Page:The Czechoslovak Review, vol3, 1919.djvu/323

 ing telegrams and visiting the sick and wounded. Mrs. Šoupal of Pasadena brought hundreds of dollars worth of clothing and shoes, the gift of kind Pasadena friends. Citizens of San Diego provided automobiles for transporting groups of the soldiers to places of interest. A rare day was that spent as guests of Madam Tingley and her pupils at the Theosophic Homestead at Point Loma. The hospital men were the guests of Miss Scrips at LaJolla. The day spent there cheered and refreshed them beyond words. Addresses of welcome, dinners, drives, receptions and dances were crowded one upon the other, so that the men had scarcely a moment to think of the sufferings of the past.

Some weeks before the arrival of the transport, a linden tree, the national tree of the Czechs, was planted in Balboa park to commemorate the burning of the martyred John Hus in 1415, and also to honor the returning heroes. On Sunday, July 27th a program was given at the Spreckles organ pavillion to unveil the tablet recording the event and presenting the tree to the Park Commission. The tablet is a bronze plate, the work of a Czech artist, Mr. A. Lešovský of Los Angeles, and bears the following legend.

Some three hundred soldiers were brought to the exercises so that they might have an opportunity to sing national airs at the dedication of the tree. Five thousand people stood thrilled and awed at the music of that chorus. One unique number was the singing of the Star Spangled Banner in English by these veterans. When they learned that they were to stop in America, which was not until they had been some days out on the Pacific, from Vladivostok, they began to learn our national hymn. It had to be learned word by word, and yet every word was perfect in accent and emphasis. Mr. Slavíček whose untiring efforts have made this reception a historic one presided for the Czechoslovaks. Judge Henry C. Ryan accepted the tree for the park commission and for the city, with the words that he hoped and believed the new nation which it represented, would grow and flourish, sending strong roots into the soil as would this little tree here in our land. Mr. Novotný, an attorney, reviewed the history and the present struggle and victory of the Czechs. He gave the dramatic story of this Czechoslovak army in Siberia and its service to the allies and to the world. Miss Veverka spoke of the national ideals which had made this great nation great. At the suggestion of one of the citizens, a purse of over $500 was collected in a few minutes to be sent with the invalids to their hungry children.

And then came Monday July 28th. The journey was resumed by rail and our friends bade us farewell. For such a welcome, for such hospitality they had no words. It was beyond any thing dreamed or thought. Slowly the trains were loaded at intervals of two hours, leaving the badly wounded to the last. The faithful Y. W. C. A. and the beloved Y. M. C. A. were there; the friends who had greeted them on arival were still there in large number. A large delegation with the band from the Homestead at Point Loma was there and citizens and friends from San Diego came to bid God-speed to their guests. When the last train was filled, when the last hero had been tenderly lifted from the stretcher, while the band played, Madam Tingley presented to the boys a lovely Czech flag. Hundreds of bouquets had been distributed to the invalids, flags waved from every window of the coaches, “{{lang|cs|Na Zdar,” “{{lang|cs|S Bohem}}” and “{{lang|cs|Na shledanou}}” burst from the lips of the men. Then from out of the crowd stepped Mrs. Hora, who had carried the stars and stripes at all the gatherings during the nine days. Addressing the commander in charge of the train, she presented him with the large American flag, which had appeared at all the gatherings. She spoke most feelingly and said: “Captain, before your valiant troops leave us for the dear homeland, we Czechoslovaks of this beautiful state of California wish to give them some token. We wish to give them that which we value above every thing else in the world the stars and stripes. We are giving this flag especially to this division of wounded, because they have paid the greatest price, because it has cost them most. Take it to your land, and may it ever stand side by side with the white and red of your own nation.” The commanding officer accepted the flag assuring us that he and his men would treasure it as their most valued possession and guard it with their lives. He pledged that it should always wave beside that of the Czechoslovaks in peace as well as in war. Shortly after, the signals were given and the last train slipped out and we were alone. {{right|M. V.|1em}} {{rule|4em}} {{dhr}} Milan Getting, known to all Slovaks in America as editor of the “{{lang|sk|Slovenský Sokol}},” paid a visit to Slovakia in spring after 15 years in America, and decided that he was needed there more than here. Last month he sailed from New York with his family to settle in Bratislava. Among other Slovaks returning to their old home was Paul Socháň, author and artist.