Connecticut western news., 1920-10-07
A. P. FREEMAN TELLS
 OF LIFE IN PRAGUE Sees Bright Future For Tiny Republic of Czecho-
 Slovakia

Arthur P. Freeman has returned from Europe where he has been in the "Y" service for the past three years. The following interesting ] account regarding Czecho-Slovakia he gave to the Hartford "Courant~ and will be of interest here:
 While foreign dispatches men | toned frequently the activities of the Czecho-Slovakian army during the world war, little is heard now of this mite of a disorganized Europe, which obtained its independence af- ter the armstice was signed. Arthur P. Freeman of Canaan has recently returned from there, where hs served three years at the general headquarters in Prague and as busi- ness manager there of the Young Mems Christian Association. Tn his opinion, Czecho-Slovakia has a bright future.
 This little country, which formed the richest part of Austria Hungary, emerged a republic. It's sympathiem were always with the Allies ana after the war it demanded freedom from Austria-Hungary, which had forced its soldiers into battle. Mir Freeman tells of the Austrians shoot ing every tenth man of line oF Czecho-Slovaks who refused to fight. The command was issued twice ana each time it was refused with ths same result. A demonstration by the wives of the soldiers failed ts move the Austrians and it was deem ed useless to resist further. Never theless, regiment after regiment de- serted to tn Russians and Italians. he said.
 The intelligence of the Czeche- Slovaks is surprising, according to Mir. Freeman, and this is evident in that four different languages ara used in the country. French, Ger man, Slavic and English. All of the people practically speak three lam guages and many of them four, he said. While French was at one time predominate, English is coming into more general use. The public school system is so perfect that but 2 per cent of the population are illiterate. a record surpassing France, England and the United States.
 Thomas G. Masayarick, president of the republic, married an Ameri- can woman. He is a graduate of the University of Prague. There are fourteen political parties in the country and politics there has so surpassed that of many countries that failure to vote on the part of women subjects them to a fine. Wom- en, however, must have reached the mature age of 26 before they are allowed to cast their ballots for both l houses.
 The Czecho-Slovaks are particu- larly fond of music, MT. Freeman said, and to bring this art within reach of the common people, tickets for high class entertainments arc frequently sold as low as 30 cents each. Everyone attends the opera, even ragged urchins of the street, who stand outside the theaters for hours in hopes of picking up tickets.
 The housing situation is probably as troublesome n Czecho-Slovakia as it is in the United States, according to MT. Freeman, but there has been no corresponding raise in rents, or at least to an extent that compares with conditions here. While to ob- tain room at hotel it was neces- sary to apply to a government office. the rents average less than S2 a month. Inspections are made at the homes of private families and all spare rooms are communicated.
 Although Prague, the capital of the country, and Bohemia, is ap- proximately in the same latitude is that of Southern Labrador, English walnuts, apricots, almonds, and peaches are raised there. The soil ia rich and crops of wheat, barley and other grains are more abundant than in the Middle West of this country. The chief source of income is derived from the sale of sugar crops, Everywhere whole fields of brilliant poppies are to be seen- These are grown for the oil which is mashed from the seeds of the flowers and used by the Czecho-Slovaks for cooking. The oil is used to make tarts, which the people eat in place of bread.