Weekly Magnet A Serial Paper for the Sunday School and Home Circle Vol. XIX, No. 20, David C. Cook Publishing Co. Elgin, Ill, and Chicago, Ill; May 14, 1899. BOHEMIAN PEASANTS, by F. P. Kopta. Bohemia, Austria. One hears a great deal of talk about " Bohemia," but in reality very few people ever visit us. And when they do, they seem to expect to meet gypsies everywhere. The truth is, the gypsies that we have, come from Hungary and one rarely meets them unless one is given to wandering in the forests. Bohemia was a kingdom of itself in the old times, and the people are very dissatisfied with the Austrian government even now. It is the wealthiest province of Austria. It iIs not a large country, it is true, still there are the ruins of over eight thousand castles to be seen, some quite well preserved, but others only heaps of stone. All of them have interesting histories. Bohemia was the birthplace of poor Huss, and Jerome of Prague, and of the reform that gave Luther a chance to translate the Bible. The Bohemians paid dearly for their faith. Thousands fell in battle, were murdered, and sent as poverty-stricken exiles to other lands. But it is of the modern Bohemians that I wish to tell you. They do not call themselves Bohemians, but Chechs, and have their own language, which is Slavonian, a branch of the Russian. It is very hard to learn, but when once learned, it repays one, as Bohemia has a very fine literature. The scenery is generally very beautiful, especially in the part where I live, which is called Sumava, or "The Switzerland." The country is broken by high mountains, some of them crowned with old castles or dense forests extending for miles, with little villages nestling in the clearings, and single farm-houses and, churches built upon the hills. But it was about the peasants that I wished to tell you. Most of the old people still wear the old costumes, but the habit is dying out, and I am afraid that in a few years there will not be much of this to see. Every county has its own dress, those of Pilsen and Dornazlice being especially rich. On account of saints' days the Bohemian peasants have many holidays, on which the government has forbidden all work, and on these occasions one can see all kinds of beautiful dresses. There is a great deal of embroidery in both the girls' and lads' garments, and many artificial flowers are needed for the caps and head-dresses. The old people are not so fancifully dressed, though the old men have silver buttons on their coats if possible, and the old women wear necklaces of garnets. Their usual dress of course is not nearly so fine; still it is always peculiar. The women work in the fields as well as the men, and generally have rather short, bright-colored dresses, aprons, and handkerchiefs tied around their heads. They never wear hats; indeed they look upon hats with contempt. A Bohemian home, take it all in all, is a cheerful place. The people are merry by nature and make the best of a bad lot. There is always a large oven in one corner for baking bread, and a smaller one where the family cooking is done. There are generally two bedsteads, with feather beds and bolsters of red and white (the national colors). The small windows have pots of flowers, that are carefully tended, and often one sees a bird in a willow cage. All Bohemians love music, and the greater part of the boys learn to perform upon some instrument. Even the smallest villages have a band, and everyone sings. To marry "without music,"' is looked upon as abject poverty. A fine wedding consists in this: A new dress of any lively color, a myrtle wreath wound round the hair, and a band of music to go before them to the church, and back to the inn. Squibs are fired, and the village people shout themselves hoarse. Old people are buried without much pomp, but if a maiden or lad dies, it is a different matter. Generally the money that under happier circumstances would have been their marriage portion, is spent on the funeral. If it is a lad, all the young girls of the village who possess white dresses follow him to his grave, crowned with myrtle wreaths; they are called his bridesmaids. If it is a maiden, all the youths in black foilow her; they are her bridegrooms. If not too far, the body is carried, while musicians play dolefully before the procession. Trouble comes to every one, everywhere, but the peasants of Bohemia are as happy as any others In Europe. They live in peace with one another, and wish strangers the usual greeting, "Go with God." If only they could know more of Christ and his love, believing and trusting in him, they would be the most contented people the sun shines upon. For they are trustful by nature, and when a truth is once received by them they let it take root and bring forth blossoms. Return to the Homepage.