This has also been expressed by giving the society the name »Sokol«, by which especially in the Yougoslav songs of chivalry the noble character of heroes is designed.
The fervent favour of the people brought the cause to an exceedingly rapid growth, containing, however, the germ of ruin lest it should die out or get commonplace; but by a lucky coincidence eminent men took up the new thought and, profiting by a favourabe disposition, led the young efforts into a firm course.
They gave them a solid stamp by a pregnant setting forth of their aims and tasks. It was especially Henry Fügner, the president of the society and Dr. Miroslav Tyrš, the chief, who were responsible for its consolidation.
Henry Fügner, a highly enlightened man of great experience in the affairs of the world and the character of men, imbued with modern liberal ideas, a democrat of the most genuine stock and a most vehement hater of any despotism, endowed the young society with all the noble qualities of his soul and organised it as a camp of brethren with common equality, common feellings, aiming at mutual perfection. In the society there were introduced manners of brotherly intercourse; the members addressed one another with »thou«; the rules, appearance in public, and representations conformed to a democratic spirit because it is congenial to the Czechs and in this way the society was made accessible and welcome to all classess of the nation. By Fügner’s exertions the »Sokol« very soon conquered the public mind and at his inspiration accepted ideas and suggestions, whether their object was a manifestation of the national spirit (excursions, meetings, festivals social intercourse (dances fancy indress balls) or activities for a national propaganda (Havlíček’s lottery) or various cultural aims, (Zvonař’s musical choir on this way, mainly through Fügner’s efforts out of a mere gymnast (German Turner) there grew up the idea of a »Sokol«, the representative of a self conscious, modern, progressive man who devotes his services to the general welfare of the nation.
Dr. Tyrš chiefly took upon himself the care of regulating the inner activity of the young society. He had an eminently esthetic mind, was an enthusiastic admirer and connoisseur of the antique culture of Hellas, a philosopher and historian, and, therefore, supported all the endeavours of the society, principally by a refined physical education aiming at a sound defensive capability of the nation and its artistic progress by a special choice of exercisse. In order to prove the first part of this endeavour, he explained in his monthly »Sokol« with great ingenuity his opinions on the problems the ways and the aim of the Sokols in the service of the nation.
