White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-02-06
SOKOLS HOLD
SEVENTH 'SLET'

" Aeht Jul u nhV" thok
In the world can be seen anything lik'
the scenes l witnessed during the las
weeks of June.
They were unique, colossal, a mar
vel, q revelation, writes J. ]. Zmrha
from Prague, Bohemia, to the Chicago
Journal.
BY "Slet" is meant the convention
of the "Sokols," the society of mel
and ONE whose aim is physical ant
moral perfection and well being o.
their nation.
Voluntary subsection to strictes
discipline. acceptance of almost Spar
tan code of conduct-those are ths
chief characteristics OF the member
ship. besides the highest principles o.
personal honor. II was thus that thu
great marvel OF the "Slet" wa
achieved. There were many features
worth describing, but the n which
brought oil present down on theil
knees before the Sokol idea were the
"prostrla," the c~alesthenics, given witt
music by 10000 men at n time, fol
lowed by the same number of women
I have never longed for the deserip'
tive power as l do now, so hat
might give you at least n shadow OF
the wonderful spectacle.
Promptly at three, after the presi'
dent of the czeeho-Sloyak republic
had taken his seat and the national
anthem had been played, a cannon
was fired to nnounee 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 a living
moving wall, and yet limpid like the
water of yltava itself. These divided
into smaller units, gradually filling
the field until they stood in fours. 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
e~xactness uneQualed by anything any
where. And the sight, The 10000
bronzed arms, motionless and firm, the
perfectly straight lines of white sleeve.
less shirts and blue trousers were daz'
zling.
/ wept like q child. How much self.
sacrificing love was needed 10 accom-.
pllsh this, what devotion to the high
national ideal of perfect manhood and
womanhood,
The music struck again and the 90
900 hands struck graceful curves IN
the air, the legs and the bodies
swayed in the most difficult combina.
tons.
I would not have believed anything
like this possible had | not seen II
three times. II took that much 10
realize Ii was not a glorious dream,
but actuallty. And then came the
women. Their "nastup," or getting
into their places. was much prettieri
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 inexpresslble beauty, es
pecially when they took their posi-
lions. Ii was a garden of poppies-t
dazzling field of snowfall In one. And
when they began their graceful move
ments with music, they had the hun
dred thousand spectators, foreign an'
native, worshiplng at their feet.
Brave as Well as Graceful.
But these women sokols are not onl.
graceful, they are brave and well dis
ciplined. The first day II ralned, bu
our brave sokols went through tn
program as If II were the incest, clear
est day, the men and women alike
And, which Is just as remarkable, tn
audience did. too. not excepting tn
president and the guests.
I do not need TO point out the mean
ing of the "Slet." Not only was II
proof of the positive genius OF tn
Czecho. Slovak people. of their abilit!
of the efficiency Of their Sokol trair
ing, but also Of this, that there is |
Bohemia a strong element-about ha'
a million-which Is willing and abb
to stand against disorder, against col
fusion, against anarchy.
Sokols are respected by all the p
litical factions; they to be Il
soul of the nation, its home, its bac'
bone. The influence of the Sokols
great. During the Slet. Prague w
crowded to overlooking. the street ca
were damned, the chances for disc
der we're many. But there were
fights, no scenes Of hilarity, drunke
ness OF fighting. A word OF a Sok
was enough TO settle any trouble tn
might arise.
Lastly, the "Slet" brought mai
people to their senses. encourag
everybody, brought Joy and enth
siasm into the gray days of care Al
struggle II the people are happl,
calmer and more hopeful. 1t is
cause there was the seventh "Slet"
the Sokois.