Page:Bohemia; a brief evaluation of Bohemia's contribution to civilization (1917).pdf/64

 The Sokol societies train not only young men, but also the older boys, especially those of the laboring classes. Before the organization of the Sokols the youngsters of the Bohemian cities were left to themselves and grew up undisciplined in miserable social conditions. The Sokols are entitled to credit, because they welcomed these neglected apprentices into their halls and through athletic exercises and brotherly intercourse toughened their physical and moral fibre. It was natural that sooner or later room would have to be made in the Sokol organization for the Bohemian women, for Tyrš planned for the education of the whole nation and especially for the strength of the future generations. Bohemian women have appreciated the importance of the teachings of Tyrš, and the intelligent Czech woman considers it her duty to join the Sokol society of her town. At the last great Sokol meet—one is held every five years and is looked upon as a great national holiday—over five thousand women and girls took part in the athletic exhibition in Prague. Women who are members of the Sokol organization give to the nation sound, healthy children, and teach them passionate devotion to Bohemia.

In other respects, too, Sokols make their influence felt. They take interest in popular education, fight corrupting literature and coarse entertainments, oppose reactionary tendencies in politics, agitate for equal rights. Not the least of the good effects of the Bohemian Sokol movement has been the closer contact and co-operation of the Slav nations. From the Bohemians the Sokol idea has spread to the Slovaks, the Poles, Russians, Croatians, Serbians, and everywhere it is a power making for progress, patriotism and liberty, and for common effort to make all Slav peoples free.

They say in Bohemia that to be a Czech is to be a Sokol. The Sokol idea penetrates all classes of the people and makes the entire nation democratic and liberty-loving. It is no wonder that in the present war the Bohemian people have taken an anti-Austrian stand, and that thousands of members of Sokol societies here have enlisted as soon as this country declared war on Germany. It is a fact that sheds clear light on the results of Sokol training that