The New York herald., 1873-11-17
7. WENZEL.
The Nine Hundredth Anniversary
of the Founding of the
Bishopric Of Prague.
PRAYER, WORSHIP AND PlLGRlMAGES
The National Fete Day
of Bohemia.

PRAGUE, Oct 2, 1873.
For the past six weeks the ancient and to the
Lord well pleasing city of Prague. sometimes called
the German Rome, the seat OF Prince Archbishop
Schwarzenberg has been In state OF chronic
festa excitement. The Prince Cardinal arranged
a grand ecclesiastical festival, and sent invitations
out TO all parts Europe the dignitaries OF the
Church TO come and join ''in the lestal Jubee.n
And they came. from Rome and from Mayence,
from Vienna and Paris the high officials OF the
Church, and then clergy from Bohemia and Morayia,
and Capucins and Jesuits, indeed representatives
OF all the many orders OF Christianity and all the
bells OF the hundred and five towers OF the city rang
out morning, noon and evening, as the pilgrims ar
rived, and pulpit and altar were occupied from the
rising OF the sun to the going down OF the same.
= PRAGUE-rHR AUSTRIAN ROME IN FEsrAL GABB.
Bohemia celebrates this year the nine hundredth
anniversary OF the founding OF the blshopric OF
Prague, and the occasion was conscentiously taken
advantage OF by the Prince Cardinal, Archbishop
Won Schwarzenberg to show the strength OF his
forces-in fact, to demonstrate to the liberal pe0-
pile OF Vienna and other ungody cities which have
been receiving Victor Emmanuel with open arms
that Pope Plus TX. Is not forgotten IN Bohemia
The Prince Cardinal can congratulate himself on Q
large measure OF success. The festival lasts from
the 3oth OF August to the 5th OF OCTOBER and en-
UTbCtS UeSlucS great Ol budli pIOCtsSIOus,
the conservation OF an altar in the unfinished
cathedral, the laying OF the foundation stone for
the extension Of said sacred edhce pilgrimages to
various shrlnes. visits to the graves OF Duke Coles
laus the Plus, the founder OF the Prague
bishopric and on the concluding Sab
BATH the 1th, service in all the churches,
a solemn "Te Deum Laudamus" and the ringing OF
bells for an hour. And as the national rete day in
hoivf OF Bohemia's patron saint, WenZel Tor
Wenceslaus, fell on the 2sth OF September this was
included in the list or festivities, and the Prince
Archbishop thus very skiliully managed to kill two
birds with one stone by gathering to his side the
Old Czechs and the leaders OF the Young Czec chs.
the feudal and democratic parties OF Czechendom.
The Germans as whole kept aoof from the fes-
tivlties If except the clergy and some feudals.
YOUNG CzECHENDoN LEAVES THE CITY.
The Prague festivities and devotions must be
considered in the light Of monster clerical de-
monstration against what we generally term the
spirit OF the age.n The Prince Cardinal and the
Church have thrown themselves at the head OF the
Czech agitation in Bohemia. and would, appar-
entity, take upon themselves the herculean
task OF uniting the 100000 Czechs and
1900, 900 Germans constituting the Kingdom
OF Bohemia under the one great, almighty
banner OF the Church. But the task no easy one.
clined naty refused to accept the allurng invita-
tion 10 worship at the shrine of st. Wenzel and
participate in the festivities Of the Church At the
same time; and on the morning or the great 1estal
day, the 2Sth, while the vast procession fingered
about the equestrian statue OF st. Wenzel on the
st. Wenzel square, and the bells OF St vitus, on
the Hradisch called the devout to prayer and wor-
ship, the various guilds of the Young Czechian
party, the infidel brewers and shoemaKers. the
taors and bakers shook the dust OF the city from
their feet and left Prague to its piety, while they
rambled Justify on picncs and excursions. But
there are wicked people like these In all big Cities
and the good ones feel all the better when they do
leave their haunts for while. Not that these in
6des do not believe In st. Wenzel, or entertain
glowing hopes Of the grand future awaiting for
their oppressed nationality" and their beautiful
country, which has been termed with good deal
deal OF justice
THE IRELAND OF THE AUSTRIAN EMPIRE.
This comparison is, by the way, true. not only as
regards the '1ay OF the land but the looks OF the
people as welln as friend Of mine remarked the
other day as we watched the processlo nlsts file by.
And in truth the two peoples have aims almost
similar. Both are connected with empires from
which there is no apparent release; both are
striving for national neutrality-suspicious., the home
rule for Ireland the acknowledged independence
OF Bohemia as Kingdom, a la Magyar IN Austria,
with Francis Joseph as their king crowned and
anonted in proper style, as kings should be-.
What St. Patrick Is to Ireland that is st. Wenzel TO
the Czechs OF Bohemia, the patron SAINT, bright
legend OF better past the legendary promise OF a
brighter future.
BEFORE THE STATUE OF ST. wENzEL BY NIGHT.
arrived in Prague on the eve OF st. Wenzers
festival Imet vast numbers OF peasants on the
along the interesting old city to the wenzers
Platz or Square OF st. Wenzel The Platz is q
long and very wide street, rather than square,
and presents a nne appearance even by night
time, being well lighted, and tonight there was
before US, half way up the square, huge structure
OF colored lights, before which black mass OF hu-
manity stood-men, women and children, bare
headed-and prayed and sung to an equestrian
statue under the Illuminated canopy. The statue
was that OF st. Wenze Tor Wenceslaus), OF sanity
repute, the patron ofthe Czechs and their Kingdom.
l could discern one individual close to the statue
armed with hymn book, and heard him repeat a
few lines therefrom, which the crowd then sung.
1t was low, sad chant, like the songs and hymns
OF most OF the Sclavic peoples. The words they
sung / know not. 1t was, am told, o
petition to the saint to bless Bohe-
mia. and TO restore the kingdom's ancient
grandeur. Then the singers stopped and we heard
the bells of the city peal out, and the bright sill
very moon shone over us all. Slowly the crowd dis.
persed, and yet lew fingered at the foot OF the
statue and knelt down in silence and prayed
before an altar which now saw mad been erected
before the monument.
The crowd gone, had ample opportunity OF
noticing how the statue had been decorated for
the festal occasion; how an orchestral shaped,
star begilded covering OF wood had been erected
over his august head and the boards thereof dec
GRATED with pictures from the eventiul lie OF the
saint square plot about the monument had
been enclosed by raj ing, aud at the 'front.' corners
were two sentinel boxes. Hound one unoccupled.
In the other discovered an old Czech peasant,
last asleep, dreaming no doubt about the glorious
future OF Bohemia and with little iear III his soul
that any person would commit a sacrleSious act
on the person or the patron saint
True the old man woke up after time lie was
a curlously wthered specimen OF CzecnIan huma an
ity. and spoke poor German. lie told me that no
had occupied the post OF sentinel lor many years
mast and had taken part In ST. Wenzel's procession
up to the Hr~1isch even az a boy. He did not
think there was so much enthusiasm SHOWN now
az then, and dwelt with evident pleasure on the
memories had called up Of the past. lie told me