The Washington herald., 1912-09-13
FOREIGN GOSSIP.

kingdom or state. but is gathered from
the great countries of Europe, with out
posts In the Western and Eastern world.
1t Ia. In short. the union Of the whole
Slavonic race. which now Is split UP In
many geographical and political divisions
end under the sway Of many rulers, who
have nothing in common with the Sla-
vonic blood and ideals.
This movement, which Possesses a vast
influence In Europe. already revealed by
strong undercurrents of emotion reacting
upon social. commercial. and artisan life,
SO far has no definite poilticaI purpose.
Unlike the old pan-Slavism, IL no longer
aims at founding great Slavonic state
in Europe under the domination of Rus
STA 1t calls itself "Neo-Slavism," which
Is racial. not national. But II has a
secret though powerful effect upon the
political problems and conditions Of Eu-
rope.
The fact cannot be denied that Ger
many and Austria Hungary are face to
face with spirit of racial antagonism
which is challenging their Industrial SUI
prsmacy and their sovereign authority in
a very serious way. All students of the
economy Of modern Europe must reckon
now with this vast though until re-
Gently unexpected uprising Of an old race
pressed for centuries.
There is an extraordinary historical ro-
nance In this revival Of the SIavonic
spirit. Almost before history began this
group OF old tribes, belonging to the
Aryan family. were settled all over the
east Of Europe and westward through
Asia, all the way out to Kamschatka,
and from the frozen" sea to Saloniki.
Gradually. up to the seventh century,
they became divided into various groups
and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. Bulgarians, Serbs,
Croats. Poles. Silesians, Pomeranians,
Czechs or Bohemians Moravians. Slo-
vaks, and others.
Many OF the old Slavonic states, for
merly independent have long ago been
absorbed by other states and become vas
sails OF greater powers. Russia and Ser
via are still independent, but Bulgaria
became a tributary state Of Turkey; Bo-
hernia and Moravia are united to Aus
tria: Croatia belongs to Hungary: POLAND
il distributed between Russia, Austria
and Prussia, and other Slavonic peoples
are scattered throughout Europe,
amounting to more than 100, 100000 all
told.
II Is only recently. as historical time is
counted, that these widely scattered
Slavs have remembered the glory of their
past and their common stock But Of
late louder and louder there has come
to them the call OF the race. singing to
them from that old world when they
TILED the soil and tended their focks
and herds and served their great chiefs
in mighty and independent tribes. and
speaking to them from later history when
their peoples were still unoppressed by
alien powers
1t was TO a literary man, now the hero
of Bohemia, that they owe this great
reminder of the past and a sentiment
deeper than words can express which at
last has awakened the spirit of their
race. ] speak Of Palacky, who in 1s31
was elected historian for Bohemia, and
who six years later published his first
volume of the history Of that country.
1t was not until Is4s. when the Aus
TRAN censorship was abolished. that this
volume was published in the Czech Ian
guage. and not until 1876 that the COM
plete history was allowed to appear in
his own language. free from all censor
ship. II was this work that raised 8
flaming torch of racial sentiment among
the Slavs and shed its light over a new
era OF awakening ideals in Slavonic H.
erature. art, and social life.
Since that date there has been a con-
tinuous struggle between Germans and
Czechs. not only in Bohemia but in Aus
tria and other states, for moral intel
lectual. and political supremacy. The
Slavonic peoples have won many VIC
tories. Their language Is established in
all schools attended by their children
and wherever the children OF the Slavs
are in danger OF being Germanized by
insufficient school accommodation Of
their own kind money Is contributed
generously by rich and poor alike TO sup
ply a Slavonic education. The old ira
ditions, the old literature. and the mod
ern ideas OF Czech leaders are taught in
the schools a sacred duty.
The University OF Prague has become
the center OF the Slavonic spirit. II has
established binding links with the educa-
tional institutions OF other Slavonic coun-
tries, and there Is an exchange OF stu
dents and professors between the uni
versities Of Prague, ST. Petersburg. War
sow, Cracow, and other great cities, so
that this racial spirit Is being fostered
and infiamed in a most ardent way.
The people Of Bohemia especially are
becoming enthusiasts for knowledge and
take their studies very seriously, one
sign Of the revival OF learning being the
literary men pushing literary activities.
With a population OF 100000 Bohemia
produces 800 newspapers and magazines.
But most remarkable of all demonstra-
tons OF this Slavonic revival is shown
by the organization known as the Sokols
In that vast society Is at once the glory
and the power Of this spiritual awaken
ing OF the ancient race. The word sokol
means falcon. the home bird OF Bohe-
mia, famous for its intelligence and per-
severance. Its has been chosen as the
name for an organization OF athletes
embracing the whole of the Slavonic
world. BY adopting systematic exercises
as its apparent purpose 1t was able to
disarm the official hostility OF Germany
and Austria and to reprdiate all charges
that might be leveled against It as a
political society.
Yet these harmless exercises for physi-
cal drill. which were displayed recently
at Prague by thousands OF young men
and women Of the Slavonic race from all
parts Of Europe, and even from the
United States. contain a deeper mean
ing. When this great army OF young
Slavs marched into the stadium at
Prague, when in perfect melody OF move
ment they went through their evolutions,
when in their Garibaldi shirts and red
caps they massed outside the old town