Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume II.djvu/805

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BOHEMIA 785 the forests, which cover one fourth of the sur- face of the country, of 3,000,000 cords of wood, besides timber. The horses of Bohemia are of a superior breed, but the horned cattle are small. According to the census of 1869, there were 189,327 horses, 1,002,015 cattle, 1,106,290 sheep, 194,273 goats, and 228,180 hogs. In manufactures Bohemia is by far the most important of the provinces of Austria. The production of linen goods, partly of the finest description, employed in 1871 about 50,- 000 persons, and the aggregate value of the linen goods was 30,000,000 florins. Lace mak- ing by hand formerly supported over 40,000 persons at the north, but has greatly decreased since the invention of machine lace, and is now limited to the region between Waldstein and Catharinaberg in the Erzgebirge. Cotton manu- factories are increasing ; in 1871 there were over 540,000 spindles, producing about 112,000 cwt. of yarn ; nearly 60,000 looms were employed on calicoes. These manufactories are in the northern region, next the Erzgebirge, but the woollen factories, of which in 1871 there were 350, are more numerous in the northeast, near ' Reichenberg. There are over 50 leather fac- tories, and the gloves of Prague are much in demand. The paper mills, of which there were in 1871 more than 70, are particularly numer- ous in the district of the Eger and in the Riesengebirge. The Bohemian glass factories, about 120 in number, producing annually about 6,000,000 florins and employing 24,000 persons, are renowned all over the world, and work mostly for export, particularly to America ; the imitation gems, the looking-glass, and fine orna- mental glass ware are unsurpassed. The china, earthen, and stone ware produced in 1871 (about one half in the circle of Eger) were valued at 2,500,000 florins. The iron industry has its centre in the region of Pilsen, Pribram, Horzowitz, and Purglitz ; the value of the raw and cast iron produced in 1871 was 1,500,000 florins. The machine factories, the most import- ant of which were in and near Prague, produced machines and tools to the value of 4,500,000 fl. The value of the products of the entire metal in- dustry amounted to about 16,000,000 fl. There are also more than 100 factories of chemicals, mostly in the regions of Pilsen, Aussig-Tetschen, and Falkenau. The factories of beet sugar, more than 130 in number, produced in 1871, 3,400,000 cwt. The total industrial products of Bohemia are valued at 218,000,000 florins. Its commerce is also rapidly developing, owing to the favorable situation of the country. The exports in 1871 amounted to 22,000,000 fl., the imports to 20,000,000. The number of brew- eries in 1808 was 968, of distilleries 324. Of the population the Germans constitute about 37 per cent., the Czechs 61, and the Jews 2, the latter using generally the German language. The Germans inhabit in compact masses the northernmost quarter of the country, the moun- tainous districts, and form a great part of every city and town population, being more given to industrial pursuits ; while the Czechs, belonging to the same tribe as the Moravians, are the more agricultural portion of the popu- lation, and of all Slavic tribes in many respects the most gifted and cultivated. They are pre- eminently a musical people, and are fond of song and poetry. With the exception of 45,331 Lutherans, 58,720 Reformed, and 89,539 Jews, nearly all are Roman Catholics. There were 4,008 public schools in 1868, of which 1,762 were German, 2,165 Czech, and 81 mixed. There were 46 high schools of difterent grades, 11 agricultural schools, 2 mining schools, 1 military school, and 4 theological institutions. The capital, Prague, has 2 polytechnic institu- tions, one for the Germans and one for the Czechs, and a university. The majority of the professors of the university are Germans, but most of the students are Czechs. The conflict between the German and Czech nationalities has become very animated, and is from year to year assuming larger dimensions. The Czechs chiefly act through the secretaries of the dis- trict and communal authorities, while the Ger- mans have established throughout the country political associations. The leaders of the Ger- man party from 1862 to 1872 were Herbst, Has- ner, Schmeikal, and Pickert. The Czechs, though united in the conflict against the Ger- mans, have in political questions split into the conservative old Czechs, headed by Palacky and Rieger, and the democratic young Czechs, whose foremost leader is Sladkowsky. The diet of Bohemia has 241 members, consisting of the archbishop of Prague, the three bish- ops of Budweis, Leitmeritz, and Koniggratz, the rector of the university of Prague, 70 dele- gates of the Grossgrundbesitz (large landed es- tates), 72 delegates of the towns and industrial places, 15 delegates of the chambers of com- merce and industry, and 79 delegates of rural communities. The diet elects 54 delegates to the Reichsrath of Vienna, and also a standing committee, the Landesaiuschius, which is pre- sided over by an Oberst-Landmarschall ap- pointed by the emperor. For administrative purposes Bohemia is now (1873) divided into 89 districts and 2 independent communes. The earliest inhabitants of Bohemia were the Boii, a people supposed to have been of Celtic race, from whom the country received its name. In the 1st century B. C. they were driven out by the Germanic Marcomanni, whose realm flourished for a time under Mar- bod, the rival of Armmius. This people, how- ever, subsequently emigrated or were driven into Bavaria, and Bohemia was occupied in the 6th century by the Slavic Czechs, who also established themselves in Moravia. Portions of the country were about the same time col- onized by Germans. The Czechs maintained their independence, under national chiefs, be- tween the Avars and the Frankish empire, though often harassed by invasions. The house of Premysl (Przemysl) became preemi- nent in the nation. Christianity was intro-