The real movement of Bohemians to Texas has been in progress since the early fifties, coming first direct from Europe, and later chiefly from the industrial centers of the East. The principal colonies are located in the counties of Fayette, Lavaca, Austin, Burleson, Williamson, and McLennan. Many of the settlements which have been established since 1890 are the result of a shift in population from the older colonies—the settlements on the “Panhandle” are a direct result of this tendency.
Bohemians throughout the Texas colonies send their children to the district schools. In some of the towns a parochial school is also maintained. Considering the settlements as a whole, however, school attendance is comparatively poor. A very small percentage of the children pursue their education beyond the grammar grades, although a few are found as teachers in the public schools.
As soon as they are old enough to work on the farms the larger portion of the children leave the schools and go to work on the home places. They generally remain at home until they marry. It is no doubt true that much of the success of the Bohemians in agriculture is due to this fact. Even the women in the middle classes regard it their duty to assist in the cultivation and harvest of the crops.
Possibly 90 per cent of the Bohemians in Texas are Roman Catholics, and in all towns where they are in sufficient numbers they have their own church and resident priest. Some of these churches, usually situated on the top of a hill in the rural regions, are built of brick; some of stone; but the majority are frame structures.
One very prominent rural church crowns a hilltop in the midst of a wilderness where the land as far as the eye can reach is only sparsely settled—not more than 20 farms are visible. As widely scattered as this congregation is, it furnished $15,000 in cash toward building a brick church. Some of the members of this church come a distance of over 20 miles to attend mass each Sunday.
In these colonies there is also a marked inclination for social intercourse, and the monotony of farm work is frequently broken with picnics, dances, and other social diversions. These Bohemians are fond of music and dancing. Near crossroads connecting Bohemian towns is often found a dancing pavilion. In the towns such places are also found; some of them being rather large and costly. They are built usually by public subscription, or by some club, and during the summer months dances are frequently held. Throughout the region are found orchestral bands and choruses.
Local newspapers printed and published by Bohemians in a large number of towns keep well abreast of the times and have a very marked progressive effect throughout the region.
National, State, and church holidays are all celebrated by the Bohemians. The Germans join with the Bohemians in the observance of church festal days as well as the American holidays, and such gatherings are often made the occasion of great festivity. Duringthe summer months there are numerous social diversions in the form of picnics and open-air dances, participated in by the two races, who mingle together freely. As is well known, Texas also has a very large rural population of Germans
In all of these settlements the very best feeling exists between the Americans and Bohemians, although in many cases the Bohe-
