Czechs

cheks, a western branch of the Slavonic race. The Czechs include the Moravians, the Slovacs of Hungary, and the Bohemians. They are allied to the Poles and to the Russians. In the day of John Huss and Jerome of Prague this element was one of the most prominent in central Europe, but persecution, exile, conquest, and oppression pretty effectually suppressed rising intellectuality. Of late the 6,000,000 Czechs in the Austrian Empire have been gaining influence. It may be predicted that they will one day rule the Austrians, or drive them out of the empire, or be themselves subjugated by the German Empire. The Czechs have a well developed language and quite a literature. The alphabet contains forty-two letters, and is more nearly phonetic than ours. Instead of borrowing, they make new words as they need them. They would be more apt for instance, to call a bicycle a two-wheel than to borrow a Greek word as we have done. A part of the instruction in the University of Prague is given in this tongue. Czech newspapers and books are multiplying. The literature is especially rich in folklore, song, and fiction. The Czech mind is gifted in scientific research. See Bohemia; Moravia; Austria-Hungary; Prague; Huss; John