Evening star., 1928-08-02
CZECHOSLOVAKIAN PRESIDENT
BEGAN CAREER AS LOCKSMITH
But Prof. Masaryk Is Cultured
Student, Speaking Seven
Languages.
Leads Simple Life, Rides
Horseback DaiIy-Uses
No Tobacco.
BY JAMES A. MILLS.

Associated Press Stan Writer.
PRAGUE, Czechoslovakia, August 2
From poor coachman's son to
the presidency of the most virile re-
public in Europe, is the record OF
achievement of Thomas Garrique
Masaryk, called the George Washing
ton of CzechoSlovakia" Author. pro-
feSsor. philosopher. psychologist, histo-
rian, statesman, he is one of the most
remarkable figures produced by the
World War. Although Prof. MaSaryk
has Just celebrated his seventy-eighth
birthday and will soon observe the
tenth anniversary of his presidency Of
the Czechoslovakian Republic, he is
more active and energetic than a man
of 40 Every day for the last 20 years,
rain or shine. he has taken two-hour
gallop through the countryside on
horseback.
The American Civil War had not yet
ended when Masaryk as a boy was
earning so cents week as lock-
smiths apprentice in Vienna. To-day
he is chief executive of l4,500,000 peo-
pie. receives a salary in excess OF that
Of the President of the United States
and is known round the world, but.
with all his fame and achievement, he
remains the modest professor OF Slav-
onic studies that he was in a London
university Is years ago.
Tastes Are Simple.
His tastes are simple, for he refuses
TO wear patent leather shoes and is said
to be the only President in the world
who does not wear q high silk hat.
Throughout Czechoslovakia he Is
known by his famous black slouch hat
and his severely plain homespun suit
of drab gray.
Prof. Masaryk attributed large part
of his success in life to the influence of
an American woman. his wife, Charlotte
Garrique of Brooklyn, daughter of the
president of the Germania Insurance
Co, whom he first met in Leipzig many
years ago. while she was studying music
in that city. under the great composer.
LisZt. For so years their union was of
the happiest kind. terminated only by
his wifes death in 1928.
AS indication of his devotion TO his
wife and his ideas on the equality of
the sexes, Prof. Masaryk took his wife's
maiden name, Garrique, as his middle
name. Each of his children also bears
that name One of the Presidents sons,
Jan Masaryk, now CZechoslovak Minis
ter to Great Britain. married Miss
Francis Crane. daughter of Charles r.
Crane of Chicago. former American
Minister to China. The President s
daughter. DR.. Alice Mssaryk, who, since
her mothers death, acts as first lady
of the land" is head of the Czecho-
slovak Red Cross.
Slow Of Speech.
A visit TO President Masaryk at his
home, Hradzin Castle, the White
House" of CzechoSlovakia, reveals tall,
erect, slender. kindly man, with lean.
furrowed, earnest face, sparse hair and
a short white beard. His small hazel
eyes peer through rimless spectacles.
His most striking facial features per-
haps are his long, finely chiseled nose
and his walrus-like white mustache, the
dropping effect of which gives him a
sad expression when his face Is In re-
pose. His manner betrays slight hesi-
tation and a touch of difidence. He
is slow Of speech and soft OF voice.
In Hradzin Castle are evidences
everywhere of President Masaryk's s
academic training. Lined 5 feet high
against every wall of his rooms are
10000 books on every conceivable sub
ject, many of them in English. For the
~OLdb%S{lle11 10 1AA OAAAAAANGA0A
reader. One notices scores of volumes OF
the latest American fiction, and many
works by woman writers Although
Prof. Masaryk is the author Of many
notable books on philosophy. sociology,
psychology, history and political science
ne prefers to read novels-rot, indeed,
as he says himself, for their literary
style or substance" but for their
sociological phenomena and for the les
sons they carry of the actualities OF real
life.
President Masaryk likes feminine
writer's. showing special prediction
for the works of the Bronte sisters, Jane
Austen. George Eliot, Marie Corelli,
Dorothy Garfield Fisher and Villa
Gather.
He Is a BibIiophile.
Presidents favorite authors are Shake
speare, Addison. Macaulay, Scott and
Hawthorne. One of his hobbies is buy
ing rare and secondhand books. of
which he has a fine collection from
ali over the world
OF Prof. Masaryk's own literary works
perhaps his Suicide as Phenomenon
of Modern Civilization" THE World
Revolution. his war memoirs and his
monumental, The Spirit of Russia" a
work Of great erudition. are the most
notable He is also the author of
books on logic. psychology, hypnotism,
philosophy, sociology. ethics and history
Although he speaks and writes seven
languages with fiuency, Prof. Masaryk
prefers to write in his native Czech
tongue.
To man so essentially literary and
philosophic as Masaryk. political life
offers no allurements. He looks upon
public Office as an imperative and pa
triotic duty TO his country In all mat
ters Of craftsmanship he applies the
cold reasoning of logic and philosophy