The Sidney herald., 1959-09-02

which would permit them to leave
the country, so they labor cour-
ageously but with hatred in their
hearts.
Several cases of unrest and dis
appointment were revealed to us
without probing for information,
Noticing n of our group to be
an American (Reger from Ohio),
a saleslady in one of the Prague
department stores volunteered her
reaction as she told him in con-
fidence, I'VE used TO be a happy
people; now we are brokenheart-
ed. Whenever l think of it, l
weep.
The truth of Every Czech a
Musician, a maxim of national
pride to them, was confirmed
through museums, theaters, civic
music groups, and their education
al system. The latter includes
special schools for developing this
talent, yet close enough to enable
every student to return home for
the weekend.
Since Prague is n of the more
ancient cities of Europe, it con-
tains enumerable treasures and
relics from the past, housed in
structures from an age just as
distant. An interesting example
may be the clock, built in 1892, on
the city hall; the Jewish syna-
gogue and cemetery; the statue of
Good King Wenceslaus; the Ii
brary in the Strahov Monastery;
the palace of the Wallensteins, or
st. Vitus Cathedral and its tons
of silver statuary.
Whether our chewing gum or
just being Americans stimulated
the friendly atmosphere, which we
experienced while listening to a
band in the park, may be a point
of conjecture. Nevertheless, the
crowd converged on US from every
angle, old and young alike, man..
uevering their outstretched hands
into position to receive the coveted
confection until someone else
could reach a little further.
After our supply was exhausted,
learned the name of every
Czech in America who had a rela-
tive in Prague.
During this adventure our guide
held back like a pouting child, but
the way to the bus she sud-
voiced her very curt opin-
ion. She thought they had acted
very childish; furthermore, she
extremely ashamed of their
behavior. Our rebuttal to her
views was to the effect that their
conduct was an obvious sign of a
natural feeling for friendship.
all, wasn't this a character
istic Bohemian reaction to an i'm
posed society?
watch the hustle and purpose of
movement at the Brussels air.
port made us feel strangely al
home. This increased with the
affabiltiy of the Parisians, who
possess an exceptional talent for
courtesy, amiability, and gracious
ness.
A walk in the park one evening
turned into a tWo-hour visit with
French intellectual, as he en-
me On various aspects
of their life and history, from the
value of the lire to the eminence
Of Napoleon. Since we were sitt-
ing near a pond directly between
he "Arch Carousel" and the arch
If Triumph, which were built
and dedicated after the First and
second Wars of Napoleon, the con-
.yersatiin naturally included this
eader of a glorious and devastating
period of the French struggle to
dominate Europe. Nothing great,
lie eventually said in conclusion,
has happened to France since
he time of Napoleon. Then, when
spoke of Europe, they
of Paris; now it is just
CITY," And with this
,ensive mood, mingling with the
fitness of the park. we arose
,ade each other adieu, and retired
u respective abodes.
Matthews university of Hou-
TOM and l made our usual round
f music stores and publishers,
pending most of our time at 4;
.educ. Much of the music pub
ished at Leduc is unobtainable in
he United States, so we were
exceptionally happy to purchase
.usic of Honegger, Ibert, Kodaly, +
nd others.