Czecho-Slovak Student Life/Volume 18/Number 4/J. S. Baar–Novelist and Leader

by Claude George Viktora

J. S. Baar—Novelist and Leader.
For the “S. L.” by Fr. Claude Viktora.

We have just received the entire collection of J. S. Baar’s books from Czechoslovakia, printed by the Zemědělské Knihkupectví and we can not help thinking of the great Czech novelist, leader and priest, who died only two years ago. We have spent many pleasant moments with this Father Sheehan of Bohemia who will be read as long as Czech literature exists.

J. S. Baar was born in Klenči, Šumava, in the year 1869. His ancestors were of German-Bavarian origin, who became thoroughly Czech by contact. He undertook his high school studies in Domažlice. At first his efforts in this direction were only half-hearted, but later his father’s words had such an effect upon his youthful soul, that his undergraduate studies merited an “omnia eminenter” recognition. His desire was to become a ‘Kukátkář’ (Spectator) after the fashion of Kosmak. In pursuance of this ideal, he entered the seminary corps of the archdiocese of Prague where he was ordained priest in 1892. He was first appointed chaplain to the German parish of Primda. Here he experienced several painful episodes, which he amply describes in his first stories on the Priesthood. However, his horizon of thought was broadened during his stay at subsequent missions, notably those of Spálené, Pořice, Stachov, Ořech, and Ounětice. His stay in these places turned his attention in the direction of the “Chod” people, their joys and wants. When he subsequently became the pastor of the mission in “Ořech”, which is close to Prague, his sentiment turned entirely to agricultural folk, and hence-forth his literary endeavors became almost exclusively a description of them and their problems. When he retired, he came once again, back to his beloved birthplace, where he could now, undisturbed, devote himself to the “Chod” people. Here he also lived in intimate friendship and confidence with the Pilsen professor-author J. Fr. Hruška and with the author J. Vrba. Here he also peacefully passed away, departing this life, at the age of only 56 years, on Oct. 25, 1925.

His writings were published in part by the so-called “Dědictví Svatojanské”, and reprinted in various periodicals in Europe and America. The “Zemědělské Knihkupectví” has now published an entire collection of his writings.

Of necessity, the written literary endeavors of Baar must be divided into several classes. In the first place, of note, are his minor works written in the spirit and fashion of Kosmak. They are principally sketches of his native village “Hunás”, “Několik Povídek” (in the main all tragic village events) and “Mžikové obrázky”, a work written in three parts.

Baar’s first literary attempt was at poetry, his first poems being still extant in the collection called “Rodnému Kraji”. He did not continue along this line, being discouraged by K. D. Lutinov—who quickly perceived Baar’s talents for prose literature. Upon Lutinov’s advice, Baar undertook to write stories, sketches from the life of a priest. These he published in the periodical “Nový Život”.

The life of a priest is a hard, bitter, and at times a painful occupation. As a consequence, Baar’s sketches betray certain bitterness, and treat in the main the burning questions of the priestly career. Into this group falls the sketch “Cestou Křížovou”, a touching story of a Czech priest, and “Farské historky” (Parish Episodes), a collection of several short stories. Another is “Farská Panička”. The tribulations of a common country pastor are amply described in the sketch “Stověl”, the unhappy quarrel between the school master and parish priest in “Kohouti”, “Žebračka”, “Pater Kolytek” and “Zolinka”. This group is concluded with a fine novel called “Holoubek”.

Even in these works, there is evidence of realistic imagination and perspicacity that is Baar’s own; nevertheless the style is of a moralistic nature although the plot predominates.

During his stay at different mission places, Baar began to describe village events in realistic fashion, concentrating more and more on his native district. Following his last didactic-literary effort “Poslední z rodu Sedmerova”, written during his stay in Klobuk na Stansku, he began to collect material for his very best work “Jan Cimbura” (three divisions), in which he describes the characteristics, the development, and the whole life of a typical, strong-minded Czech agriculturist. This work was the climax of Baar’s literary career. In a comparative study, Holeček’s story, “Naši”, alone, can perhaps merit equality with Baar’s “Jan Cimbura”. Beginning with this work, Baar’s efforts were all devoted to the people and problems of the “Chod”. The very first of this group was “Pro Kravičku” written in the so-called “Bulacki” dialect. It is a description of a real occurrence, relating the rather touching story how the “Chodováci” go to Bavaria to earn enough to buy the cow which means so much to the poor peasant folk. The success of the novels “Poslední Soud”, “Na Děkanství” and “Hanák” is due to the fact that they are replicas of the life in this land of the “Chodovák”. In the last group of his novels Baar gathered an immense amount of important national-historic material relating to the Chods. “Paní Komisařka”, an impersonation of Božena Němcová, (Czech authoress), “Osmačtyřicátnice” and “Fusy” These, however, are not on the par with “Jan Cimbura”. His last book-form novel was “Na srdce přírody”. It is a treatment of the birds and nature—a comparative study between these and human nature.

This graphic survey concludes his activity in the literary field. A study of his personal convictions is equally interesting. In all his works, Baar proves himself conservative. His life long struggle was to effect a reformation of the church, but only as far as it would change the social standing of the priesthood, and not the dogmatic teaching. Of this we have evidence from an interview granted a representative of the “Národní Listy”. In the course of it, Baar vehemently denied the statement that the Mother Church has become antiquated. He forcefully pointed out that only a rational reformation such as would not result in schism and protestantism was the logical solution of the question. And when asked by this self-same person, what this degeneration into protestant paths would mean, Baar answered, with a mystic light in his eyes: “The Loss of Faith in the true divinity of Christ”. Even when the general apostacy took place, he stood firm in the Catholic ranks although many joined the so called. “Czechoslovak Faith and Religious Sect”. His firmness in this respect was praised even by the university professor Arne Novák in the “Lidové Noviny”.

Toward the end of his life, Baar devoted his undivided attention to Chod folklore. His object was to clear some misconceptions entertained by the public at large regarding Chodsko. For this purpose, he proposed to publish in collaboration with Professor J. Hruška a grammar called “Chodská Čítanka”. When his end came, the manuscript had already been finished, and in the hands of the editor of the literary monthly “Pramen”. He lived in perfect harmony with all his neighbors, having no personal enemies. Following his death many flattering necrologies appeared in the various newspapers. Notable among many were those of Dr. E. Felix in the “Lidové Listy”, in the “Národní Listy”, that of Dr. M. Hušek, and one by Dr. Arne Novák in the “Lidové Noviny”. In this respect Baar was even more fortunate than his friend K. D. Lutinov had been.

Fate did not permit Baar to see his ideal accomplished, yet today, though not fully appreciated, it has a real significance. We hope that perhaps some day, the prejudiced critics of today, will see and understand the real significance of his philosophy and will do homage to his memory.