The Bryan eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1880-1913, 1911-05-18
B0HEMIANS IN TEXAS
[From a long article by Joseph P

| II IOul IOuS al l4Nit " JDSNph
Bartak in South Texas Baptist.l
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 home was an ideal at
tanned only by few. He has come to
Texas with his family and a small
amount TO start with. His intention is
to make this his new 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 b.
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
scarce and dear. While his American
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 Bohemian neighborhood.
Wherever a Bohemian neighborhood
has been started the price of land
grows rapidly. Around Granger and
Taylor Bohemians have purchased
farms, paying 1885, per acre.
| There are now about 10000 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
leration 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
lions. 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 I'LL honor
able positions as teachers, school su
perintendents. county clerks, etc
Wherever ! met a sympathetic Ameri
can teacher in a Bohemian community
l felt at once his influence upon the
Bohemian youth. Thus in Wheelock
was told by the Bohemians, We have
the best teacher of all that have been
here" and the American teacher told
me. Some of my best students are
Bohemians. The result was that those
who otherwise would have been kept
at home for work were sent to schoo
and were preparing to become good
American citizens. Some of the coun
try districts suffer much for lack Of
sympathetic American teachers. Il
there are many Bohemians Of the sec
ond or third generation who can moi
speak English land there are some il
the remote Bohemian settlements)t i;
10 Ou TINS dNtOunls
Those who have come in contac'
with the Bohemian farmer know how
great a wall is still between him ant
an American. His strange tongue i;
one hindrance, his old ideas and hi:
peculiar characteristics are another
Many an American points out tha
even the rich Boehmians do not spend
much on anything for making theil
lives more comfortable and for higher
Education of their youth, but worl
with their whole family as hard al
though otherwise they would have
nothing to eat There is q
psychological reason for this
His ancestors have worked sc
hard his parents taught him dill
gence, and ever since his youth he
has been accustomed TO hard work
without improving his condition. A
peasant Of this class could not afford
luxury, nor could he send his chill
dren TO the university. Thus is devel
oped in him the constant realization
of the fact that he can not afford what
other men can. When he has become
rich the echo of this realization still
remains, though he may not express
it, and makes him act accordingly.
The new generation, if properly cared
for, will get easily over this.