Page:Letters from England.djvu/62

 we should also have a tradition; just imagine the historical continuity which would come into existence if F. Goetz were to occupy the chair in which Zákrejs used to sit, Šrámek that of Šmilovsky, and Professor Rádl, let us say, that of the late lamented Hattala. Our tradition is not based upon such old, and especially such comfortable arm-chairs. As it has nowhere to sit, it hangs in the air. I thought of that when I was taking my ease in one of those historical arm-chairs; I had a somewhat historical feeling, but was otherwise quite cosy, and I took a peep at the historical personalities, who were partly hanging on the walls, partly sitting in the club chairs and reading Punch or Who’s Who. Nobody spoke, and this produced a truly dignified effect; we in our country ought to have such places where silence is preserved. An old gentleman shuffled along on two sticks across the room, and nobody malici-