The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-08-23

Whose Aim lie Physical and Moral
Perfection, and WeIl-Beine Of Their
Nation-Subjection to Strictest Dis
cipIine and Almost Spartan Code of
Conduct, Chief Characteristics.
"Slet" is one of the seven marvels
Of the world. do not know what the
other six are, except that they belong
to America, but I know that nowhere
In the world can be seen anything like
the scenes l witnessed during the last
weeks Of June.
They were unique, colossal, mar
vel, revelation, writes ]. ]. Zmrhal
from Prague, Bohemia, to the Chicago
Journal.
By "Slet" is meant the convention
of the "Sokols," the society Of men
and women whose aim is physical and
moral perfection and well being Of
their nation.
Voluntary subsection to strictest
discipline, acceptance of almost Spar
tan code Of cOnduct-those are the
chief characteristics of the member
ship, besides the highest principles of
personal honor. It was thus that the
great marvel of the "Slet" was
achieved. There were many features
worth describing, but the one which
brought all present down on their
knees before the Sokol idea were the
"prostria," the calesthenics, given with
music by 10000 men at one time, fol-
lowed by the same number of women.
I have never longed for the descrip-
tive power as l do now, so that !
might give you at least shadow of
the wonderful spectacle.
Promptly at three, after the presi-
dent of the Czecho-Slovak republic
had taken his seat and the national
anthem had been played, cannon
was fred to announce the beginning
of the program. The SOkOl band of
200 pieces began to play, and from
the east and west two streams of men
began to pour in, each like living
moving wall, and yet limpid like the
water of Vltava itself. These divided
into smaller units, gradually filling
the field until they stood in f6urs, fac
ing the grand stand and the presi-
dents box.
Present Dazzling Sight.
At a given signal of their chief,
Sokol Vanlcek, they spread out, jump
ing sideways into their own places
and stretching their arms sideways.
This was done with promptness and
exactness unequaled by anything any
where. And the sight! The 10000
bronzed arms, motionless and firm, the
perfectly straight lines Of white sleeves
less shirts and blue trousers were daz-
zling.
wept like child. How much self
sacrificing love was needed to accom-
plish this, what devotion to the high
national ideal Of perfect manhood and
womanhood!
The music struck again and the 90
OOO hands struck graceful curves in |
the air, the legs and the bodies |
swayed in the most difficult combina-
TONS
/ would not have believed anything
like this possible had I not seen 1t
three times 1t took that much to
realize it was not glorious dream,
but actually. And then came the
women. Their 'nastup," or getting
into their places, was much prettier,
more fancy, and their uniform more
picturesque. They had white short
sleeved blouses, short navy blue
skirts, dark stockings and red ker-
chiefs around their heads. The effect
was one of inexpressible beauty, es-
pecially when they took their posi-
lions. 1t was garden Of poppies-a
dazzling field Of snowfall in one. And
when they began their graceful move
ments with music, they had the hun
dred thousand spectators, foreign and
native. worshiping at their feet.
Brave as Well as Graceful.
But these women sokols are not only
graceful, they are brave and well dis
ciplined. The first day 1t rained. but
our brave sokols went through the
as If 1t were the incest, clear
est day, the men and women alike.
And, which is just as remarkable, the
audience did, too, not excepting the
president and the guests.
do not need to point out the mean
ing Of the "Slet." Not only was It a
proof Of the positive genius of the
Czecho-S lovak people, of their ability,
of the efficiency Of their Sokol train
ing, but also Of this, that there is in
Bohemia strong element-about half
a million-which is willing and able ,
to stand against disorder, against con.
fusion, against anarchy. {
Sokols are respected by all the po-
litical factions; they seem to be the G
soul of the nation, its home, its back
bone. The influence of the Sokols is I
great. During the Slet, Prague was (
.rowded to overlooking, the street cars
we're damned, the chances for disor- /
Ter were many. But there were no t
lights, no scenes Of hilarity, drunken
less or fighting. A word Of Sokol v
vas enough to settle any trouble that c