mon with the unity of the language or the nation. But an unceasing and unabated perseverance suceeded first in the formation of smaller associations in the counties, and at last in 1888, the formation of country—associations, called Obce i. e. Communes or Unions which were founded in Bohemia and Moravia, and finally, after some hesitation, were sanctioned by the government.
From this moment begins a mighty rising of the cause, the meaning and influence of which in its organised entirety evidently manifests itself in a clearer and conspicuous manner. Only now was it possible to bring into life and full efficiency various institutions serving the common interest and to exercise a gratifying influence upon the systematic education of the rising generation. The ruling principles in the organisation were: distribution of work and the granting of home rule even to smaller unities in order to foster and cultivate constant interest in initiative work for the furtherance of the cause. In this way the central administration was delivered of a great burden and enabled to devote itself to higher problems besides solving the principal common questions.
In the course of time, served by experience, a perfect organism was constructed, easily manageable, efficient, full of life, capable of accomplishing difficult tasks, as was proved by the gigantic Sokolgatherings, excursions to foreign lands and other undertakings of astonishing dimensions.
The founder members of the organisation are the several societies which in the entire territory of the Bohemian lands are aggregated in counties with 1500 societies, (župy). There are now 40 counties which in 1913 counted 106.158 male and 21.939 female members, a total of 128.097.
The counties are now represented in one central union, the Česká Obec Sokolská (the Czech Commune of Sokols) in Prague. The central administration is in the hands of a committee under a president, gymnastic matters being dealt with by a Board of Instructors and a technical department.
After the youth has grown into manhood attention is directed to the boys who are leaving elementary schools, pricipally to neglected youngsters forming the rising generation of workmen and tradesmen. These had hitherto been abadoned to themselves without any control or care and grew up unnoticed in the mire of the smothering social conditions. The Sokols were the first to take care of these freshmen, to introduce them into their gymnastic halls where they were offered the opportunity not only of wholesome exercise and training but also of a moral education. It cannot be denied that the influence of this activity among these classes became manifest very soon, that it threw a great deal of light
