THE PAN-SOKOL FESTIVAL .
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Snt,—It is probable that widespread attention will be given to the quadrennial Sokol festival, to be held at Prague early next month. The movement was founded. in the early 'sixties by Dr. Miroslav Tyrs and Dr. Jindrich letigner, to promote physical welfare of the young and voluntary discipline for character training among the Czechs. In Bohemian towns and villages, as well as in Czech colonies throughout the world, Sokol centres have been established, and these have sent contingents to take part in the vast mass drills on the Letna plain. It is expected that 15,000 gymnasts will demonstrate next month. The movement was frowned on by the former Austrian regime, and when the early Sokols offered their services in the Austro-Prussian conflict, decided at Koniggratz, they were rebuffed with the remark that this was a war of Germans with Germans. On the proclamation of the Czecho- slovak Republic the Sokol organization was entrusted with the Maintenance of order throughout the country, and its chief, Dr. Joseph Seheiner, was given military command. Dr. Tyrs, a noted Hellenist, has been dead many years, but his widow, Mme. Renato Tyrsova, lately received the Hon. Ph.D. from the Charles University, Prague. My old friend Dr. Scheiner (v.s.) who died in January, will be greatly missed. He devoted more than fifty years to the movement, and was engaged in the preparations for the festival. In 1910 Dr. Schemer brought a Sokol team to London which success- fully carried off the silver shield of the National Physical Recreation Society. Another veteran was Dr. Jindrich Maly, an old town hall official who delighted to show English visitors round "hundred-towered, golden Prague," of which he knew the history and antiquities as did few. In his younger days the octogenarian President, T. G. Masaryk, still an active eques- trian, took part in the Sokol exercises.
In the history of the Czechoslovak Renaissance, the work of Messrs. Tyra and Fiigner will be held in lasting honour.—! am,
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