1936 On the Continent

high (education is compulsory from the age of 6 to 14), he is always a member of a trades union and a progressive political party, the influence of which on Czechoslovak politics is judiciously counter-balanced by the somewhat conservative trend of the rural population.
    Those who are specially interested in industrial centres should visit a few factories in Prague or at Brno, where a great variety of such undertakings will be found. The largest concerns in the heavy industries are at Pilsen and Vitkovice; they are among the largest of their kind in Europe. The textile industry is scattered over various localities, but the district of Liberec (Reichenberg) in Northern Bohemia is an important centre.
The Glassware Industry
    There are certain industries which may be regarded as Czech specialities and are therefore particularly worth inspecting. The glassware industry is a case in point. In Bohemia there are hundreds of establishments, great and small, where glass is ground and exquisite glass ornaments of all varieties are manufactured. Among the most interesting are the workshops in Turnov which produce imitations of precious and semi-precious stones. The jewellery which can be obtained there, though quite inexpensive, is of a high quality.
    Czechoslovakia also specialises in brewing; Pilsen beer is famous throughout the world. The Pilsen brewery itself is a remarkable establishment which the visitor should not miss. There he will see the vast cellars in which the beer matures, the gigantic vats, and the huge casks in which beer is stored ready for export all over the world.
    The visitor is also recommended to inspect the famous Bata works at Zlin in Moravia to which I have already referred. Here, in one of the largest and best organised industrial plants, boots and shoes are turned out at such a rate that they pour into the warehouses like a flood, and though they are sold at the lowest possible prices the workmanship and finish are of a high standard.
    In the mountain regions it is possible to visit small workshops or even houses where they weave exquisite lace which will stand comparison with that of Venice. You should also make a point of visiting a workshop where Czech linen is produced on a hand-loom. Visits of this kind will give you some insight into the life of the working people, and in the summer months you will probably find an opportunity of seeing them during one of their mass demonstrations. Perhaps one morning you will notice that the streets are full of men in red shirts and light grey uniforms, women in white dresses with a coloured kerchief on their heads, and children in gym. dress. These are the Sokols, or members of the national gymnastic organisation who meet for community exercise. These meetings reach a climax every six years at Prague when a vast congress of all the Sokols is held. The next congress will take place in 1938. On these occasions day after day is taken up with monster festivities, which culminate inmassed gymnastic displays by many thousands of members in the great stadium at Prague. This exhibition of physical drill presents a wonderful spectacle which attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators from all parts of the world. Let me add that this is not military drill, but a series of exercises which, in the case of the men, assumes an athletic form, while with the women and children it is modified by the use of music, rhythm and colour, with dancing and games as a complement.
Festivals
    The activity during these Sokol celebrations or some other popular festivities will give the visitor perhaps an even better idea of the temperament of the Czech people than the official holidays, the chief of which is Independence Day on October 28th, when military reviews and special theatrical performances are held. Prague is also the scene of various popular fairs, the greatest of which is that of St. Matthew which begins after February 24th, when the whole of Prague joins in the many amusements. The Prague Trade Fair and the Business Exhibition are both held in spring and autumn, and also provide an opportunity for a great deal of amusement. Of the sporting events the most popular are the football matches. There are football grounds in every village, and all towns of any size have several football clubs. The chief football attractions are the spring and autumn league contests in Prague, which are attended by thousands of spectators.
    Motoring also has its devotees, and the motor race on the