THE CZECHS OF CLEVELAND
published a chronicle“ Cech na Oceanu” (The Bohemian on the Ocean) whose eight numbers furnish an interesting record of the trip.
As gymnastics provide for the sound body, so the Sokol desire for a sound mind seeks its goal through dramatic and musical training, lectures on educational subjects and the establishment of libraries.
In Cleveland “Sokol Cech” was founded in 1879; it owns its own hall at 4820 Wendell avenue, and has at present 148 men and 46 women members. “Sokol Nova Vlast” (the new Fatherland) organized in January, 1893, gives the name to the Bohemian Sokol Hall on Clark avenue, where it has 133 men and 95 women members; “Sokol Cleveland,” founded in 1895, having 172 men and 122 women members, has built its own hall at 8932 Quincy avenue.
“Sokol Tyrs,” founded in 1906, meets at 11110 Buckeye road with 54 men and 60 women members, while the youngest society, “Sokol Havlicek,” meets in the Bohemian National Hall on Broadway with 132 men and 105 women members. This Sokol is named for the patriot and statesman, Karel Havlicek, who died a martyr to the freedom of the press.
All the Sokols conduct gymnastic classes in groups according to age and sex. Sokol Cleveland, for example, has one class for young boys; one for little girls; another for girls from 10 to 15 years of age; one for men; and one for women. Exhibitions of Sokol work are given by each branch at least once a year. This annual “home day” is a very pleasant occasion. All the family from the grandparents to the tiny children go to see the family member take part. An orchestra furnishes music and the athletes do their most spectacular feats. The girls wear short skirts of navy blue, and white blouses with red ties; the men, long trousers of blue jersey cloth, and white jerseys edged at neck and arms with red,—a costume of excessive modesty compared with that of our college athletes.
Exercises on the horizontal bar, parallel bars, the horses, jumping and calisthenics constitute the program, terminating with really fine “living pictures.” At Sokol Cleveland’s last home-day, the final tableau was a living pyramid reaching to the ceiling—a remarkable exhibition for amateurs.
An Instructors’ branch, meeting monthly, secures uniformity of effort, and an annual field day brings all local Sokols together in a brilliant spectacle. Cleveland Sokols exhibit a proud collection of trophies from general conventions of the American organization.
Throughout the United States, the Sokols rushed to arms at the beginning of the war, and quickly demonstrated in military life, the value of the Sokol training. In Cleveland, four who could not wait for the United States, enlisted in the Canadian army; 74 served in the United States army; and 24, classed as “enemy aliens” fought in the Czecho-Slovak army in France.
Fraternal Organizations.
Allusion has been made to the fraternal societies. These are a striking feature of all Slav life in America, and the system originated with the Czechs, who were the first of the Slav immigrants. In 1854 the Czecho-Slavonic Benevolent Society was founded in St. Louis. The Czech name is Cesko-Slovansky Podporujici Spolek, which is usually shortened to the initials “C. S. P. S.” and pronounced “Chesspass.” The motto of the organization is “Harmony, Equality, Brotherhood,” and the practical expression of this motto is through its organization as a mutual benefit association. Most of
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