia. Owing to the presence of so many American citizens of Czechoslovak birth, who were scattered all over the Republic, an additional tinge was added to the ceremonies. The entwined flags of America and Czechoslovakia were displayed from almost every house. In Prague the American Minister, Mr. Charles R. Crane, was the principal speaker to a gathering of 50,000 people, to whom he read the American Declaration of Independence. A number of American citizens of Czechoslovak origin also spoke. At the conclusion a message of felicitations to America was sent to the President at Washington.

Internal dissentions cropped out in the Cabinet when disagreements between ministers of the Agrarian and Social Democratic parties, over the prices to be paid for grains to farmers, almost resulted in a serious crisis and a dissolution of the coalition government. The Agrarian members pointed out that the government purchased, at very high prices, flour and grain in foreign countries, whereas, in comparison, prices paid domestic producers were insignificant. They advocated that the allowances to farmers and millers be increased. Finally, a compromise was effected and all the ministers retained their offices except Dr. Prášek. Kuneš Sontag temporarily assumed the duties of the Department of Agriculture in addition to those of Commerce. Dr. Prášek has been elected President of the Senate in place of Dr. Horák, who resigned because of continued ill health.

July 6, 1415, is the day on which the great son of Bohemia, the advocate of an unrestrained conscience and the apostle of personal liberty, Magister Jan Hus, was burnt at the stake in Constance. Each recurring year the descendants of the heroic Bohemians of those days recall the martyrdom of their great son. This year the celebrations took on added zest, for is not Czechoslovakia a realization of Hus’ ideals? For the first time in 300 years as a free people they were able to pay tribute to the memory of their noble martyr. In every city, village and hamlet exercises, befitting the work of Hus, were held. The Bohemian people look back with reverence to the accomplishments of this one man, who fought against all restraints of personal liberty and whom as an ideal they have no hesitancy in following.

Professor Otokar Ševčik, the famous violinist and teacher of the Prague Conservatory, has finally consented to come to America. He has signed a contract with the Egbert Conservatory of Music at Ithaca, N. Y., and will arrive in this country shortly before January 1, 1921, remaining at Ithaca for the ensuing six months.

Professor Ševčik was born on March 22, 1852, in Bohemia, and is noted for his pupils of later years, who included Kubelík, Kocian, Marie Hall, Carl Ondřiček, Sacha, Culbertson, Eleanora, Jackson and many others well known in musical circles of the new world.

Dr. Alice Masaryk, President of the Czechoslovak Red Cross, will arrive in the United States this fall and visit the principal Bohemian and Slovak centers to inform the Czechoslovak people, in this country, of the work she and her organization are doing for the children of the new Republic.

Translations of English works are meeting with universal favor by the reading public of the Czechoslovak Republic. The latest addition is the Bohemian translation of selection from Shelley’s prose writings. It is by Dr. F. Chudoba. Also, there has appeared a translation of H. L. Ripperger’s “Shadows and Lights” by Fedor D. Engelmuller. This is a collection of short poems depicting the feelings of the soul of an American youth. Both are excellently translated and were well received by the press and public.