The Coolidge examiner., 1935-01-04
Prepared BY National Geographic Society.
ManhlnKton. y. G-MNu service.


HVERY six years Czechoslo-
II vakia stages its own "Olym-
~ pic" Praha prague) the
capital city. dons party dress, puts
out its welcome mat and moves to
heightened tempo. Hotel rooms
are reserved weeks ahead; a chair
in restaurant puts a visitor I'm a
privileged class. Special trains,
trailing one another into Wilson
station, disgorge colorful crowds
from rural districts. Airplanes drop
or visitors from the four winds Of
heaven.
The enormous stadiur1 on Strahoy
hill, bleakly barren between meet
ings. bustles with barelegged ath-
letes OF both sexes with the fire OF
enthusiasm In their eyes, and eager
youngsters initiating their elders in
athletic prowess.
Outside the distant gateways long
lines of performers await the signal
10 invade the 567-acre field in which
the largest big top" would be but
side show.
CzechoslovakIa's own Olympics re-
turn to the old stamping ground.
and the greatest group drills on
earth are fitted together out OF hun
dreds OF units, each a mosaic OF all
classes. This national concourse OF
gymnasts Is not mere physical
culture exhibit. 1t is the mobiliza-
ton OF nations sinew. spirit, and
dreams.
When the Czech Yankee Doodle
sticks a feather in his cap, that
feather marks the wearer as fal-
con--a Sokol. In Slavic lands. from
the Baltic to Turkey, the word
eyokes familiar heroes OF age-old
legends.
The Sokol movement affects all
classes and all ages. Children of
six move In uniformed companies
Mature citizens lift their centers of
gravity to military contours. Coun-
try women arrive wearing so many
bright pettlcoats that they seem to
be smuggling woolen goods into
besieged city.
Scenes Of Galety and SpIendor.
Native arts, handlcrafts, and
songs take on new lease of life.
The factory girl whose usual best
dress" is plain cotton brings forth
old aprons strldent with color and
balloon sleeves bulging with en-
broIdery. The society lady lays
aside her clinging gown for such
homespun fnery as her mother
habitually wore on festival occa-
sions when costume was local rath-
er than international in pattern.
Long before the main perform
ance starts, the Charles bridge re-
sembles an endless belt Of ethno-
graphic exhibits issuing from the
archway OF a fine Gothic tower and
losing themselves In the long ar
cades beyond the Vltava. Costumes
from Cechy (Bohemla). Morava,
(sioravia), Slezsko (Silesia), Slo-
vensko (Slovakia). and Podkarpat-
ska Rus (Ruthenia) make the close
packed streets of the Mala Strana,
or Little Town." look like aisles In
a dahlia show.
Czech theaters put on their best
artists to supplement the mighty
drama of the Pan-Sokol Festival.
Art Galleries vie with the living
picture of a nations strength. Con-
cert halls furnish a musical relax
alton after hours OF suspense and
emotional excitement. Dvorak's
New World Symphony" is seldom
better played than In the Old Town
at Praha.
Czech genius Is many-sided and
there is strong current OF individ-
uallsm, but there are no star per-
formers In the mass drills, In which
10000 arms and legs compose quick
flashing scales Of eye music for 155,-
600 spectators. The home-run, the
last-minute touchdown, the final
lunge to personal victory, are lack
ing In the group displays. Much of
the drama is psychological, for the
precision, the verve, and the magni-
tude of the spectacle are but visual
evidences Of a mighty spirit under
lying all.
High on the roof of the tribune,
hidden from the mOst-favOred spec
tators, are the group leaders; but
the invisible director is the man
whose centenary was celebrated in
1882. at the Ninth Pan-Sokol Fes-
tival, DR.. Miroslav Tyrs.
The Sokols united the Czechs
when they were still men without a
country. Thomas G. Masaryk, the
distinguished and revered first and
only president of the CzechOslOvak
republic, added the pen stroke
which won the geographic setting
for an accomplished fact
Started In 1862.
Doctor Tyrs built his dream on
drill squad of IS Sokol members,
who initiated his system of gym