Omaha daily bee., 1918-09-02

BAZAAR OPENS AT
THE AUDITORIUM
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tial music and large troop of color
bearers bore scores of beautiful silken
American flags apd the banners of
the allied nations fighting the battle
for world democracy. All along the
line OF march citizens of both sexes
and of all ages barred their heads and
stood at attention while the colors
were passing by.
Human Flag In Parade.
One of the prettieet feat,.. IS OF the
parade was the human flas, formed
by 400 little girls, pupils of the vari-
Gus parochial schools of the city.
r children marched in perfect lines
aud the, perfect symetry and contour
of the great banner was preserved
the entire length OF the line of march.
The doors of the auditorium were
opened at $50 o'clock and the huge
building was packed with humanity in
a short time. 1t is estimated more
than 1000 persons participated in the
opening exercises.
} The Liberty band and the Omaha
Musicians association band played
patriotic airs until the huge crowd
had assembled.
Dr.. F. A. Sedlacek~presided at the
meeting and made the address of well
come. Mayor Ed P. Smith. Cover
nor Neville. DR.. Olga Statsny, Lieu-
tenant Oldrich Spaniel. and Attorney
Joseph T. Votava gave addresses in
which they extolled the age long
spirit of patriotism Of the Bohemian
and Polish elements Of the Czech and
Slovak races, OF their ready adapti-
bility to American ideals of liberty
and justice and of their readiness to
make the supreme sacrifice of life,
blood and treasure. to perpetuate the
same and extend its blessings to all
of the nations of the earth.
Musical Theme Patriotism.
Patriotism was the theme of the
musical program that was interspers-
ed between nsthe speeches and every
person stood reverently when Amer
ica' was sung by the choir, and the
Star Spangaed Banner was render
ed by the band.
Miss Agnes Knofickova, accompa-
MED by Miss Eleanore Leare, gave
violin solo, a Slavonic Dance, by !
Dvorak, which was brilliant in its |
technique and Interpretation. She re-
sponded to an enthusiastic encore
with one of Fibich's tone poems.
Miss Sylvia Sarto sang a parody
on Marching Through Georgia" of
her own composition, and which de-
plcted what the Czecho- -Slovak army
would do to the imperial beast of
Berlin, when it arrived at its final OBJ
Jective. 1t was clever composition
very cleverly sung.
Two banners on the stage attracted
considerable attention. They were
the service flags that had been borne
In the parade. One of them repre-
sented the s04 men of Bohemian birth
and antecedente, as well as those
OF slovak blood, who had gone from
douglas. county to join the army and
navy of the United States in the
tight tor human liberty. Already one
gold cross is emblazoned on the white
Another service flag, with 137 stars,
was representative of the Czechs and
slovenes who have gone from Ne
braska to join the Czecho- -Sloyak
armies now fighting in France.
Bohemian National Hymn.
One of the most beautiful and i'm.
pressive features OF the afternoon
program was the singing by the
Bazaar choir, accompanied by the
band. of the Bohemian national
hymn, "Kde Domov Muj." As its
solemn cadences, freighted with the
warnings and national aspirations of
the Czechs for ages, rose and fell in
beautiful harmony, there was a
solemn andJreverential hush in every
part of the auditorium and ther were
tears in many eyes. 1t is one Of the
most ancient of national hymns and
IS symbolic because of its antiquity
and sentiment of the hurrer of Czech
and Slav for national autonomy.
Charles Z. Stenicka, manager of
the bazaar, explained its purpose. He
told his audience the funds that
would be raised during the week
would be devoted to the relief of the
soldiers who are serving in the
Czecho- -Slovak armies and their de-
pendents. These funds will be turned
over to the Czecho-Slovak national
council, of which Prof. Thomas
Garigue Masafyk, provisional presi-
dent of the Czecho-Slovak republic,
is the head, with headquarters in
D. c. The money will
be used for the purchase of material
Tor sweaters, hospital supplies, COM
tort kits, etc, in the United States,
and for the relief of dependents and
soldiers, such as is given American
soldiers by the Red Cross. 1t will also
be expended to pay the expenses Of
The Czecho-Slovak armies in France
and Siberia.
Many Buttons Sold.
Over 10000 buttons were disposed
of by the corps of young ladies who
conducted the tag day campaign for
unds for the -Slovak armies
n the downtown districts. The but
.ons were all disposed of before S
o'clock in the evening. Sums rang
ng from 10 cents to 81 were realized
II the disposal of each button.
The bazaar will open daily at 2
o'clock, at the auditorium and last
Until midnight.
Monday evening there will be an
of the statue of the greatest