of things enermous damage. Their ranks were decimated and, owing to the lack of external impuls tho whole program, hitherto so manifold as extensive, was lopped off to its lowest degree. As a result of these causes the Sokols were abandoned by every body who had adhered to it for various reasons, a great number of members deserted them because they did no longer find the desired opportunities for their individual interests and personal desires.
Only a small band of faithful members remaindd with Dr. Tyrš, following his orders and werking with him in order to save and shelter the cause for a better and more peaceful tuture. In 1871 Dr. Tyrš began to publish the periodical »Sokol« in which he ventilated his great ideas of the mission of the Sokols, but a supervening malady deprived the reduoed ranks for a time of his activity.
The societies dispersed, and even propositions were put forward to change them into fire brigades. But on Dr. Tyrš again takingup his work ke began with the help of his faithful lieutenants to imbue the remaining ranks with new hope and self-reliance and to promulgate their lofty aims, independent of external influences.
A new life began to but in the hearts of the Sokols. The impossibility to be active in public offered them an opportunity for arranging the inner conditions and for working principally in the department of gymnastics. As soon, when the times calmed down, Dr. Tyrš set to work to attain the highest idea and to gain the appreciation of physical education of the nation, and after mighty efforts the Sokol of Prague invited at his proposition, in 1882, the first general meeting of the Sokols for which the thinned ranks of the other societies were with all energy aroused and prepared:
The meeting in which, out of 76 societies, 1600 members took part had an enormous succes, especially the public performances of 720 men displayed the real meaning of the cause. New hopes and a firm belief in the innate abilities and resources slumbering in the nation were aroused in the minds of the people, weakened by political dissensions and failures.
This gathering forms the landmark of a new period in the life of the Sokol, whence the cause rises and steadily develops without interruption in spite of the severe blow it sustained by the sudden death of Dr. Tyrš (August 12th 1884), this ingenious creater, organiser and leader of the Sokol ranks. His place is occupied by devoted pupils, who begin to enter deeper inte his teachings and, step by step, carryout the program indicated by him.
In the gymnastics of the Sokol the principal care is devoted to the youth who has outgrown the primare schools; to the age of juvenile and manly vigour accessible to a strict training and externing ex-
