Page:Gregor The story of Bohemia.pdf/148

 leaned chiefly to the cultivation of the soil, preferring this to the more active life of tradesmen and merchants. This was not only the case with the peasants, but noblemen and great prelates gained most of their wealth from agriculture. As a result of this, grain was exported to the surrounding countries.

In the earlier history of Bohemia we find the people a peace-loving race, that would not engage in war, only in case of self-defense. But in course of time the heroic sentiments of the days of chivalry penetrated among the lowest classes, and a military hero became the highest ideal of greatness. Thus peasant youths were eager to enlist into the armies of lords that had won military renown.

The spirit of chivalry that had borne such excellent fruit in the past century began to wane. Tournaments, indeed, were still engaged in, and a sort of knightly gallantry was kept up; but the spirit of humanity and genuine politeness had passed away, leaving in its place nothing but empty show and stiff formality.

During the reign of John, the old Slavonic styles of dress were mostly abandoned, the higher classes adopting French styles. The men delighted in long beards and long, curling locks; instead of caps, they wore high-cornered hats of various colors; their coats were short and narrow, with wide, pointed sleeves that hung at the side like inverted mule’s ears; knee-breeches and tight boots finished the costume, unless we regard the belt—behind which there was always a knife or a sword—as a part of the dress.