Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-25
CZECHS HOLD RITES
TO HONOR PATRON
st. WenceSIaus' Memory
Cause of Fete to End
September 80.

Czechoslovakia is undoubtedly one of
the most alive and enterprising coun-
tries, big or little, in the world today.
And one of her most conspicuous char
acteristics is her youthful exuberance
of spirits. Only year ago this little
republic celebrated her tenth birthday
anniversary, and with proud gestures
exhibited all her signs of progress-her
well developed industries, her emanci-
pated educational system, her scientific
compliShments, her up-to-date form
of government.
uttering her pride in old age and cele-
brating the 100Oth anniversary of the
death of her national patron saint, King
Wenceslaus. With all the dignity and
self-consciousness of an aristocrat she
is this year turning her eyes tempo
rar1ly away form the honors of modern
practical feats and endeavoring to re-
Wve once more some of her past spir-
itual glory.
The celebrations in honor of st. Wen
ceslaus began on May IS. They will
reach their climax on the anniversary
day, September 20.
King Wenceslaus was one of the earli-
est Christian rulers of Bohemia The
exact date of his birth Is not known. It
was between 908 and 9l0. He died in
929, when only a little more than 20
murdered on the steps of the church in
Stara BoleSlav by the hirelings. of his
pagan brother, Boleslav the Cruel.
He is lauded as sanity individual,
tional politician, and the first just
judge.
Symbol of National Strength.
He is probably more fully the patron
saint of his people than is the saint of
any other nation. Everything that is
truly Bohemian, truly Czechoslovak, to-
day Is bound to be named after him.
He is the peoples symbol of their ma
tional strength. The simpler people
still pray to him for assistance. repeat
legends about him and see visions of
him.
One of the most popular legends pic
lures him as standing forever in the
mountain of Blank, with his knights
beside him, waiting for the moment
when his country may need him. His
knights and their horses sleep while
they wait. He himself stands erect and
wide awake. Men and women of the
present generation aver that they have
seen him thus.
During the World War the Austrian
government forbade the Czechs to sing
the St. Wenceslaus anthem, seeing In 1t
a national protest and an instigation
to revolution. The Czech soldiers who
fought on the allies side carried St.
Wenceslaus' banner and sang the strains
Of his anthem. The Czech peasants
today believe firmly that it was through
this banner and this anthem that they
gained their freedom.
The sophisticated people of the ma
ton, while more skeptical of the mys-
tical powers of ancient saints and kings.
nevertheless share fully the national
pride in st. Wenceslaus as an early
ruler, sanity person and legendary fig
ure. They as we'll as the peasants and
priests are taking an active part In the
national celebration.
JeweIed Sword Exhibited.
The anniversary program commenced
with the opening Of an exhibition of st.
Wenceslaus Cultus. In this are shown
all the existing personal possessions of
the Saint-his jeweled sword, his lance,
his banner with the black eagle that
was the national symbol in his day, his
armor and helmet. his bronze shirt of
self-diScipline, his haircloth garment of
chastity.
Besides these there are innumerable
statues and paintings Of him which
have been made through the centuries.
And finally there is the cleaning dia-
dem crown which Charles TX, holy
Roman emperor In the fourteenth cen
fury, had made to place upon the skull