Věstník (West, Tex.), Vol. 40, No. 18, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 30, 1952 Page: 21 of 32
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Wednesday, April 30, 1952,
Greetings of the University Vice Presi-
dent JVC. Dolley.
It is quite unnecessary for me or for
any ether University officer to extend
to this group an official welcome to the
campus of The University of Texas. The
mere fact that you are here is prcof of
that very cordial welcome. Texas takés
great pride in her thousands of freedoni-
loving citizens of Czech descent, and on
the campus of The University of Texas
that pride is reflected in our Depart-
ment of Slavonic Languages, whieh has
been in operation for two deeades or
more. Dr. Micek, the able Chairman of
that Department sinee its first begin-
ning, can correct me on this point, but
I believe that our Department of Slavo-
nic Languages is the only teaching de-
partment of its kind. in the Southwest
and, indeed, in the entire area below the
Mason-Dixon Line. We háve good rea-
son to be proud of our students and of
our ex-students'of Czech descent, and
we are most happy to welcome this Fes-
tival to its natural home, the campus
of The University of Texas. I trust that
this Festival, whieh owes so much to the
éfforts of Dr. Zizka, is beginning of a
long-continuing series of such programs
whieh will be held on the campus of this
great institutům.
♦ ♦
WELCOMING ADDRESS
By Secretary of State John Ben Shepperd
to the Czechosiovakian Folk Festival,
: Student Union Building, Texas
University, April 27, 1952.
Wc' are all fatniliar with the expres-
sicn “Rome was not built in a day.” I
háve an idea that if there is ever a
similar expression about the United
States, it will be something to the effect
that “America was not built by one peo-
pie.” Those who made the United States
a great nation were not of one natíon-
ality, one language, one creed or one cul-
ture. Peoples from all over the wořld
háve crpssed the thresliold of America
to become part of it; and they did not
leave their ideals and customs behind,
but brought them along to blend them
ihto the scheme of American liře.
Of all the national groups represented
in our population, none deserve a plače
oí greater honor for its contributions
ihan you whose fathers and grandfathers
eame to this country from Czechoslova-
kia. You háve made very superior con-
tribulations to our national character,
ideals, and cul ture.
This country is not only very proud
of its Czechosiovakian peopie., but we
VĚSTNÍK — WEST’, TEXAS
Strana 21
CZECH FESTIVAL
Americans also feel close in spirit j A SUMMARY OF CZECH LITERATUŘE
to the Czechosiovakian nation, whose
battle for freedom during the last 30-odd
years has been bltter but inspirng. The! From the dawn of history' the síay<>-
(By Frank Nemec)
first formal Declaration of Czechoslova-
nic peopie were noted for their'prefer-
ence of community life, keen sense of
kian Independence was signed by repre-| justice, high regard for personál rights
sentatives of the Czech government in and great love of art and mušle. Cen-
Washington, D. C>, on October 18, 1918,
at a time when this country steod firmly g^Q^^^gpQg^ion towarcTorde0 and* šelf*
disciplině.
behind the Czechs in their determina-
tion to free themselves from cenutries
of German domination. We steod behind
them agaip in 1945 when the second
Czech Republic was set up following the
Nazi occtipation. And we will stand be-
hind them again when their present op-
pressors háve been sent back where they
eame from, as they undeubtedly will be.
Just as Czechoslovakia is shining ex-
ample cf determination to be free in špite
of everything, you peopie of Czechosio-
vakian ancestry háve proved yourselves
an example of reál Americanism in very
basic ways. I háve been in your homes
turies of organized and settled existence
Christianity added new impetlis to the
culture of the Czech. Slavonic peopie by
supplying religicus motivation. The mis-
sionaries St. Cyril and Method adapted
the Greek alphabet to the Czech lan-
guage thus preparing the way for the
rise of Czech literatuře. From Greece
also ,came the influence of Greek classic
ideals of art, government, and philoso-
phy to the land of Czechs. Duting early
Middle Ages, contacts were made with
the Gennanic and aLtin cultures and
the Gennanic and Latin cultures and
Czechs réta med zest to imprpye .living
........ __ _____ _________ as it was depicted and perp^tuatecl in
and háve seen the great family love the early literatuře.
whieh illuminates your daily lives and
binds you together in wholesome, strong
family relationships. You are an inspira-
tion to your country at a time when its
families are falling apart, and when one-
fourth of its marriages are ending in
divorce.
You are a religicus peopie, and as
such ycu are a pillar of strength in an
irreligious age. You are a hard-working
peopie, in a day when belief in hard
work seems to be giving way to a belief
in harclly working. But most of all, in my
When the Emperor Charles IV
founded the first university in Central
Eur-cpe at Prague in 1348, an unprece-
dented record was set in edueation. With-
in two generations, Czechs canied a ře-
pu ta ti on as men of learning and sancti-
ty because cf heriditary regard for vir-
tue and inspirational zeal derived from
the traditional training and , national
literatuře. The literary classics formecl
a storehouse of essential knowledge
whieh revitalized the spirit of the peo-
pie, and gave them the courage to over-
associations with you I háve found ycu come their problems and to faee the fu-
to be sincere, honest peopie who do not trne with confidence in the finál success.
think it is old-fashioned .to believe in This faith and undying hope, coupled
justice, honor, and decency as rules for with perserverence became charaeteristie
everyday living.
It is a very gocd thing that peopie
bred by Czechosiovakian culture should
get together on occasicns like this to
keep their heritage fresh and alive. It
is good that you can display your art,
perform your national dances, enjoy
your Czechosiovakian food, and speak
the Czech language. I want you to know
that the whole stale of Texas, and, in
fact, the whole country, celebrates with
you. I bring you the personál greetings
of Governor Allan Shivers, and I add my
own congratulations and those of all
Texas as I welcome ycu to Austin. I hope
that your being here will benefit you as
much as all such occasions benefit this1
country and ťhe institution of Demo-
cracy.
of the Czech peopie, any where tjiey set-
tled.
•..... . -r- . ti1- ’ ■ i
From 1620 to World War I, when the'
Czech nation was politically and econo-
mically enslaved, the sanie spirit pf de~
dication to moral traditional pripclples
was exhibited by the literary , men to:
bring about the Cultural Resurgence in
the 19th century. This popular movo-
ment had its mainsprings, in loyaíty and
devotion to the traditions of freedom,
justice and edueation so eloquently
voiced by the literary classics remind-
ing the peopie of their glerious past and
filling their hearts with a vision oř a
better futu-re. The literary efíórt pro-
duced desired results: universal edueation
politieal freedom ancl outstanding in-
(Continued on page 23.) , .
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Valcik, Stephen. Věstník (West, Tex.), Vol. 40, No. 18, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 30, 1952, newspaper, April 30, 1952; West, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth626112/m1/21/?q=%22~1%22~1: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas.