BIOGRAPHICAL.
Alois Vojtěch Šmilovský, the author of the following novel, is considered in his native country (Bohemia) as one of its most successful modern writers of fiction. He was born in the town of Mladá Boleslav, the 24th of January, 1837, of an old wealthy patrician family. After completing the lower classes of the “gymnasium” (grammar school) in his native town, he was sent to the Academical Gymnasium in Prague; and, having gone through the higher forms there, entered the University of Prague, where he devoted himself to the study of i natural history.
In 1860 he became teacher of this branch at the gymnasium of Klatovy, in the south-western part of Bohemia, where he remained, first as supplent, then as real professor, until 1873, when he was transferred in the same capacity to the gymnasium of Litomyšl, in the east of Bohemia. In 1877 he was appointed Government Inspector of National Schools in the districts of Litomyšl and Polička. This laborious office he held until his death, which took place on the 20th of June, 1883.
Even as a student, Šmilovský followed closely the development of Bohemia’s national literature and music;
