Page:The Czechoslovak Review, vol4, 1920.pdf/334

States, they would surely sing their way into all hearts.

A real bath in Eastern Europe is a rarity, and those who desire this Anglo-Saxon luxury must look for it far and wide. In Czechoslovakia the problem of personal cleanliness is further complicated by the scarcity and high cost of soap. In view of the prevailing conditions, the bathroom at the Brno hut was a pleasant surprise. Here, 10 tubs and 50 showers are provided for the daily bathing of at least 500 men.

“I’m the happiest man in Czechoslovakia, today”, recently exclaimed Director Jennings, as he announced the arrival of two carloads of American flour from Prague. “That means we can issue white rolls to our soldiers with their coffee or chocolate”. An inspection of the well-appointed bake-ovens which were in the Brno hut brought a realization of the extent of the “Y’s” baking industry to meet the needs of hungry soldiers, “fed up” on their regular rations of dark, unpalatable bread. An expert baker, among the soldiers detailed for “Y” service, is in charge of the ovens. As he indicated the many shelves laden with the day’s supply of delicately browned rolls, his eyes reflected the gratification of his chief. The canteen and eating room adjoin the bakery and complete that part of the hut which might be called the “refectory”.

Brno is the site of the new Masaryk University, which is to be the technical training center for the Republic. As the university buildings, as well as the students are scattered all over the city, there is, at present, an absence of anything like the class “spirit” or college esprit de corps, common to our American educational institutions. To co-operate with the students in effecting a better organization, a building, or site, is now being sought, where a real social center or club may be established for the students, of whom, including those in the preparatory schools, there are about 6,000. On the basis of the present enrollment, it is expected that this number, next year, will be increased to 12,000.

Already, there are two eating centers for the preparatory and university students in the city. These are practically “commons” or “mensas”, in the maintenance and management of which the “Y” is co-operating with a student committee, so that these young people may obtain well-prepared and nourishing food at a minimum cost.

A live athletic department is conducted by Professor J. A. Pipal, National Director of Physical Work, who is also in charge of the selection and training of candidates for a national team to the Olympic Games at Antwerp.

On April 25, a National Relay and all Sports Carnival was held at Brno. The program included relay races open to soldiers only, relay races and special events open to both soldiers and civilians. The special events open to all contestants included short dashes, high and low hurdle dashes, running high and broad jumps, standing high and broad jumps, pole vaults, shot put, discuss and javelin throwing and American games. To most of the spectators, the method of running several events at the same time in different parts of the big athletic field, must have been as disconcerting as the threeringed circus is to the average small boy; but time was an important element in completing the program, with a real game of American baseball, in which the “Y” secretaries took part, as a fitting finale. This did not differ greatly from a game of baseball in a strictly American setting, excepting that the umpire was a clergyman and the Czech crowd on the side lines tried to stop errant balls more often with their feet than their hands. A “fast” ball is usually a terrifying object to a European man or boy.

All of these events were, to a certain extent, elimination contests, leading up to the national all-sports carnival to be held at Praha from July 3 to 11, including all Olympic track events and other Olympic events and games. At that time, final selection will be made of the Olympic squads to represent Czechoslovakia at Antwerp.

At the Brno meet, one of the Czech records, that in javelin throwing, was broken. So the outlook for a good representative team is promising.

Field Marshal F. M. Podhajsky, the highest military officer for Moravia and Silesia, gave more than the stamp of official patronage and approval to the meet by his presence. He was a decidedly interested “bystander”. Irving D. Kimball, Director of the “Y” Army Work in Czechoslovakia, was also present, with Prof. Pipal and other American athletic directors from the several divisions.

Although it deserves a chapter by itself, something should be written here of the