Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1911-05-12
B0HEM|AMs IN TEXAS

Bartak in South Texas Baptist.1
In Texas we meet the Bohemian
farmer. He has not undergone a great
change by coming to Texas. He has
obtained an education adequate to get
along in life, but has not felt the de-
sire to see the big cities and to be
initiated into the strenuous life of
their populace. He does not think very
much about the social and political
problems of the world. From his peace
full and homely little village in Eu-
rope he has been transplanted to the
lonely farm in Texas and he knows
one thing well, he realizes that If he
wants to make his living he has to
work hard. In Bohemia he had to
work very hard to keep from starva-
ton; to own a home was an ideal at
tanned only by a few. He has come to
Texas with his family and a small
amount to start with. His intention is
to make this his and permanent
home. The same indefatigable dill
gence to which he was accustomed in
the old country and his thriftiness, APP
piled to our favorable conditions in
Texas, insure him success. Many an
American has told me about his Bo-
hemian neighbor, how he came here
with almost nothing to start with. how
he farmed on half shares, and how in
four or five years he purchased the
farm. The Bohemian farmer realizes
the value of land. In Bohemia land is
neighbor invests money in automo-
biles, he purchases additional farms.
He is willing to pay a very high price
for good black land, but prefers to
live in a Bohemian neighborhood.
Wherever a Bohemian neighborhood
has been started the price of land
grows rapidly. Around Granger and
Taylor Bohemians have purchased
farms, paying s1S5 per acre.
There are now about $4,000 Bohe-
mian-speaking people in Texas. Every
ship brings new additions. Every year
new Bohemian farmers come from the
Northern states to seek new homes in
prosperous Texas. While the old gen
Grafton knows scarcely enough Eng
lish to sell its cotton, the new, which
has had the advantage of good Ameri-
can schools, can scarcely be distin-
guished from its American compan-
ions. This is especially true In the old
Bohemian settlements around West,
Caldwell and Bryan. Some have grad
uated with honor from the high school
and are progressing in the univer-
sites of the state; others fill honor
able positions as teachers, school SUI
perintendents, county clerks, etc.
NNhnrnpar I n,nf q urrpathnfi A m nrf-
can teacher in a Bohemian community
l felt at once his influence upon the
youth. Thus in Wheelock |
was told by the Bohemians, 1--WE have
the best teacher of all that have been
here" and the American teacher told
me, Some of my best students are
The result was that those
who otherwise would have been kept
at home for work were sen to school
and were preparing to become good
American citizens. Some of the coun-
try districts suffer much for lack of
sympathetic American teachers. If
there are many Bohemians of the sec
ond or third generation who can not
speak English (and there are some in
the remote Bohemian settlements) is
is on this account.
Those who have come in contact
with the Bohemian farmer know how
great a wall is still between him and
an American. His strange tongue is
one hindrance, his old ideas and his
peculiar characteristics are another.
Many an American points out that
even the rich Boehmians do not spend
much on anything for making their
ives more comfortable and for higher
education of their youth, but work
with their whole family as hard as
otherwise they would have
to eat. There Is a
psychological reason for this.
His ancestors have worked so
hard his parents taught him dill
yence, and ever since his youth he
has been accustomed to hard work
without improving his condition. A
peasant of this class could not afford
l luxury, MOI could he send his chill
lren to the university. Thus is devel-
)ped in him the constant realization
If the fact that he can not afford what
men can. When he has become
Itch the echo of this realization still
'emains, though he may not express
t, and makes him act accordingly.
rhe new generation, If properly cared
or, will get easily over this.
-