Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-12-15

that you can make such foolish mistake.
| swear you that us Bohemians are one,
two three centuries before some O. them
other peoples you call 'Poacks' long with
us"
He glanced keenly at Buckley, who in
stantly attempted to disguise the look of
interest that he had allowed to creep
into his eyes.
"Ah, you don't want believe me? You
want, believe then, reports of your own
government? Well, how many Little
Russians come over here can't read and
write? United States report say five out
of ten. That's right; l got the paper
home-can show you. How many Girl
ners and Croatians can't read and write :?
Bout three out O. ten. But how many
Bohemians?" He snapped his arms out
ward from his chest. only three out of
hunderd!'
BY gad!" exclaimed Buckley, invol-
unfairly.
You think" the other pursued that
them Germans is pretty smart people,
what? | tell you truth of Lord, twice so
many illiterate Germans come in this
country as Bohemians. Mother thing I'd
like find out pretty well; you native
Americans, you got only three out of
hunderd can't read and write?"
He broke suddenly into a bitter laugh
"Ah! it shows only how blind you
are, you Americans. This here young
country, II am already out second
reader in school, yet it considers to know
all, all. And you look on us sons of
ancient, wonderful Bohemia with despise
You call us 'Polacks'!
He flung forth the word with incon-
ceivable disgust as though it were an
unclean thing.
Buckley redeemed, but said nothing.
You're even surprised a Polack' like
me can fight, amt that right? You
didn't know most Bohemians train the
body just so good as the mind, in great
| national turner societies called Sokols.
! Because l couldn't talk good you thought
l couldn't fight good. One moment. Say
me, how many languages you spik?
Nothing but United States" answered
Bulkeley; that's good enough for me
any time"
II spik three" said Vaclav quietly,
besides this little bit of English"
The deuce you do" exclaimed the
other.
Well" said Vaclav, that's Bohemians.
We don't run round blowing what we
can do. And We are patient like we are
proud; don't shut the fist unless we got
to. Now you can go head and put me
in the workhouse all right. You should
only understand I'll be the first Bohe-
milan there this year"
The American glanced down at his late
assailant. The illumination of his homely
| features had died to the hue of cold
| ashes. He was staring straight ahead OF
! him with that look of unutterable sad
ness that comes only into Slavic faces
Buckley followed the direction of his
eyes and saw that they were fixed on
! the uncompromising facade of the
Fourth Precinct Station, half a block
ahead. And then, unaccountably, the
| bookkeeper's consumptive, stoop- shoul.
dered wife and three children slipped
across his mental field of vision.
With loving solicitude he felt of his
nose. The keen, snowy air had done il
good
He seized Vaclav by the arm and stop.
ped him in the middle of the sidewalk.
Look here young fellow" he began
brusquey, and then cleared his throat
twice. IAN this you've been spelling
about your blood being as good as mine
is Greek to me-"
once more he cleared his throat witt
terrible vigor But 1 guess 1t must be
straight goods. l never yet knew you tC
tell me word out of the way abou
| anything
VaclaV stood motionless, gazing stu,
pidly at the ground.
Compared to some others, in certain
ways" Buckley continued I'VE Yankee.
may be pretty poor pickings, after all
though it never occurred to me exactly
in that light before. But there's on,
thing we have got"-here he deliberatel,
began to stretch his hand out toward
| Vaclav, palm up-"thats sporting blood.
| -[Robert Haven Schauffer in The Out.
look.