The Czechoslovak Review/Volume 3/Current Topics (6)

Current Topics

KAREL PELANT	VINCENC ČERVINKA	GUSTAV ŠMEJC

 

Early in May three Bohemian journalists arrived in New York for a tour of Amerika. They are Vincenc Červinka, editor of the “Národní Listy,” Karel Pelant of the “Venkov” and Gustav Šmejc of the “České Slovo.” They were later joined by Hugo Vavrečka of the “Lidové Noviny.” Mr. Červinka is well known to every Czechoslovak as the man who was accused and convicted of high treason against Austria together with Dr. Karel Kramář, now Czechoslovak premier and publisher of the “Národní Listy;” Mr. Červinka was held in jail two years, and during that time not once did he get enough to eat. Mr. Pelant was in the United States ten years ago, spending here nearly a year in giving addresses in Bohemian settlements.

There is great eagerness among Czechoslovak people in America to see and hear these distinguished visitors. The editors are trying to comply with all the requests to speak, but their primary object in coming to America was to study American ways, especially as applied to journalism.

---

James B. Řezný, well-known Bohemian architect has been appointed member of the new school board of the City of Chicago, and confirmed by the city council. He will be one of eleven men and women who will have the spending of about twenty five million dollars a year for the benefit of three hundred thousand children.

---

At the annual exhibit of etchings and printings, held in the Chicago Art Institute, one of the four Logan prices was awarded to J. C. Vondrouš of New York for his etching “Prague Portal.” Samples of Vondrouš’ work were shown in the January number of the Czechoslovak Review. He is one of a circle of men whose art helps to make the Bohemian name favorably known in America.

---

Cedar Rapids, la., the city that is sometimes referred to as the Bohemian-American Athens, has 17 Bohemian schoolteachers in its elementary and high schools.

---

Dr. Antonin Mueller, known to every Bohemian in Chicago, was appointed commander of the Sanitary Training Detachment of the American Red Cross.

---

Šárka B. Hrbkova, professor of Bohemian at the University of Nebraska, has just written a book entitled “Bridging the Atlantic.” It discusses problems and methods of Americanization in a spirit of sympathy with the immigrant and offers suggestions for more effective education in both school and industry.

---

Among the big features of the Chautauqua sessions on the Pacific Coast this season is a Czechoslovak band, directed by Jaroslav Čimera.

---

In the 66th United States Congress which met for its first session on May 19 there sits one member of the House, born in Bohemia, and one born in Cleveland of Bohemian parents. Congressman Adorph J. Sabath from a Chicago district begins his seventh term, and Congressman John J. Babka of Cleveland begins his first term.

---

Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, introduced a course in Slavonics in its curriculum. Professor Louis J. Miškovský, head of the Slavic Theological School at Oberlin, is the lecturer.

---

The welcome given to the hundred Czechoslovak invalids crossing the United States on the way home was an eloquent testimonial to the love and admiration in which the Siberian heroes are held by their countrymen. The men arrived in San Francisco on May 27 on the transport Sheridan after a sea journey of more than a month from Vladivostok by way of the Philiphines and the Hawaii Islands. They were met by Colonel V. S. Hurban, military attaché of the Czechoslovak Legation in Washington, who looked after their comfort on the long trip across the continent, assisted by two American army officers. Stops were made in San Francisco, Omaha, Chicago, Pittsburgh and New York, and at every one of these cities both the municipal authorities and the local Czechoslovak organizations gave the invalids a rousing and hospitable welcome.

The group was commanded by Major Došek and accompanied from Siberia by an American Y. M. C. A . worker of Bohemian descent, Anthony W. Chez, whose brother Joseph Chez is senator of the state of Utah.

---

THE RELIEF SHIP

Ever since the armistice Czechoslovaks in America were looking for means to send gifts of food and clothing to the old country. Nearly everyone of a million people of Czechoslovak descent in America has near relatives in the Czechoslovak Republic, and as stories of privation and hunger came here from various delegates who were visiting Prague, the decision was finally taken to load a ship with gifts and send it to Trieste. All the principal Czechoslovak organizations united in this undertaking, and a committee was formed in New York under the name of the United Czechoslovak Relief to carry out the plan.

All the branches of the Bohemian National Alliance, the Catholic Alliance and the Slovak League served as centers in their various states and cities to gather the boxes and ship them to the Bush Terminal in Brooklyn. From Chicago alone twelve carloads were sent, most of them gifts of food and clothing for relatives of senders; but many boxes were sent to the Czechoslovak Red Cross in Prague for distribution to the needy. People from one town got together and bought a few hundred dollars worth of food for the poor of their old town. The majority of the boxes, uniform in size and averaging about 300 lbs in weight, were shipped by the Steamer Woodrow Wilson, formerly the Austrian ship Franz Josef, sailing from New York for Trieste on May 31st; the rest of the gifts will follow by the next ship sailing for Trieste.

---

In the Freeport Journal-Standard of May 8 Donald L. Breed writes of Prague. The story is full of interesting features, indicating careful observation and sympathetic understanding.

---

DO YOU KNOW

That the Czechoslovak Review is the best advertising medium to reach the second generation of Bohemians and Slovaks in the United States? It is read in every State of the Union, and it will sell your goods.

FRANK J. KASPAR, Advertising Manager,
Czechoslovak Review, 2324 S. Central Park Ave.,
Chicago, Ill.

---

HAVE YOU ANY SPARE TIME?

Make use of it and earn good money by acting as our representative. We need lively subscription agents in every Bohemian community. Write for our terms.